Pride and the Anguish by Douglas Reeman

least they can do is come and see us, dammit!” He lifted his glasses and peered at the empty beach. “No wonder the bloody airfield got taken.”
    Mallory appeared on the bridge holding a large sandwich in one hand. “They’ll be Aussie troops hereabouts. They’ll have the job in hand all right.”
    â€œI hope your optimism is well founded.” Corbett shot him an irritated glance. “But it doesn’t help me.”
    Trewin found time to wonder how far the admiral had got with the other ships. They had heard aircraft during the night, but no sounds of gunfire from the sea. It was just as if each side was sitting back waiting to see what the other would do.
    Corbett said suddenly, “I want you to go ashore, Trewin. There’s a village about a mile inland. The Army have a commandpost there. Go and ask the C.O. what he wants us to do, and be quick about it. I don’t like sitting here waiting for the sky to fall.” He added, “If they don’t need us any more I’m heading back south, and fast!”
    Trewin stared at the beach. “Yes, sir.” He beckoned to a bosun’s mate. “Tell Petty Officer Kane to muster a landing party of six men with sidearms, and call away the motor boat.”
    Corbett muttered, “Take Hammond, too. You might need an interpreter.” He said with sudden anger, “My God, if I’ve put this ship in danger for nothing I shall raise hell when we reach base!”
    Ten minutes later Trewin and his small party waded through the cool water and on to the sand, while the boat turned and scurried back to the
Porcupine.
    He glanced at his pocket compass and said, “Let’s get started, but have your weapons ready, just in case a few of those Japs managed to swim ashore last night.” He knew his voice was unusually harsh and that Hammond was watching him searchingly, but his mind was too busy with other things to care about that. He stepped through a fringe of salt-stained brush and started up the slope from the beach. It was hard going. It would be worse for fully laden soldiers, he thought.
    Once into the jungle of small, gnarled trees they could have been one hundred miles from the sea. A few birds shrilled and squawked in the distance, but they did not see a single movement.
    Petty Officer Kane kicked a scarlet fungus aside with a grunt of disgust. “Bloody dump! Enough to give you the squitters.”
    Hammond said quietly, “What’ll we do if we can’t find anyone?” He looked up at the criss-cross of branches through which the sun was hardly able to penetrate. The air was humid and clammy, so that his shirt was already sticking to his body.
    Trewin said shortly, “They’ll be here.” He hitched the unfamiliar pistol over to his hip and added, “Where’s that damned village?”
    They plodded up the slope in silence, while the thorns andlow branches plucked at their arms and legs like vicious, eager claws.
    Towards the top of the ridge the trees thinned out and the sun swept down to add to their discomfort. Trewin said, “Take a breather.” He pulled out his binoculars. “I’ll have a look around.” He looked at Kane, “You come too, and bring your tommy-gun.”
    Hammond sat down on a flat stone while the six sailors of the party threw themselves into a patch of shade, breathless and grateful for the rest from this unfamiliar exercise.
    Trewin said, “I won’t be long, Sub. I should be able to see the road from up there.” He turned on his heel without waiting for a reply and pushed through the bushes with Kane at his back.
    Hammond tilted his cap over his eyes and stared at the tiny, busy insects which were already exploring his shoes. It was strange how easy it was to rely on everything Trewin said or did, he thought vaguely. He was quite unlike anyone he had ever met. He rarely seemed to smile or share his confidences, and he