The Collectors Book Six: Black Gold (The Collectors Series 6) Read Free Page A

in the wardroom but if you’re hungry I’ll call my steward.”
                  I’ll wait but I need a shower.”
                  “Use my bathroom and I’ll have the steward find you a set of clothes. I have a sub-lieutenant of similar size to you. I’m off to my bridge.”
                  “Thanks for spotting us.”
                  “It's what we sailors do.”
                  Combs and his navigator leant on the chart table as another satellite fix marked the chart.
                  “Captain, sir, I have a small but good radar contact at ten miles. Recommend alter course to close.”
                  “Officer of the Watch. Agreed. Place lookouts with night vision binos on the wings.”
                  “Roger, sir.”
    @@@
    The sea lifted and dropped the lifeboat with a gentle regularity. On board everyone, thankful to be alive, slept.
                  Daniel Carter awoke with a start. “Ahoy there.” The deep voice of a man repeated.
                  He rolled off his seat as he orientated himself. In two moves he unclipped the access door and peered out. The beam of a powerful lamp blinded him. “Turn that fucking light off.”
                  The rigid raider from HMS Decoy bounced alongside. “We’ve been looking for you,” said the coxswain.
                  “Been here all the time,” said Daniel. “You couldn’t give us a tow, could you? Our engine’s buggered.”
                  “No probs, sir. Get one of your men to tie this line forward and we’ll be on our way. As we speak, the rest of your crew are asleep in one of our dining rooms.”
                  Daniel jumped the gap between the two craft and sat in the stern.
                  The coxswain heaved a life jacket at him. “Sorry, sir, but you must wear this or the skipper will nail my bollocks to the ship’s side.”
                  “I know the feeling.”
                  Heads peered from the craft, all eyes on HMS Decoy .
                  Once on board, Lieutenant Mainwaring, his eyes circled by dark rings, escorted Daniel to the bridge. “Captain, sir. Daniel Carter, Chief Officer of MV Goliath.”
                  “Commander Combs.” He held out his hand which Daniel shook. “Pleased we found you in one piece.”
                  “So am I.  I appreciate it’s the middle of the night but I must contact my company.”
                  “I wouldn’t worry. Your Andy Young has been speaking to them. Arrangements to get you home are in hand. His memory of times and ship’s position gave my team a head start on finding you.”
                  “Andy’s one of the best. Any news on Goliath?”
                  Combs shook his head. “If the pirates are true to form your ship will be on its way to an unregistered scrap-yard where thousands of slave workers will carve it into alien pieces. I’m told by those who know, your AIS ceased when they released most of your crew.
                  “My galley has hot soup and fresh bread rolls for you and your men. I suggest you eat, shower and sleep. In fifteen hours I land you in Durban.”
                  “The soup and a shower sound good. Where do I go?”
                  “In the wardroom, my steward will take you. You’ll be sharing a cabin with your second. Best we can do I’m afraid.”
                  “I’m alive and apart from a few bruises and a broken nose, no complaints. That murderous woman shot our captain."
                  “We’ll talk later but you have a long day ahead.”
                  “Thank you, Commander.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
    A cloudless