Imperfect Circle

By Robert L. Mason

Black Diamond

Set mainly in the Second World War this is the story of Charlie, a boy growing to manhood. It is a fast-moving novel which begins with his meeting identical twins, Lucy and Susan and then traces the romantic influence each has on the lives of the others as they journey across Europe between 1936 and 1945. On the way they are caught up in dangerous adventures culminating in their escape, through France, near the end of the war. The twins are, by turns, nave, charming and worldly -wise. Charlie experiences a roller-coaster of emotions as he tries to decide which one is his true love. Abe, the benign banker, Carl, the Nazi officer, David, the secret agent and Marlene, the evil school mistress are four of the colourful characters who, with many others, are responsible for the turmoil and disasters which maintain the suspense until the final page.

Isosceles Triangle

Isosceles Triangle continues the story of Charlie and his strange entanglement with identical twins, Lucy and Susan. Posted to Germany as a doctor in the RAMC he finds himself working for his friend and mentor, the secret agent David Brown but who is he really working for and what new dangers beset the trio as they try to penetrate the Iron Curtain?

Who betrays whom and who are the victims in the drama which unfolds as Charlie pits his wits against the might of the KGB? Will Charlies tempestuous nature help him to find himself and what strange fate awaits the twins?

Imperfect Circle

Now a medical practitioner in Bolton, Charlie finances the building of a revolutionary trawler for his son Chas, whose ambition is to make his fortune trawling off the Icelandic coast. Susan, Charlies wife, opposes their plans but is powerless to prevent what she think is a mad adventure. Sir David Brown with his wife Lucy, Susans twin sister, is posted by an unfortunate coincidence to be the British Ambassador in Iceland. They are present at the launch of their nephews brainchild, the stern trawler Ace of Spades in the Hull dockyard. Eliza, Charlies mother, sheds a tear as the new ship takes to the waters of the Hull river, saying that the wheel of fortune has at last turned the full circle in their favour, since the death of her husband at the battle of Dunkirk. How wrong she is. As the story unfolds Chas finds himself embroiled in the Icelandic Cod War but his troubles are as nothing compared to the turmoil which threatens the whole Forbes family when an enemy emerges from the past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Nov 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9781467001939

Book preview

Contents

Glossary

Dramatis Personae

Prologue

1 The Ace Of Spades

2 THE LAUNCH

3 DAVID BROWN

4 ZAP and KRAUSE

5 MORNING DEPARTURE

6 THE LETTER

7 RANSACKED

8 JONNY

9 KEFLAVIK

10 RESCUE AT SEA

11 CONFESSION

12 RIOT

13 ARREST

14 CONTACT

15 DOUBLE OR QUITS

16 THE BAG

17 IN THE DARK

18 A DANGEROUS GAME

19 THE BASE

20 HOMEWARD BOUND

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Bibliography

The Fox and the Hound

I dedicate this book to

my Great Grandson

Charlie Mason White

Glossary

Dramatis Personae

FAMILY

Charlie Forbes

Susan, his wife

Chas, his son

Charlene, his daughter

Sir David Brown, Charlie’s brother in law

Lady Brown, David’s wife, identical twin with Susan

Hugo and Violet Robinson (both deceased), parents of the twins

Jack Forbes, father of Charlie

Eliza Forbes, mother of Charlie

Peggy Petrie (Eliza’s sister, deceased)

ILLUSTRATIONS

The Ace of Spades, front cover

Iceland map

The British Embassy and Residence

Prologue

My name is Abraham Goldstein, Abe for short. Some of you will have heard of me already but in case you haven’t let me give you a brief run down. I was born in 1870 into a large family. Although I have only one brother, our cousins are, or rather were before the second World War, scattered all over Europe. Based in Bern we had offices in most major cities supplying finance for business, underwriting insurance and many other services. Since 1945 and the demise of Adolf Hitler and his evil gang of criminals, I have been engaged in tracing and offering help to the remains of my family.

Nothing will ever remove the memory of my escape from Antwerpen in 1940, right under the noses of Nazi officers. After hearing that our good friends, the Smidts, had been arrested I realised that my wife, Gerda, and our granddaughter were in imminent danger. Help came from another close friend who arranged a passage to Switzerland on a Rhine barge for us and the Smidt’s two daughters, Gretchen and Rita. Much later, when we were nearly at our destination, poor Gretchen was shot by a German soldier.

Our plan would have been discovered but for the action of a courageous young man called Charlie Forbes. His quick thinking in diverting the attention of the sentries enabled the crate, inside which I was crouching, to be hoisted onto the barge. Having lost my own son in the early days of the war I took Charlie into my paternal care right up to the moment when he graduated in medicine in 1951 at Manchester University. Charlie proved himself to be honest and brave beyond the call of duty. He well deserved the George Cross for helping British and US airmen escape through the minefields on the Swiss/Franco frontier. I adopted him as if he was my own son.

He was charmed by the identical twins, Lucy and Susan Robinson, whom he met in Switzerland and who helped the escaping airmen also. He admired their beauty and vivacity; so did I, even though their three sided relationship was somewhat unconventional. In times of war, when so much fear and hatred abound, love remains the solid rock beneath our civilization. Charlie married Susan, not so much because he loved her more than Lucy, but because she was having his baby.

My dear Gerda died last year and was laid to rest in the family’s mausoleum where I shall soon join her. Now, lying here, tears well up within me as I realise that I shall never see her or my Charlie again. His recent visit came as a complete and wonderful surprise. For a week he brought the twins and their two children, Chas and Charlene to my home in Bern. I hardly recognised him after a gap of nearly twenty years since the end of the war. The slim youth I remembered had grown to be tall and strong but gentle when we shook hands. His striking blue eyes shone out from a face tanned by the action of salt and sea. His smile, as ever, was warm and infectious and despite my misery drew one from me.

According to the doctors, I have only a few more weeks to live. I am not able to stand any more and I wear suitable plumbing and feeding attachments to prolong my stay on earth, though for what purpose it is hard to say. Nathan, my brother, says all my affairs are in order. My will leaves the bulk of my considerable fortune to Charlie. I am confident that he will invest it well for the benefit of his family. I entrust this deposition to the care of Charlie’s biographer, Bob Mason, so that the story will be faithfully recorded for future generations.

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1 The Ace Of Spades

Once again angry words spilled out from the house on the Chorley road. In spite of the large garden surrounding their home, Belvedere, their shouts could be heard by the neighbours.

Well, I don’t agree with a word of it. The boy’s crazy, Susan shrieked.

Stop there. Charlie Forbes held up his hand as if to stop the traffic.

I will not stop, she went on at maximum pitch, and for you to go along with it. Words fail me. You spoil that son of yours.

Better not let Chas hear you say that. He thinks Charlene is the one we spoil.

You’re making me angry again. Every time I try to discuss this we end up shouting.

I’m making you angry? What about him then? It’s for Chas that I’m doing this.

I thought that when we agreed to be married and… She slumped into the kitchen chair and buried her face in her hands hoping that things would soon calm down. They usually did.

We are married Susan, Charlie said slowly. Don’t ever say we’re not. We are. That was the vow you and Lucy made to each other when you swapped identities. Charlie felt his gut wrenching guilt rising once more. It hardly seemed possible that after all the years of love and hatred, he longed to take her in his arms and smooth away her tears. Even now he remembered the slim beauty of his wife as she was, over twenty years ago. Where had the years gone since that crucial night when the Robinson twins swapped their identities in the course of true love? His former wife had gone to live with his friend, David and called herself Lucy and David’s wife of a few hours had become his wife, Susan. ‘What is happening to my life?’ he wondered and not for the first time. Susan was only too happy with their lifestyle but the dull routine of general medical practice over the last twenty years had gradually worn away his enthusiasm and devotion. He needed something new, something dramatic to wake him from his present torpor. Sometimes he wished he was back in the Medical Corps.

Listen. She broke his brief reverie. Well then, if we are as you say, I’ve got an equal stake in all this. Chas will be mad to buy a trawler in these times, and you know it. Just because Abe’s money is sitting there, in the bank, he thinks he can go out and spend nearly half a million pounds on a lost cause.

He’s not spending; he’s investing. The Ace of Spades will be built to the latest specifications and for her size will be equal to any trawler afloat. Have faith and trust. He will have a vessel capable of handling any weather and with all the latest equipment.

Calm now, Charlie drew up a chair and put his arm round her slender shoulders. She turned her face towards him. He smiled. She wiped her eyes and at last they were reconciled once more.

Equipment. What do you mean? What equipment? she said.

We’ll go into all that this evening when Chas is back from the Beverley Yard.

Why did we go to the Beverley Yard in the first place? Every vessel they ever built there has to be floated down the river Hull for fitting out.

Well, for one thing they quoted a very keen price, much less than the other yards. That’s why, plus the fact that they have a very long tradition.

What’s that got to do with it? Her throat tightened with the effort of keeping calm. She knew a wrong word or even a raised voice might spark another row.

Oh. No need to pick me up on every word. Experience then, he said somewhat testily. With tradition comes experience. I’ve heard good reports of CD Holmes and Company. When Chas gets back he should have a copy of the latest spec. with drawings, the lot. It’s a long time since Holmes had an order like this and he’s revelling in it.

Of course he’s revelling in it. All the yards are having a tough time. Don’t you think you’re leaving too much to Chas. He’s barely twenty two and looks younger.

He’s a strong intelligent man. He may look young to you but at six feet three he out-reaches his contemporaries. He’s had plenty of experience, ever since he was eighteen, and now he is negotiating the best possible agreement for the realisation of his dream, a modern trawler incorporating all his wish list.

That’s all very well but the Icelanders are not just going to stop at the 1961 settlement. The grapevine has it that their next dictat will be for 50 miles.

I know that. The yards are buzzing with it but I take it with a big pinch of salt. The present deal doesn’t run out until 1971. We’ll worry about it when the time comes. At the very worst, there’s still at least five more years of uninterrupted fishing on the Iceland shelf to go for. In any case there’s no reason why Britain shouldn’t get better treatment than the rest of Europe.

That seems unlikely. You’re a dreamer Charlie, always were and always will be. You’re just like your father.

The world needs dreamers. Chas is a dreamer too. How do we get ideas, make progress?

I wouldn’t have thought fishing was an occupation for dreamers

Well that’s where I think you may be wrong. Chas has more to offer than just dreaming. He’s a practical man, blessed with a tough attitude. He’ll make good in the industry and what’s more he’s inherited Dad’s outlook on life. They didn’t give Jack Forbes the nickname ‘Fearless’ on the Grimsby dock without knowing the man. He gets his ideas from the Forbes and his strength from your side. In my opinion he’s the ideal man to join the industry in crisis. Innovation and imagination will see it through.

You’re all talk.

Have more faith Sue. Don’t forget our export trade. It’s not just fishing. Britain sells a mountain of stuff to Iceland.

Ha, you’ve got to be joking. The war’s over now. Europe’s back on its feet.

We’re best placed to do deals.

Maybe but I still think, from all I’ve read, that fishing is a dying industry. The future is in fish farms, surely. She rose and went to the sideboard. I’ll make us some coffee.

Charlie, conscious of having won the argument at least for the moment, went on.

It will be another century before farms can fully replace traditional methods, if then. Besides, fishermen are not so stupid as to hunt fish to final extinction. It’s going to be the job of the navy to catch pirates but for licensed boats, with the latest developments in nets etcetera and proper control, the future will be assured. Let’s see what proposals Brian comes up with next week and then we’ll go to Beverley.

Who’s Brian?

You’ve met him. Mr Haslam, our naval architect.

What makes you think Chas can handle this?

We’ve talked about this already. He’s physically strong and with a personality to match it. He may not be a genius but he’s well qualified both technically and practically. Those weeks he spent with the trawlers have given him experience some men never pick up. I have every confidence in his enterprise and judgement.

I’m coming to Beverley too. I don’t mind sitting in the back so that you and he can talk boats.

Of course you are. I hoped you would come. Chas has got a day off work.

With that Charlie reached for his coat. I’m late again. My patients will be queuing in the street if I don’t get going. He gave her a quick kiss. I’ll get Kay to phone if I’m going to be late. Back to the grind. Bye.

Bye. She said turning away. Charlene should be home soon.

Please don’t involve her in any of this. Our daughter’s got enough on her plate with her entrance exam.

I won’t. Of course not. Bye.

**********

The Forbes’ journey to Beverley and Hull was conducted mainly in sulky silence. They left Bolton before dawn hoping to reach Beverley in time for a light lunch before meeting with Holmes. Susan, well wrapped in her astrakhan, rested her head on the rear cushion and closed her eyes, wishing the tedious journey was at an end. Expressions of disapproval and anxiety passed across her face in equal measure though she kept her thoughts to herself. After Rochdale the road climbed steadily to cross the Pennine Hills putting the Lagonda through her paces.

Some fine views up here on a clear day. You should find time to take Mum for a drive, Dad, one day when you haven’t much on.

I can’t imagine when that will be Chas. I haven’t had a day off in eighteen months. This outing is a real treat for both of us. Eh dear?

There was no reply from the rear seat.

I’ll drive after breakfast if you like Dad.

Good idea son. You could do with a bit more practice, especially if you’ll be coming this way a lot from now on. Have you thought about buying a car of your own? Its not going to be possible for me you lend you this one. I need it.

Yes I have, unless Mum lends me hers. I fancy an MG.

Second hand maybe. You can charge it to the firm. Get a copy of Autocar.

OK Dad, I will, as from next week. Thanks.

What’s that about? Came from the back seat.

Chas needs a car, dear.

So we’re going to be a three car family, are we? Next we’ll have to get one for Charlene.

Be reasonable. He’s going to be making frequent trips to Hull from now on. As for Charlene, there’s no question of that. When the time comes, maybe, if she has a job which demands it.

So that’s settled then. Susan closed her eyes as a signal that the conversation was at an end."

Descending into Yorkshire, they stopped at the George Inn in Halifax for a late breakfast.

We need petrol, Charlie announced.

Couldn’t you have thought of that before we left home, asked Susan, Chas, you had all day yesterday to prepare.

Sorry Mum, he muttered, determined not to rock the boat any further.

If you’re hoping to be a skipper you’ll have to plan ahead better than this.

I am planning ahead. I’ve given up my job at Hicks and I’m going to take another refresher course at Riversdale.

Oh, I see. Well since when? You never mentioned it.

I told Dad. He’s opened a business account with Lloyds.

That’s right dear. I’ll be topping it up from time to time. We’re going to keep proper accounts from now on. Chas will be able to claim expenses.

Well I suppose it had to happen but I really think we should have discussed it first, Susan replied. I am a partner in all this.

More of a sleeping partner, I think, said Chas.

What do you mean by that? Are you being rude?

Well, you won’t want to be bothered with every detail of the Ace of Spades Limited will you?

I shall want to know how the money’s going, where it’s being spent and what on. I wait to see if you can repay it. I have my doubts, asserted Susan.

Mum. Get this. Trawling is profitable, very. Why would so many boats be doing it otherwise?

Chas, I’m tired of arguing. All I want is to be kept in the picture.

OK, From now on I’ll do that. When fitting out’s complete Saxon and I will sign on a crew. I shall live, eat and sleep aboard. You won’t see me for weeks on end, months. That should please you.

Chas, don’t you know anything about families? I’m your mother.

May I interrupt? Charlie said quietly, hoping to pour some calming oil onto troubled waters.

What is it? Haven’t you been listening?

I’ll just see if the porter will get the car filled up. Leave it to me, said Charlie. Half an hour later with a full tank they hit the road again. No more was said until the boatyard was reached. Charlie turned into the main gate and parked in the reception area while Susan applied her make-up, determined to make a formidable impression on the director of the yard.

Well Mr Holmes, this is our big day, said Chas as he alighted and ran forward to shake the rough hand of the shipbuilder.

It’s a big day for me too, Charles, he replied in a gruff Yorkshire drawl.

Call me Chas. Everybody else does. Let me introduce my Dad and Mum, Susan. Dad likes to be called Charlie, so you’ll have to remember that.

I’ve assumed you want a little time to relax after your long journey. There’s a sandwich lunch in the Board Room here at the yard and when Stainton arrives we can go through the contract together.

Stainton?

He’s our contact with my fitting-out berth down at Princes Dock.

I see; that’s very thoughtful but you’re the main contractor. We shall put everything through you.

That’s understood.

We’ve got Brian Haslam acting for us on the technical side. I think he’s the best naval architect in the profession when it comes to trawlers. Technology is moving so fast these days it must be difficult to keep up.

Yes indeed. We have our own design team here and we shall be pleased to liaise with Haslam and sort out areas of responsibility. When we’ve finished with the hull up here at Beverley she’ll be floated down the river for fitting out in Princes.

I’m surprised you can still make it pay, said Susan.

Yes, for the time being, Mrs Forbes but for how much longer it’s hard to say. The ships are getting larger and soon we’ll have to close here if things go on as they are. This yard has been building iron ships since the 1880’s and most recently as the famous Cook, Welton and Gemmell Company.

That’s a long history.

It will be a sad day for the town when we have to close. We’ve had to pay for having the river dredged. Quite an undertaking that was.

We can have a general chat over lunch, said Charlie, "I’ve brought a letter of intent which we can sign today. We should be