The Sea Chase Page #4

Have you ever in your life made

a compromise with a conviction?

I was always afraid that if I started,

it wouldn't be easy to stop.

I suppose you're referring to me.

Intending an insult.

I think you should know

one thing, captain:

You can't insult me...

...because I hold no value

for the way you think.

And I know the way you think.

- Ideals and gallantries...

- That's right.

The officer's code.

That's the way my father thought.

He was a general.

A very great gentleman

of the old school.

But after the war,

when things changed...

...and he discovered that

uniforms, medals and honor...

...couldn't buy food and medicine

for his family, what did he do?

He couldn't beg

or violate the code, no.

So he shot himself.

Leaving me and my sisters

and my mother to survive.

That was his way...

...and your way.

But it's not my way.

I survived, all right.

I made my own life, my own code.

You have your medals and your trophies.

Well, I have my trophies too.

You see, I have succeeded,

Captain Ehrlich.

Did anyone ever tell you that

you're beautiful when you're angry?

The captain hasn't had shore leave

since Singapore.

You're quite a woman, Elsa.

He was in your room.

He came to get some charts.

Took him quite a while.

His only interest is his ship.

He's a strange man.

In anyone else,

his beliefs would be a pose.

Not Ehrlich. They're his life.

You sound as if you're losing

your dislike for him.

I don't think that will happen.

Anyway, what difference

does it make?

We're gonna be a long time

tied down on this ship.

A long, dreary time.

I expect we'll survive.

Well, with certain

compensating moments, perhaps.

Elsa...

...I find you a very

fascinating woman.

Do you?

I don't like impatient men.

I can be very, very patient,

as long as I know he isn't...

He isn't.

And he won't be.

Chief.

Chief, you're cutting down

on my speed.

We're gonna need every day and minute

when we get to Pom Pom Galli...

...when the Rockhampton starts making

its sweep to the north.

- What's the matter with you?

- Headwinds, captain.

It's the headwinds.

I didn't wanna tell you

until I was positive...

...but we don't have enough coal

to run to Pom Pom Galli.

- Are you sure?

- That's the story.

No coal, eh?

No coal.

Well, we got wood.

We'll burn this ship in her own fires.

Ask the engine room,

how does it look.

- Engine room.

- How's the wood lasting?

Four more hours, I can give you.

Chief engineer says he can

only give four more hours.

Then we'll start on the lifeboats.

And if that isn't enough...

...we'll tear out the hatches

and the doors...

...take our chances on the weather.

- Winkler.

- Yes, sir?

My sextant.

- Captain, sir.

- Yes?

I'm no informer, but I think there's

something you're entitled to know.

Know what?

From the forecastle...

...they're saying a ship

belongs to her captain...

...but the lifeboats belong to her crew.

How do you feel about it, Winkler?

I don't know, sir.

I haven't made up my mind.

- Stemme.

- Yes, sir?

- Have the chief meet me in my cabin.

- Right, sir.

Thanks for telling me.

All hands, turn to.

Trouble?

Perhaps not.

Chief.

Down to the lifeboats, huh?

Right.

- Bosun.

- Aye, sir?

Let go of the lashings on number three

and number four boats...

...and smash them for fuel.

All right, sir.

Schlieter, you other men, swing in

number one and number two boats.

All right, start working.

They're breaking up the boats, chief.

Yes. There are two more,

and we'll have to use those too.

Will you kindly stay off the bridge

and in your cabin.

Engine room reports

pressure still dropping, sir.

All right...

...break up boat number two.

Land ho! Land ho!

- Where away?

- A point off starboard bow, sir.

Log it, Mr. Kirchner.

Schlieter, don't let

there be a next time.

Ease your helm. Midship.

Row bottom at 20 fathoms, sir.

Let go!

Tell Mr. Schmitt...

...we're finished with the engine.

Present!

Fire!

Firing party, present!

Firing party, general salute.

Present.

We were instructed to continue

the search...

... and in order that the German ship

not be alerted...

... to make no mention

of the atrocity...

... until the authorities decided

to release the news.

But what the world would think...

... didn 't matter to the men

of the Rockhampton.

This was no longer the mere pursuit

of a freighter by a naval vessel...

... but a crusade against

the criminals of the Ergenstrasse.

And to me...

... henceforth, a hateful vendetta

against the friend I'd lost...

... somewhere back there.

Karl Ehrlich, a man I had

ceased to know.

From here to Valparaiso,

it's a 14-day run.

To get there, the Ergenstrasse will burn

30 cords of wood a day.

Mr. Schmitt will tell you

what that means.

It means we work 14 hours a day.

Full hours.

We get moonlight in four days.

When it comes,

we work 18 hours a day.

We know it's going to be hard

and difficult, but it's the only way home.

And for your further information,

this is an uninhabited island.

I repeat, an uninhabited island.

Now, we're short of provisions.

There's fresh water ashore,

but no food...

...except a few coconut palms

and breadfruit trees.

And I intend to ration them.

As for recreation, you'll have

little time for it.

However, there will be swimming parties

morning, midday and evening.

As we all know,

there is a woman onboard...

...so it will be necessary

for me to ask you...

...to wear some kind of clothing

during your morning and evening swims.

During the midday break, our passenger

will cooperate and remain in her quarters.

That is all. Bosun, turn them to.

Heinz.

I'm all right, sir.

Of course you are, but we got

more important work for you.

- You're an old soldier, aren't you?

- Yes, sir. Sergeant in the signal corps.

- So I've heard. You see that peak?

- Yes, sir.

You'll be our lookout.

You go up there and watch for smoke.

All points of the compass,

every daylight hour.

And no daydreaming.

We're all in your hands.

The ship, all of us.

- Yes, sir.

- Here. Wear my glasses.

Yes, sir.

Back to your pots and pans,

huh, soldier?

I am the lookout.

You are all in my hands.

Very thoughtful of you.

But don't you think that climb

is a little hard for him?

It is.

And it is also near midday,

if you don't mind my reminding you.

Mr. Bachman will see you

to your quarters.

Everybody up the boat deck

before you go below.

Both hands up to the elbows.

Nothing like brine for a toughener.

Won't help the rat bites.

- When did you get that?

- Last night.

Me too. On the leg.

Well, we'll see what we can

do about it.

- How are your people doing, chief?

- Keeping ahead of you, captain.

Good.

Brounck? Pack some food for Heinz.

I'll take it up to him tomorrow.

What have you there?

Some of the meat is rotten.

I was going to throw it over the side.

You'll keep it. We'll use

everything aboard this ship.

A lonely place for a grave.

We'll have to get it cleaned up

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