thousands of miles, without any guarantee of recompense, but merely in
order to be in a position to offer assistance, should that have become
necessary. Nicholas glanced across the aisle at Duncan Alexander.
He sat at ease, as though he were in his box at Ascot. His suit was of
sombre gunmetal grey, but on him it seemed flamboyant and the I Zingari
tie as rakish as any of Cardin's fantasies.
Duncan turned that fine leonine head and looked directly at Nicholas
again. This time Nicholas saw the deep angry glow in his eyes as when a
vagrant breeze fans the coals of an open fire. Then Duncan turned his
face back towards the President, and he balanced his thrusting square
chin on the clenched, carefully manicured fingers of his right fist,
Furthermore, we have taken into consideration the transportation of the
survivors from the site of the striking, to the nearest port of succour,
Cape Town in the Republic of South Africa. The President was summing up
strongly in favour of Ocean Salvage. It was a dangerous sign; so often
a judge about to deliver an unfavourable decision prefaced it by
building a strong case for the loser and then tearing it down again.
Nicholas steeled himself, anything below three million dollars would not
be sufficient to keep Ocean Salvage alive.
That was the barest minimum he needed to keep Warlock afloat, and to put
Sea Witch on the water for the first time. He felt the spasm of his
stomach muscles as he contemplated his commitments - even with three
million he would be at the mercy of the Sheikhs, unable to manoeuvre, a
slave to any conditions they wished to set.
He would not be off his knees even.
Nicholas squeezed Samantha's hand for luck, and she pressed her shoulder
against his.
Four million dollars would give him a fighting chance, a slim margin of
choice - but he would still be fighting hard, pressed on all sides. Yet
he would have settled for four million, if Duncan Alexander had made the
offer. Perhaps Duncan had been wise after all, perhaps he might yet see
Nicholas broken at a single stroke.
Three. Nicholas held the figure in his head. Let it be three, at least
let it be three. This Court has considered the written reports of the
Globe Engineering Co., the contractors charged with the repairing and
refurbishing of Golden Adventurer, together with those of two
independent marine engineering experts commissioned separately by the
owners and the salvors to report on the condition of the vessel. We have
also had the benefit of a survey carried out by a senior inspector of
Lloyd's of London. From all of this, it seems apparent that the vessel
sustained remarkably light damage. There was no loss of equipment, the
salvors recovering even the main anchors and chains - Strange how that
impressed a salvage court. We took her off, anchors and all, Nick
thought, with a stir of pride.
Prompt anti-corrosion precautions by the salvors resulted in minimal
damage to the main engines and ancillary equipment - It went on and on.
Why cannot he come to it now? I cannot wait much longer, Nicholas
thought.
This Court has heard expert opinion and readily accepts that the
residual value of the Golden Adventurer's hull, as delivered to the
contractors in Cape Town can be fairly set at twenty-six million US
dollars or fifteen million, three hundred thousand pounds sterling, and
consideration of the foregoing, we are further of the firm opinion that
the salvors are entitled to an award of twenty percent of the residual
hull value - For long cold seconds Nicholas doubted his hearing, and
then he felt the flush of exultation burning on his cheeks.
In addition, it was necessary to compute the value of the passage
provided to the survivors of the vessel - It was six - six million
dollars! He was clear and running free as a wild albatross sweeping
across the oceans on wide pinions.
Nicholas turned his head and looked at Duncan Alexander, and he smiled.
He had never felt so strong and vital and alive in his life before. He
felt like a giant, immortal, and at his side was the vibrant young body
pressing to him, endowing him with eternal youth.
dismissal and turned to speak briefly with his counsel who sat beside
him. He did not look at Nicholas, however, and there was a waxen cast
to his skin now as though it had a fine sheen of perspiration laid upon
it, and the blood had drained away beneath the tan.
Anyway, another few days and you'd probably have started to find me a
boring dolly bird, or one of us would have had a heart attack. Samantha
smiled at him, a pathetic, lopsided little grin, nothing like her usual
brilliant golden flashing smile. I like to quit while I'm still ahead.
They sat close on the couch in the Pan Am Clipper Lounge at Heathrow.
Nicholas was shocked by the extent of his own desolation. It felt as
though he were about to be deprived of the vital forces of life itself,
he felt the youth and strength draining away as he looked at her and
knew that in a few minutes she would be gone.
Samantha, he said. Stay here with me. Nicholas/ she whispered huskily,
I have to go, my darling. It's not for very long but I have to go. Why?
he demanded.
Because it's my life. ,make me your life. She touched his cheek, as
she countered his offer.
I have a better idea, give up Warlock and Sea Witch forget your icebergs
and come with me. You know I cannot do that. No/ she agreed, you could
not, and I would not want you to. But, Nicholas, my love, no more can I
give up my life. All right, then, marry me/he said.
Why, Nicholas? So I don't lose my lucky charm, so that you'd damn well
have to do what I tell you. And she laughed delightedly and snuggled
against his chest. It doesn't work like that any more, my fine
Victorian gentleman. There is only one good reason for marrying,
Nicholas, and that's to have babies. Do you want to give me a baby?
What a splendid idea. So that I can warm the bottles and wash the
nappies while you go off to the ends of the oceans - and we'll have
lunch together once a month? She shook her head. We might have a baby
together one day - but not now, there is still too much to do, there is
still too much life to live. Dammit. He shook his head. I don't like
to let you run around loose. Next thing you'll take off with some
twenty-five year-old oaf, bulging with muscles and, You have given me a
taste for vintage wine, she laughed in denial. Come as soon as you can,
Nicholas. As soon as you have done your work here, come to Florida and
I'll show you my life. The hostess crossed the lounge towards them, a
pretty smiling girl in the neat blue Pan Am uniform.
Dr. Silver? They are calling Flight 432 now. They stood and looked at
each other, awkward as strangers.
Come soon/ she said, and then she stood on tiptoe and placed her arms
around his shoulders. Come as soon as you can. Nicholas had protested
vigorously as soon as James Teacher advanced th
e proposition.
I don't want to speak to him, Mr. Teacher. The only thing I want from
Duncan Alexander is his cheque for six million dollars, preferably
guaranteed by a reputable bank - and I want it before the 10th of next
month. The lawyer had wheedled and lolled Nicholas along.
Think of the pleasure of watching his face - indulge yourself, Mr. Berg,
gloat on him a little. I will obtain no pleasure by watching his face,
off hand I can think of a thousand faces I'd rather watch. But in the
end Nicholas had agreed, stipulating only that this time the meeting
should be at a place of Nicholas choice, an unsubtle reminder of whose
hand now held the whip.
James Teacher's rooms were in one of those picturesque.
stone buildings in the Inns of Court covered with ivy, surrounded by
small velvety lawns, bisected with paved walkways that connected the
numerous blocks, the entire complex reeking with history and tradition
and totally devoid of modern comforts. Its austerity was calculated to
instil confidence in the clients.
Teacher's rooms were on the third floor. There was no elevator and the
stairs were narrow, steep and dangerous.
Duncan Alexander arrived slightly out of breath and flushed under his
tan. Teacher's clerk surveyed him discouragingly from his cubicle.
Mr. who! he asked, cupping his hand to one ear. The clerk was a man as
old, grey and picturesque as the building. He even affected a black
alpaca suit, shiny and greenish with age, together with a butterfly
collar and a black string tie like that last worn by Neville Chamberlain
as he promised peace in our time.
Mr. who? and Duncan Alexander flushed deeper. He was not accustomed to
having to repeat his name.
Do you have an appointment, Mr. Alexander? the clerk inquired frostily,
and laboriously consulted his diary before at last waving Duncan
Alexander through into the spartan waiting-room.
Nicholas kept him there exactly eight minutes, twice as long as he
himself had waited in the board room of Christy Marine, and he stood by
the small electric fire in the fireplace, not answering Duncan's
brilliant smile as he entered.
James Teacher sat at his desk under the windows, out of the direct line
of confrontation, like the umpire at Wimbledon, and Duncan Alexander
barely glanced at him.
Congratulations, Nicholas/ Duncan shook that magnificent head and the
smile faded to a rueful grin. You turned one up for the books, you
truly did. Thank you, Duncan. However, I must warn you that today I
have an impossible schedule to meet, I can give you only ten minutes.
Nicholas glanced at his watch.
Fortunately I can imagine only one thing that you and I have to discuss.
The tenth of next month, either a transfer to the Bermuda account of
Ocean Salvage, or a guaranteed draft by registered airmail to Bach
Wackie. Duncan held up his hand in mock protest. Come now, Nicholas -
the salvage money will be there, on the due date set by the Court.,
That's fine/ Nicholas told him, still smiling. I have no taste for
another brawl in the debtors court. I wanted to remind you of something
that old Arthur Christy once said - Ah! of course, our mutual
father-in-law. Nicholas said softly, and Duncan pretended not to hear;
instead he went on unruffled.
He said, with Berg and Alexander I have put together one of the finest
teams in the world of shipping. The old man was getting senile towards
the end. Nicholas had still not smiled.
He was right, of course. We just never got into step. My God,
Nicholas, can you imagine if we had been working together, instead of
against each other. You the best salt and steel man in the business,
and I I'm touched, Duncan, deeply touched by this new and gratifying
esteem in which I find myself held. You rubbed my nose in it, Nicholas.
Just as you said you would. And I'm the kind of man who learns by his
mistakes, turning disaster to triumph is a trick of mine. 'Play your
trick now, Nicholas invited. Let's see you turn six million dollars
into a flock of butterflies., Six million dollars and Ocean Salvage
would buy you back into Christy Marine. We'd be on equal terms., The
surprise did not show on Nicholas, face, not a flicker of an eyelid, not
even a tightening of the lips, but his mind raced to get ahead of the
man.
Together we would be unstoppable. We would build Christy Marine into a
giant that controlled the oceans, we'd diversify out into ocean oil
exploration, chemical containers. The man had immense presence and
charm, he was almost - but not quite - irresistible, his enthusiasm
brimming and overflowing, his fire flaring and spreading to light the
dingy room, and Nicholas studied him carefully, learning more about him
every second.
Good God, Nicholas, you are the type of man who can conceive of a
venture like the Golden Dawn or salvage a giant tanker in a sub-zero
gale, and I am the man who can put together a billion dollars on a wink
and whistle.
Nothing could stand before us, there would be no frontiers we could not
cross. He paused now and returned Nicholas scrutiny as boldly, studying
the effect of his words. Nicholas lit the cheroot he was holding, but
his eyes watched shrewdly through the fine blue veil of smoke.
I understand what you are thinking, Duncan went on, his voice dropping
confidentially. I know that you are stretched out, I know that you need
those six big M's to keep Ocean Salvage floating. Christy Marine will
guarantee Ocean Salvage outstandings, that's a minor detail. The
important thing is us together, like old Arthur Christy saw it, Berg and
Alexander. Nicholas took the cheroot from his mouth and inspected the
tip briefly before he looked back at him.
Tell me, Duncan, the asked mildly, in this great sharing you envisage,
do we put our women into the kitty also? Duncan's mouth tightened, and
the flesh wrinkled at the corners of his eyes.
Nicholas/ he began, but Nicholas silenced him with a gesture.
You said that I need that six million badly, and you were right. I need
three million of it for Ocean Salvage and the other three to stop you
running that monster you have built. Even if I don't get it, I will
still use it to stop you. I'll slap a garnishee order on you by ten
minutes past nine on the morning of the eleventh. I told you I would
fight you and Golden Dawn. The warning still stands. You are being
petty/ Duncan said. I never expected to see you join the lunatic
fringe. There are many things you do not know about me, Duncan. But,
by God, you are going to learn - the hard way. Chantelle had chosen San
Lorenzo in Beauchamp Place when Nicholas had refused to go again to
Eaton Square, He had learned that it was dangerous to be alone with her,
but San Lorenzo was also a bad choice of meeting-ground.
It carried too many memories from the golden days. It had been a family
ritual, Sunday lunch whenever they were in town. Chantelle, Peter and
Nicholas laughing together at the corner table, Mara had given them the
corner table again.
Will you have the osso bucco? Chantelle asked, peeping at him over the
top of her menu.
Nicholas always had the osso bucco, and Peter always had the lasagne, it
was part of the ritual, I'm going to have a sole. Nicholas turned to the
waiter who was hovering solicitously. And we'll drink the house wine.
Always the wine had been a Sancerre; Nicholas was deliberately
down-grading the occasion by ordering the carafe.
It's good. Chantelle sipped it and then set the glass aside. I spoke
to Peter last night, he is in the san with flu, but he will be up today,
and he sent you his love., Thank you/ he spoke stiffly, stilted by the
curious glances from some of the other tables where they had been
recognized. The scandal would fly around London like the plague.
I want to take Peter to Bermuda with me for part of the Easter holidays/
Nicholas told her.
I shall miss him - he's such a delight. before Nicholas waited for the
main course to be served he asked bluntly, What did you want to speak to
me about? Chantelle leaned towards him, and her perfume was light and
subtle and evocative.
Did you find out anything, Nicholas? No/he thought to himself. 'That's
not what she wants. it was the Persian in her blood, the love of
secrecy, the intrigue. There was something else here.
I have learned nothing/ he said. If I had, I would have called you. His
eyes bored into hers, green and hard and searching. That is not what
you wanted/he told her flatly She smiled and dropped her eyes from his.
No/ she admitted, it wasn't. she had surprising breasts, they seemed
small, but really they were too big for her dainty body. It was only
their perfect proportions and the springy elasticity of the creamy flesh
that created the illusion. She wore a flimsy silk blouse with a low
lacey front, which exposed the deep cleft between them. Nicholas knew
them so well, and he found himself staring at them now.
She looked up suddenly and caught his eyes, and the huge eyes slanted
with a sly heart-stopping sexuality. Her lips pouted softly and she
moistened them with the tip of her tongue.
Nick felt himself sway in his seat, it was a tell-tale mannerism of
hers. That set of lips and movement of tongue were the heralds of her
arousal, and instantly he felt the response of his own body, too