Cast No Shadow, Peter Sharp [books to get back into reading txt] 📗

Man?” He pointed to a similarly old, though non-matching armchair. Kelly strode across the room and settled himself into the comfortable chair just as a light tap on the door heralded Megan’s entrance. She carried a tea tray, which was deposited on the small occasional table in front of the two men. Kelly noticed the detail of the table for the first time; it was exquisitely crafted, but in appalling condition, the surface scratched and ring marked.

As if reading Kelly’s mind, the Commodore gestured towards the table. “Chippendale,” he said matter-of-factly, then looking at Kelly as he poured the tea, he added, “Beautiful things need to be used Kelly, not put on a pedestal or locked in a museum.”

Megan was beaming at the two men as she left the room to the sound of their thanks, and Kelly, observing the Commodore watching her, wondered.

“Now then,” said the Commodore quietly, sipping his tea, his attitude at once business-like. “I hope you don’t mind briefing me. First, let’s discuss your report. Quite an adventure, eh?”

“Yes Sir,” Kelly replied. “It certainly had its moments. I have a mixture of feelings about it all really. Long periods of boredom penetrated by moments of high excitement. It was quite an experience.”

“Yes, I can believe it,” the Commodore murmured. “I had a good friend in the Royal Marines during the last big exercise.” Kelly smiled, realising he was talking about the First World War. “Lieutenant Laker. Well, he told me they have a saying in the marines, ‘Hurry up and wait!’ Pretty well sums up warfare, don’t you think?”

Kelly nodded, amused. “Certainly my experience so far,” he confirmed.

The Commodore was silent for a moment, apparently lost in thought. He stared into the distance, before his eyes eventually settled on Kelly. “Killed at Zeebrugge. Very brave man. I was on one of the escort frigates.” Kelly gazed into the grey watery eyes. Eyes that had seen so much suffering and death, but eyes that could smile and look kindly on others.

The Commodore was instantly himself again. “Tell it in your own words, Old Chap.” He settled back in his armchair.

Kelly related the narrative once again, skipping over his amorous affair with Sybilla. He would have imagined the Commodore to be asleep as he lay back in his chair with his gnarled hands cupped on his chest and eyes almost closed, had it not been for the occasional interjections and questions.

“That was damn close!” Pause. “How could you tell?” Pause. “Did you suspect?”

And so it went on.

When Kelly had completed his narrative, the Commodore remained silent and motionless for about two minutes. Kelly was about to speak when the Commodore shifted into a more upright position. “What do you know about heavy water?” he asked.

“Naturally, I’ve read up on it since my return,” Kelly replied. “It seems it is a type of water in which the hydrogen atoms combine with oxygen atoms to form water molecules that have a neutron as well as a proton. Occurs naturally in nature, but is extremely rare.” He paused momentarily, then continued, “I can’t for the life of me see how this can produce or enhance an explosion?”

“I have a little more information in that respect, however it’s classified, so I can’t enlighten you at present,” the Commodore told him. “Our boffins think there is nothing in this. ‘Speculative experimentation’ they call it. I’m not so sure. I rather think Jerry is on to something big.” The Commodore spoke seriously, his face grave. “I may need to have a word in a few very carefully chosen ears.”

Kelly had no doubt that if the Commodore had a word in someone’s ear, then that someone would certainly listen.

“Thank you, Kelly. Very clear report.” Jenkins eyed the man opposite him before adding, “You’ve done very well, Dan.”

Kelly was flattered by the use of his first name.

“You’ll get a mention for this, you know!”

Again, Kelly felt flattered and a thrill ran through him. A mention in dispatches was a singular honour indeed.

“Have you had a spot of leave?” the Commodore enquired.

“Yes, thank you, Commodore,” responded Kelly. “I’ve been stood down for two weeks. I’ve had one week already, but I’m ready to go again. Bored, to tell you the truth.”

The Commodore chuckled. “Don’t be in too much of a hurry Dan. It’s a stressful business we’re engaged in. It’s good sometimes to put your feet up and watch the world go by. It gives your internal clock a chance to rewind. The war won’t come to a grinding halt because Dragan Kelly and Archie Jenkins have decided not to play for a week or two!” He smiled wryly before adding, “Unfortunately!”

“I hope you won’t misunderstand this, Commodore. Please be sure that if I am sent to a ship on convoy duty tomorrow, I will go willingly and will give one hundred percent …” He paused, before adding, “but there has to be a better way than this current mass slaughter, some form of deterrence perhaps?” The Commodore surveyed Kelly carefully for a moment before answering.

“Very perceptive of you, Kelly,” he observed. “Deterrence will become a particularly important and perhaps overused concept after this war. Sadly, that will simply lead to an arms race.” The Commodore responded to Kelly’s raised eyebrows by stretching out his arms, the palms towards Kelly and the fingers spread wide.

“Look,” he said, “I have five bombs.” He glanced at his right hand as he said this, then changed his gaze to his left hand, “and you have five bombs. Who has the deterrent?”

“Neither,” said Kelly, stating the obvious. “We have a balance.”

“Precisely!” roared the Commodore. “Despite the fact that you and I are the very best of international friends and allies, and that I would never do anything to harm you or your people, I’m afraid, Old Chap, that I have this uneasy feeling that you might want to harm me. So,” He drew out the word ‘so’ in order to maximise effect and then continued, “to prevent you attacking me, I’m