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Behind them, the troop carrier was already moving across the beach and Donner turned to see the bow doors of the LCT close. A moment later, it was reversing into the harbour.

'They don't waste much time, do they?' he said.

Endicott shook his head. 'They're good lads.'

Donner nodded and lit a cigarette. 'A beautiful boat there in the harbour. She is yours, I understand?'

Endicott smiled. 'The pride of my life. Built by Akerboon, steel hull, twin screws. She'll do twenty-five knots any day of the week.'

'Ah, an enthusiast.'

'Something like that.'

They topped the hill above the harbour and emerged on to the great sloping plateau that was the western half of the island. Donner could see the station at once, a scattering of flat-roofed concrete huts built to withstand the fury of the storms that swept in across this small island too frequently for comfort. Beyond them, a row of ugly concrete mounds faced the Atlantic.

'The missile pens,' Endicott said. 'As you can imagine, this place makes an ideal range, but because of the extremes of weather, we're compelled to site the weapons themselves underground.'

'You have been having some real success with Firebird, I hear?'

Endicott grinned. 'Even the Americans are going to have to sit up and take notice of that little baby.'

As the staff car slowed behind them, he released the brake and drove on across the barren landscape towards the scattered buildings.

'I'm afraid we don't have a great deal to offer in the way of comfort,' he said as he drew up outside the officers' mess, 'but I've seen worse.'

The staff car pulled up alongside and as they went up the steps into the mess, Murdoch joined them. It was pleasant enough inside, like similar places the world over. A scattering of armchairs, magazines on the tables, the Queen's portrait behind the bar.

'Whisky suit you, Colonel?' Endicott asked, and when Donner nodded, turned to the barman. 'The rest of my staff will be along in a moment. Only five officers here, of course. We've a very small establishment.'

Donner accepted the whisky, moved to the window and looked out to where his men were dismounting from the troop carrier, each with a canvas military hold-all in his hand. A young Battery Sergeant-Major was talking to Souvorin as the senior German N.C.O., obviously telling him where they were to be quartered.

Donner turned. 'I'd like my men to hang on for a few minutes if you don't mind, Major. I want a word with them before they disperse.'

'Certainly, Colonel,' Endicott replied and at that moment his officers started to arrive.

There were three subalterns, a full lieutenant and Endicott's second in command, a Captain Harrison. Donner was introduced to each in turn and the younger officers particularly were obviously rather nervous.

'When do we start work, Major?' Donner asked when they were all on their second drink.

'Oh, I thought the day after tomorrow, Colonel,' Endicott said. 'That should give your men plenty of time to get acclimatised.'

Donner moved to the window and nodded to Souvorin. Two of his men walked up the steps, entered the mess and closed the door behind them.

'No, I'm afraid the day after tomorrow will be far too late, Major,' Donner said.

The two men at the door unzipped their holdalls and produced machine pistols. There was a moment of stunned silence and Endicott put down his glass and moved forward.

'Look here, what in the hell is this?'

'We are taking over, Major Endicott,' Donner said. 'And if you know what's good for you, you'll co-operate.'

'You must be mad,' Endicott said angrily and he turned towards the bar. 'Jackson--ring through to the Orderly Room.'

Donner took the Mauser from his pocket, cocked it and shot Endicott through the back of his head at short range, killing him instantly, blood and brains spattering across the floor as he fell.

The obscenity of his death was somehow intensified by the almost complete lack of sound from the silenced Mauser and one of