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you long?"
     
     
Lomax shook his head. "He's been working with a group in Southern Crete. Intelligence brought him out specially for this particular show."
     
     
"How are you getting out when the job's done?"
     
     
"The Special Boat Service are handling that end. Using a Greek caicque and pretending to be fishermen. A bloke called Soames is in charge.
     
     
"I know him well," Swanson shuddered. "You'd be better off with the Jerries."
     
     
"We'll survive," Lomax said.
     
     
"I was talking to a chap in one of the bars at Shep-heard's last week," Swanson said, "and he told me that Oliver Van Horn was still living here. That the Germans have left him alone. Is that true?"
     
     
"So I understand," Lomax said. "He came here just before the war because of his tuberculosis. I don't suppose he can do them much harm and allowing him to continue to live on the island makes for good publicity. Have you read any of his books?"
     
     
Swanson nodded. "One or two. Rather Maughamish with wonderful characterisation."
     
     
"I wish I had half his talent," Lomax said feelingly.
     
     
Swanson had been watching the shoreline carefully through the night glasses and now he leaned down and spoke briefly into the voice pipe.
     
     
The submarine started to slow and he turned to Lomax and said crisply, "This is as far as we go, I'm afraid. They're bringing your dinghy and gear out through the forward hatch. You'll find your sergeant and the Greek down there waiting for you."
     
     
"Thanks for the ride," Lomax said.
     
     
They shook hands briefly and he went over the side and descended the ladder to the circular hull. The dinghy was already in the water and as he arrived, Boyd dropped down into it followed by Alexias.
     
     
There was quite a swell running and the three ratings holding the lines cursed and one of them slipped and lost his footing on the slimy steel plates of the hull.
     
     
The Chief Petty Officer in charge handed the submachine guns and the radio pack to Boyd and then turned to Lomax. "I'd strap my pack on if I were you, sir. It's going to be a bit tricky going in through that surf."
     
     
"That's an understatement if ever I heard one," Boyd called softly.
     
     
Lomax slipped his arms through the straps of the heavy pack and buckled it securely.
     
     
"Ready to go, sir?" the CPO said.
     
     
"No tune like the present, Chief."
     
     
He waited, judging the distance, and as the dinghy lifted on the swell, stepped into her and sat down at once. The ratings released the lines and immediately the tide pulled the dinghy away from the submarine and in towards the shore.
     
     
The wind was freshening, lifting the waves into white-caps. As he reached for the paddle, the dinghy heeled and water poured over the gunn'l. He adjusted his weight and started to paddle.
     
     
Through the curtain of spray the cliffs loomed larger and at their feet waves rolled in to dash upon jagged, dangerous looking rocks.
     
     
Boyd was cursing steadily as water slopped over the sides and Alexias plunged his paddle deep into the water, using his great strength to control their progress. And then they were lifted high on a great swell and Lomax saw the base of the cliffs no more than a hundred yards away.
     
     
For a moment they seemed to poise there and then they swept down between two great rocks. Strange, swirling currents twisted them in a circle and there was a hollow, slapping sound against the bottom of the dinghy.
     
     
The water broke into white, foaming spray that soared high into the air and then they slewed broadside into the surf and lifted high over a great slab of rock.
     
     
Lomax went over the stern into the boiling water and floundered to his knees, groping for the radio pack. As his fingers fastened over its straps, another wave sent him staggering.
     
     
He tried to stand up and Boyd plunged through the boiling surf, hands outstretched to help him. For a moment they clung together and then another