The Predators by Harold Robbins Page A

Germans and the French are at war. But Germany is not at war with the Irish Republic. So our ship is safe to cross the Atlantic.”
    “But we’re going to Quebec,” Jean Pierre said. “That’s part of France, isn’t it?”
    “Not anymore,” Armand said as he shook his head. “It’s British now.”
    “But they all speak French!”
    “History. It’s a never-ending story,” Armand said. “Come, let’s go to the cabin and get washed up. Soon we will have dinner and after dinner we will be able to see the Rock of Gibraltar as we sail into the Atlantic.”
    It was ten o’clock when they passed the Rock of Gibraltar, and then Armand put him to bed. They had two small adjoining rooms. He didn’t know what time it was when the clanging ship alarm awakened him. He ran to the door to Armand’s room. He banged on the door. There was no answer. “Armand! Armand!” he shouted. Still, no answer. Quickly, he pulled his trousers and shirt on. He could hear people running through the corridors. He ran out of his room, but he could not understand what they were saying because everyone was speaking English. He ran toward the barroom. One of the sailors picked him up and took him into the dining room. Another sailor quickly slipped a life jacket over his head. The sailor gestured with his hand. “Stay here!”
    Jean Pierre looked around the room. There were many people waiting in the dining room, all wearing life jackets, some seated, some standing, waiting for instructions from the staff. They were told only that everyone should stay in the dining room. There was nothing to fear; they should not forget that this was an Irish vessel and Ireland was not at war with anyone.
    Jean Pierre was not afraid. He was still looking around for Armand. Not seeing him anywhere, he slipped out by one of the small doors leading to the deck. He had come out underneath a staircase. He was hidden in the shadows. Looking out, he saw two large searchlights covering the whole side of the Molly Machree. He turned and saw where the searchlights were coming from: a small German warship.
    He stayed under the staircase and watched a motorboat bring a number of German sailors over to the Molly Machree. The Irish captain saluted them as they came aboard and the officer saluted the captain. They then shook hands. They were all speaking in German, so Jean Pierre didn’t understand what had been said. The Irish captain nodded and made an order to his men. Then those men and the German sailors went off together. Once they had gone the Irish captain and the German officer went to the bar and had a few drinks.
    Jean Pierre sat under the staircase. He was able to understand that the Irish and the Germans must have an agreement. But he was still angry about Armand. When his father learned about Armand’s behavior, that would be the end of Armand. His father would destroy him. He heard some noise from the deck. The Germans were back carrying cases of things. Wine, whiskey, food. Jean Pierre couldn’t see exactly what they were taking, but it seemed to keep them happy.
    An hour passed before the Germans had transported their goods and had disappeared into the darkness of the Atlantic Ocean. Then slowly Jean Pierre stretched and listened to the engines of the Molly Machree begin softly. Jean Pierre stayed under the staircase another hour as the other passengers returned to their cabins. Then he stood up and went back to the barroom.
    The barman was the only one left. He stared down at Jean Pierre. “What the hell are you still doing here?” Then he realized that the child didn’t understand him. But he was a proficient barman. He spoke a few languages, one of them French. He repeated his question in French.
    Jean Pierre was happy to find someone who could speak his language. He began to tell him what had happened from the time that he heard the alarm.
    The barman then called the purser, who also spoke French. The purser said he would take Jean Pierre to his