Lachlan gestured toward the bow of the ferry. “Come meet Scapa Flow.”
He led Arthur over the rolling deck past green-faced greenhorn sailors to an open spot at the railing. North of the Scottish mainland, the harbor of Scapa Flow lay sheltered by a ring of islands in the Orkneys.
A harbor familiar to Lachlan from when he worked at Scapa with the family company after university and again when he served on the destroyer HMSAntelopecovering operations off Norway in 1940.
As theSt. Ninianpassed under the massive coastal guns in Switha Sound, trawlers opened breaks in the boom and the anti-submarine nets to allow the ferry to pass.
Once again, Scapa Flow served as a major wartime naval base.
But once again, Scapa Flow served as the site of a disaster for the Royal Navy. Lachlan’s job would be to prevent further disasters.
“Where did the U-boat enter?” Arthur asked in a low voice.
Lachlan fought back a shudder at the thought of the tragedy. “Through the eastern channels.” Before war broke out, blockships had been sunk in the channels, but not enough of them. One night in October 1939, a German captain had weaved his submarine between the hulks and sunk theRoyal Oak, killing over eight hundred men on the battleship.
The ferry chugged into the still waters of Scapa Flow. Those waters had hosted the German warships interned by Britain at the end of the First World War—then those waters had closed over fifty-two of those ships when the skeleton German crews on board scuttled them in 1919. The Royal Navy had failed to prevent it.
Lachlan’s grandfather and father had made the family fortune salvaging some of those ships. Although he hated to profit from disaster, at least that steel now went to good purpose.
Arthur’s dark-eyed gaze swept the islands and the dozens of warships in the harbor. “Is Scapa as bleak as they say?”
“For you Londoners wanting the shows and shops and fancy meals, aye.” Lachlan’s smile unfurled at the pearly gray sky. “But for all who open their eyes, you’ll be seeing great beauty.”
“Women?” Arthur said.
Lachlan chuckled. “There are hundreds of sailors to every Orcadian lass.”
Despite his wee stature and wiry build, Arthur raised a smile. “I’ll make do. As for you, old chap—”
“Wheesht.” Lachlan swatted away his words.
“Nonsense. For all that red hair, you aren’t a bad-looking chap.”
“Aye?” Lachlan cocked one eyebrow. “And you dinnae seem a bad chap for all your irksome ways.”
“Ah, I see we shall be fine friends.”
Too early to say, but Lachlan hoped so, and he returned the man’s smile.
In a few minutes, the ferry pulled alongside theDunluce Castle, a transport from the previous war, now a depot ship. A gangway slanted down the starboard side of the gray hull, and officers and men climbed aboard with their kit.
At the top of the gangway, Lachlan stepped onto the quarterdeck, doffed his cap, and saluted the fluttering white ensign. Then he donned his cap and saluted the Officer of the Watch, who carried the traditional telescope under his arm.
The Officer of the Watch inspected the orders Lachlan handed him. “Ah yes, Lieutenant Mackenzie. Your command is at Lyness Naval Base on the island of Hoy and you’ll be billeted nearby at Rysa Lodge, but your commander is currently on board. Report to him here. After that, take a drifter to Lyness.”
“Aye, aye, sir.” After Lachlan saluted, he gave Arthur a goodbye nod.
The Officer of the Watch beckoned a messenger, who ledLachlan to an office on the main deck. Lachlan thanked the lad and knocked on the door.
“Enter.”
Lachlan did so and stood to attention. “Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie, sir.”
Lieutenant Commander Bennett Blake of the Orkneys and Shetlands Command rose and assessed Lachlan with cool eyes. A tall and slender man in his forties, Commander Blake gestured to the chair across from the desk. “Good day, Mackenzie. Set down your kit and have a seat.”
“Thank you, sir.” Lachlan placed his kit bag in the corner, hung up his greatcoat, and took his seat.
Blake rested one hand on top of the other on the desk, revealing the gold cuff lace on his sleeves indicating his rank as an Active Service officer. “Let me acquaint you with this command.”
