'Okay. I'll be at the ship in half an hour. I'll 'ave rucksacks, skis, food — everyfink. What size boots do you take?'
I told him. His air of command had taken me by surprise. Before the next few hours were out Alf Sunde was to give me several surprises. 'We gotter move fast,' he said as he went through the front door and turned back towards the bridge. 'Yer'll want light oilskins an' warm clo'ves,' he said. 'Got a gun?'
'Yes,' I replied. 'I've got two Smith and Wesson three-eights.'
'Bring 'em bo'f.'
'Good God!' I said. 'Lovaas wouldn't risk a shooting.'
'Wouldn't 'e?' He laughed. 'Not normally 'e wouldn't. But this is different. From wot I've gavvered o' this business it's big enough fer 'im ter go a'tside the law an' get away wiv it. Wot's the deaf of a few men when a new industry's at stake, you just tell me that?'
I remembered the scene that night in the whaling factory. Sundt was right. Lovaas, knowing what the prize was, would stick at nothing. 'I'll bring the guns,' I said.
We parted in the square and I hurried back to the ship. Jill was leaning against the rail with Curtis as I stepped on board. 'Where is he?' she asked. 'Captain Lovaas left over an hour ago with Halvorsen, his mate, and one of his men — a man named Gaarder. They had rucksacks and skis. What's happened, Bill?'
'Farnell's gone up into the mountains,' I said. I glanced round the deck. 'Where's Dahler?' I asked.
'He's gone,' Curtis answered. 'He caught the steamer.'