Mightier Than the Sword Read Online Free Page B

down at an agenda that had been prepared by Philip Webster, the company secretary, the day before they set sail from Avonmouth. It was already out of date. There was just one item on the revised agenda, and it would certainly be the only subject discussed that day.
    “I’ll begin,” said Emma, “by reporting, off the record, everything that took place in the early hours of this morning, and then we must decide what course of action to take. I was woken by my husband just after three…” Twenty minutes later, Emma double-checked her notes. She felt she had covered everything in the past, but accepted she had no way of predicting the future.
    “Have we got away with it?” the admiral asked, once Emma had called for questions.
    “Most of the passengers have accepted the captain’s explanation without question.” She turned a page of her file. “However, we’ve had complaints from thirty-four passengers so far. All but one of them have accepted a free voyage on the Buckingham at some time in the future, as compensation.”
    “And you can be certain there will be a whole lot more,” said Bob Bingham, his usual North-Country bluntness cutting through the outwardly calm demeanor of the older board members.
    “What makes you say that?” asked Emma.
    “Once the other passengers discover that all they have to do is write a letter of complaint to get a free trip, most of them will go straight to their cabins and put pen to paper.”
    “Perhaps not everyone thinks like you,” suggested the admiral.
    “That’s why I’m on the board,” said Bingham, not giving an inch.
    “You told us, chairman, that all but one passenger was satisfied with the offer of a free trip,” said Jim Knowles.
    “Yes,” said Emma. “Unfortunately an American passenger is threatening to sue the company. He says he was out on deck during the early hours of the morning and there was no sight or sound of the Home Fleet, but he still ended up with a broken ankle.”
    Suddenly, all the board members were speaking at once. Emma waited for them to settle. “I have an appointment with Mr.—” she checked her file—“Hayden Rankin, at twelve.”
    “How many other Americans are on board?” asked Bingham.
    “Around a hundred. Why do you ask, Bob?”
    “Let’s hope that not too many of them are ambulance-chasing lawyers, otherwise we’ll be facing court actions for the rest of our lives.” Nervous laughter broke out around the table. “Just assure me, Emma, that Mr. Rankin isn’t a lawyer.”
    “Worse,” she said. “He’s a politician. A state representative from Louisiana.”
    “One worm who’s happily found himself in a barrel of fresh apples,” said Dobbs, a board member who rarely offered an opinion.
    “I’m not following you, old chap,” said Clive Anscott, from the other side of the table.
    “A local politician who probably thinks he’s spotted an opportunity to make a name for himself on the national stage.”
    “That’s all we need,” said Knowles.
    The board remained silent for some time, until Bob Bingham said matter-of-factly, “We’re going to have to kill him off. The only question is who will pull the trigger.”
    “It will have to be me,” said Giles, “as I’m the only other worm in the barrel.” Dobbs looked suitably embarrassed. “I’ll try and bump into him before he has his meeting with you, chairman, and see if I can sort something out. Let’s hope he’s a Democrat.”
    “Thank you, Giles,” said Emma, who still hadn’t got used to her brother addressing her as chairman.
    “How much damage did the ship suffer in the explosion?” asked Peter Maynard, who hadn’t spoken until then.
    All eyes turned to the other end of the table, where Captain Turnbull was seated.
    “Not as much as I originally feared,” said the captain as he rose from his place. “One of the four main propellers has been damaged by the blast, and I won’t be able to replace it until we return to Avonmouth. And