«It sure can. Any suggestions?»
«Well, I doubt that I need to lecture an expert like you.»
«You know me?»
«I used to be a cop. In any case, the rig is loaded with portable searchlights. They'll head for the administration buildings. I'd stay in hiding, switch off the deck lights and then turn on the searchlights when they're, say, thirty yards away. They'll be blinded and won't be able to see you.»
«You can't count on what nutcases like that'll do.»
'Til bet you can.» Mitchell smiled briefly at him, cop to crook. He said to Larsen: «I have a feeling that Lord Worth would like to confer with his rig boss.»
«Yes.» They walked away as Palermo was already giving rapid instructions to his men. «Lord Worth know what you're up to?»
IT haven't had time. Anyway, I wouldn't tell Lord Worth how to make a billion out of oil.»
«Good point.» They stopped briefly by the radio room. Larsen gazed at the crumpled form of Durand, half in appreciation, half in regret. «What a beautiful sight Wish it had been me, though.»
«I'll bet Durand—when he wakes up—doesn't Plastic surgeons come high.»
They made their next brief stop at the sick bay. Larsen looked at a still comatose Melinda and a wide-awake Roomer and his massive fists clenched. Roomer smiled. «I know. But you're too late. How deep's the water here?»
«Nine hundred feet.»
«Then you'd need a diving bell to get your hands round the throats of those responsible. And how are things with you, Commander Larsen? You can see how things are with us.»
«I've been resting. Mitchell has been more active. Besides the three men at the bottom of the Gulf, he's also deprived me of the pleasure of beating the hell out of Durand. Aaron isn't feeling too well either.»
Roomer said apologetically: «He doesn't go in much for diplomacy. So the Seawitch is in our hands?»
«For the moment»
«For the moment?»
«Do you expect a man like Cronkite to give up? So ke's lost five men and is probably about to lose another eight or nine. What's that for a man with ten million to play around with? And he's got his personal vendetta against Lord Worth. If he has to cripple or even destroy the Seawitch, including everybody aboard—well, it isn't going to bother Cronkite's conscience for long.» He turned to Dr. Greenshaw. «I think it's time you got busy with the stretchers. Can you spare four of your drilling crew, Commander, to help transfer them to the stretchers and then across to the helicopter? I'm afraid, John, you're going to have some unpleasant company on the trip. Durand and Aaron. Tied up like chickens, of course.»
«Well, thank you very much.»
«I can—occasionally—be as leery as you. I wouldn't put it past Cronkite to get aboard the Seawitch. How, I haven't the faintest idea, but with a highly devious mind a driven man can accomplish most anything. If he succeeded I don't want Durand and Aaron blowing the whistle on me. I want to stay an inconspicuous and harmless seismologist.»
Larsen gave a few orders on the phone, then he and Mitchell went through to Lord Worth's room. Lord Worth was on the phone, listening and scowling. Marina looked at Mitchell with an expression as forbidding as her father's.
«I suppose you've been Uttering the platform with a few more dead men?»
«You do me a grave injustice. There's no one left to kill.» She gave what might have been a tiny shudder and looked away.
Larsen said: «The ship is in our hands, Miss Marina. We're expecting a little more trouble in about ten minutes, but we can take care of that.»
Lord Worth replaced his receiver. «What's that?»
«Cronkite is sending some reinforcements by helicopter. Not many—eight or nine. They won't have a chance. He's under the Impression that Durand is still in charge here.»
«I take it he's not.»
«He's unconscious and tied up. So is Aaron.»
A yearning look came over Lord Worth's face. «Is Cronkite coming with them?»
«No.»
«How very unfortunate. And I've just had some more bad news. The Torbello has broken down.»
«Sabotage?»
«No. The main fuel-supply line to its engine has fractured. Just a temporary stop, though it may take some hours to repair. But there's no cause for worry, and half-hourly reports on the state of repairs should be forthcoming.»
Another disturbing point had arisen: Lord Worth disclosed that no major marine-insurance companies or Lloyd's of London had ever heard of the existence of the Tiburon, The fact was less than surprising if one knew of Mulhooney's renaming exploits—Hammond to Tiburon to Georgia. The vessel had virtually ceased to exist Even more disturbing, however, was the fact that the Marine Gulf Corporation had reported the disappearance of its seismological survey vessel from Freeport. It was called the Hammond.
The U. S. Navy had two points of cold comfort to offer. What the United States did with its obsolete submarines was to scrap them or sell them to foreign governments: none had ever fallen into the hands of commercial companies or private individuals. Nor were there any Cous-teau-type submersibles along the Gulf Coast
The telephone bell jangled. Lord Worth switched on the wall receivers. The radio officer was succinct
«Helicopter, flying low, due northwest, five miles out.»
«Well, now,» Larsen said, «this should provide a diversion. Coming, Mitchell?»
«In a minute. I have a little note to write. Remember?»
«The note, of course.» Larsen left. Mitchell penned a brief note in neat printed script that left no room for misinterpretation, folded it in his pocket and went to the door. Lord Worth said: «Mind if I come along?»
«Well, there won't be any danger, but I think you'd do better to listen for messages from radar, radio, sonar and so forth.»
«Agreed. And HI call up the Secretary to see what luck he's had in hauling those damned warships off my back.»
Marina said sweetly: «If there's no danger Fra coming with you.»
«No.»
«You have a very limited vocabulary, Mr. Mitchell.»
«Instead of trying to be a heroine you might try the Florence Nightingale bit—there are two very sick people through there who need their hands held.»
«You're much too bossy, Michael.»
«As they say, a male chauvinist pig.»
«Could you imagine me marrying a person like you?»
«Your imagination is your own business. Besides, I've never asked you to.» He left.
«Well!» She looked suspiciously at her father, but Lord Worth had his risibility under complete control. He picked up a phone and asked that the Christmas tree be opened and the exploratory drilling restarted.
The helicopter was making its landing approach as Mitchell joined Larsen and Palermo and his men in the deep shadows of the accommodation area. The platform light had been dimmed but the helipad was brightly illuminated. Palermo had six portable searchlights in position. He nodded to Mitchell, then made his unhurried way to the pad. He was carrying an envelope in his hand.
The helicopter touched down, the door opened and men with a discouraging assortment of^auto-matic weapons started to disembark. Palermo said: «I'm Marino. Who's in charge here?
«Me. Mortensen.» He was a bulky young man in battle fatigues, looking more like a bright young lieutenant than the thug he undoubtedly was. «I thought Durand was in charge here.»
«He is. Right now he's having a talk with Lord Worth. He's waiting for you in Worth's quarters.»
«Why are the deck lights so dim?»
«Voltage drop. Being fixed. The landing pads have their own generators.» He pointed. «Over there.»
Mortensen nodded and led his eight men away. Palermo said: «Be with you in a minute. Fve got a private message for the pilot from Cronkite.»
Palermo climbed up into the helicopter. He greeted the pilot and said: «I got a message here for you from Cronkite.»