The Cruel Sea Page #3

won't be back for some time.

He's got a suspected duodenal ulcer.

Oh! Oh.

Exactly. We sail this afternoon.

We'll have to go without him.

We haven't a chance

of getting a relief by then either.

You'll have to tak e over

at first lieutenant.

- Yes, sir.

- I'll help you as much as I can.

You should be able to carry on

until a relief arrives.

- I can carry on, anyway, sir.

- Do you think so?

Yes, sir.

Well, I'll see.

Now, as we're short-handed, I suggest

we reorganise the watches lik e this.

- What's it lik e below tonight?

- Warm enough, sir.

- The bulkheads are sweating a bit.

- Yes, I expect...

Ship on fire! Bearing red 20, sir.

Coxswain at the wheel, sir.

Course 160. Watch that telegraph now.

Right.

- 'Gun crew closed up, sir.

- 'Action steaming stations. '

- Full ahead.

- Full ahead, sir.

- 'Starboard 15.'

- Starboard 15, sir.

Sweep from green 050

to green 120.

Sweep from green 050

to green 120, sir.

Closed up, sir!

Clear away charges,

and set one pattern, B for Bak er!

Must've been ammunition.

Didn't know much about it anyhow.

It's the best way to die

if you've got to.

Midships.

- 'Wheel at midships, sir? '

- Starboard 20.

'Starboard 20, sir. '

- Bridge, depth charge!

- Ferraby, sir!

'We're going to drop a boat sub.

Who's your leading hand? '

Tonbridge, sir!

Tell him to tak e four men from the

pom-pom, and pull towards that ship.

Tell him to stay clear until she goes

under. Then pick up survivors.

'We'll come back for him after

we've had a look for the U-boat. '

- 'Sir! '

- Quick as you can!

Aye-aye, sir!

Tonbridge! Boat's crew! Four men!

- She's going.

- Oars!

Give way together.

What's that filthy stink?

The oil fuel, chum.

Quiet there!

Easy, all.

Oars. Hold water starboard.

Grab hold of the oar, mate.

Bear a hand! Get a rope around him!

It's all right, mate. We've got you.

It's all right, mate.

Reck on so, sir.

It's the oil in his lungs.

This one's got a bad gash.

Should be sewn up.

Yes.

It's all right, old chap.

Get me a sterile needle.

- Good morning, sir.

- Morning, N umber One.

You look as though you've been busy.

What's the score down there?

Two dead. One more to go, I think.

11 others, they'll be all right.

How about things up here?

We lost another ship

over on the other side of the convoy.

Quite a night. Do you want

to turn in, sir? I can finish this watch.

No, no. You get some sleep.

I'll wait for Ferraby and Morell.

- Tonbridge did well.

- Yes.

So did you, Number One.

No, it was pretty rough most of it.

I must find out more

about dressing wounds.

It's going to come in handy

if this goes on.

I don't see why it shouldn't.

No reason at all,

as far as I can see.

'We sailed on 11 convoys that year.

'And all the time

the enemy grew stronger.

'lt was lik e a stain

spreading over the sea,

'poisoning it mile by mile.

'For us, the Battle of the Atlantic

was becoming a private war.

'lf you were in it,

you knew all about it.

'You knew how to k eep watch

on filthy nights,

'and how to go without sleep,

how to bury the dead,

'and how to die

without wasting anyone's time. '

'You learned, as well,

how to look forward

'to the occasional blessing

of a refit. '

Bob! How long have you got?

Week end?

Not this time. Spot of real leave.

Refitting in our home port!

What a bit of luck!

I'm sorry. Brought a friend, Glad.

This is Chief ERA Watts.

Same ship. Jim, my sister.

Pleased to meet you.

Have you had your tea?

When I can get your cooking

by crossing the river? Not lik ely!

Get on with you! The kitchen's not

fit to be seen. Come on in the front.

I don't hardly use it now

because of the black out.

I can't be bothered

to fix up the curtains!

- Sit you down, sit you down.

- Come on, Jim.

What's this about a refit, Bob?

I thought you had to be there.

No, this is different.

Some radio gadget they're putting on.

Radio? But you don't need

a refit for that, do you?

You should see the gear

those professors have got.

It's very hush-hush, Miss Tallow.

Bob, you haven't

introduced us properly.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's Mrs Arthur Bell, Jim.

Only poor old Arthur's dead,

so I'd call her Glad, the same as I do.

He's a widower, Jim is. Always

talking about settling down again.

That's enough of that, Bob!

Doesn't care what he says, Mr Watts.

Always cheeky!

How was the trip?

- Enough said.

- I expect you could do with a rest.

We could do with a pint.

Anything in the larder?

You know where to find it.

Close all watertight doors,

and prepare to tak e in tow!

What about submarines?

I reckon we're the submarines

most of the time, Mrs Bell.

Never seem to get our heads

above water for days on end.

Go on with you, Mr Watts!

You're as bad as Bob!

Here we are! All ripe and lovely!

Oh! There's nothing hush-hush

about you, is there?

Well, I think, if you don't mind,

I'll join you.

'The summer came again.

'The summer of 1941.

'Lockhart was confirmed

as my number one,

'and another officer, Bak er, joined

the ship to bring us up to strength.

'lt was then that we went

on the Gibraltar run. '

- That one's Viperous, isn't it?

- Should be, sir.

If she changes station,

let the bridge know.

Aye-aye, sir.

They used to charge a guinea a day

for this before the war.

Gibraltar and back 11 all in.

Yeah, but only an inside cabin

for that price.

I wish it wasn't so clear. This sort

of weather's no good to our side.

'Masthead, bridge.

Sound of aircraft to port, sir. '

Action stations.

- Coxswain at the wheel, sir.

- There it is!

'Depth charge crew closed up!

Looks lik e

a Fock e-Wulf reconnaissance!

- On target.

- Out of range. It's circling.

Signal from Viperous, sir!

"To all escorts, close up!"

- Full ahead.

- 'Full ahead, sir. '

It's too easy.

All he's got to do is to fly round

in circles just out of range,

sending out our position

and changes of course.

And every U-boat within 100 miles

steers straight for us.

No echo, sir.

Bridge, sir. No contact.

Port ten.

Signal from Admiralty.

I mmediate, sir.

"There are indications

of five U-boats in your area

"with others joining."

It's nice of 'em to let us know!

Another one going, sir.

- Be all right for swimming, eh?

- Sure.

But you won't be doing

any more swimming on this trip.

You're dead right there.

If anything happens to this lot,

we're snug in our coffin already.

Mak e to Viperous.

"Have 68 survivors aboard,

"including additions

from Fort James, Eriskay,

"and Bulstrode Manor sunk last night.

"An amended..."

What is it, Bak er?

Another immediate

from Admiralty, sir.

"There are now estimated

to be nine U-boats in your area."

- We must be popular.

- Yes, sir.

We can't stop. They'd see us

ten miles away in this light.

Stop engine!

Stop!

Stand by to get

those survivors in board.

We won't lower a boat.

Scrambling net.

- They can see us easily enough.

- Aye-aye, sir.

We don't want to waste any time,

Number One.

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