Part 4 (1/2)

”Look, skipper,” I said. ”How about letting me do it?” I could have kicked myself a moment later, but the words were out before I could stop them. He had me acting n.o.ble, and that trait isn't one of my strong suits.

He smiled. ”You know, Marsden,” he said, ”I was expecting that.” His voice was oddly soft. ”Thanks.” Then it became dry and impersonal.

”Request denied,” he said. ”This is my party.”

I s.h.i.+vered inside. While I'm no coward, I didn't relish the thought of slamming around at the end of a duralloy cable stretching into a nowhere where there was no inertia. A hair too heavy a hand on the throttle in Cth would crush the man on the end to a pulp. But he shouldn't go either. It was his responsibility to command the s.h.i.+p.

”Who else is qualified?” Chase said answering the look on my face. ”I know more about maneuver than any man aboard, and I'll be controlling the s.h.i.+p until the last moment. Once I order the attack I'll cut free, and you can pick me up later.”

”You won't have time,” I protested.

”Just in case I don't make it,” Chase continued, making the understatement of the war with a perfectly straight face, ”take care of the crew. They're a good bunch--just a bit too eager for the _real_ Navy--but good. I've tried to make them into s.p.a.cemen and they've resented me for it. I've tried to protect them and they've hated me--”

”They won't now--” I interrupted.

”I've tried to make them a unit.” He went on as though I hadn't said a thing. ”Maybe I've tried too hard, but I'm responsible for every life aboard this s.h.i.+p.” He picked up his helmet. ”Take command of the s.h.i.+p, Mr. Marsden,” he said, and strode out of the room. The ”Lachesis”

shuddered to the recoil from the port turrets. Eighteen torpedoes left, I thought.

We lowered Chase a full hundred feet on the thin strand of duralloy. He dangled under the s.h.i.+p, using his converter to keep the line taut.

”You hear me, skipper?” I asked.

”Clearly--and you?”

”Four-four. Hang on now--we're going up.” I eased the ”Lachesis” into Cth and hung like glue to the border. ”How's it going, skipper?”

”A bit rough but otherwise all right. Now steer right--easy now--aagh!”

”Skipper!”

”Okay, Marsden. You nearly pulled me in half--that's all. You did fine.

We're in good position in relation to 'Amphitrite.' Now let's get our signals straight. Front is the way we're going now--base all my directions on that--got it?”