The Dangerous Years (38 page)

‘Then they’re bloody fools, Rumbelo!’ Kelly sat up with a jerk. ‘Because no matter how
they
look at it, the Admiralty will decide it’s mutiny. Who’re the troublemakers?’

Rumbelo hesitated and Kelly gestured. ‘For God’s sake, man, I’ve got a few names myself! Let’s compare them and, if they’re worth it, perhaps we can stop them making asses of themselves. Anybody been at them?’

‘No, sir. They’re just–’ Rumbelo’s blunt potato face went pink with embarrassment ‘–well, sir, they’re just bloody desperate. They’re mostly decent men with families and I don’t think in the end they’ll do anything. There’s only one I’m worried about.’

‘Big chap? Red hair?’

‘Yes, sir.’ Rumbelo gave a wry grin. ‘Leading Seaman Doncaster. He was in Russia with us.’

‘Think he’s an agitator?’

‘A makee-learn I’d say, sir.’

‘Can we do anything about him?’

Rumbelo rubbed his nose. ‘Not at the moment, sir,’ he said. ‘I’ve got a few ideas, mind, but I’d rather keep ’em till the right moment.’

Kelly nodded and sloshed whisky into a glass. ‘Better swallow that. And thanks for coming along. I’ll leave it to you. What about the others?’

Rumbelo put the glass down. ‘They’ll not move without Doncaster and I think I can attend to him.’

As Rumbelo vanished, the loneliness came back. Command was the loneliest of all pinnacles and somehow Kelly wasn’t reassured by the absence of a family. He hadn’t seen his father for ages, his mother was preoccupied with her own affairs, and he had no wife and no children. His cabin was empty of family souvenirs and, for the first time in his life, he was terribly aware of the gap left in it by the fact that there was no longer Charley.

He sent for the first lieutenant and went over the situation. ‘If there’s trouble, Number One,’ he said, ‘it’ll come tomorrow when the capital ships will be preparing to sail.’ He frowned. ‘I wish we were at sea with
Warspite
and
Malaya
.’

As they talked, they heard a burst of cheering across the water.

‘
Rodney
, sir,’ the first lieutenant said. I think it’s some sort of code. It’s being answered by
Valiant
.’

‘Probably keeping each other’s spirits up,’ Kelly decided. A lunatic idea entered his head and he made his mind up abruptly. ‘Number One, I’m going to shift berth.’

The first lieutenant’s eyebrows shot up. ‘At this time of night, sir?’

‘I’m going to claim
Malaya
’s position. It’s right on the end of the line and since
Rodney
seems to be the activating ship it might be useful to be a long way away from her.’

The first lieutenant looked worried, but Kelly’s mind was made up. ‘Everybody’s aboard,’ he pointed out. ‘Inform the engineer commander we shall need steam for twelve knots.’

‘He’s not going to like it, sir.’

‘He’s not being asked!’ Kelly snapped. ‘Let’s have a signal off to the flagship. Inform them we have a foul berth and will have to move if we’re to leave with the fleet tomorrow. Tell them we’ll drop a buoy and suggest divers go down to investigate. If they don’t grant permission, then we’ll do a bit of Nelson’s blind eye work and misread their signal.’

‘Sir, this could end your career.’

Kelly frowned. ‘If there’s trouble tomorrow,’ he said, ‘and we’ve done nothing about it, it could end my career, anyway.’

The following morning dawned fine, clear and windless with a warming sun. Corporal O’Hara appeared with hot water for Kelly to shave.

‘The hands have been having a bit of trouble forrard, sir,’ he announced calmly as if he were giving the result of the St Leger. ‘They didn’t want to turn to, but it seems they have in the end.’

Kelly’s heart started to thump. He’d taken a colossal risk the previous night. With Gorgeous George attending to the affairs of his sick father – and probably thankful for it – and Captain Masterson studying the newspapers and doubtless being crafty enough to watch how the wind blew before he arrived, the whole responsibility for the ship had been on his shoulders. But
Rebuke
’s crew had been caught unawares. They had not been prepared to start work after being ashore, particularly in the mood of the moment, but, because their plans, whatever they were, had not included an unexpected move from one berth to another at short notice, they had been at a loss.

Before moving, he had carefully weighed up everything he knew about ships like
Rebuke
, and tried to behave as if moving such huge vessels was something he did every day of his life. She was underpowered, he knew, and took a lot of stopping, and his stomach had been knotted with anxiety as she had advanced down the Firth, apparently lazily but in a manner which to him seemed to indicate she was about to gallop into the harbour of Lossiemouth.

Now, as he went on deck to take a look round, the great vessels of the Atlantic Fleet stood out sharp and grim against the paler tones of the land. He had managed to get little sleep, and the night had been filled chiefly with wondering what would happen when divers went down at the berth he’d left and found nothing there. Reasons in writing, even concocted with the aid of Boyle and the first lieutenant, would hardly produce anything satisfactory and he began to wish he hadn’t been such a damn fool.

His bath was ready when he returned to his cabin. Outwardly there appeared to be no signs of unrest in the ship, and so far everybody had behaved with respect. In the wardroom, however, there was an air of people waiting for something to happen and he was surprised to get a cup of coffee. Everybody seemed gloomy, but the first lieutenant reported that so far everything was normal. When he went on deck again, the work of hoisting in boats ready for sea was under way. The first lieutenant’s face was grave.

‘There seems a lot of unwillingness,’ he warned quietly. ‘They keep disappearing to the messdecks on the flimsiest of excuses and it’s remarkable how many men have reported sick this morning.’

‘I wish to God we could get the signal,’ Kelly said. ‘The longer we hang about the worse it’ll get.’

Accommodation ladders were hoisted inboard and booms unshipped. Here and there officers and petty officers were giving a hand on Kelly’s instructions, to make sure the work went ahead, but whenever there was a pause, groups of men gathered on the forecastle, their eyes everywhere, wary, suspicious and doubtful. Staring at the sky, Kelly found himself wishing for sleeting rain. There’d have been no gatherings on deck but for the warm sunshine.

‘Keep the RNR men busy,’ he advised the first lieutenant. ‘They’re doing well, and they set a good example.’

As they worked, they caught the distant sound of cheering from the direction of
Rodney
. Heads came up and everybody aboard
Rebuke
stared down the line of great ships.

‘That’s a damn bad sign, Number One,’ Kelly said.

The first lieutenant had pulled his telescope from under his arm and clapped it to his eye.
‘Repulse
sails first,’ he pointed out. ‘Then
Valiant
. Then
Nelson
,
Hood
and
Rodney
, followed by us.’ He stared silently, a figure of tense expectancy. ‘Nothing seems to be happening in
Rodney
,’ he announced. ‘
Hood
appears to be behaving normally. Nothing much happening in
Valiant
or
Repulse
either.’

‘What about the cruisers, Number One?’

‘Not much in
Adventure
. In
Advance
they look like a lot of ants but they don’t seem to be working. Nothing in
York
except a crowd on the forecastle.
Norfolk
– they appear to be waiting to see what happens elsewhere.
Dorsetshire
– it’s hard to say.’

The first lieutenant shifted his stance and Kelly saw him stiffen. ‘Hello,
Repulse’
s under way, sir.’

‘No sign of movement from
Valiant
or
Rodney
?’

‘Not a sign. The foredecks are full of men but nobody seems to be doing any work.’

‘We’ll give ’em ten minutes, Number One. No more. Thank God we’re a long way away.’

As he returned to his cabin, Rumbelo was waiting for him.

‘I think, sir,’ he announced, ‘that if we don’t waste too much time, it’ll be all right. They’re looking for Leading Seaman Doncaster to tell them what to do.’

‘And Leading Seaman Doncaster?’

‘He’s in the storeroom aft, sir.’

‘What’s he doing there?’

‘Sleeping. He’ll be all right when he wakes up except for a bruise on his jaw.’

Then Kelly noticed that Rumbelo’s right hand was wrapped in a handkerchief.

‘Surely to God, Rumbelo–?’

Rumbelo gave a sheepish grin. ‘I’m afraid so, sir. Perhaps I could be excused duty so I can keep an eye on him.’

Kelly frowned. ‘Well, it’s a bit bloody unorthodox,’ he agreed, ‘but it might work. If it doesn’t, then we’re both sunk.’

It was Rumbelo’s turn to frown. ‘If this business doesn’t sort itself out, sir, there’ll be no navy and in that case I’m damned if I care.’

Unable to sit still, Kelly went back on deck.

‘Nothing happening, sir,’ the first lieutenant reported.
‘Repulse
about to pass out of the Firth.’

Kelly made up his mind. ‘We’ll follow her,’ he said. ‘We won’t wait for the others. Prepare to weigh. And let’s have it carried out fast, Number One. Make a signal to the flagship but don’t wait for an answer. So far, we still have ’em with us and with a bit of luck we’ll keep ’em with us long enough to get to sea.’

He turned. The bridge appeared to be properly manned and voice pipes were being answered. The forecastle party was in place.

‘Weigh!’

This was the crucial moment. If something went wrong now the ship would not go to sea and that would probably mean the end of George Kelly Maguire, RN. There’d be no medals for this affair and precious little credit. Nobody who failed to move his ship was going to get a good report. When the news got around of what was happening there’d be the biggest uproar since Jutland and at the subsequent enquiry there’d be a lot of people who’d be found wanting.

‘Up and down, sir. Anchor aweigh.’

Kelly’s breath came out in a loud gasp. ‘Thank God, Number One,’ he said. He turned to the officer of the watch. ‘Half ahead both. We’ll take station behind
Repulse
.’

It seemed strange to be carrying out sub-calibre firing with only
Repulse
for company, and at midday the recall came.

They returned warily, picking up
Warspite
and
Malaya
on their way in. Since their night’s berth was now occupied, they moved down the line to a berth beyond the flagship and nearer the pier. The tide was on the turn and the ships had swung with their bows towards the south, so that
Rebuke
had to pass in front of their forecastles.
Nelson
was a mass of cheering men chanting slogans as she slipped past. There was some jeering, too, and it was possible to pick up the words ‘Scabs’ and ‘Blacklegs’, and the faces of the men on
Rebuke
’s forecastle grew bleak. As they dropped anchor and the cable party was dismissed, Kelly became aware of Leading Seaman Doncaster on the forecastle. He seemed to be trying to make a speech, but the men about him seemed to be unwilling listeners, and finally someone threw a wet cloth. As it hit Doncaster in the face, there was a burst of laughter. It was short and sharp but it had a relieved sound, like the mob at Kiukiang and for roughly the same reason.

Kelly’s expression slipped. ‘I think we’re going to be all right, Number One,’ he said.

Boyle appeared. ‘Signal from the flagship, sir. Captain to repair on board as soon as possible.’

‘Here we go, Number One. Tell O’Hara to lay out my best uniform, Seamus, and let’s have the captain’s barge tarted up, Number One. If there’s going to be trouble, we’ll not have it for appearances.’

The normal movement of boats seemed to be unimpeded, and as they put out booms and gangways they began to arrive from other ships. The first lieutenant appeared in Kelly’s cabin as he was changing.

‘Only seventy-five men appeared in
Rodney
when “Special Sea Duty Men” was piped,’ he announced, not without an air of triumph. ‘
Hood
fell in and carried on. Only POs and a few men in
Valiant
.
Adventure
– they thought they were going to pull it off, but they didn’t quite.
Dorsetshire
,
York
and
Norfolk
all seemed to have been watching each other and nothing was done at all. The men were addressed by captains and other officers but it seems without avail.
Valiant
nearly made it. They got the Marines to hoist in boats but then they just walked away from the falls. Thanks to junior officers they were still able to report “Ready for sea”, but then the Chief reported that he couldn’t keep the stokers below, and they had to suspend all preparations and pipe hands to breakfast.
Rodney
, nothing. In some ships, they’re keeping the ship clean and working normal safety routines. In others, not even that. I gather the admiral’s signalled London that they’d better do something quick-sharp or they’ll have no navy left. Oh, and in
Advance
an officer was pushed overboard!’

There was a strange brooding silence about the flagship when Kelly stepped on the deck. The admiral greeted him with a grim face.

‘Ah, Commander Maguire. I hope you have your reasons for shifting berth last night.’

Kelly handed them over and the admiral glanced at them.

‘I’d hardly call them satisfactory,’ he observed tartly. ‘Needless to say, I’ve made no response to your suggestion that divers should investigate. Why didn’t you report yourself ready for sea before disappearing?’

‘I felt it wiser not to, sir. I ordered the anchor to be weighed before anybody could argue. It worked, sir.’