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together. He’d known it couldn’t last. For the second time that day, he approached a rendezvous with trepidation.
    * * *
Saturday 19th October.
Devon, England.
    Andrew Tinker had been home for two days. He opened his eyes and looked at the bedside clock. It was just after seven a.m.; there was no hurry.
    It was the birdsong that had woken him. At sea, he was accustomed to the dull roar of the ventilation system, to being awakened at any time by a call from the control-room and dropping off again easily. But here the persistent trill of a blackbird defeated him.
    Patsy’s naked body radiated warmth beside him. His first night home had been difficult. It usually was, with both of them tense from suppressing their feelings for so many weeks. Last night had been different, however.
    He turned on his side; she had her back to him.
    â€˜Mmmm. Hello, stranger,’ she mumbled.
    â€˜Hel-lo.’
    â€˜Are you the same stranger who did such lovely things to me last night?’
    â€˜That rings a bell . . .’ Andrew chuckled.
    He kissed her neck. She smelled muskily of sweat and perfumed bath oil.
    â€˜Can you prove it?’
    â€˜Maybe. There’s only one way to find out!’
    * * *
    â€˜I’m going to do bacon and eggs,’ he called to Patsy, whowas in the shower. ‘Just to show you there’s more than one thing I’m good at! Like some?’
    â€˜Put like that, how could I refuse . . .?’
    He was just dishing up when the telephone rang.
    It was Norman Craig.
    Andrew caught Patsy’s eye across the kitchen and gave her a thumbs-down sign. Craig meant work.
    â€˜Hello, sir. Good morning to you.’
    â€˜I’m desperately sorry, Andrew. Pasty’ll never speak to me again. But I’m about to ruin your weekend. If it’s any consolation, I’m in the same boat, but I’ve been tied up since yesterday.’
    â€˜Sounds serious. What’s the problem?’
    â€˜Look, I’m not being unreasonable, but I simply can’t tell you anything over the phone. You understand. But if you could meet me in my office at about ten, earlier if you can make it, I’d be eternally grateful. It’s bloody important. I wouldn’t be disturbing your leave if it weren’t.’
    The captain’s voice had developed an edge.
    â€˜No, of course not. I’ll be on my way in a few minutes.’
    Andrew replaced the receiver.
    â€˜What do you mean “you’ll be on your way”? Where are you going?’
    â€˜To
Defiance
. To Craig’s office,’ he replied.
    â€˜Oh hell! When will you be back?’
    â€˜I don’t know. He wouldn’t say what it was about.’
    â€˜It’s not fair. You’ve just got home, and now this . . .’
    He poured them some coffee and began to eat fast. He would have to change into uniform if he was going to the naval base.
    â€˜Ring me, will you? When you know what he wants?’
    â€˜Sure. But I’m bound to be back by lunchtime.’
    * * *
    HMS Defiance
was a building of concrete and brick. On the first floor Tinker pushed his security pass into a turnstile which let him into the administrative sector. The ground floor was packed with workshops;
Defiance
was primarily the maintainance base for the Squadron. As itsCaptain, Norman Craig described himself as ‘working from an office over a garage’.
    â€˜Oh, well done. You made it,’ Craig remarked, ushering Tinker to the small sofa, while looking at his watch. ‘Sorry I was cryptic on the blower, but this one really is a stinker. Bloody Sovs. Let me get you a coffee. NATO standard?’
    â€˜No sugar, thanks.’
    â€˜I’ve boiled the kettle. Shan’t be a mo.’
    Craig slipped into the clerk’s office next door. None of the staff was in on Saturday. He returned, carrying the mugs.
    â€˜Now . . .’ he began, dark eyes concentrating on Andrew. ‘You’re an old chum of