November-Charlie (7 page)

Staci slipped her hand into Lou’s. “They’ll send us back,” she said quietly. “We should never have stayed here last night.”

“We’ll be fine.”

“I hope so.”

“We will.”

The next twenty minutes while the customs officers searched the boat, seemed to last an eternity. They went through everything - packed bags, toiletries, and under the mattresses. Then they asked Jim to take them down to the hold to check any cargo.

When Jim came back onto the bridge alone, Lou looked anxiously at him.

“It’s OK,” he said. “Just the registry check and then we’re done.”

“Are they still here?” Staci asked.

“No, but we can’t leave until they say so.”

“What if Nichola calls the police and they look for the boat? How long does this check take?”

“Fifteen minutes they said. I suggest we just chill out and act normal.”

“Act normal?” Staci looked at him. “Jim, we’re trying to leave the country.”

“Not illegally, kiddo. Trust me. People who are running away do not walk up to people in uniform and say, here’s my passport, now please can I leave the country.”

“How come you’re so calm?” Staci asked.

“I’m not,” Jim replied. “But if you show that you are nervous, it gives them cause to ask more questions.”

After what seemed ages, Lou checked her watch. “It’s been forty-five minutes. What’s keeping them?”

“Patience, woman. All good things come to those that wait.”

The radio sprang into life. “Alpha-Juliet-Tango-Kilo this is customs. Are you receiving, over?”

Jim grabbed the mike and pressed the transmit button and responded. “Alpha-Juliet-Tango-Kilo receiving, over.”

“You are clear to leave. Have a pleasant trip. Over.”

“Roger, thank you. Over and out.”

Staci giggled. “Your call sign is a
girl’s
name?”

Jim rolled his eyes. “It’s my name in the phonetic alphabet. It’s not my fault J is Juliet now, is it? Staci Paula Kirk would be Sierra Papa Kilo, so it works both ways.”

She tilted her head. “What about Lou?”

Jim winked. “She’d be Lima Whiskey Bravo.”

Lou scowled. “Charming. And I thought Willow was bad enough as a middle name.” She went out on deck and caught the ropes the dockhand tossed her. Rolling them up, she stowed them beneath the tarpaulin and gave the bridge the thumbs up.

Avon
pulled away from the quay as she went back up to the bridge. The sun shone in through the rear windows, making it feel really warm.
Avon
slid past the cargo terminals on her way to the sea.

5

Lou sat on the couch on the bridge with Staci, watching as the various boats, ships and catamarans passed them by.

A big naval vessel lay tied up at one dock. A helicopter landed on its deck and several men in flight suits jumped out to be met by officers in uniform. Lou sighed.

“There’s just something about a man in uniform, isn’t there?” she said wistfully.

“If you insist. I’ve never seen the attraction myself,” Jim said.

Lou laughed. “I should hope not.”

A huge cruise liner at another dock completely dwarfed them as they sailed past. Full of holidaymakers hanging over her sides, she gracefully floated as men loaded cargo aboard her.

Lou heard a siren and turned to look behind them. A flashing light identified the fast approaching boat as police. Four armed officers stood on deck and the loud hailer instructed them to pull over.

“Jim? What are you going to do?”

“Do what they want.”

“You can’t.”

“I have to.” Jim began to slow the boat and moved it to rest at the side of the waterway.

The police boat shot past and one of the officers waved his thanks.

Lou released a sigh of relief.

“For a moment I thought...”

“We all did,” Jim said. He pulled out into the main waterway again and followed in the wake of the police boat.

“Wonder where they’re going?” Staci said.

“Somewhere in a hurry. Maybe they’re late for lunch,” Lou said.

“With guns?”

“Maybe they’ve had lunch, and they’re off to kill the cook,” Jim said grinning.

“There it is,” Staci pointed. “It’s slowing down.”

Suddenly an almighty explosion fragmented the police boat into a mass of flames and smoke. Shattered timbers and twisted metal flew everywhere.

Staci screamed.

Jim swerved to avoid the debris.

“Jim, there are people out there. We have to help them.” Lou said.

“There are other people to help.” Jim said. “We’d be caught. My parents…”

“We’re closest. We can’t just leave them.”

“There are people on the quay, look, they’re already stripping down.” Jim’s face showed his indecision. He angled the boat towards the mess.

“Jim, those men are dying out there. Slow down. I’m going to help.”

“I know. Law of the sea, we have to help. Go on, then.” His expression was grim. “I’ll hold
Avon
steady. Staci doesn’t swim well enough. It’s up to you.”

As
Avon
slowed to a crawl, Lou dived over the side. A strong swimmer, she soon reached the site of the accident. She was the first person there, as she had correctly told Jim they were nearer than the people on shore. She reached the first body. Turning him over, she realized immediately that he was dead.

Swallowing hard, she turned away and swam across to the next one. His arm very obviously broken, he was treading water in a great deal of pain. Grabbing hold of him, she put her arm around him and swimming one handed, she towed him over to the quay. She pushed him into the waiting arms of the bystanders.

Turning around she swam back towards the inferno. Noticing a hand amidst the flames, she took a deep breath and dived under the water.

The water was illuminated with an eerie glow.

Something gleamed beneath her, possibly a face, but she wasn’t sure.
I’ll be back
she promised. Surfacing, she grabbed the unconscious officer and dragged him below the water. As soon as they were past the fire she surfaced and once again pulled a victim towards the quay.

Strong arms reached down and pulled him ashore.

Quickly, Lou turned and swam back towards the fire. Diving below, she went back to where she’d seen something. She stroked her arms down and touched the officer’s face.

His eyes opened.

Lou pulled at the timbers on him. They gave slightly.

Knowing he would die if he didn’t breathe soon, she pressed her mouth to his, and filled his lungs with the last of her air. She surfaced and took a huge breath. Diving down again she pulled at the timbers and they moved almost enough. Again, she gave him the last of her air before surfacing.

For a third time, she took a deep breath and dived down. She pulled as hard as she could. This time they shifted enough for her to pull the officer free. She grabbed him tightly and hauled him to the surface. There she adjusted her grip and swam. Once he was ashore Lou turned to go back again, but was stopped. She struggled against the man.

A strong vice-like grip held her arms. “There are others there now, miss,” a voice told her.

Lou shivered. She looked down at the last man she’d pulled out. “Is he OK?” she asked.

“He’ll be fine,” answered the man in uniform kneeling next to him. He looked up from tending to him and continued, “Thanks to you. What’s your name?”

Lou shivered again and someone put a blanket round her. “Louisa Benson,” she said automatically. “I couldn’t leave them to die. I had to do something. It was pure chance I found him. He was trapped under the water. I had to do something.”

She looked round, searching for
Avon
. There were so many people she couldn’t see the water, never mind a friendly face. “I have to go.” She pushed the blanket off and shook free of the arms around her.

“Where are you going?” someone asked her.

“I have to go. The others are waiting.” She pushed her way through the crowd to the edge of the dock and looked for any sign of Jim, Staci or
Avon
. She couldn’t see it anywhere and for one awful moment, she thought they left her. Everything spun round and then went dark. Lou lost her balance and just before she hit the ground, two strong arms caught her.

“Easy does it, love. Just sit here for a minute. Let’s have some room here people.”

Someone sat her down and pushed her head between her knees. Cool fingers grasped her wrist and checked her pulse.

“You’ll be fine,” the voice told her. “My name’s Lieutenant Jacobs. I’m a naval doctor. Just sit quietly for a minute. Then, I’ll check you out properly in the ambulance. What’s your name?”

“Louisa.”

“OK, Louisa. What day is it?”

“Monday June second.”

“How old are you?”

“Sixteen,” Lou lied. She wasn’t so out of it as to give her true age. “I have to go.” She tried to get up but her legs wouldn’t obey.

Lieutenant Jacobs pushed her back down. “Not so fast.”

“They’ll be wondering where I am. I must go.”

“Let me check you over first. What’s the name of your boat?”

“
Avon
.”

“I’ll have someone tell them where you are. What’s their call sign?”

“Alpha Juliet Tango Kilo.”

“Consider it done.”

Lou let him carry her into the ambulance. She endured the tests, hoping she would be allowed to go.

“You’re fine,” Lieutenant Jacobs told her. “I would prefer to take you into hospital though.”

“I can’t,” Lou insisted. “You said I was all right. I really do have to go.”

“OK,” Lieutenant Jacobs said. He helped her out of the ambulance and turned to one of his other patients.

Lou stood on the quay wondering where she went from here. A voice behind her made her turn.

“Miss Benson?” A police officer stood behind her and her heart fell into her boots.

“Yes, officer?” she managed to reply. She started to shake, part with the cold and part with fear of being stopped and sent back home.

“Your boat is moored further down. I’ll take you to it, but first there is someone who’d like a word with you.” He put a blanket round her and guided her through the crowd to another ambulance. A stretcher was being loaded into it. At their approach, the paramedics paused. The figure turned slightly and Lou recognized the face as the third man she had pulled from the wreck of the boat.

He pulled down his oxygen mask and smiled at her. “I just wanted to say thank you to the person who saved my life.”

“I just did what anyone would have done.”

“If you hadn’t found me when you did, I’d be dead right now. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Lou shivered again.

“Better get you into dry clothes, miss.” Her escort turned her away and guided her towards the end of the quay. “You are a very brave girl. Those men owe you their lives.”

“Anyone would have done it,” Lou insisted.

“You did it. Those on the dock were still calling the emergency services when you brought the first man out. They could have died had it not been for you.”

They reached the spot where
Avon
waited, and Jim stood on deck.

“Thanks.” Lou said as the policeman helped her aboard.

He smiled. “It’s us who should be thanking you. You saved three lives out there today.” He looked at Jim. “I’d get her warmed up quickly, sir. She’s a brave girl. The medics have checked her over and she’s fine.”

“Will do. Thanks for bringing her back, Officer. Go and get changed, Lou.” Jim’s brusque tone stifled her joy.

Lou hurried inside and down to her cabin. She had risked this whole venture. But those men were probably fathers and brothers, wasn’t this a rescue mission?

The boat began moving before she’d even stripped off her wet things. She changed quickly, returned to the bridge, and gratefully accepted the hot coffee Staci offered, wrapping her hands around it. Despite her jeans and jumper, she was still cold.

Jim glared at her and then turned his attention back to the controls. “How can I trust you when you go do stupid things like that?”

“I couldn’t watch those people die. You of all people should understand that.”

He shook his head. “You have no idea why I’m mad, do you?
You
could have been killed.”

“At least I did something.” Lou yelled back.

“You just didn’t think, did you, Lou? You never do. Just dive straight in and never mind the consequences or anybody else. I couldn’t just leave the boat to drift and dive in!”

“There wasn’t time to think. Those men were dying. I had to go and help. No one else did, Jim. No one.”

Staci started to cry. “Please, don’t argue. Nothing bad happened did it?”

“More by luck than judgment,” Jim muttered. He looked across at Lou. “I’m sorry. It’s just we were so close to getting away and, well, you know how I feel about you...”

“Yeah, hate my guts.”

“Sometimes…actually you’re like a sister to me,” he said gruffly.

“Definitely hate my guts.”
A sister? I don’t want to be your sister…

“Friends?”

Lou nodded. “Yeah, friends. I’m going outside.” She climbed down the ladder to the deck.

Deefer found the outside ladder impossible and so he bounded down the steps to the galley and out that way. He flopped down next to Lou. As Jim increased speed, the wind blew in her face, drying her hair. The last of the docks slipped away and
Avon
slid smoothly into the open sea.

Lou stroked the dog. “We’ve left port. This is the sea.”

Staci joined them. “We made it. We are at sea,” she said excitedly.

“Yeah, all at sea,” Lou said glumly.

Staci gave her a strange look. “Are you OK?”

“Fine,” Lou said, hugging her knees and looking out to sea as her eyes started to fill with tears. Jim was right. She was an idiot.

“That was a really brave thing you did back there,” Staci told her.

“No, it wasn’t. It was stupid.”

“You saved three lives. That’s not stupid. Lou, you were right. We were the closest to the accident. We had to help. We weren’t caught, were we? Ignore Jim, he’s just a worrywart. Lou, there are three guys back there who would be dead right now if it weren’t for you.”