He’d surfaced and announced himself to the signal station within minutes of the time Danvers had given as their ETA – not all that astounding an achievement, in point of fact, but satisfying in its way – at any rate to Danvers. And of course Shrimp had been there to welcome them, making a somewhat hazardous transit of the floating brow before the boat was properly secured, boarding athletically to shake Mike’s hand and congratulate him and all the rest of them, admire the now even more crowded Jolly Roger – which Maltese in dghaisas and on a harbour ferry had already cheered. Ursa then with her casing party lined up fore and aft, White Ensign as well as Roger flying, motoring in past the head of Sliema Creek and Fort Manoel with the mid-afternoon sun already lowering itself a little over Floriana. The Malts’ fierce enthusiasm was always heartening: Shrimp’s approbation of course rather more so. Even a sad Shrimp’s – as he was now. Ultra having failed to respond to her recall from patrol.
