The big, imposing man then made a dramatic sweep of his arm and slight bow, to say, à la Alphonse and Gaston, Please, after you, sir.
As the Arab began his slow trek across the gangplank, the big, imposing man turned back to the conning tower, where three men in naval officer uniforms still stood, watching.
The big man then raised his right arm high above his head, made a slow, exaggerated wave of good-bye to the officers, and then saluted them. When the officers had returned his salute, the big man picked up the suitcase, turned toward the foot of the gangplank, and with no apparent effort followed the Arab ashore.
I’d better go down and find L’Herminier before I foul my prop, Ensign Lee thought, pleased with himself for picking up seaman lingo from his lieutenant even though he was stuck ashore. He started walking—almost marching—the thirty-yard distance to where the gangplank met the dockage.
About midway, he intercepted the Arab and, coming up quickly behind him, the big man.
Beneath the white cloth that wrapped the fez and most of the face, Ensign Lee saw two chestnut brown eyes staring down at him. Then he saw the eyes dart toward the second man and then the fez nod in that direction.
At exactly the same time, there came a shrill whistle from the big, imposing man. Ensign Lee looked and saw that the man was waving for him to come to him.
Ensign Lee started in that direction, walking calmly and purposefully.
“On the double!” the big man added. “We’re in a hurry!”
What the hell? Lee thought, but picked up his speed till they met.
“My orders are to pick up Commander L’Herminier and ferry him to AFHQ,” Lee said with what he hoped was more than a little confidence.
The big man stared at Lee a long moment, clearly thinking.
He turned, pointed at the sub, and said, “I just left the commander in the…”
He looked at the conn tower, which was now empty.
“Dammit!” the big man said, then turned back to Lee. “Look, I just talked with him. I know he’ll be at least an hour before he disembarks—he told me as much because we’re going to the same place. So if you’re here for that, then I’m sure he won’t mind you running us up first. It’s near AFHQ.”
“Sir,” Lee said, mustering more confidence, “my orders are to pick up Commander L’Herminier and ferry him to AFHQ.”
The big man made a face, then said, “So you’ve told me. And I’m telling you that he won’t mind you giving us a lift, then coming back for him.”
Ensign Lee looked more than a little dubious.
“Take this,” the big man went on, ignoring Lee’s look and dropping the heavy suitcase on the ground at the ensign’s feet. “We’re in a hurry.”
Don’t screw this up! Lee thought.
Ensign Zack Lee, in his best formal tone, said, “Sir, those are not my orders.”
The big man looked pissed as he adjusted the duffel strap over his shoulder.
“Who did you say you were?” he said.
“Ensign Lee, sir. I was sent—”
“And you will, Ensign Lee. Right after you run us up the hill. Aye, aye, Ensign?”
The big man raised his eyebrows as if to say What’re you waiting for?
Ensign Lee, clearly thinking, stared down at his feet. He noticed again the Colt semiautomatic .45 ACP pistol tucked behind the big man’s belt buckle.
As Lee considered his options, he glanced past the big man toward the sub. There, naval support vehicles, including four GMC 6 × 6 trucks and a couple of Plymouth P11 sedans, were pulling up near the gangplank.
If Commander L’Herminier gets in one of those instead of mine, who knows where he’ll go? With my luck, nowhere near AFHQ.
And, oh, boy, would my ass be in a crack then….