High Water Page 10

  He returned to the wheelhouse, as Cooper, his face pinched with the first twinge of seasickness, staggered up the steps, a tray of tea in his grasp.

  `I guess I'll go and lie down for a bit,' he groaned, `I don't feel so good.'

  `All right, but be ready to put on your act when I call you.'

  With a gulp, Cooper fled below, and Vivian stood the steaming mugs on the chart table.

  `Here, I'll take over now. You have a drink.'

  For some moments they stood in silence, watching the sea, and the scudding clouds, and enjoying the warmth of the drink.

  `You will have to get me some shoes when we get in to port,' she said suddenly. `One shoe is hardly sufficient for a girl's morale!'

  He smiled at her, allowing his face to relax.

  'Ah, that's better, Philip, you were looking so very grim! `Sorry, I'm afraid I'm not much of a companion.'

  `On the contrary, I enjoy your company very much.

  Considering that I know so little about you,' she finished with a secret smile.

  As he flushed, and stared uncomfortably ahead over the bows, she hurried on: `It's hardly fair, you know. After all, you know all about me, but all I know of you is that you are in love with your boat, and you have what I believe is known as a chip on. your shoulder!'

  In a manner which was rare to him, he found himself telling her the whole story of his mixed and unusual career, and as his pent-up feelings poured out, he was amazed that sob he was able to speak so casually of things which, hithertr had been his own careful secrets. He paused at one stag(,, to dart a quick glance at her, but found, to his astonish ment, that she appeared to be genuinely interested. Whe he had finished, he felt suddenly exhausted and tired.

  `I'm afraid there's not so much to know after all,' he sai lamely.

  She was looking at him in her quiet, serious way.

  `Thank you for telling me,' she said simply. `I feel bette' for knowing more about you.'

  His heart gave an upward bound.

  `But what I really wanted to say ...' he stammerec `what I really meant was to tell you what it means to me t have you with me like this.' He halted, confused.

  `I think I know what you mean.' She laid her hand on h' wrist. `But we must not talk of it now.' Then seeing h crestfallen expression, she smiled, and shook her hair off he cheek. `But we will talk of it later, if you still want to. Now she continued briskly, `tell me about your cat. Why do yo call him Coley?'

  Vivian's face softened. `Poor old Coley, he'll be wonder ing what's happened to me, I expect. But I'll collect h' soon.' He grinned. 'Coley? Well, it means a sort of ca fish, and as he'll eat nothing else, I thought it would su' him.'

  She threw back her head and laughed, and he marvellec at her freshness, after what she had just endured.

  `We are so much alike, you and I. You have no family but a big cat. I have only Uncle Nils to worry about, and h turns out to be, not a nice, quiet, old gentleman, but a nice quiet, old smuggler! And you,' she dropped her eyes shyly,, `are not quite what you would have people believe. In fact' you are really rather nice.'

  He reached out, and held her arm, his voice husky.

  `Thank you, Karen. And there is a lot I want to tell you, when we are free from all this!'

  A shaft of watery sunlight began to explore the interior of the wheelhouse, and through the clouds, patches of bright blue sky began to show.

  `It's going to be a fine morning, after all,' was all he said, but for each of them, it had a new meaning.

  There was a sudden sliding of feet overhead, from the flying bridge, and then Morrie's heavy face appeared through the glass panel.

  'Boat comin' up astern!' he shouted.

  Vivian raised his glasses, and peered out of the door, the powerful lenses distorting the white wave-caps to frightening proportions. After a while, he caught a glimpse of a low, dark blue hull, shining with spray, and throwing off a creaming bow wave from the sharp, plunging stem.

  'Customs boat!' he muttered. Then over his shoulder, 'Morrie, get Cooper up, and both of you get into oilskins, and start mucking about with the fishing gear. And for God's sake, try to look as if you're enjoying it!'

  He turned to the girl, a worried frown in his eyes, `You keep out of sight up forward.' He thought rapidly. `Could you get into the chain locker?' In his mind's eye.he visualized that tiny, cramped space, right against the bows, where the anchor chain was housed, and for a moment he was tempted to change his mind.

  `I know it,' she answered. And before he could say any more, `I will be like a mouse, so don't worry!' And with that, she was gone, her bare feet paddingdown through the forward cabin.

  After a quick look at the other craft, which was rapidly gaining on them, he swept the chart off the table, and replaced it with another, identical one. Identical, but for the pencilled course, which now showed that they had kept within the three-mile limit. He took a rapid glance roun, Well, here we go, he thought desperately. He gently slackened speed, and a sudden movement on deck caught his eye, as Morrie began to unwind a heavy fish-line.

  Keeping out of sight in the wheelhouse, he trained th glasses on the Customs boat, now barely a cable's lengt away. Pursuit, the name was clearly visible on the bows. He wondered if he would get such a friendly visit this time. Then he stiffened, as the glasses moved to the bridge. H caught a brief glimpse of one of the white faces behind th I screen. It was David Muir.

  He swore under his breath. This would be interesting. No point in telling Cooper, he decided, it would make his surprise all the more genuine.

  He eased the throttles lower, and Seafox laboured unhappily in the deep troughs. As the Customs boat bore down on him, he waved casually from the door, to show that he was waiting for them.

  Morrie lumbered over to the starboard side, and lowere the rope fenders in readiness, while on the other boat, twa seamen were standing by with their lines.

  Both helmsmen watched carefully, judging the distance and as Vivian felt the gentle nudge, as the two hulls bumped, he heard the thud on deck, announcing the arrival of his visitors. The lines were then released, ans Pursuit moved away, but remained within easy reach.

  The wheelhouse was suddenly crowded with figures, First through the door was the broad, red-faced boarding officer he had seen before, followed by two younger men, their brass buttons and white caps giving an air of authority to the scene. David Muir entered last, his handsome face serious and troubled.

  The officer nodded curtly. `Good morning, sir. I'm afraid I'm here on business this time!'

  `Really? Well then, perhaps you'll be good enough to tell me what all this is about.' Vivian forced his voice to remain level, a habit he had learned so well in the Navy. `And, blow me down! David Muir! What the devil are you doing here?'

  'Mr. Muir is my superior officer,' said the other man quickly, as if eager to save Muir any embarrassment.

  But Vivian was unwilling to let him off so lightly. `But you are mistaken, surely!' he exclaimed.

  'No, there's no mistake.' Muir's voice was flat. `I see you're surprised.'

  `Well, it is a bit confusing, you must admit.' Inwardly he thought the chap was pretty sure of himself.

  `Now, if you don't mind, one of my men will take the wheel from you, sir, then we can have a nice, little chat.' The officer's gaze was shrewd and piercing.

  'Yes, I bloody well do mind!' barked Vivian angrily, `what the hell is all this?'

  `Now then, sir, that'll do,' the red face was expressionless. `First of all, I want to know why you weren't flying your "Q" flag?'

  Vivian shrugged, and handed over the wheel to one of the keen-eyed young men. `I haven't been abroad, that's why,' he lied calmly. `I've been stuck out here in the Channel, waiting for the gale to finish. You must know that, surely?'

  Muir smiled softly. `May we go below, Vivian. My men are going to search your boat.' He paused, watching the other man's face. `We have certain information that you have unlawful goods in your possession, namely, dange
rous drugs.'

  Vivian glared at him angrily. `Rubbish. I've no drugs aboard, and I've not been smuggling!'

  He allowed himself to be led below to the saloon. He saw the officer go on deck, and speak to Cooper, while the othe, man began to examine the chart.

  Muir sat down, calm and assured. `You might as wel speak up, you know. Now, where have you got the stuff, My men will find it, even if they have to take the boa ashore, and tear it to bits!'

  `I tell you, you're mad! I've been taking Mr. Cooper ou, fishing. I often do.'

  `But what about your trip abroad you had planned? Muir's voice hardened. `I'm not a fool, Vivian, and you and I both know what I have said is the truth.'

  `That trip hasn't come off yet. Mr. Jensen'll tell you why don't you ask him?'

  `Perhaps we will.' He looked up sharply, as the office came below, and raised his eyebrows questioningly.

  `They deny it, of course,' he said testily.

  `What d'you mean, of course?' barked Vivian. `We're no all crooks, you know!'

  `We shall see, shan't we?' said the officer pleasantly.

  Then he looked over to Muir. `All right to have a quicl look now, sir?'

  `Yes, go ahead.'

  Vivian watched from beneath lowered lids, as the two uniformed men hurried aft to begin their search. His face felt damp with sweat, when he thought what would happen when they discovered Karen's hiding place. It made him sick with fury, to think of her name being mixed up with any suspicion of his own crime.

  Muir tapped a cigarette on a silver case, his eyes mocking `I really am sorry about this, Vivian. It must be a bit of shock to you.' He dusted a speck of tobacco from his im maculate grey suit. `I made rather a good stockbroker didn't you think?'

  Vivian grinned mirthlessly. `I'd rather not say what I think. I've always had the greatest respect for the Customs, up until I met you!'

  Muir was completely unperturbed.

  Vivian heard the searchers examining the bathroom, and then the click of the deck-boards being lifted up.

  `Still sure of yourself, eh? But you really haven't a very good story, now have you?' The voice was patronizing.

  `I still say I didn't leave home waters,' Vivian's voice sounded flat and tired.

  `Well, I don't suppose you can produce any witness?' asked Muir cheerfully.

  `Unless you can call me a witness!' The clear voice sounded like a pistol shot in the stillness of the saloon.

  Muir spun round, his jaw dropping, while Vivian could only gape with surprise at the girl's small figure, poised on the steps.

  `Karen! What on earth are you doing here? And how did you get aboard?' Muir stumbled over his sentences, his calm dignity gone. `For Pete's sake, you were with me only the evening before last!'

  She allowed him to carry on for a while, his words, like his mind, thrashing about helplessly in a wilderness.

  When she answered him, her eyes flashed like blue ice, and her voice was filled with contempt.

  `I have been aboard here enjoying myself!' Her tone was as cold as her eyes. `Just as Philip will tell you! But you couldn't understand that, could you, being a stockbroker, or is it Customs officer now?'

  Two bright spots of colour rose in Muir's cheeks, and he bit his lip. `This had nothing to do with the way I felt for you, Karen,' he pleaded. `I had no idea...'

  `No idea I'd find out you had been lying to me, is that what you're going to say?' In her anger, her Danish accent became more pronounced.

  Behind him, Vivian could feel the two Customs officers breathing heavily, no doubt wondering what was happening.

  `But, Karen, surely you realize I had my duty to do?' Muir seemed oblivious to the fascinated audience,

  `All I know is,' and for the first time the girl's lip trembled slightly, and Vivian noticed her knuckles gleaming white on her clenched hands, `you told me that you were in love with me, and that you wanted me to marry you!'

  The words dropped like pebbles into a still pool, and Vivian, who had been feeling something like pity for the man, was moved to a sudden anger by this revelation.

  One of the Customs officers cleared his throat noisily. `I take it then that the boat's okay?' The question was directed at the confused Muir.

  'Oh, er, yes,' he stammered. 'This is Miss Jensen. She's just stated that she's been aboard all night.' He turned back to the girl. `Is that right?'

  `Yes,' she said deliberately, `all. night.'

  `But, Karen ' began Vivian hastily.

  'All night!' she repeated, `and unless you think I've been over to wherever-it-is, doing a bit of smuggling, I think you'd better go!'

  Muir nodded to his men, and the boarding officer sighed deeply.

  `Well, so long, Mr. Vivian, thanks for letting us look round,' was all he said, but his eyes were angry, and cheated.

  Vivian watched the three officers swing aboard their own craft, and was suddenly aware of Muir by his side.

  `Apparently I was wrong,' he said quietly.

  `About a lot of things, I should think,' answered Vivian coldly, and as Muir turned to board his boat, he held out his hand. `Here, you dropped this a while back!'

  In his palm lay the Customs identity card. `So you see, I did know, and it's not likely I'd try anything stupid, knowing that, is it?'

  Muir's face was white, and he took the card unbelievingly, and stared at it.

  The boats moved apart, the Customs launch thrashing the water into a froth with her screws, as she manoeuvred clear, but Muir didn't look back.

  Vivian stood quite motionless, his heart still pounding, and his scalp tingling with sweat.

  Jeez! They've gone!' Cooper peered round the side of the hatchway.

  `Oh, go to hell, and get on with your fishing!' he shouted, and stamped back to the wheelhouse.

  Karen still stood by the door, but quite limp, as if her anger had drained the life out of her. At the sound of his approach, she lifted her face, and he saw that her eyes were brimming with tears, She didn't resist, as he pulled her gently against his chest, and held her tightly to him.

  `It's over,' he said quietly. `I hadn't realized it meant so much, that you were so involved.' The words sounded inadequate.

  Her answer was muffled by his. jersey against her mouth. `It's all right, Philip, I didn't know what I wanted, when I met him.'

  `You mean, you do now?' He spoke the words carefully, but his quick breathing betrayed his feelings, and she raised her tear-stained face to his, and he noticed the soft fragrance of her hair, the gentle curve of her lashes.

  `Yes, I know now.' There was emphasis on each word. `And I do not think that you will ever let me down!'

  Then her hands were about his shoulders, and he felt her body pressing against him. Her eyes were misty, and he felt her tremble. The next instant, he pressed his mouth to hers,

  and a great excitement seemed to sweep down and engulf him, and send his senses racing wildly. They broke apart, and for a moment they just stood looking at each other, as if for the first time.

  `My darling,' his voice sounded weak. 'Everything'll be all right now!'

  Her small hands moved quickly and excitedly, to her hair, her throat, and plucked at her jacket, like two tiny, blind animals, lost and bewildered.

  `Please, Philip,' she gasped. `We must be calm!' But all at once she was laughing, and tears of happiness washed away the strain and the worry from her face. `Oh, Philip, I'm so very happy now!'

  He stepped towards her again, but she shook her head violently, her hair shimmering in the sunlight. `No, Philip, I am going to your cabin to have a little cry.' She paused, dropping her eyes. `And when I come up again, I will try to behave like a lady!' And blowing him a kiss, she was gone.

  For a while, he didn't know what to do. He stared blankly at the chart, ran his hand over the compass, and without thinking, twisted his pipe in his grasp, until with a sharp snap, the stem broke in two pieces. He laughed aloud, his face boyish, and split into an uncontrollable grin.

  Vi
vian steadied Seafox on her new course, and brought her head round until it pointed towards the grey finger of Ramsgate breakwater. A black Starboard Hand buoy bobbed and curtseyed in salute, as the sturdy, little yacht passed close by, and Vivian peered out along the deck, to make sure that Morrie was getting the mooring lines laid out. He noticed that the decks, so recently running with spray, were now dry, and steaming slightly in the bright sun, which bathed the sea, and the red-roofed houses on the shore, with warmth. The clouds had vanished with the gale, and even the surge of the tide seemed humble in its presence.

  As he squinted against the glare, and pulled down the peak of his cap to shield his eyes, he noted the multicoloured throng of people on the harbour walls. So like Torquay, he thought, and his heart warmed at the prospect of taking Karen there, to be ..free, and away from all complications.

  His eyes softened, as he saw Karen, bright and beautiful against the blue sky, her hair rippling in the sea breeze, the skirt flapping at her brown limbs. She gripped the guardrail, and laughed back at him, her teeth white and gleaming,

  A shadow fell across the boat, as he, swung her under the lee of the high wall. His watchful eye followed the tiny figure of the harbourmaster waving him to a free berth, and as the boat glided easily into the sheltered water, lie stopped the engines, and allowed her to nose alongside the green, slimy pilles. The fenders squeaked, and several willing hands took the warps, he cut the power, and listened to the engines shudder to silence, and at once, the sounds of the outside world, of laughter, and distant music, filtered down to him. He patted the wheel affectionately, and stepped off the grating,

  'Well done, old girl,' he murmured. `Now to get the rest of this affair straightene

  Karen was chatting and smiling with the harbourmaster, who was writing out the berthing ticket. He grinned a welcome.

  'Hallo. Mr. Vivian, nice to see you again.'

  He quickly arranged for fresh fuel and water watched the man climb up the long ladder to the harbour