Shout at the Devil - Smith Wilbur (лучшие книги .TXT) 📗

"Well, why didn't you destroy them while you had the chance?" Listen, friend, how do you reckon to destroy twenty tons of steel? swallow it perhaps?"

"Do you realize just what a threat this ship will be once it is seaworthy?" Joyce hesitated. "I tell you now in strict confidence that there will be an invasion of German East Africa in the very near future. Can you imagine the havoc if Blitcher were to slip out of the Rufiji and get among the troop convoys?"

"Yeah all of us have got troubles."

"Major." The captain's voice was hoarse with the effort of checking his temper. "Major. I want you to do a reconnaissance and locate the Blucher for us." Is that so?" boomed Flynn. "You want me to go galloping round in the delta when there's a Maxim behind every mangrove tree. It might take a year to search that delta, you've got no idea what it's like in there." "That won't be necessary." Joyce swivelled his chair, he nodded at the Portuguese lieutenant. "This officer is an aviator."

"What's that mean?"

"He is a flyer."

"Yeah? Is that so good? I did a bit of sleeping around when I was young still get it up now and then." Joyce coughed.

"He flies an aircraft. A flying-machine."

"Oh!" said Flynn. He was impressed. "Jeer! Is that so?" He looked at the Portuguese lieutenant with respect.

"With the co-operation of the Portuguese army I intend conductin an aerial reconnaissance of the Rufiji delta.

"You mean flying over it in a flying-machine?"

"Precisely." "That's a bloody good idea." Flynn was enthusiastic. "When can you be ready?"

"What for?"

"For the reconnaissance."

"Now just hold on a shake, friend!" Flynn was aghast.

"You not getting me into one of those flying things." Two hours later they were still arguing on the bridge of HMS. Renounce, as Joyce conned her back towards the land to deposit Flynn and the two Portuguese on the beach from which his launch had picked them up that morning.

The British cruiser steamed over a sea that was oil-slick calm and purple blue, and the land lay as a dark irregular line on the horizon.

"It is essential that someone who knows the delta flies with the pilot. He has just arrived from Portugal, besides which he will be fully occupied in piloting the machine. He must have an observer. "Joyce was trying again.

Flynn had lost all interest in the discussion, he was now occupied with weightier matters.

"Captain," he started, and Joyce recognized the new tone of his voice and turned to him hopefully.

"Captain, that other business. What about it?"

"I'm sorry I don't follow you."

"That gin you promised me, what about it?" Captain Arthur Joyce R.N. was a man of gentle. when.

His face was smooth and unlined, his mouth full but grave, his eyes thoughtful, the streaks of silver grey at his temples gave him dignity. There was only one pointer to his true temperament, his eyebrows grew in one solid continuous line across his face; they were as thick and furry across the bridge of his nose as they were above his eyes. Despite his appearance he was a man of dark and violent temper.

Ten years on his own bridge, wielding the limitless power and authority of a Royal Naval Captain had not mellowed him, but had taught him how to use the curb on his temper.

Since early that morning when he had first shaken Flynn O'Flynn's large hairy. paw, Arthur Joyce had been exercising every bit of restraint he possessed now he had exhausted it all.

Flynn found himself standing speechless beneath the full blaze of Captain Joyce's anger. In a staccato, low-pitched speech, Arthur Joyce told him his opinion of Flynn's courage, character, reliability, drinking habits and sense of personal hygiene.

Flynn was shocked and deeply hurt.

"Listen.. he said.

"YOU listen," said Joyce. "Nothing will give me more pleasure than to see you leave this ship. And when you do so you can rest content in the knowledge that a full report of your conduct will go to my superiors with copies to the Governor of Mozambique, and the Portuguese War Office."

"Hold on!" cried Flynn. Not only was he going to leave the cruiser without the gin, but he could imagine that the wording of Joyce's report would ensure that he never got that medal. They might even withdraw his commission. In this moment of terrible stress the solution came to him.

"There is one man. Only one man who knows the delta better than I do. He's young, plenty of guts and he's got eyes like a hawk." Joyce glared at him, breathing hard as he fought to check the headlong run of his rage.

"Who?"he demanded.

"My own son," intoned Flynn, it sounded better than sonin-law.

"Will he do it?"

"He'll do it. I'll see to that," Flynn assured him.

"It's as safe as a horse and cart," boomed Flynn, he liked the simile, and repeated it.

"How safe is a horse and cart when it's up in the clouds?" asked Sebastian, without lowering his eyes from the sky.