I had been thinking the same thing. I suddenly made up my mind. It was a long time since I’d had to do things this way. I helped myself to a cigarette and pushed the tin across to the others. ‘It will be high tide in about an hour,’ I said. ‘That means the current will be slack in the cutting behind the whaling station. We leave our berth here and make a show of putting on sail as though we were off to Fjaerland. Once outside the islands, we double back and drift up the cut behind the factory. We wait for Sunde there.’
Curtis nodded. ‘You’re gambling on Sunde having rowed to Bovaagen.’
Tin certain there should have been two boats in that inlet we saw this afternoon,’ I said. ‘That length of rope trailing in the water-’
‘I quite agree,’ Curtis said. ‘But Lovaas may have the same idea.’
‘Quite possibly.’
He grinned.
‘Right,’ I said. ‘Dick. Will you go and collect Wilson and Carter from Hval To! Shout to them. Tell them we’re sailing. I want Lovaas to know. Get the idea? Then have the engine started. Curtis. You go up to the Kiellands’ place. See the steward or the secretary of the company. Check that there should be two boats in that inlet. Also, make certain that Sunde hasn’t returned,’
As they hurried on to the deck, I turned to Jill. She was sitting with her elbows on the table and her chin resting on her hand. ‘As soon as we’ve got Sunde,’ I said, ‘we’ll make for Fjaerland.’
She looked up at me. ‘I shall be glad when all this is over,’ she said. She looked past me and stared unseeingly at the emergency lamp in its gimbals. I wondered what was in her mind. She sighed and took a sip at her drink. Then quite suddenly she said, ‘It amounts to kidnapping him, doesn’t it?’
‘Sunde?’ I said. ‘Well, yes. Shall we say — protecting him from Lovaas. Don’t let it worry you. I take full responsibility for it.’
‘I wasn’t worried about that,’ she replied quietly. ‘I was just wondering what he would be able to tell us.’
There were shouts from the wharf. I heard Dick’s voice giving orders to the hands. Then footsteps moved on the deck over our heads. A moment later the engine started. I dived up the companionway. The sun had set. In the cold, dead light of approaching darkness the factory buildings loomed very black above the packing sheds. ‘Lovaas heard all right,’ Dick said. ‘He’s up there on the bridge, watching us.’
I looked up at the tall bow of Hval Ti. I could just see the outline of the bridge. Lovaas was standing with legs straddled on the catwalk. Dick tapped my arm. ‘Here’s Curtis,’ he said.
I turned. ‘Well?’ I asked as he came aft to the cockpit.
‘You’re gambling on a pretty safe bet,’ he said. ‘I had a word with an electrician who lives in the steward’s quarters. He says there are normally two boats in that inlet. They belong to the station. This afternoon, just after middag, he saw Sunde rowing one of them down the cut. He hasn’t returned yet.’
‘Is he expected back?’ I asked.
‘Yes. All his things are here. Besides, he’s a stranger in Bovaagen. The electrician johnny says there’d be no reason for him to stay there the night.’
‘Good.’ I turned to Wilson. ‘Let go fore and aft,’ I ordered him. ‘Dick. You and Curtis clear the mains’! cover. Up on peak and throat as soon as you’re ready.’ I picked up the speaking tube. ‘Half ahead,’ I told Carter as the last of the wraps thudded on to the deck.
As we slid past Hval Ti, Lovaas leaned over the rail of the catwalk and hailed me. ‘Where do you go, Mr Gansert?’ he asked.
‘Fjaerland,’ I replied. ‘You’ll find me there if you have anything to tell me.’
‘Okay. Pa gjensyn!’ He raised his hand.
The mains’l cover was off now and they were at the halyards. As the grey shadow of the catcher merged into the darkness astern of us, the gaff rose through the topping lifts. A moment later the mains’l was a great splash of white, catching the navigation lights and fading into the blackness above us. Behind us, the lights of the two catchers shone like a village against the dark shape of the factory. As we went out through the islands, we set jib and mizzen. Then I put the wheel over and we swung away to starb’d. The lights of the catchers vanished behind the islands. By the time we reached the inlet leading to the cutting, all the sails were stowed again.
The tide was slackening as we glided slowly into the cut. At the first convenient spot I got a rope ashore and moored up, for I was scared of submerged rocks. Diviner swung slowly with the in-running tide until she lay snug against sheer rocks, chafing gently at her fenders. We found a way ashore and explored a route along the edge of the cutting to the bridge. My plan was to catch Sunde at the bridge after he had moored his boat.
It was very dark and silent among the rocks. We reached the bridge and stood there listening to the gurgle of the water as it ran through the cut to some basin further inland.
‘Suppose he lands at the quay?’ Jill said.
‘I don’t think he’ll do that,’ Curtis answered.
‘No,’ I agreed. ‘He’ll want to steer clear of Lovaas.’
