Pride and the Anguish by Douglas Reeman Read Free Book Online

the growing sunlight glinted on a bright arrowhead of water, which even as he watched seemed to open up across the ship’s bows like a gateway. The river mouth was well hidden, and at its widest part was less than a quarter of a mile across. The northern side of the entrance was marked by a low, lopsided hill, which with the sun filtering across the water looked for all the world like a crouching beast.
    Mallory was busy taking bearings, his tanned face creased with concentration as he passed one course after another, while the gunboat snaked amidst the scattered sandbars without reducing speed. It was a hazardous approach, Trewin agreed with Mallory’s earlier description. At any second he expected to feel the ship shudder helplessly across the waiting humps of pale sand, as had once happened to the luckless Foley.
    But as soon as the gunboat was past the entrance the river opened up on either beam, so that the ship was dwarfed by the high banks and the rolling, impenetrable jungle beyond. At reduced speed they pushed further and further upstream until the crouching hill and the open sea were lost around several wide curves.
    Mallory pushed his cap to the back of his head and joined Trewin by the screen. “It’s easy from here on, Number One. There’s a long pier around the next bend where we tie up. That’s Talang settlement. We drop a few stores and drink tea with the gentry and then go back again.” He chuckled. “A hard life.”
    Trewin lifted his glasses as the
Porcupine
rounded the bend of the river and watched the rickety pier reaching out towards him like a gnarled finger. There was a good clearing in the jungle and several neat wooden buildings beside a rough dirt road which vanished inland into the trees. A line of brown-skinned Malays were already on the pier pointing and waving, and several more were paddling small boats out to meet the gunboat as she edged towards the rotten-looking piles.
    Trewin saw Corbett gripping the edge of the screen and said sharply, “Slow ahead together.” He watched Hammond in the bows and two seamen with heaving lines. The sun lanced up from the clear water and almost blinded him as he stooped to gauge the last approach.
    Corbett shouted, “Be careful, Trewin!”
    â€œStop together!” Trewin did not look at Corbett but watched the narrow sliver of water between the hull and the pier. “Slow astern together!”
    The bows squeaked against the bunches of old motor tyres which were strung along the pier like blackened fruit, and first one then a second line snaked ashore to be seized by several chattering natives.
    â€œStop engines!” The telegraphs jangled and the ship shuddered comfortably as the mooring lines took the strain. Then Trewin said, “Shall I ring off main engines, sir?”
    Corbett stood up and adjusted his cap. He seemed agitated and did not reply for several seconds. “Yes, yes, Trewin. Carry on.”
    He walked to the rear of the bridge as the deck gave one more quiver and then fell motionless and still.
    Trewin watched Corbett through narrowed eyes. If the captain was so worried about his handling of the ship on a difficult approach under entirely unfamiliar circumstances why did not he take over as most captains would have done? Trust in training was one thing. But Corbett’s attitude could have ended in real disaster.
    Corbett stopped by the ladder. He appeared to have regained his composure. “Not a bad effort, Trewin. Just be careful, that is all I ask.” He glanced at Mallory searchingly. “I shall be going ashore in five minutes. Turn the hands to unloading the medical stores for the hospital.” He blinked rapidly. “There’ll be a drink at the club for anyone who needs it, I expect.” Then he was gone.
    Mallory stuck his pencil in his shirt pocket and straightened his back. “Club!” he said scornfully. “Flaming hut on