[Laughing Swordfish]

The other seniors and officers are congregating in the control room as if by some unspoken summons.

I am sifting through the messages that Viktor has punched through the Enigma machine for me.

U-213 saw them first. Got off a full salvo by all accounts. One confirmed, cargo only, estimated 8,000 tons, one tanker hit observed , but still making way.

Then just repeated "L ..L ..L ..L.. L"

'Laufen'

Our pre-determined code for a boat trying to escape

(Run, Max, Run!")

I thought of Max and his lucky pig back home. He would surely make it again this time? No way of knowing, of course, and that was the worst.

He had managed to give us the last course and speed of the convoy he'd attacked. It seemed to be coming up parallel to the Portuguese coast, and then just risking it due North West and strike for home.

Oscar came past from what we call the Medic Bay, and spotted me staring at my map of the Atlantic.

"Basically just a big bit of blue paper."

He said cheerfully

"It's a testimony to the ingenuity of mankind, that we can chase each other around and kill each other on it." he continued

I fixed him with a stare.

The last desperate report from U-467. Young pups out from Kiel too soon, still twisted in my hand.

It read simply:

'Bombed. Unable to maintain depth. Sinking. Abandoning boat. BE SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS......'

Their grid location wasn't that far from us, since I'd been loitering near the lad's position on the northern end of the screen, from the beginning

But to intercept the convoy instead, meant an immediate turn South

Maybe they had got out in time, or at least some of them. But maybe they drifted away, or drowned or froze. Maybe the Brits are picking them up. Maybe they're waiting to pick the likes of us up and bag us too? It's a thousand to one chance.

Oscar can always read my thoughts.

"If it was us, Sir, I'd hope for any odds to be fished out".

My last message was from BdU and of course it overrides all others.

"Attack and destroy convoy. Act decisively!"

Well the last bit of that crumpled message sheet could be construed as having been obeyed.

"Otto, full ahead both, new bearing 350. Yes, Willi were're heading North, give me that search pattern again. Coxswain, stand the Third Watch ready, and flak gun. Have some dry clothes ready. Oscar you'd better clear some room just in case. Tell Bruno to have the covered lamp ready, I'll be up in a minute. Break out flotation aids, dinghies and whatever. Tell the Cook to fire up his stove. Get Hans up We may not need his sound gear, but we might need his bunkspace. Willi bring us in on that search. "

I grin at Oscar, as he goes about his business.

"Enough mayhem for you Oscar?"

A harassed seaman stumbles groggily past on his way forward.

"I hope someone does the same for us" he grumbles bitterly

Oscar smiles and let's him pass.

"That's the whole point, isn't it Herr Kaleun!"


Lt de Bunsen, U-46