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“Yes, but which one,” said Roberts, not looking up at the captain as he cautiously separated the red, black, blue, and yelloires “I’ve worked on this type of device many times before It’s always a one-in-four chance, and that’s not a risk I’ht consider it if I were on my own in the middle of a desert,” he added, “but not on a ship in the middle of the ocean with hundreds of lives at risk”

“Then let’s drag Doherty up here posthaste,” suggested Captain Turnbull “He’ll knohich wire to cut”

“I doubt it,” said Roberts, “because I suspect Doherty isn’t the bomber They’ll have a sparks on board to do that job, and God knohere he is”

“We’re running out of time,” the colonel reress “Seven minutes, three, two, one…”

“So, Roberts, what do you advise?” asked the captain calmly

“You’re not going to like this, sir, but there’s only one thing we can do given the circu we’re down to less than seven minutes”

“Then spit it out, man,” rapped the colonel

“Pick the fucking thing up, throw it overboard, and pray”

Harry and Giles ran back to the chairman’s suite and took up positions on either side of the vase There were several questions that Emma, as now dressed, wanted to ask, but like any sensible chairman she knehen to remain silent

“Lift it gently,” said Roberts “Treat it like a bowl full of boiling water”

Like teight lifters, Harry and Giles crouched down and slowly raised the heavy vase froht Once they were confident they had it firrasp they moved sideways across the cabin toward the open door Scott-Hopkins and Roberts quickly removed any obstacles in their path

“Follow me,” said the captain, as the two ed their way slowly towards the grand staircase Harry couldn’t believe how heavy the vase was Then he reiant of aaround for a tip He was probably on his way back to Belfast by now, or sitting by a radio sohaers had lost their lives

Once they reached the bottoan to count out loud as the two of them mounted each step Sixteen steps later, he stopped to catch his breath, while the captain and the colonel held open the swing doors that led out onto the sundeck, Emma’s pride and joy

“We need to go as far aft as possible,” said the captain “That will give us a better chance of avoiding any dae to the hull” Harry didn’t look convinced “Don’t worry, it’s not too far now”

How far is not too far, wondered Harry, ould happily have du as they progressed inch by inch toward the stern