"MacDonnell, J E - 125 - Blind Into Doom UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (MacDonnell J E)

"It wasn't Gerard, Slippy," Duncan said, looking distantly over
the bow. "Celia left him the day they landed in Naples. She told me
that in my cabin after we'd picked her up from that freighter,
remember?"
Blake nodded again, mutely. Now he was regretting something
else-his harsh treatment of Gerard while he'd been in the ship,
believing him to be guilty of cuckolding the captain. Thank God
Duncan did not know about that.
"And then," Duncan said, even more quietly, "she told me the
other thing. I can hear her now, Slippy, I remember every word. "I
didn't run away with Dickie Gerard, Richard, I ran away from you'."
Blake shook his head. He was a blunt man and he spoke that
way."From you, just you? It doesn't make sense. I still don't
understand."
Duncan smiled a little. "Thanks, old chap, for the vote of
confidence. No, not just me. It was me and the Navy."
"I see," said Blake, and so he did. A peacetime officer, keen,
ambitious, on the way up; one of the few who believed, like Churchill,
that Hitler would unleash his murderous war-machine, and who
snatched every opportunity to take his ship to sea while most of
England took its ease; something a woman, especially one who had
already endured the separations of naval life, would find it hard to
understand. But though he liked Celia Duncan, even more so now
that he had learned about Gerard, there was no doubt where Blake's
prime loyalty lay.
- J.E. Macdonnell: Blind Into Doom Page 26 -



"My God," he said, thinking of how they had rescued her from
that freighter under threat of a German battleship's attack, "I imagine
she feels differently about the Navy now!" Duncan's mouth tightened.
But he had broached the subject, and his friend's feelings were
understandable. "Yes, Slippy," he nodded. There were other aspects
to be considered in Celia's change of heart, like patriotism and love
of country, things on which Blake held no monopoly, but it was
pointless to discuss these. "As I said, everything is all right now."
He looked at his friend again, this time quizzically. "Perhaps you'll
dine with us when we get back. Celia would like that."
"So would I!" Blake said, suddenly and completely won over;
regretful here, too, about his avoidance of Celia since the
reconciliation. "The first...well, the second night in."
"Done. And bring my two bottles of beer with you." "Now that,"
said Blake, his eyes quartering the sky, "we shall have to see about."
Sailors, even cruiser captains, know full well that Fate must never
be tempted by optimistic boasting about immunity from attack,
especially during an Atlantic convoy. But sometimes Fate uses
devious and delayed methods of punishing such disrespect. Captain
Duncan was allowed, this time, to get away with it. The convoy which
had escaped attack for so much of its long journey was granted