JonDLundyn Parker 14 cont
March 16th 2007 22:37
Ali looked again at the plan, tracing with a dirty fingernail the points where his charges had been laid He would need to blow each side of the ship separately to allow for the tide run. After six hours of out going tide he would blow the other side on the incoming tide. This would ensure a good coverage. Then his men could start the pumps and pump into the emptying tanks. This would be an oil spill that man had never before seen on the earth and probably never would. His fuses were set, his charges laid and his action with the pumps decided. It now only remained for the right high tide. This would happen in two days time.
Ramid was now satisfied that at least the “Ocean King” would do it’s damage now. Ali had taken more convincing but now a plan was worked out and it was only a matter of timing. He would need to send some of the men off the tanker, that would happen in the cover of darkness one night before the tanker was due to blow. The men had all put their lives on the line. All were ready to die for the cause, but he knew not every man needed to die. Some could be saved and would have their opportunity another day in another battle. He climbed the ladder of the charter boat and joined his skipper on the fly-bridge. The man was a local, an Australian born Arab. He even spoke with an Australian accent. He could repeat cricket scores and Melbourne Cup winners and rattle off Prime Minister’s names from Chifley onwards. He was an asset that the struggle valued. He was also an excellent skipper, navigator and fighter, having been in the Royal Australian Navy.
“What are they doing now?” he asked his skipper, “are they making plans to clear the “ocean King”?”
The skipper pulled a hand rolled cigarette butt out of the corner of his mouth a flicked it into the ocean. He watched it tumble in a spray of sparks and land in the froth of the bow wave. He turned to Ali, “they would have been ready before the “Ocean King” entered the reef. It is part of an overall contingency plan. The men would probably have been on stand-by from the time she passed through the Torres Straights.”
Ramid looked at his skipper and saw the concern on his face. This was a good man and he knew his business, he also knew the ways the Royal Australian Navy, not every detailed contingency, but at least the actions likely to be taken. “She is a big ship. We have her well aground and that can not be changed. To drag her off will cause her to break up. We will get her blown up one way or the other. They will be wasting their time”
The skipper took off his hat and ran a finger around the rim to dry off the perspiration. He put it back on his head and nodded to his commander. “If Allah wills” he nodded and turned to piloting his boat.
Ramid was now satisfied that at least the “Ocean King” would do it’s damage now. Ali had taken more convincing but now a plan was worked out and it was only a matter of timing. He would need to send some of the men off the tanker, that would happen in the cover of darkness one night before the tanker was due to blow. The men had all put their lives on the line. All were ready to die for the cause, but he knew not every man needed to die. Some could be saved and would have their opportunity another day in another battle. He climbed the ladder of the charter boat and joined his skipper on the fly-bridge. The man was a local, an Australian born Arab. He even spoke with an Australian accent. He could repeat cricket scores and Melbourne Cup winners and rattle off Prime Minister’s names from Chifley onwards. He was an asset that the struggle valued. He was also an excellent skipper, navigator and fighter, having been in the Royal Australian Navy.
“What are they doing now?” he asked his skipper, “are they making plans to clear the “ocean King”?”
The skipper pulled a hand rolled cigarette butt out of the corner of his mouth a flicked it into the ocean. He watched it tumble in a spray of sparks and land in the froth of the bow wave. He turned to Ali, “they would have been ready before the “Ocean King” entered the reef. It is part of an overall contingency plan. The men would probably have been on stand-by from the time she passed through the Torres Straights.”
Ramid looked at his skipper and saw the concern on his face. This was a good man and he knew his business, he also knew the ways the Royal Australian Navy, not every detailed contingency, but at least the actions likely to be taken. “She is a big ship. We have her well aground and that can not be changed. To drag her off will cause her to break up. We will get her blown up one way or the other. They will be wasting their time”
The skipper took off his hat and ran a finger around the rim to dry off the perspiration. He put it back on his head and nodded to his commander. “If Allah wills” he nodded and turned to piloting his boat.
| 45 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
