Chapter 2
Meanwhile at the Hammersley.
RO received a message and scribbled it on a piece of paper. He approached Mike and gave him the message, "Sir, we just received a mayday call" and handed him the paper.
He frowned, "A mayday call?" he said as he read it.
"A cargo ship had a fire in the engine room and they think they're springing a leak", RO said.
"They think?", Mike replied suspiciously.
"They said something about their pumps working but the water level was not dropping, but it was hard to understand. The man seemed extremely nervous. He was certainly not an Angle-Saxon.", RO said.
"And are there no other ships nearby?", Mike asked.
"No sir, we're the closest".
"Damn! Why now?", he grumbled and looked out the window, rubbing his chin.
On the island.
Kate looked up as she heard Mike's incoming call, "Charlie 82 to X-Ray 82".
She responded, "X-Ray 82 to Charlie 82, yes sir".
"Look Kate, we have a problem. There's a mayday call I can't ignore. It seems to be a serious case with a fire and a sinking cargo ship. I'm going to withdraw the four sailors because I need every hand. The operation continues and I leave it in your hands. Dutchy stays with you for your protection. Better to be two than alone", he said.
Kate was surprised, "Uh, yes sir…", she said slowly, coming to terms with the information.
"I'll send a Rhib to pick up the sailors and give you additional supplies and a radio for long- distance communications", he said.
"Okay sir. When?"
"Now. Good luck Kate! Over and out", Mike answered, ending the connection.
"What was it?", Dutchy asked.
Kate shrugged, "They got a mayday call and they're handling it, but they'll take our four sailors", she said.
"And what about us?", Dutchy asked.
"We are staying here, you and me to continue the observation task, but they're sending us additional supplies", she said.
"That's the least they can do. And when?", he asked.
"Now".
The four sailors looked in disbelief.
"Guys, I know, but those are the orders. We'd better go to the beach", he said, getting up, followed by the others.
Once at the beach, they didn't have to wait long before the Rhib arrived. RO and Bomber were aboard.
"The reception committee", Dutchy greeted them, but RO didn't understand the irony.
"Here's a radio for long-distance communications", he said, handing the device to Dutchy.
"And don't drop it in the water", he added.
"Hey guys, take these boxes for the X and Dutchy!", Bomber ordered, by handing them to the four sailors ashore and a cool box.
They, too, jumped ashore and RO handed Kate a piece of paper, "Ma'am, the CO gave you a radio for long-distance to keep in touch and here are the frequencies", he said.
Kate looked at the piece of paper and nodded.
"And save the batteries, they don't last forever", he said.
"Yes RO", she said, biting her tongue to avoid saying that she knew how to operate a radio.
Bomber headed for Dylan, "Dutchy, these are supplies for a few days".
"Days?", he repeated, frowning.
"Yes, I know, but you never know", she said.
"I picked things that can withstand the heat and now use the contents of the esky, for a good barbecue", she added with a wink.
He gently squeezed her upper arm, "Thank you Bomb".
Kate and Dylan watched as the Rhib raced back to the Hammersley.
"They're gone and we are here", Kate said deadpan.
"Yeah", he simply said, taking one of the boxes to bring it to the edge of the forest behind rocks, near a small creek. Kate followed him with the cool box.
As soon as they had gathered the boxes, she blew and mopped her forehead, "It's damn hot".
"How about eating something before the operation starts?", he asked to lighten the mood.
"It's not a bad idea. What's in the esky?", she asked curiously.
He looked carefully into he box, "Two steaks, potatoes, vegetables and….", he replied teasingly.
"What?"
"A bottle of wine".
"No?"
"Yes, it is. Bomber is a sweetheart", he said.
"Hmm, she's just doing her job", Kate grumbled.
He chuckled, "Isn't that a little bit jealousy?"
Kate just shrugged and said, "We need a fire, buddy".
"Of course", he replied and disappeared in the forest while Kate checked the contents of the other boxes and tested the radio.
A few minutes later he came back with a pile of dry wood, "This will do", he said, putting it down.
"And I found a papaya tree", he said, showing her four papayas.
Kate's eyes widened, "It's really amazing! A good job!".
"Jeez, I'm frying! I'm going to put this armour down. They don't need to know", muttered Kate moments later, fiddling with the clasps of her gear.
"No one is going to complain because you're the boss here", he said, starting to undo his gear as well.
She put the Kevlar jacket and her belt with the gun next to the cool box and she looked in the other supply boxes.
"Bomber forgot a frying pan, so we'll have to skewer the meat on a stake", Kate said.
"Nah, I'll make you a nice stone grill", he said, leaving their spot behind the rocks. Kate made a pile with the wood and looked up as he returned with two large stones and a larger one quite flat. He put the two large stones on both sides of the wood and the largest one on them, then he lit the fire. "It's time to have a drink while the stone is heating".
Kate took the bottle and two glasses out of the cool box and looked at the label, "Hmm Pinot Noir. Well, I never thought we had that aboard".
He took the bottle to uncork it. Kate held out her glass for him to fill it.
He put the bottle back in the cool box and they toasted, "Cheers".
"Cheers! There are worse ways to perform an operation", she said, taking a sip.
"Absolutely! ", he said, checking the stone, "Aha! It's ready. Do you take care of the vegetables and potatoes?".
"Sure", she said, placing the potatoes wrapped in aluminium foil in the incandescent part of the fire.
A little later, they sat next to each other, enjoying their meal with a glass of wine.
She looked at her watch, "I'm sorry to have to interrupt our dinner, but surveillance will begin in a few minutes", she said.
"Yeah, let's go", he said, putting on the Kevlar jacket and grabbing his belt with the gun and radio..
Kate did the same and took the video camera and binoculars.
To be continued