which did give me a bit of a tickle when I heard about it. He’s down on B deck if you’d care to have a listen. The chap seemed very insistent—kept looking at his watch like he was about to miss his plane, and insisting he see either MacRae or the British Admiral at once.”
“Typical,” said Elena. “Cheeky lot, these Americans. They’re not even in this war yet and still think they’re running the show. Well, see what he has to say, Mack. I’ve no time to sort his business out.”
There came a hard knock, enough to turn heads and raise eyebrows, and the sound of loud voices outside the stateroom. Elena nodded at Mack and he went to the door, one hand drifting slowly to the sidearm he always wore when he heard the shouting. Some kind of ruckus was underway and he was suddenly curious, opening the door cautiously, yet ready for anything.
“Stand where you are I say, or I’ll shoot!” Morgan recognized the voice of one of the Argonauts, a Sergeant from the security detail, and he could hear heavy footfalls. There, standing in the corridor, his hands in the air, stood a bedraggled man in a dress white naval blazer and trousers.
“Easy does it,” Morgan raised an arm at the three Argonauts now coming rapidly up the corridor.
“I need to see the Captain at once,” said the man. “It’s an emergency! There’s very little time left now!”
“Sorry sir,” said the Sergeant. “He slipped off B deck and was half way here before anyone took notice. I’ll see to this.” The Sergeant reached for the man, but Morgan waved him off.
“Hold on, hold on,” he said, stepping up to the man and folding his arms. “Now what’s this all about?”
“As I’ve said. I have urgent information for the Captain, and he must hear it at once. There’s no time for delay now.”
“Urgent business is it? Well who in bloody hell are you?”
“Wellings—Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy. I was aboard Rodney with Captain Hamilton.”
“That much I gather, but what’s your business here?”
“It concerns the cargo she was carrying—the Rodney—the Elgin Marbles. They have to be saved!”
“Too late for that,” said Morgan. “But what’s your business with any of this?”
“The marbles—”
“Mack,” came Elena’s voice. “Show the Lieutenant Commander in please.”
Morgan pursed his lips, not liking the idea of this character getting right past three of the Argonauts and into the executive suite like this. He stepped up to the American, frisked him quickly and then led him in, casting a disapproving glance over his shoulder at the Sergeant that spoke volumes.
“We’ll see to this now, Sergeant. But do keep a handle on anyone else down below. Understood?”
“Sir!” the man saluted stiffly.
“Dismissed.”
Back inside the stateroom, Morgan secured the door, keeping a wary eye on the interloper, and noting that MacRae had also interposed himself between the man and Elena.
“Just what is this all about, Mister Wellings?” said Elena, stepping around the Captain.
The man’s reply riveted her attention at once, three words. “The Selene Horse,” said Wellings.
She stood in silence for a moment, then the questions came. “What about it?” she probed.
“It has to be saved.”
“That isn’t bloody likely,” said Mack again from behind the man.
“I tried to get to it,” said Wellings. “That was the only reason I came aboard, but the whole compartment was flooded. Look—you have divers, perhaps a submersible. Yes?”
“Aye,” said MacRae, “but nothing that could dive deep enough to fetch that cargo when Rodney goes down, and that appears imminent.”
“Well, if we can get something into the water at once, perhaps there might be a way—”
“Look here, Mister Wellings,” said Elena sharply. “Suppose you tell me just why you have an interest in any of this. I hardly think you’re an art collector.”
“No,” said Wellings. “As terrible a loss as this may end up being, it may be far more significant than the loss of the marbles, or even the gold bullion. That’s the least of it.”
“Aye,” said MacRae. “And that’s the King’s business, though I still haven’t heard why you make it yours.”
“Because one of the marbles contained something—an artifact—and it was very valuable. If there is any way it can be saved…”
Elena gave the man a hard look, as though she were trying to see right through the thin disguise he was wearing.
“How would you know this?”
“That’s a very long story, and there’s no time to explain it all. Look, if there is anything you can do, we need to act now. Then I