'Welcome to Silvermine, Captain Weddell,' replied the aide. 'The C-in-C's expecting you.' Inevitably he checked on the telephone before taking me in.

The admiral sat at an outsize desk-the same tough, wiry little man with the boxer's broken nose and lopsided grin. 24

His eyes were welcoming now but I'd seen them on occasion shuttered and opaque. That was the time strong men ran. He rose, hand outstretched. 'Good to see you, Struan.' ' 'I half expected to find a little green man in a space suit.' `

You get used to it pretty soon.'

'It isn't a hospital, though,'

'No, it isn't a hospital'

`Look, sir, I appreciate what you did in sending a chopper to the airport for me. I don't know how you knew about my mother. But there's been a snarl-up somewhere: the lines must have got crossed. I've been brought here instead of to the hospital. I've got to get there-quick. Every hour may be vital'

`Nothing got snarled up. She's alive. Relax Have a cigarette.'

But I remained standing. He eyed me through the smoke. `

You've put on weight, Struan.'

Tor God's sake 1 I didn't come here to talk about my weight. My mother..

He nodded towards a cluster of three coloured telephones. '

Use the blue one. You'll find her at home. There's nothing wrong with her.'

The friendly eyes were starting to cloud up. But I told myself angrily I wasn't one of his subordinates any longer. `

The hospital sent me a cable to Santorin,.

I sent it. Your mother knows'

`You sent it! For crying in a bucket! You mean to say you bluffed me into rushing back to South Africa-what the devil for?'

'Sit down. Listen. I've a lot to say to you: I'll stand. I'm going soon.'