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grasp. It was too far away. So when we set our men down on Italian shores it is essential that we get the full co-operation of every living soul who has been living under Nazi oppression. Patriots, terrorists, I don’t care who they are, just so long as they can hate Germans and pull a trigger!’
    Crespin thought of the
Thistle
as he had first seen her in the open dock. So far he could see no role for her at all.
    The admiral must have read his thoughts. ‘You know the Aegean, Crespin, and the Adriatic, the thousand and one places where the enemy’s lines are stretched to the limit. As soon as the Allies start making progress these island people and their friends on the mainland will start to revolt. They will cut supply roads, shoot down enemy patrols, and generally cause havoc behind the German lines. The Hun will
have
to take valuable troops to quell these uprisings, and so our advance will go all the faster. More important, it will show the peoples of France and Holland what
they
can do when the day comes to invade Hitler’s coveted West Wall, eh?’
    â€˜How can you be sure of all this, sir?’
    The admiral’s answer was swift and biting. ‘I’ve not exactly been sitting on my arse for the past three years, for God’s sake!’
    Then he smiled. ‘I’ve got people out there now. In Yugoslavia and the Greek islands, and more to send when they’re needed.’ He became serious again. ‘That is why I asked for a corvette. A destroyer is both too large and too vulnerable. And you know better than most that M.T.B.s are too damn noisy for this sort of game.’
    Crespin had a sudden and vivid picture of the burning torpedo boat, the screams and curses of his men dying around him, the bullets and scalding tracers ripping the waters apart and tipping the spray with scarlet. It was no game, as the admiral had implied. It had been sheer bloody murder!
    The admiral stood up and consulted an ancient gold pocket watch. ‘Just get the ship to sea, Crespin, and pull these volunteers into one fighting unit. You’ve done it before, otherwise I wouldn’t be here, and neither would you. At Gib you’ll get fresh orders, and by that time I’ll know a bit more of the next phase of things. It’s not going to be easy for you. Nothing worthwhile ever is. But you’ll know that what you’re doing is important, maybe even vital. By harrying the enemy’s communications and working with our terrorist friends you’ll be taking the pressure off the main battlefront.’ He peered at Second Officer Frost. ‘We’ll leave now, eh?’
    Crespin said quietly, ‘Thank you for being so frank.’ He found that he meant it.
    Rear-Admiral Oldenshaw grimaced. ‘Thought I was a silly old fool, didn’t you? Imagined I’d dropped you this command because you could both be spared, wasn’t that the case? Well, you may still be right if I’m proved to be at fault. So stop worrying about the ship’s capabilities and get on with the job. It’s probably just what you need after what you’ve been through. In this kind of war you’ve got to fight with what you’ve got. Not what you’d
like
to have. My God, when I first went to sea as a young cadet we went straight to the China Station to fight pirates, and
that
was in a sailing ship! The
Thistle
may not be a thoroughbred but she’s proved her value already.’ He turned towards the door. ‘The main difference, however, is that this time
you
will be the pirate!’
    Crespin followed them up the ladder to the gangway. Wemyss had mustered a small side party and they saluted as the old admiral followed by the tall, unsmiling Wren made their way up towards the dock wall.
    Crespin saw the unspoken question in Wemyss’ eyes but said, ‘Carry on, Number One, and let me know when the two officers come aboard.’ Then he retraced his steps to the