‘Thought you wouldn’t, sir. That’s why I brought you this. Captain left it on his desk.’
With feelings of apprehension the First Lieutenant took the envelope, ‘Thank you, Betts.’ He tried to sound normal but knew he’d failed.
In the light over the chartroom table he saw that the envelope was addressed to Lieutenant Alexander Hamilton RN. It was marked Personal and headed, To be opened should I not return.
He must have expected it, thought a deeply troubled Hamilton, perhaps even wanted it. He opened the envelope, took out the single sheet of notepaper, held it under the light.
My dear Sandy,
I want you to know that I very much appreciate the support you have given me for Maji Mark Two, notwithstanding your belief that it was an unwise operation, particularly because of the Portuguese neutrality aspect. However, I've no doubt you will explain my views on that.
We've gone to an awful lot of trouble to find this Japanese submarine. Now that we're about to attack it, I trust we will suffer few casualties.
But they are likely in war and if as I believe, we achieve our objective I hope they'll be seen to have been justified. In great haste. We leave the ship shortly.
Yours as ever,
John Barratt.
PS: You can now safely break WIT silence and put dear old (D) in the picture. Tell him I'm sorry to have been such a bloody nuisance.