Kannaday stood at the port-side railing. He watched as the shipping vessel pulled within fifteen meters of the yacht. Neither boat went to anchor. The captains wanted to be mobile. Four Hosannah security men came from belowdecks. Each man was carrying a small barrel. Hawke was behind them. He had been watching the loading of the mini-launch. The Hosannah had two, both suspended from the rear. The vessel would be loaded with the valuable cargo and then lowered. The Hosannah would take nothing in return. Payment on delivery was worked out through other means. Kannaday did not know what they were. Overseas bank transactions most likely.

Kannaday walked over to his crew. “Mr. Hawke, I’d like you to go with them.”

“I always do,” he replied.

“Not with our crew, with the Malaysians,” Kannaday said.

Hawke turned to face Kannaday. The lantern was behind Hawke. Kannaday could not see his expression.

“Why would I want to do that?” Hawke asked.

“To ensure the security of the cargo. To reassure the chief,” Kannaday told him.

“Did he order me to do that?”

“I’m asking you to go,” Kannaday replied. The captain made a point of asking rather than ordering. He hoped that would make it go down easier. He also refused to say whether or not the order came from Darling. Hawke would not dare call to find out. That would appear openly mutinous. Hawke had to know that Darling would not be sympathetic to that.

How and why was not important. What mattered was to get Hawke into the launch. Kannaday would log the order and show Jervis Darling that he was still in command.

Hawke was silent as the men continued working behind him. He was obviously considering the same options Kannaday had contemplated.

“What if I decline to go?” Hawke asked. He moved closer to Kannaday. His eyes were steel resolve.

“Why would you do that?”

“My post is here, on the yacht,” Hawke replied.

“Your post is where the captain sends you,” Kannaday said. “Patrols are out there. You know that. They may be looking for us and anyone we meet. Or would you prefer that I radio the chief? Tell him that you do not consider the cargo to be worth protecting?”

“I’ll send some of my security team,” Hawke replied. “We do not need them here at the moment.”

“They are not as capable as their leader.”

“They are capable enough,” Hawke insisted. He turned to go.

“Would you prefer that I call the chief and tell him that you are afraid to go?” Kannaday asked. The captain was speaking loud enough now that the other crew members could hear.

Hawke did not even look back. “Do that.”

“Mr. Hawke, you will go aboard that fishing vessel or you will go below,” Kannaday ordered.

“I have work to do,” Hawke replied.

“Your work is finished,” Kannaday told him.