When Eight Bells Toll Page #3

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Report here at noon tomorrow.

A helicopter will pick you up at five.

Sir, let me stay on until i can at least...

i think not, Buttercup.

The sooner you stop chasing

red herrings, the better for all of us.

At least check some facts for me.

- Very well, if they're valid.

- Here.

Hopeless fellow.

Comes of not going to a proper school.

where's the paper? You do it.

Carry on, Caroline.

Oh. Caroline.

Fire ahead.

- No second thoughts?

- No. it's worth a chance.

All i've got to lose is my job.

i hope that's all you lose,

you mad bastard. Cheers.

- Morning.

- Lieutenant williams. You Calvert?

- Commander Calvert.

- Oh, i'm sorry, sir.

That's all right. i'm pulling rank

because i'm changing your orders.

- You know this area well?

- Very well.

- But i'm meant to take you to London.

- Sir.

Yes, sir.

we'll go to London some other time.

i take full responsibility. OK?

OK, sir. i mean - yes, sir.

Good.

- Have a cigarette. Forget about the sirs.

- Thanks.

i need an excuse to search the area.

Can you put out a false Mayday

on your radio?

- i want the BBC to pick it up.

- You're kidding?

- Lieutenant.

- Yes, sir. it can be done, sir.

(Radio) '..could the quality of

the Clyde shipyards be maintained.

'A boat is in trouble

near the island of Skye.

'A distress signal was picked up

this morning from the TSDY Moray Rose,

'reported not under command

and making water fast.

'Air sea rescue services

have been alerted.'

Let's go.

i'm looking for a hide-out.

Probably a boat as well.

A motor launch or something.

Might be a big boathouse.

Might even be a tiny harbour.

Somewhere between islay and Skye.

Can't be more than 1 ,000 miles

of coastline. what do we do after lunch?

- Let's have a look at that over there.

- OK.

OK.

(Macullum) Royal Navy helicopter.

That helicopter's not spying.

it's Air Sea Rescue.

i heard something about a missing boat.

Perhaps he'll rescue me

from this monotony.

i could suggest many ways you could

rescue yourself from this monotony.

Shut up! Both of you.

Craigmuir Harbour.

- Are they whale hunters?

- Sharks.

For the liver oil. i've been there once.

i'd vouch for them.

Boss goes by the name

of Tim Hutchinson.

Let's go and say hello.

- Are you Hutchinson?

- Aye.

My name's Calvert, Air Sea Rescue.

Any of you lads want to be rescued?

No. i don't think

anyone wants to be rescued, thank you.

- Even from that smell?

- what smell?

Listen, can you help me?

Have you seen any strange boats

in the area over the last few months?

Half hidden or moored?

- No, but we'll keep our eyes open.

- Thanks.

- Any news of Calvert?

- i'm afraid not, sir.

what's happened to the bloody fellow?

All i Know is we haven't heard

from the helicopter.

- Haven't you any proper biscuits?

- Pardon, sir?

Proper biscuits with cream inside.

Never mind.

- what's this?

- The information you asked for, sir.

Look at this place.

it's called Baile nan Ul.

what?

Balle nan Ul. it's Gaelic.

it means the ''mouth of the grave''.

Loch Huron.

That castle there is called Du Skea.

Home of Lord Kirkside.

Be back in a minute.

- Have you got engine failure?

- Air Sea Rescue, Miss..er?

This isn't sea, this is private land.

why are the natives so hostile?

i only want to ask a few questions.

- where's your old man?

- i assume you mean Lord Kirkside?

if you're the daughter, yes.

where's your old man?

The old man's over here. Kirkside.

Calvert. There's a boat

called the Moray Rose...

i heard the news.

There's no sign of her round here.

No flares. i took a look round

the cliffs myself this morning.

- OK. Sorry about dropping in.

- You see...

My son and Sue's fianc...they

disappeared recently in a flying accident.

There's been a lot of press men

always dropping in.

i understand. Sorry.

we're running out of daylight.

Fly over the northern end

of the island and then home.

it's getting a bit dark.

The ground should be soggy.

So i'll hover, you jump, sir.

Keep down.

- My God, you move fast.

- Yeah...

He won't be coming up now. Let's go.

Hunslett?

Hunslett!

Hunslett?

(Creaking)

- i've got a gun.

- Let me up!

You could be a dead man.

On your right, there's a light switch.

Very slowly, switch it on.

Thank you, Mr Calvert.

i've already got you for insolence,

lnsubordlnatlon and dlsobedlence.

Now lt's armed assault. Do you

always greet your guests like this?

i don't have guests. i don't have friends.

i only have enemies.

Don't stand there.

Get me a whisky and soda.

i came by RAF plane and launch.

All the bloody people offered me

were tea bags. where's Hunslett?

The last time i saw him

was this morning.

i hope nothing's happened. we can't

afford to lose any more personnel.

Personnel?

He's not personnel to me. He's been

my friend for the last ten years.

And i'll tell you another thing.

You can add another statistic

to your deaths in the line of duty.

The helicopter pilot.

it's only by the grace of God

you're not adding mine to it.

You were ordered to return.

You disobeyed.

i used my better judgment.

As the person on the spot,

i considered my judgment more relevant

that that of people

sitting in elegant whitehall offices.

Calm down. i understand your feelings.

You're right about the area.

Those wheels you asked me to set

in motion, i've come up with answers.

- it's still your job, Calvert.

- Thank you, sir.

Now then. You wanted to know about

missing vessels around these coasts.

September 4th. Pinto - cruiser.

Left the Kyles of Lochalsh

for Arran. Vanished.

Aril 6th. Evening Star. April 10th.

Jenny Rose. Both fishing boats.

May 1 7th. Saillng boat with highly

experienced crew from Londonderry.

A few weeks ago, the Kingfisher,

on a night cruise from Torbay.

what about the dates?

All within 48 hours of the disappearance

of the bullion ships.

There've been

too many accidents on land.

A policeman and his family,

the local squire and his family.

And a Lord Kirkside. Do you know him?

i read about that.

i think we met once, vaguely.

Grouse shooting in Peebles.

what about the names -

Lavorski and imrie?

Nothing came up before i left.

i say, do you have anything palatable

to eat on this boat?

Beans.

what about sleeping accommodation?

i don't think we will be sleeping.

if we assume they've got Hunslett,

they'll assume they've got me.

if they see lights, they'll come visiting.

- what are we going to do?

- we'll manage.

They're coming. Get ready.

- where's the other one?

- About 20 fathoms below.

You can't go round like a one-man

execution squad. This is England.

lt's all very well for you sitting

in an office.

People like me are just pins on a map.

That's what it's all about.

it's either him or me.

i appreciate your point

but not your manner.

- what do we do with him?

- Hand him over to the police.

He's making a terrible mess

of the carpet.

why don't you get something to eat?

i'll check up on the lord.

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