AustLit

"Hooky" Walker...or to give him his rightful name, Chief Petty-Officer William Walker of the destroyer Windrode, was a man's man; you would be fortunate to have him as a friend. He was a man, and so not perfect. A friend's sister was safe with him but this moral and biological restriction did not extend to all sisters. In port he drank a good deal. Sometimes, but not often, he made mistakes. But, in this pattern, there were two staunch, straight strands: though not overtly religious, he did not ever blaspheme; and to his shipmates and his captain he was unimpeachably loyal. These traits caused him to risk his life often...and now he was faced with the biggest crisis of his life... - back cover (Horwitz, 1963)