The Final Affair - McDaniel David - Страница 31

<i>“Sshure. I can bea’ Larry.”</i>

“Two out of three,” said Dr. Kaja. “But I’m improving with practice.M

ladju’s sputter,ing cackle sounded again and he rolled over onto his back, kicking delightedly amid sheets of water. as Napoleon and Illya stared speechless at him and their commander-in-chief.

Alexander Waverly’s communicator chirped discreetly shortly before midnight. He awakened instantly and slipped a hand under his pillow to answer it.

“Waverly here.”

MGood morning, sir,” said Miss Cramer’s voice. “I thought you should know at once that the NASA photograph of the island you specified checks against the map —the buildings are a11 in the right places, except for three extra quonset huts. I’ve also had Section Four prepare a preliminary report on it, and they are working on a detailed study which may include a hydrographic report from soundings made in 1886; Thrush has owned the island since 1904. Would you like to hear the prel imi nary report or shall I send you a hardcopy?”

“Fax it to Djakarta. They can ship it on the jet which will bring the rest of our equipment here. What did you find out about suanarine forces available?

Did Tadashi Miruko agree?”

“He offered two hundred fifty troops, but his sub fleet is in Manila, thirteen hundred nautical miles from Thrush Island. I took the liberty of calling the naval base at Darwin, which is only about seven hundred. Under the circumstances. they were willing to give us four landing subs and two hundred men. With an U.N.C.L.E. Battalion Command Module, you’ll have almost five hundred troops.”

“That’s not too many. Have you arranged to fly Miruko’s army to Darwin?

And have you heard from Mike Hoar?”

“Colonel Hoar requires two weeks’ notice, but as a personal favor he’s offered seventy experienced troops if you’ll coyer their transportation and the usual <i>per diem.</i> How soon will you want to strike? I haven’t tied anything to a schedule, pending your decision.u

“I will want to strike as soon as all the troops can be brought to bear.

How long will that take?”

“Forces can be joined in Darwin within thirty-six hours. and the subs will take three days to Uffa.”

“To where? We’re attacking Fapa Tui.”

“I beg your pardon? At 122°48’ by 7°31’? Just a moment… Apparently the Indonesian government gave it a native name in ‘62. It was Dutch in the earliest records —used as a major transfer point in the slave trade between 1830 and 1865. It was called Uffa then. An English group was there for a few years before it was abandoned in 1887, and Thrush apparently set up there about twenty years later., All this is covered in that preliminar:/ report, along with a blow-up from the recon photo.”

“Hmm. I see.”

“The new construction on the island had been tentatively identified by Military Intelligence as a top-secret Indonesian military installation, but they didn’t have anything definite, and the Indonesian government denied it.

They have refused to participate in this operation, by the way. but the U.N.

Security Council convinced them not to interfere as long as you don’t carry the battle off the island or bring any forces near the mainland.”

“Satisfactory. I see no reason to delay —mobilise at once. Effect armaments and security preparations according to the memorandum I left you.

Put all this in motion in my name. and call me back in ten hours.”

In the next few days, mighty forces shifted silently, focussing on an obscure, almost forgotten speck of land lost in the southern ocean, while Illya, Napoleon and Joan cleaned their guns and did roadwork along the wide dark beach at low tide, alternately running a mile and jogging a mile each way every afternoon. Mr. Waverly reclined beneath a wide sunshade shared with ladju, Dr. Kaja kibitzing. across a four-foot checkerboard. just awash at the edge of the pool. Evenings were spent over maps and charts of Thrush Island or working out in an improvised gym. Terse conferences were held over a juryrigged radio link through Djakarta to Ambon with the commanders of the attack.

forces; coded coordinate systems pinpointed locations on their copies of the charts. The full plan of attack was worked out during these final days.

A heavy cargo jet, unable to land at the small Makasar field, parachuted the Squid II minisub into the ocean half a mile offshore from Dr. Kaja’s lab on Thursday afternoon. ladju gave Napoleon and Illya a tandem ride out to where it bobbed low in the water, and exhibited tremendous curiosity about the sub, especially its finless propulsion and steering system. fure than twice the size of Mr. Simpson’s first model, which they had employed in a similar but smaller operation against an insular Thrush base, it was nearly identical in design: a fat grey teardrop with a ring of Coanda jets pointing out at right angles to its longitudinal axis just ahead of the bulge. Silent, invisible to sonar while in motion, capable of forty-five knots submerged. it would carry the four of them to rendezvous with the main assault force, covering the three hundred miles in under eight hours with no effective limit on functioning depth; the ocean was not deep enough to crush the pressure hull.

ladju was impressed by its speed and range. having often swum circles around conventional submarines; he discussed it with Napoleon and Illya as they checked it out until the ruddy equatorial sunset faded into the sea.

ladju’s part in the operation would be simple but essential —only a dolphin could approach the silent detectors without alerting the island’s defenses, and after the transfers of personnel from one craft to another Md been accomplished eighty miles beyond the ring of listening devices, ladju would lead two or three of his friends towards the island. accompanying the Squid II as far as the outer defense line, closely followed by the troop subs…

The modern calendar-clock on the stone wall had an anachronistic look. like a wristwatch on a knight. It showed 1830, 22 August, when two alarm lights went on almost simultaneously and a previously silent loudspeaker clattered to life.

Two reclining Thrush guards snapped to alert as the Duty Tech hurried to check an illuminated diagram.

“What’s that?” one of them ‘lsked. “Some kind of fish?”

“Uh-huh.” said the Tech. .Couple of dolphins. I’d say. But there’s more —or something. Just a minute… They’re on two adjacent stations. That’s funny.”

“More than one of ‘em?”

“Yeah. 247 and 248 are three-quarters of a mile apart. and both of ‘em have something right up close making noise.”

“Why dolphins?”

“I dunno. It <i>sounds</i> like dolphins. Maybe I’d better tape it. Dr.. Egret will be able to tell. In fact.n he added. as a switch started reels turning.

“I think I’II call her right now. My orders are to report to her if anything unusual happens, and this is unusual as far as I can tell. The Council had held a few quick sessions. and they see anmies from U.N.C.L.E. in every cloud fonnation.”

“Me too,” said the Guard. “Call Dr. Egret.”

The dolphins were still at it and the tapes continued to roll when Dr.

Egret arrived fifteen minutes later. She listened intently for a few moments.

and then said. “They’re taking turns. One of them talks for a minute. then the other one. How regular has that been?”

“Uh, I couldn’t tell the difference. \vhat are they talking about?”