Passage by Night - Jack Higgins [61]
'A couple of good bursts left in each, that's all.'
'Then we'll have to make sure they count. When we hit, you go over for'ard. I'll jump from the stern.'
He picked up his submachine gun. As he turned, Anna laid a hand on his arm. 'What about Papa and me?'
'You stay down here,' he said. 'And I mean that. We've got enough to worry about up top.'
She waited for a word, some sign, but he gave her none. The fingers that gripped his arm so tightly relaxed and she turned away.
'Don't worry about us, son,' Papa Melos said. 'We'll be fine.'
Manning went up the companionway quickly and passed along the deck to the wheelhouse. The sound of the engines was only a muffled gentle throbbing as they moved steadily forward.
He altered course a half-point and stood at Seth's shoulder, his eyes straining into the opaque mist. He was aware of a sudden gust of wind through the shattered window, the boat heeled a little and the grey curtain was snatched away.
The Cuban boat was a couple of hundred yards to starboard, her colours standing out vividly against the grey morning. Behind her, the sea heaved over the reef, breakers and white water stretching into the mist. Manning slapped Seth on the shoulder.
The whole boat shuddered and lifted suddenly as he took her forward at full power. The noise of the engines deepened into a steady roar and Manning ran along the deck to the stern, his submachine gun ready.
A sailor in a black jersey stood in the waist of the Cuban ship, coiling a rope. As they emerged from the mist, he glanced over his shoulder and cried out in alarm. He ran along the deck and started to climb the short ladder to the wheelhouse.
Manning was aware of Orlov crouching at the rail, his machine-pistol ready, and then the gap seemed to shorten rapidly. Seth cut the engines and the Grace Abounding veered sharply to starboard as he swung the wheel, grazing the stern of the other vessel.
Manning went over the rail, slipped on the wet deck and stumbled to one knee. At the same moment, Charlie emerged from the companionway firing a machine-pistol from the hip. Manning caught him with a full burst that drove the native backwards into the cabin.
The engines coughed once as the man in the wheelhouse desperately tried to start them. Orlov ran along the windows with two short bursts. There was a terrible cry and the man collapsed in the doorway, one arm dangling down to the deck.
Manning approached the head of the companionway and called in Spanish, 'Better come out.'
Orlov joined him and stood on the other side of the door. 'Last warning,' Manning called.
A stream of bullets splintered the edges of the doorway and he jumped back out of harm's way. Orlov turned and vaulted over the rail onto the deck of the Grace Abounding. He dropped to his stomach, waited till the two vessels bounced a few feet apart in the heavy swell and emptied his machine-pistol through one of the saloon portholes. There was a sharp cry and the firing stopped abruptly.
He jumped for the deck of the Cuban ship and rejoined Manning. 'Somehow I get the impression that's it.'
'Which means we're too late,' Manning said. 'They're already on their way.' He handed the submachine gun to the Russian. 'Cover me. I'm going down.'
Charlie sprawled across the last half-dozen steps, his fingers hooked into talons. There was blood everywhere and Manning stepped across him into the saloon.
Viner lay on his face, his jacket charred and still smouldering, blood soaking steadily through. He had obviously received Orlov's final burst full in the back.
When Manning turned him over, the eyes were wide open and staring as if the German found difficulty in focusing properly. He moistened his lips and said faintly. 'I told her she should have killed you before we left.' He shook his head, an expression of wonderment on his face. 'I can't believe it. Survival's become something of a habit with me since the war.'
'Until Maria took a hand in the game,' Manning said deliberately.
'The point hasn't escaped