The Enemy Below Page #2

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It's got some power, but it's

too small a spook to be a heavy vessel.

It might be a fishing smack, or it

might be the conning tower of a sub, sir.

- Bridge. Lieutenant Ware.

- Mr. Ware.

We're about to lose radar contact

at the rate we're going.

Reduce speed to speed of target

and get on its tail.

At this distance,

we'll make visual contact at daybreak.

- Shall I shake the ship out for a standby?

- Not much shaking out to be done.

But ready underwater search gear.

If this spook is a U-boat,

he might pull the plug,

and we'll have to go after him.

- Who's the senior radarman, Andrews?

- That's me, sir.

You track the target.

Any turn or change in speed,

no matter how small, don't miss it.

I'll stick on him,

don't you worry, Captain.

All right, I won't.

If anybody's gonna be caught

with his pants down, it oughtn't to be us.

Seems like he knows his business, to me.

Feather merchant,

that's all I got to say.

Signal is to stern,

Herr Kapitn. 8,000 meters.

It's either a ship or a false echo.

You've lost it.

It comes and goes.

The sea return makes it difficult

to keep the image.

There, Kapitn. There it comes.

Port 20 degrees, Schwaffer.

- Target's course changing to port.

- Target's turning left, Captain.

25... 20 degrees.

Maintain your present speed.

Steady as you go.

May I ask what your procedure is, sir?

If this is an enemy ship,

our signal may be on his oscillator

and he's trying to feel us out -

make a couple of turns,

see if we change position.

If we can hold

an unchanging position behind him,

he may mistake us

for a ghost echo on these heavy seas.

- The signal does not change, Herr Kapitn.

- Starboard 40 degrees.

- Target's turning sharp starboard, sir.

- Can you estimate the degree, Andrews?

- 40... 45 degrees, Captain.

- All engines stop.

You think it might be a U-boat, sir?

Wiggling like one. He may take the bait.

- If he doesn't, he'll crash-dive.

- Excuse me, sir.

It holds the same place, Herr Kapitn.

Resume course 140.

Yes?

He's on the hook.

He's come back into course 140.

- All engines ahead two-thirds, steer 140.

- Aye aye, sir.

Good, Andrews. The target won't

be satisfied with one check.

Look for him to make a turn.

Or he may slow down

or speed up. Thank you.

- Sir?

- Well?

- Do you wanna send a dispatch, sir?

- Why? Are you anxious to take one?

- No, sir. I just thought...

- We have to keep radio silence tonight.

We might tip our hand to the target.

But I'll get one out in the morning, OK?

Yes, sir.

This is the captain. I guess you're all

waiting for some kind of word.

We're tracking an unidentified ship.

We're going to try to stay

on his tail until morning.

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