"But you wouldn't hesitate to butcher my crew otherwise."
"And you too, of course."
"What do you want from me?"
"You, actually nothing. Mr. Parker and Mr. Jones have accepted me as Oliver Collins. It's First Officer Finney whose services I require. You will order him to obey my commands."
"Why Finney?" asked Collins.
"I opened the desk file in your cabin and read the officers' personal records. Finney knows these waters."
"I don't see what you're getting at."
"We cannot afford the risk of calling for a pilot," explained Animar.
"Tomorrow after dark, Finney will take the helm and steer the ship through the channel into the open sea."
Collins considered that. Then he slowly shook his head. "Once the port authorities get on to you they'll block the harbor entrance whether you threaten to kill everyone on board or not."
"A darkened ship can slip out on a dark night," Ammar assured him.
"How far do you expect to go? Every patrol boat within a hundred miles will have you boxed in by daylight."
... They won't find us."
Collins looked slightly dazed. "That's crazy. You can't hide a ship like the Lady Flamborough."
"Quite true," said Ammar, a cold, knowing smile forming on his lips.
"But I can make her invisible."
Jones was bent over a desk in his cabin making notes for the morning's welcoming ceremonies when Parker knocked on the door and entered. He looked tired and his uniform was damp with sweat.
Jones turned and looked at him. "Loading duty finished?"
"Yes, thank God."
"How about a nightcap?"
"A glass of your good Scottish malt whiskey?"
Jones rose and lifted a bottle from a dresser drawer. He poured two glasses and handed one to Parker.
"Look at it this way," he said. "You were relieved of standing early-morning anchor watch."
"I'd have preferred that to cargo loading," said Parker tiredly. "What about you?"
"Just got off duty."
"I wouldn't have bothered you if I hadn't seen a light through your port."
"Burning the midnight oil, making sure everything runs tick-tock smooth tomorrow."
"Finney isn't about and I felt I had to talk to someone.
for the first time Jones noticed the confused expression in Parker's eyes. "What's bothering you?"
Parker downed the Scotch and stared at the empty glass.