Chapter 47

He spotted Bobby as the ship edged into its berth. After the passengers were disembarked work began on unloading the cargo. The bowsers were hooked onto the trucks. Bobby climbed into one along with Shaun. Cooke climbed into the other truck. Shaun had paid off the harbour official. The four trainees each selected a Jeep and fell into line as Bobby left the port.

The warehouse was situated at the end of the dock. Bobby stopped the truck and leapt out to unlock the new lock that held the large doors shut. Then he waved to Shaun who had slid into the driver’s seat who drove forward as he opened them.

Once all the vehicles were safely inside the doors were shut. Everyone gathered around Bobby. “Well gentlemen this will be your new home until we leave. You’ll find blankets over by the crates. There’s a café of sorts at the side of the road two hundred yards away, the food is basic but edible. There’s bottled water alongside the blankets, don’t drink anything but bottled water. I would suggest Shaun that we eat in shifts say four at a time. I’ve opened some of the crates and taken out eight P 37’s along with spare mags. Also eight MP40’s, I don’t expect trouble, but it’s best to prepare for it. Mogadishu is awash with bandits and revolutionists”.

“Point taken Bobby. The Iona Star is scheduled to dock in nine days, before that happens we have to fill the bowsers and jerry cans, any thoughts on that?”

“Petrol is no problem, I’ve arranged with the boss of the fuel depot for a small fee. Water is another thing. It’s only drinkable if you boil it first”.

“Okay,” said Shaun, “we’ll start tomorrow filling them. In the meantime we will set up a guard roster. We need to keep a low profile until the ship arrives”.

Over the next seven days the bowsers and jerry cans were filled with petrol and water. The water jerry cans were filled with water that like the bowser, had been boiled on a butane stoves Bobby had supplied which also doubled as the means for making tea.

In the meantime weapons were checked and loaded. Shaun had found his rifle case in the crates and withdrew it to check it out. The Cartwright .303 had been completely overhauled back at the Birmingham factory. A new heavier barrel, which added to its weight had been fitted along with replacement breech parts. When he had retried it, he found no appreciate difference in its balance when he zeroed it in. He filled his grandfather’s bandolier, carefully checking each bullet before placing it in the clip.

From his frequent trips to the harbour master he found out at last that the Iona Star was expected to dock in two days’ time. The crates were repacked but the men retained their side arms hidden under their clothes.

The Iona Star nosed into its berth in the late afternoon of the second day. After the Captain had gone through the harbour procedure Shaun went on board.

Captain Stavros welcomed him aboard in his cabin with a scotch, “Welcome aboard, Major Ramage”.

Shaun smiled taking the drink, “Thankyou Captain Stavros”.

“We have the things you requested from Mr Silverman down in the hold. The small vehicles, Jeeps I think you call them will be loaded there. The larger vehicles and the bowsers will be placed on deck due to lack of space below”.

Shaun smiled, “That will be fine and thank you Captain”. Shaun knew keeping the petrol bowser on deck was a precaution against build-up of petrol vapours.

Captain Stavros continued, “Your people who you trained joined us in the Canal. You will find them in the mess room or down in the hold”.

Shaun nodded, “How are things in Palestine, Captain?”

Stavros’s face changed slightly, “Your friends below will tell you. From what they told me and what I have heard and seen, events are coming to a head. We noticed the build-up of Egyptian units on the Sinai side of the Canal. Most are out of view but there is no mistaking the tracks the tanks make in the sand. The Jews will have a fight on their hands”.

Shaun left him to make his way below. He could hear the work of loading the ship as he moved along the corridors.

When he opened the door to the mess room he saw Cookie and Bobby talking to the man he recognised from his time at the training camp, Stanley.

Stanley was former SAS and he had fought alongside LRDG units in North Africa and later in Italy and Europe. On demob he had acquired the rank of Company Sargent Major along with the Military Medal. He had been the best of the trainees to pass from the training camp, quickly picking up the skills he had used in the war. Now at almost forty years of age he still maintained a military demeanour coming to attention as he spotted Shaun coming through the door.