A Dawn Like Thunder by Douglas Reeman Page A

looked at one another as, in the sudden silence after the brief commotion, a man’s voice shouted, ‘For God’s sake, you should
tell
me; I’m not a bloody mind-reader!’ There was silence again as Ross tapped the door. ‘Come in. Don’t be shy!’
    The man was in khaki battledress, the rank of Captain, Royal Marines, on each shoulder.
    Ross had the instant impression of energy and impatience, and charm. The face smiled warmly enough, his eyes flitting from one to the other with a kind of curious amusement. ‘Well, this
is
an honour! Two of you!’
    Ross half turned to introduce his companion, and felt his mind click into place. Like those other times. When the timefuse on a mine was disturbed, the sudden tick as loud as Big Ben, when you only had twelve seconds more to live. Or the startled face of an enemy frogman rising beside you in icy water to grapple or to raise the alarm. The briefest second of all, when you know you will kill him. It was all there in Villiers’ face. Disbelief, surprise? No, Ross thought, it was shock.
    The captain named Sinclair peered towards an open suitcase on the bed and said, ‘This is my wife, by the way.’
    Villiers held out his hand and felt her fingers close around his, saw the fear in her eyes change to gratitude as he said casually, ‘Charles Villiers. Pleased to meet you.’
    A light flowered dress, but otherwise exactly as heremembered her, had thought of her. Except that she was wearing a wedding ring. She said, ‘We’re almost ready.’
    Villiers tried not to watch her. Southsea, she had said. Of course. There was a big Royal Marines barracks there, at Eastney.
    Ross said, ‘Captain Pryce wishes to see you before you leave.’ He looked briefly at Villiers, and knew he had guessed correctly.
    Sinclair touched his moustache as if to make certain it was as it should be. ‘
Captain
Pryce, eh? Well, well. He was a two-and-a-half ringer when we last met.’ He felt the back of his head and added in a matter-of-fact way, ‘When I bought
this
!’
    Ross opened the door. ‘I’ll send an orderly for the luggage.’ Then to Villiers: ‘You wait with Mrs Sinclair. There should be a car shortly.’
    Then they were alone together. ‘I’m so
sorry
!’ She did not resist as he took her hand again. ‘So terribly sorry. I didn’t know it would happen like this. And – and you were so kind to me at the hotel . . .’
    He squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t distress yourself. And thank you for leaving the message.’ He pulled out his wallet and showed her the page from the pad. ‘See?
Carol
.’ She was close to tears, and there was a strain on her face he had not seen before. He said, ‘I had no idea, otherwise I’d have made some excuse to get out of this.’
    â€˜My husband will be serving with you, then?’ It was as though she were speaking of a stranger. ‘If only I’d known . . .’
    There were noises outside the door, a wheelchair, or maybe a trolley for the captain’s luggage.
    He said simply, ‘I’ve thought about you a lot. I saw you leave in the taxi.’
    She stared at him, momentarily pleased, and then openlyafraid. ‘Did you? I’m so glad.’ She glanced at her watch, but he guessed she did not even see it. ‘I should go.’
    He said, ‘I must see you again.’
    She shook her head, her dark curls brushing her neck. ‘Impossible.’ She was very calm, her eyes quite steady as she looked up him. ‘He would kill me.’ Then she nodded slowly. ‘I mean it.’ He watched her hand on his sleeve, her fingers on the wavy stripes. ‘But thank you. You’ll never know.’
    He said, ‘Keep my card. If you ever need me . . .’
    She shook her head again. ‘You’re a nice person. Find a pretty girl and forget. It was a dream. Just a dream.’
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