The Fragile Hour (4 page)

“
So you’re the other passenger.” She was irritated that his original attitude towards her did not appear to have mellowed. “I suppose Lieutenant Howarth mentioned me.”

“
Yes, but I had known already that you would be sailing with the
Noreg
.” He came to sit facing her on the other bench and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “I was lucky to get here in time. My plane was delayed by fog at Aberdeen. But I’d have caught up with you later in Norway.”

He
did not sound as if that would have given him any more pleasure than their present meeting.

“
I don’t see how you can be so certain about that,” she declared with raised eyebrows. “I’m to follow initial instructions already laid out for me.”

“
But I’m to see you through your first assignment.”

“
Are you?” She was taken aback, unsure that this was news she wanted to hear.

He
must have noticed the coolness of her response, for he gave a slight shake of his head in self-reproach and smiled slowly. “I owe you an apology. I can see that for some reason we didn’t get off on the right foot from the start and I’m sure whatever the fault it was mine. Believe me, I admire you for volunteering to come and it’s important for all of us in the Resistance to work well together.” He held out his hand. “Let’s start all over again.”

She
put out her hand with some relief. He had not let down his guard entirely, but he had made an effort and she had the feeling that privately it had cost him a great deal. “That’s a good idea. I want to do my best and get along with everybody.”

“
I’m sure you will.”

Their
hands parted again just as a shudder passed through the whole boat as it hit a large wave. Anna adjusted her balance by gripping the edge of the table. “Harald, the cook, told me there would be a squall.”

“
It’s not going to be the best of weathers for you.”

“
I’ve never been ill on a boat yet,” she countered firmly. “Before the war my father took me out in some very rough seas when we went sailing together.”

“
So you can handle a sailboat. Can you row too?”

“
Yes. And read navigation instruments.”

“
I doubt if that ability will be needed, but you may need to make use of a rowboat at some time.”

“
What is our first assignment to be?”

He
outlined it for her. The target to be sabotaged was a factory on the outskirts of Bergen and he intended that she should act as lookout, which would release one of the trio taking part to give an extra hand in carrying out the operation. Anna knew what would be expected of her from the training she had received.

“
You’ll hear all the latest details when we get to a certain venue in Bergen,” he concluded.

“
I used to sail home to England from Bergen after the summer holidays sometimes. I’m sure this assignment will go well, because I’ve always liked the old city.”

He
smiled. “So have I.”

It
struck her that it was the first time they seemed to have something in common. Maybe he felt it too, because he began to talk about first going there with his parents when he was a boy. Then he went on to tell her that his father had died a week before the invasion and his mother and sister, Kristina, still lived in the family home in Grefsen.

“
Do they know you’re in the Resistance?” Anna asked.

He
shook his head. “For their own safety I have to stay away from them. Once in Oslo I saw Kristina coming along Karl Johan gate and I turned away to buy a newspaper just in time.” He regarded her steadily. “I hope you realise the vital importance of keeping your distance from those whom you know.”

“
It has been drummed into me.”

“
That’s good.”

She
sensed that he did not want to talk any more about himself and that perhaps he had opened up to her more than he had intended. “I heard a lot about Reichskommissar Terboven during my briefing in England. Have you ever seen him in Oslo?”

“
Oh, yes.” There was an edge to his voice. “Do you know what he said of us as a nation when we failed to collaborate as expected? ‘If they won’t love us then they shall learn to fear us!’”

“
What Nazi arrogance!”

“
I agree with you.”

She
gave him a quizzical look. “Good. We agree. That shows we’re getting on better already.”

He
laughed. “I believe we are, although it would have been impossible to hold different opinions on that point.”

“
May I ask you a question?” she asked, encouraged by his show of good humour. “In London Major Andersen introduced you as Captain Kringstad. How did you obtain your rank?”

“I had served five years in the army when the invasion came. After we’d fought on for eight weeks against it we were finally overrun and disbanded. I had thoughts of getting to England and becoming a fighter pilot. I already had a licence gained when the army gave me leave to take a flying course.”

His
words caused her to remember Nils coming home to celebrate after he had gained his pilot’s licence and giving her a glance or two in the first stage of noticing that she was changing in looks and figure.

There
was no more chance to talk then as Harald came in with a large dish of
lapskaus
, a thick meat and vegetable stew that Anna had not tasted since she was last in Norway. The men not needed on board followed in Harald’s wake, one bringing bowls and spoons, for it was the easiest way to eat with the increasingly sharp rise and fall of the boat. All ate heartily, including Anna. Afterwards the men left again to take over from Skipper Skansen and those who had yet to eat.

Before
going to bed Anna went up on deck. The wind tore at her and she had to hold on tightly. The height of the waves astounded her. They bore down on the
Noreg
like black mountains, foam flicking angrily at the tips. But every time, just when it seemed that swamping was inevitable, the
Noreg
swept on through a valley of water in drenching spray. The squall had turned into a Force 10 gale.

“
Get below! The Skipper’s orders!” someone in oilskins shouted at her, making himself heard above the noise of the wind and waves. “It’s not safe for you up here!”

Reluctantly
Anna returned to the cabin. The clock on the wall showed that it was nearly midnight, but she was certain she would not sleep. Instead her eyes closed as soon as she lay down.

*

It was an enormous crash that awoke her two hours later, almost shooting her out of the bunk to the floor. She guessed immediately what had happened. A giant wave must have hit the
Noreg
beam on! In the same instant she realised that the throbbing of the engine had ceased.

She
had not undressed except for her woollen jumper and shoes. Swiftly she made herself ready again. Sailing under her father’s guidance had long since taught her to remain calm in any emergency. Some life jackets were stored under the benches and she took one of them. She was seated on her bunk, tying it on, when the door burst open and there was a blast of cold, spray-damp air as Karl entered. He was quick to slam it shut after him, his wet oilskin glistening. She had sprung to her feet.

“
What’s happening?”

“
We’re having to ride out the storm,” he explained breathlessly. “In fact, the Skipper has no choice. The engine-room is flooded. That great wave broke through its door.” They both lurched as the vessel twisted course helplessly at an angry whim of the sea and he caught her by the shoulders to save her from falling. “I’m going back to give a hand on the pump now.”

“
Is there anything I can do? I feel so helpless shut down here!”

He
continued to keep a tight hold on her and they staggered together. “Your time will come when we’ve landed. You’ll have plenty to do then.” Releasing her, he paused as he was about to go out again, glancing back fiercely at her. “Keep that life-jacket on.”

Left
alone again Anna felt like a die in a box. She wanted to remain sitting, but slid about with every deep roll of the boat. Thunderous waves broke overhead and poured off again with such noise that it was as if everything on deck was going with it. Once she was hurled to the floor and skidded about on her back until she managed to get up again. This time she lay down on her bunk, which was only slightly more comfortable in that she was rolled about without falling out. She could guess how very much worse it was for the cold, soaked men pumping out the engine-room.

Her
watch told her it was four in the morning when, to her immense relief, she heard the engine start up again. Karl came down into the cabin some time afterwards. He looked chilled and tired, fronds of wet hair showing under his
sou’wester
and trickles of water running down his face. Out of his pocket he brought some bread and cheese wrapped in spray-dampened paper. “This is all there is until later.”

“
Thank you.” She took the food from him. “Is everybody all right?”

“
Yes, they are.” He was reeling with the violent movement of the boat, but kept on his feet. “The fishermen say it’s not the worse storm they have experienced and they’re taking it all in their stride.”

She
nodded in admiration of them. “What will happen about our arrival being delayed?”

“
A watch will be kept for us on shore.”

“
Is there any improvement in the weather?”

“
Not that I can see. But, although the Skipper is continuing to hove-to, at least the engine is in order and operating the bilge pump again.”

“
Let me know as soon as I can go back on deck.”

“
I will.”

The
gale lasted many hours. It was only when it began to ease that the
Noreg
could continue on its way. After a while Harald was able to serve hot food again. When Anna went on deck once more it was like returning to civilisation. The terrifying mountains of water had subsided to rough waves that continued to drench the deck with spray, but presented no danger to the
Noreg
in spite of some storm damage. She saw with surprise that the lifeboat had gone and she guessed that it had been torn from its davits by that first gigantic wave. Karl had kept that from her! No wonder he had been so insistent about the life-jacket. Not that anyone could have lasted long in that icy sea.

It
was refreshing to be in the open air again, even though the sharp wind stung her face. The clouds were lifting, allowing glimpses of a clear, wintery-blue sky. But with this fresh change in the weather, everybody on board had become highly alert. She knew the reason why and joined them in keeping a constant watch for danger from the skies.

It
was just before daylight began to fade in the late afternoon that there came a warning shout. “Enemy aircraft ahead!”

The
Heinkel had come out of the clouds not far distant. The men rushed to their action stations. What Anna had thought to be an oil-drum on deck proved to be a hiding place for an anti-aircraft gun, which rose up on some cleverly constructed support that brought it to the right height. Bren guns had been snatched up from elsewhere, Karl grabbing one in his turn, and all were taking aim from various parts of the boat. Overhead Anna caught a glimpse of swastikas on the broad span of the Heinkel’s wings as she flung herself down on the deck by the wheelhouse. It zoomed over like a great roaring bird of prey, its cannons spitting forth, and met concentrated gun-fire from the boat. The deck was gouged inches from Anna’s arms covering her head and somewhere glass was shattered.

With
danger momentarily past, she sprang to her feet again and hurled herself into the wheelhouse. Skipper Skansen was still at the wheel.

“
Oh, it’s you, is it?” he remarked evenly, giving her a glance. “Why aren’t you below?”

“
There was no time.” She saw that it was here the glass had been smashed and the cold wind was blowing in through the gaps. “This will be like driving a car without a windscreen.”

“
Never mind that. You look out for the broken shards and the splinters. Those can be dangerous.”

In
spite of her tension a little laugh burst from her at his dry humour. “I’ll be careful.”

Being
at the Skipper’s side, she was able to see the Heinkel flying round to come into the attack again, even lower than before.

“
Get down!” he ordered sharply. “Now!”

She
obeyed him instantly, crouching down with her arms covering her head once more amid the roar and thunder of the attack. But this time, unbelievably, it was followed by the sound of cheering. The Skipper, who had dodged down briefly behind the wheel, stood again to give a long triumphant whistle.