Atlantic Fury by Hammond; Innes

antagonism.
    â€˜Adams isn’t here. I’m asking you, Mr Morgan.’
    â€˜I’m a meteorologist. I feed the pilot information. He makes his own decisions.’
    â€˜I know that, I’m asking your opinion.’
    Cliff shrugged. ‘It’s dicey – but then that’s to be expected when you’re flying to a place like Laerg.’ The native lilt was stronger now.
    â€˜The decision was made in your office, I believe. Did Major Braddock order Adams to fly?’
    â€˜How could he? It’s the pilot’s decision – always. You know that.’
    â€˜Very well. I will put it another way. Would Captain Adams have flown if there hadn’t been an injured man to bring out?’
    â€˜No.’
    Colonel Standing sighed and reached for his slide-rule, running it back and forth in his hands. ‘Two men’s lives and an expensive machine …’ He was staring at the slide-rule as though calculating the risk in terms of a mathematical equation. ‘Captain Fair-weather has all he needs, hasn’t he?’ This with a quick glance at his Adjutant. ‘I mean the hospital is still functioning, isn’t it?’
    â€˜Aye, but it’s little better than a first-aid post now, sir. And Fairweather’s not a surgeon.’
    â€˜He’s still a member of the medical profession. If he has to operate, then he’s got the means and we can link him up with Scottish Command and give him a surgeon’s guidance.’ He dropped the slide-rule. ‘Have them contact Adams. He’s to cancel the flight and return immediately. Now what’s the landing craft position? Stratton is the more experienced of the two. Where’s Eight-six-one-o?’
    â€˜She passed through the Sound of Harris about nine-thirty this morning. If the tide’s right, she should be beaching any moment now.’
    â€˜In the South Ford.’
    â€˜Aye. They’re double-banked, you see. If you remember, sir, it was to cope with just this eventuality that Major Braddock arranged for a stand-by detachment based on the old range. Four-four-Double-o cleared from Laerg on the same tide, about three hours after Stratton. She’d have been in Leverburgh by now if it hadn’t been for a wee bit of trouble with one of the oil pumps. It slowed her down for a while.’
    â€˜How far out is she – an hour, two hours?’
    â€˜Two I should think. I’ll check if you like.’
    â€˜No, there’s no time.’ Standing’s fingers were drumming gently on the desk again. ‘It makes no difference anyway. She’s the nearest. A pity it’s Kelvedon and not Stratton. But it can’t be helped. Have Signals contact him: Four-four-Double-o turn round and make back to Laerg at full speed to pick up a casualty.’
    â€˜It’ll be eight, maybe nine hours before she gets there. A falling tide then and it’ll be dark.’
    â€˜They should be able to run their bows in, pick the man up and winch off again. There won’t be much of a sea running in the Bay. He’ll just have to do the best he can. See if you can speak to Kelvedon yourself, explain the urgency.’
    Ferguson hesitated. ‘You wouldn’t have a word with Bob Fairweather first? Maybe the man’s condition …’
    â€˜No, Ferguson. Captain Fairweather’s concern is with the injured man. I have to consider what the position will be if Major Braddock and Captain Adams are injured, perhaps killed, and their machine written off. All right?’
    â€˜Yes, sir.’
    â€˜Contact Adams first. Then have a word with Kelvedon and get Four-four-Double-o turned round as soon as you can.’
    â€˜She’ll still be loaded.’
    â€˜Of course she will. That can’t be helped. Now get moving. Every minute counts.’ He watched his Adjutant leave. Then when the door was shut he turned to me. ‘You’ve come at an awkward time.’ His