Kleber's Convoy (23 page)

The Flag Captain said, ‘I think the weather has a lot to do with it, sir.'

The Flag-Lieutenant came on to the bridge followed by the chief yeoman of signals.

‘You look pleased, Flags‚' said the Vice-Admiral. ‘Thinking of that run ashore?'

The Flag-Lieutenant waved a signal and grinned ‘Just received, sir. From
Bluebird
by W/T.
Camden
Castle
and
USS
John
F.
Adams
have been sighted by the Fifty-Seventh Escort Group. They're bringing them in through the swept channel now.'

‘Splendid.' The Vice-Admiral smiled warmly at the little group of men around him. ‘Make a signal to
Camden
Castle
and
John
F
.
Adams.
“Welcome and well done.”'

He moved to the far side of the bridge and stood alone, thinking of what lay ahead. The thirty-odd ships of the previous convoy had completed unloading in Murmansk and were awaiting the return journey. It was the Vice-Admiral's task to get those empty ships back to the Clyde, Today was Saturday. The south-bound convoy would sail on Wednesday. Until then his warships and men would rest briefly in the icy desolation of the Kola Inlet.

By now the German High Command would have ordered reinforcements to the Kola patrol line to replace their losses. In five days it would all begin again: the struggle with the weather and the enemy. It was difficult to say which was the worst.

The task is only half done, he reflected, and in that moment recalled Drake's message to Walsingham after Cadiz:
There
must
be
a
beginning
to
every
great
matter
but
the
continuing
unto
the
end
until
it
be
thoroughly
finished
yields
the
true
glory.

The Antonov Project

Bannister's Chart

The Chalk Circle

Death of a Supertanker

Kleber's Convoy

The Moonraker Mutiny

The Road to the River

Running Wild

The Sea Break

Sea Fever

Smoke Island

The Soukour Deadline (originally known as Ultimatum)

Towards the Tamarind Trees

Two Hours to Darkness

The White Schooner

Yashimoto's Last Drive

The Zhukov Briefing