Chapter 10

A disheveled McCock was asleep on Marty's seat with his head on his arms on the table. His light pack was bunched up under them as Rowan came in 3006's door. McCock stank of engine room.

Rowan shook him by the shoulder, nodded at the Dungeon's door, looked into the scanner and pushed the door open. McCock followed him and then stood looking like a tired lost browbeaten school kid.

Rowan filled a coffee cup, thrust it into McCock's hands, nodded towards the fresher and said,

"Here, get outside of this and get cleaned up. You smell to high heaven."

Fifteen minutes later, McCock reappeared wearing clean underblouse, summer weight work trousers and socks. He sat opposite Rowan in response to the ritual hand wave.

"The high quarters are saturated with lube."

"What happened – from the beginning."

""Pendragon" had just reported in when the message came in the Ensign HMS McCock RMN was to be picked up by escort in a pinnace inside the outer ring. I didn't correct the RMN. Didn't have a clue what was going on but knew it had to be Navy because if it had been personal I'd have been told. There was a very courteous but totally uncommunicative Marine 2nd lieutenant to collect me – I don't think he knew what was going on either – and escort me to the pinnace – the Admiral's pinnace, Diana's personal flivver. So I had a good idea what had happened. At least I was able to snooze on the trip home. Took about four hours. We docked at the Admirals' ramp and I was escorted to her outer office. Percy Gantry was waiting for me and he looked right pissed off, didn't say a word to me either just pointed to a chair. Escort and I sat – must have been uncomfortable for the Marine as he was sitting at attention, at least I squirmed around. Percy gave me a dirty look each time I moved. About an hour later a door slammed sounded like from the inner office – it was. After another half hour a buzzer sounded and Percy pointed me at the inner office door. Percy waved the Marine back. Marched in and halted before her desk. She was in full regalia, mess dress, medals, sash, orders the lot. I was about to report but she held up her hand, then she put both hands flat on the desk,