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The Doomsday Conspiracy :: Sheldon Sidney
Страница: 190 из 213“Kook … deed … bib … bob … boob … dad … dud… eve … gag … mom … non … noon … Otto … pop … sees … tot … toot …” Cesar looked up. “It’s not much help, is it?”
“It might be, sir. They were obviously using some kind of code. And one of the most famous palindromes was supposedly said by Napoleon: ‘Able was I ere I saw Elba.’”
Colonel Cesar and Colonel Johnson looked at each other. “Elba. Jesus Christ! That’s where he is!”
Day Twenty
The Island of Elba
It first appeared as a faint speck on the horizon, rapidly looming larger in the early morning light. Through the binoculars, Robert watched it materialize into the Halcyon. There was no mistaking the ship. There were not many at sea like it.
Robert hurried down to the beach where he had arranged to rent the motor boat.
“Good morning.”
The owner of the boat looked up. “Bonjour, monsieur. Are you ready to take it out?”
Robert nodded. “Yes.”
“How long will you want it for?”
“No more than an hour or two.”
Robert gave the man the rest of the deposit, and stepped down into the boat.
“Take good care of it,” the man said.
“Don’t worry,” Robert assured him, “I will.”
The owner untied the painter, and moments later the boat was headed out to sea, racing toward the Halcyon. It took Robert ten minutes to reach the yacht. As he approached it, he saw Susan and Monte Banks standing on the deck. Susan waved to him and he could see the anxiety in her face. Robert manoeuvred the small boat next to the yacht and tossed a line to a deckhand.
“Do you want to bring it aboard, sir?” the man called.
“No, let it go.” The owner would find it soon enough.
Robert walked up the ladder to the spotless teak deck. Susan had once described the Halcyon to Robert, and he had been impressed, but in actuality it was even more impressive. The Halcyon was two hundred and eighty feet long, with a luxurious owner’s cabin, eight double suites for guests, and cabins for a crew of sixteen. It had a drawing room, a dining room, an office, a saloon and a swimming pool.
The ship was propelled by two 1250 horsepower sixteen-cylinder turbo-charged caterpillar D399 diesel engines, and carried six tenders. The interior design had been done in Italy by Luigi Stur-chio. It was a floating palace.
“I’m glad you made it,” Susan said.
And Robert had the impression that she was ill at ease, that something was wrong.
“It might be, sir. They were obviously using some kind of code. And one of the most famous palindromes was supposedly said by Napoleon: ‘Able was I ere I saw Elba.’”
Colonel Cesar and Colonel Johnson looked at each other. “Elba. Jesus Christ! That’s where he is!”
Day Twenty
The Island of Elba
It first appeared as a faint speck on the horizon, rapidly looming larger in the early morning light. Through the binoculars, Robert watched it materialize into the Halcyon. There was no mistaking the ship. There were not many at sea like it.
Robert hurried down to the beach where he had arranged to rent the motor boat.
“Good morning.”
The owner of the boat looked up. “Bonjour, monsieur. Are you ready to take it out?”
Robert nodded. “Yes.”
“How long will you want it for?”
“No more than an hour or two.”
Robert gave the man the rest of the deposit, and stepped down into the boat.
“Take good care of it,” the man said.
“Don’t worry,” Robert assured him, “I will.”
The owner untied the painter, and moments later the boat was headed out to sea, racing toward the Halcyon. It took Robert ten minutes to reach the yacht. As he approached it, he saw Susan and Monte Banks standing on the deck. Susan waved to him and he could see the anxiety in her face. Robert manoeuvred the small boat next to the yacht and tossed a line to a deckhand.
“Do you want to bring it aboard, sir?” the man called.
“No, let it go.” The owner would find it soon enough.
Robert walked up the ladder to the spotless teak deck. Susan had once described the Halcyon to Robert, and he had been impressed, but in actuality it was even more impressive. The Halcyon was two hundred and eighty feet long, with a luxurious owner’s cabin, eight double suites for guests, and cabins for a crew of sixteen. It had a drawing room, a dining room, an office, a saloon and a swimming pool.
The ship was propelled by two 1250 horsepower sixteen-cylinder turbo-charged caterpillar D399 diesel engines, and carried six tenders. The interior design had been done in Italy by Luigi Stur-chio. It was a floating palace.
“I’m glad you made it,” Susan said.
And Robert had the impression that she was ill at ease, that something was wrong.