During the minutes that followed he outlined the options, dealing last with that of breaking wireless silence to inform Kilindini of the situation and request orders. Almost before Barratt had finished, the First Lieutenant broke in. ‘I take it that’s what you’ll do, sir. Has to be the soundest course of action. Restless has done her stuff. Found the submarine, bottled it up in the creek. Your signal will pass the buck to Captain (D) and Co.’ Sandy Hamilton appeared happier and more relaxed than for some time.
In a quick but decisive way Barratt said, ‘There’s not going to be any passing the buck, Number One. I will break W/T silence, but only to inform Kilindini that we attack the submarine before dawn tomorrow.’
The First Lieutenant showed surprise. ‘I thought you regarded W/T silence as imperative, sir? To preserve the element of surprise. The Japs will pick up the transmission, won’t they?’
Barratt took a cigarette from the silver box on his desk, was about to offer one until he remembered that Hamilton didn’t smoke. He put the cigarette in his mouth. ‘I rather hope they do.’ He lit the cigarette. ‘It doesn’t matter now. The Catalina destroyed any element of surprise we might have had.’
‘So they won’t come out knowing we’re here?’ It was half a question.
‘I don’t suppose they will. But that’s not going to interfere with my plan of attack.’
The First Lieutenant’s concern showed in his face. ‘You’re not going to take Restless into the creek are you, sir? Infringe Portuguese neutrality? Present the Japs with a sitting target?’
‘No, Number One. I shan’t do any of those things.’
‘May I ask, then, how you do propose to attack?’
‘You may. That’s why I sent for you.’ Barratt cleared his throat before going on to outline briefly but with much conviction how the attack would be carried out. ‘So that,’ he said finally, ‘will be Operation Maji Mark Two.'
The First Lieutenant’s changing expressions as Barratt unfolded his plan had conveyed surprise, anxiety and disbelief. Now he said, ‘May I be frank, sir?’
‘Please do.’
‘I think it’s a…’He hesitated, as if embarrassed by the thought of what he’d been about to say. ‘… it’s a very unsound plan, if I may say so. It involves the Admiralty and our Government in an open breach of Portuguese neutrality. Quite apart from that, I think it’s a highly dangerous operation, tactically unsound, bound to involve us in casualties and…’He took a deep breath before finishing, K. and almost certain to fail.’
The Captain stubbed out the cigarette, got up from the chair and began pacing the cabin. ‘Well — you’ve certainly been frank, Number One.’ He stopped, regarded Hamilton with challenging eyes. ‘There are a couple of things you ought to know. First, your precious neutrality. Maji is, I suppose, nominally Portuguese territory. In all other respects it’s a tiny island, seven thousand miles from Portugal, about a mile long, six miles off the coast, inhabited by a handful of African fishermen. The Japanese are in there without authority. They’ve closed the creek, forbidden the Africans to go to their fishing grounds, and they’ve already killed the only poor devil who tried. They are terrorizing that little community, Number One, interfering with their freedom and their livelihood. Four days ago those Japanese massacred the survivors of a US Liberty ship. Yesterday the Japanese Captain summarily executed one of his crew. Beheaded him. The man is a psychopath. And that’s being polite.’
Barratt leant against the bulkhead, folded his arms, his eyes still on the First Lieutenant. ‘Restless will deal with that. I’m going to destroy that submarine and, hopefully, its Captain and some of his wretched crew. We shall be doing the Portuguese Government a favour, intervening on their behalf, freeing their helpless people. D’you for a moment imagine they would take a serious view of neutrality in such circumstances?’
Barratt directed a dark frown at the First Lieutenant. ‘Of course they wouldn’t.’ He began pacing again, stopped at a scuttle, looked out to sea. ‘That’s my answer to your neutrality question. Now your other problem, Number One. It’s evident that you disapprove of the operation. You’re perfectly entitled to do so. And to express your views to me privately. But I happen to be Captain of Restless. I make the decisions. They are my responsibility. No one else’s. If you wish I’ll give you a letter confirming that. Acknowledging that you have warned me against the dangers, diplomatic and otherwise, of this operation. That will clear your yardarm. And since nobody on board will know about it, you’ll be doubly protected.’
The First Lieutenant’s expression was strained as he got up from the settee. ‘That won’t be necessary, sir,’ he said stiffly. ‘I’m sorry you thought it might be. You are my commanding officer. I shall carry out your orders. Give you every possible support, notwithstanding my personal feelings. But I felt it was my duty to point out the dangers and possible consequences of what you have in mind. It was no more than that. It was certainly not self-interest. If you must know, it was because I was worried about how this could affect you — your naval career.’
In a voice suddenly subdued, Barratt said, ‘I haven’t got one, Number One. I’m a dugout. A wine merchant in RN uniform. But I do appreciate what you’ve just said.’ His manner softened, he held out a hand. ‘And I’m sorry if anything I’ve said hurt you.’
With some awkwardness the First Lieutenant took the Captain’s hand.
‘Under tension one says things one doesn’t mean.’ Barratt shrugged. ‘Now sit down and I’ll tell you what I want done before tonight’s briefing. We’ll hold it at 1900 in the wardroom, so have it cleared by then. I’ll give you a list of the people I want. When you approach those I’ve marked “Shore Party” emphasize that every member is to be a volunteer.
Stress that any man who feels he can’t volunteer will not suffer in any way. Nor will I think any less of him. And his messmates won’t know because we shan’t tell them. Got the hang of that?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Right. Carry on now. Pass the word for Corrigan to report to me right away.’
With a faint raising of eyebrows the First Lieutenant said, ‘Aye, aye, sir.’ He went to the door, turned and looked at Barratt in a strange way before lowering his head to pass through the doorway.
Yashimoto’s narrow, pouched eyes fixed the Petty Officer with a doubting stare. ‘You are certain it was a warship and not a coaster, Hosokawa?’
‘Yes, sir. The silhouette was sharp. Two guns forward, two aft. Bridge superstructure well forward, thick funnel immediately abaft it. Searchlight platform amidships. No mistaking. It was a destroyer.’
‘The Catalina was circling it, you say?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Yashimoto tapped with a pencil on the small desk beside the bunk, his mind preoccupied, his eyes on the Petty Officer who stood inside the doorway, cap under arm. Eventually he asked, ‘D’you think they could have sighted the catamaran?’ ‘Possibly, sir. We were under sail when we spotted them, //they saw us, I suppose they’d think it was a native vessel coming in to the creek from the fishing grounds.’
‘I hope you’re right, Hosokawa. But we know that the Catalinas have been flying over this area twice a day since we arrived. The coastline and its islands are in Mozambique, neutral territory. In spite of this the RAF overfly it regularly. Why?’ With a shrug and a grunt, he added. ‘But that’s my problem, not yours.’ He pressed with thumb and forefinger on his eyelids. ‘Should the destroyer attempt to enter, wait until she is in the narrows before firing the Very lights. There will be moonlight from ten o’clock tonight if the sky continues to clear. But in any case you’ll hear the ship, the sound of her machinery, once she’s in the narrows. She’ll have to pass close to your post at the inlet.’ He paused, looked at the portrait of the Emperor as if seeking inspiration. ‘So — abandon the catamaran patrols, keep your post fully manned until further orders, and be especially vigilant tonight.’