"Anthony Wall - The Eden Mission (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wall Anthony)

A few minutes later Ben joined Captain James Alexander on Sea Shepherd's
bridge to discuss the next day's schedule. They were soon so engrossed that
they didn't spot Curtis hovering in the background.

When Alexander caught sight of the radio officer he broke off in mid-sentence
... Alexander:

"Yes, Leslie?"

"Message for you, Captain."

Alexander scanned the paper he was handed. "Dammit! What are they playing
at?"

Bellingham cocked an inquiring eyebrow.

The captain took his arm. "Better come with me, Ben. This affects you too."

In the radio room, Bellingham struggled to keep a straight face. Mild-mannered
Alexander could be very outspoken at times--as someone at the other end of the
radio already knew. That someone was Sir Charles Fotheringay, chairman of the
Conservation Committee in London.

Alexander's tone conveyed a mixture of irritation and disbelief: "Let's get
this straight, Sir Charles. You want to fly out a security specialist ... not
even a navy man ... to protect us on the voyage. From what? Think we're going
to be mugged by a sea monster? I'm master of this ship, responsible for
safety. I don't need help--particularly from intruders."

Sir Charles sighed. The sound was quite audible over the radio. He respected
Alexander, a first-rate captain. If only he weren't so stubborn. "Look, Jim.
The committee has heard rumours, nothing definite, that certain commercial
groups are set on thwarting The Eden Mission. And they may not be too fussy
about how they do it ..."

Alexander: "Sabotage, you mean?"

Fotheringay: "It's possible. So we mustn't take any chances, must we? Hence
the security man. He's ex-SAS, a top operator. I can personally vouch for him.
Incidentally, I gather you've got young Vanessa Pilgrim on board. Her father
is Leonard Pilgrim, the financier, a prominent member of the committee who has
been extremely generous to the conservation cause."

Alexander glanced quickly at Bellingham.

Fotheringay added: "I hope you'll co-operate, Jim. Otherwise the students and
teachers will have to come home ..."

Up on deck, Susan pointed in delight. "Oh ... how lovely! Dolphins!" Gary,
Norman, Vanessa and Yves followed her as she ran. Riding the ship's bow wave