* * * * *

  Damrosch pushed a seaman away from the swaying whaleboat as it hung alongside the boatdeck. ‘Get back there! Put these men aboard!’

  He saw the dory and another whaleboat idling clear from the ship as it reduced speed, crammed with men, prisoners and hastily gathered wounded. Other heads bobbed in the smoke-covered water and then vanished astern; friend or foe he could not tell, nor did he care.

  He realised suddenly that he had fallen to the deck and sat almost on the edge, his shocked eyes staring at the blood which seeped steadily down his leg.

  A man seized him and bundled him into the boat, and then he was dropping down the ship’s listing side. He was aware that the girl was crouched with him, and that a great silence had fallen. He lay back and stared at the blue sky beyond the smoke. I am alive, he thought. I am still alive.

  * * * * *

  Schiller scrambled up the port bridge ladder and pushed his way into the listing wheelhouse. He did not know why he had come, but felt a strange relief as he saw Lieutenant Heuss and the huddled figure of the Captain.

  Schiller gathered von Steiger into his arms and staggered down the steep slope of the deck. ‘I have him, sir! Come on, Lieutenant! There’s nothing more you can do!’

  Heuss paused in the canting doorway and peered back through the smoke. The wheelhouse was already lifeless and dead, like the men who were sprawled across its splintered deck.

  With a sigh he followed the big seaman, and scrambled down the ladder to the deserted deck. It was barely feet above the hungry water, and he saw with dulled amazement that a boat was still hooked on and hands were already helping Schiller and von Steiger over the gunwale. The boat pulled clear, and even the wounded seamen were silenced as a great shadow loomed across the calm water and blotted out the sun.

  Von Steiger struggled weakly. ‘Help me up! Quickly!’

  He felt himself lifted above the gunwale so that he, too, was beneath the great shadow. Above him the Vulkan loomed like a black pinnacle of rock as she slowly lifted her stern towards the sky. Von Steiger raised his fingers to the peak of his cap.

  With a great roar of inrushing water the Vulkan dived, as if eager to be gone from pain and humiliation.

  Von Steiger watched the swirling whirlpool and said, ‘Was the flag still there, Heuss?’

  Heuss stared across his head at the girl, who held von Steiger’s shoulder against her breast, her eyes brimming with tears. Behind them the British cruiser moved slowly towards the drifting boats, and the sound of their cheering drifted across the quiet water.

  Heuss wiped his blackened face, the strength coursing back to his limbs. ‘Listen. Captain! There is your answer. They are cheering you!’

  Von Steiger smiled, and allowed his head to fall back. Poor Vulkan, he thought wearily. Together, we became the last raider.

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Epub ISBN: 9781473506459

  Version 1.0

  First published by Arrow in 1964

  15 17 19 20 18 16 14

  Copyright © Douglas Reeman 1963

  Douglas Reeman has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work

  First published in the United Kingdom in 1963 by Hutchinson

  Arrow Books

  The Random House Group Limited

  20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA

  Random House Australia (Pty) Limited

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  Random House New Zealand Limited

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  Random House (Pty) Limited

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  The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009

  www.randomhouse.co.uk

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN 9780099055808

 

 

  Douglas Reeman, The Last Raider

 

 

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