The QE2 Is Missing

“Listen. They say the QE2 could have been in this area. All of the ship’s boats and launches are gone. I know it sounds crazy — this whole thing is crazy — but could they be down there, on this deserted island, drawn up on the shore?”

“Jesus….” Trubey breathed the word out quietly, realizing what it could mean.

Captain Bush switched off the autopilot and seized the controls and started a slow turn, throttling back at the same time. “Get on the radio to Mexico City and give them our position. Tell them that I am dropping down to six thousand feet to take a closer look at the island. Keep the frequency open and let them know that we’ll be giving them a running report. Then tell the passengers what is happening.”

Turning and dropping steadily, the great aircraft headed for the island. Coming in lower now, from the west with the sun behind them, they could see the dark clusters on the beach clearly, watch them as they* grew larger and larger.

“Boats! By God, they’re boats!” Trubey shouted as they tore over the sparkling bay. “The whole shore down there is covered with lifeboats!”

As they hurtled by they could clearly see the flares that were now bursting in the air above the crowded beach.

As they swung out to sea again even the passengers, crowded at the windows, could see the hundreds and hundreds of people on the strip of shore, waving and waving and waving…

28

“Be quick,” Josep said. “I have no time for any games. What do you mean that this little speck on the chart is the answer to our problems? That is as foolish as these officers saying we are going to crash into it.”

“They’re right,” Uzi said. “Our present course will take us unpleasantly close to Clipperton Island. In a storm like this we need all the sea room we can get. But what I propose is that we don’t alter course, that we sail at top speed to this island. How long before we reach it?”

The Third Officer used the dividers on the chart. “We’ll be there in about six hours. That is why I want to discuss a course correction now…. “

“You’ll do nothing of the sort,” Uzi said. “You have radar, don’t you? You can see it when it is miles away?”

“Yes, but____”

“No buts. Stay on this course. I will have the Captain verify this. Now, cause no more trouble, do you hear?”

Uzi drew the puzzled Josep out into the corridor. “This is our chance to finish this operation and come out of it all in one piece. What we must do is hold the ship for a few hours more.”

“Then?”

“Then we will be off Clipperton Island. We will have the fire alarms sounded again, and the abandon ship order given as well. We’ll have the Captain make an an nouncement to everyone. They must take to the boats. The ship must be abandoned.”

“Of course! We’ll unload them all on the island! Brilliant! The QE2 is completely computerized, practically automatic. Even with our few men we can sail this ship to our rendezvous. We’ll just leave the ship there, empty. Let them figure that one out. By the time they do we’ll be long gone. But what about the people on this island? They’ll have radios, they can report us____”

“No worry. I was talking to one of the officers when we passed the island on the way to Acapulco. Empty, uninhabited, nothing there except some birds. The lifeboats are well provisioned with food and water. The people won’t come to any harm…. “

“In here. Something bad is happening!”

It was one of the Tupamaro guards who came through the door from the Captain’s quarters and saw them. Josep took a deep breath and led the way.

Captain Rapley was on the phone, listening. “Yes, I’ll tell them,” he said, then hung up. He saw Josep coming through the door. “There has been a development you should know about. The First Engineer Officer has discovered that the ship has been seized by your people. He has taken over the engine room with all the ratings there and has sealed the door. He has delivered an ultimatum. You have just half an hour to return the ship to my command. If you do not, or you attempt to break into the engine room, he is closing down the engines and sabotaging them so they won’t run again without major repairs. I told him that this would endanger the ship and the lives of everyone iboard — but he was adamant.” The Captain looked at» s watch. “There are now approximately twenty-five ninutes left.”

“You fool!” Josep shouted, pulling his gun and pushing it close to the Captain’s face. “People are going to be hurt because of this man’s stupidity. Phone him back, instantly. Tell him that your life is in danger if he persists in this action.”

The Captain drew himself up, his expression grim. “I said that he was adamant. There is nothing more that I can do. I suggest you end this business at once. I’ll take that gun.”

“You have it,” Josep said, striking him across the neck with it, leaving a bloody welt. “You people never seem to learn. Get two of your men and come with me — move!”