Michael Aye - Barracuda

"I'm here," Dagan called. He had slipped in and poured himself a cup of coffee as Lum had told his story.

"Where have you been?" Gabe asked Dagan.

"With Dawkins, he was roughed up a bit afterwards by a provost sergeant of the sixtieth when he went to check on Lancaster. Lum laid the sergeant out and brought Dawkins back to the ship. He's with Caleb now.

Caleb says he'll be fine."

Turning back to Lum, Gabe said, "Is there more?"

"Not much, suh. We went to check on Mistah Lancaster adder Dawkins finished his business wid that little doxy. Dat sergeant acted real uppity like and said they'd handle the little sailor boy. Dawkins den told the man he'd be back and they'd see who handled whom.

When Dawkins turned to go dats when dat sodjar hit him wid 'is pistol so I jus' clops dat man a good'un and down he wents."

"What did you hit him with?" Gabe asked.

Lum looked sheepish as he replied, "Dawkins bottle

'od kill devil."

"Did the sergeant see you?" Gabe asked.

"No suh, not lessen 'e's got eyes in da back o' 'is head and iffen he do I 'speck they's busted." Lord Anthony was discussing the ball from the previous evening with Buck. He told of his meeting Colonel Browne, and then asked Buck how his evening had gone, expecting a lewd tale. Bart was expecting some bawdy tale as well as he continued to hang around the pantry when normally he'd be out and about.

Buck had just started when through the skylight the challenge "boat ahoy!"

SeaWolf came the response. While Gabe and Lord Anthony were brothers it was only upon invitation Gabe would visit the flagship.

"I'll go," Buck said then grabbed his hat and headed topside.

Later in Lord Anthony's cabin Gabe retold Lum's story as he'd just told Buck. "When I went to the jail a provost major told me pretty quick Lancaster was under arrest for attempted murder and I didn't have the authority to have him released or to even see him for that matter. Said he was tired of the Navy acting like they owned the damn city. He did tell me, Lancaster would be tried tomorrow and likely be hanged by sunset."

Hearing this Lord Anthony stood up suddenly and said, "Nay! There'll be no hanging unless it's that damnable sodimite. Bart?"

"I's getting the barge ready now sir," Bart said, not needing to be told.

"Captain Buck, I'm going to the governor's; meanwhile you take marine Captain Dunlap and a squad of his men to the jail. Tell that popinjay major I'd consider it a compliment if he'd release Lancaster into your custody."

"Aye," Buck replied, "and if he don't I'll have Dunlap shoot the bastard."

The governor was out when Anthony arrived unannounced.

"His Excellency is expected soon, my Lord," Tonyn's secretary assured Anthony, not quite sure what to do with someone of Lord Anthony's status. Finally, he said, "May I offer you some refreshment while you wait, my Lord?"

Tonyn had just returned and was in the process of greeting Anthony when the sound of horses could be heard and a coach slid to a halt causing a grinding sound on the flagstones outside the governor's door. In came General Prevost puffing and all in a flush. Ignoring protocol he shouted, "Damme, man, what type of a fool are you to send a post captain and a squad of marines to take a prisoner from my jail?"

Anthony took a step forward and spoke with a grimace, "I'll lay your current actions to the heat outside sir, but take notice, you ever speak to me in that tone again I'll have satisfaction. I'm told you are a gentleman so I'm sure you know what I mean. Now as to your accusations, sir, I sent a post captain to give my compliments to your provost asking for the accused to be released into my custody. The marines were to escort the accused back aboard ship."

Realizing he was on dangerous ground with a man who was no stranger to death the general took a deep breath and stammered, "Put that way sir, I see no reason the prisoner shouldn't be released to you as long as he's returned to appear before a court martial."

"On whose authority will the court martial be convened," Anthony challenged.

Realizing things could get very sticky the governor said, "The incident took place in a civil establishment, therefore, it will be a civil matter and I will appoint the judge."

Glaring, the general said, "Very well."

"As it should be," Tonyn stated.

The general then turned on his heels and left.

"You've made an enemy there," Tonyn addressed the admiral after the general was out the door.

"Not the first, nor likely the last," Anthony replied, then thanked the governor for his intervention and departed.

The Mermaid was a square, low ceiling room with open shutters so sunlight would fill the otherwise dimly lit taproom. A short staircase led to a second floor door, probably the tavern keeper's sleeping quarters or rooms used by the doxies to entertain.

As he turned, Gabe saw a scorched fireplace across the room from a half circle bar. The bar showed signs of age and scars from many drunken brawls. The tavern keeper was there leaning on the bar with his elbows. His shirt had once been white but was now stained to a deep yellow. His sleeves were rolled up showing strong arms.

He was short and had an immense rotund belly, probably from sampling his wares Gabe thought.

Straightening up the man smiled and said,

"Greetings senor. It is not often we get such an honoured patron." He had recognized Gabe as an officer. He extended a meaty hand toward Gabe and said, "I'm Domingo Chavez."

Gabe liked the little man. As he reached forward to shake the offered hand the man's small mouth broke out in a smile revealing brown tobacco stained teeth.

"You are not with the Army, senor?' Chavez asked.

"No, I'm in the Navy," Gabe answered.

"Always, I've wanted to see what it would be like to be on a ship at sea. But alas, you see that I cannot," Chavez said as he stretched out his arms and gave a shrug. "Always, I'm here. This place has been in my family before the Spanish left. Now there are only a few of us but I could not leave what was my father's. But you did not come to hear about Domingo, what is it I can do for you senor?"

"I want to know about a soldier," Gabe replied,

"The bully who hurt the boy."

"Si, I know him. He always makes trouble. He likes to bust up things but never likes to pay for damages. He got what he asked for."

"Would you be willing to testify to that?" Gabe asked.

"No, senor, to do so would mean death. My place would burn, my family hurt. No, senor, I cannot."

"I will pay you for the bar and I will provide protection," Gabe replied, "For you and your family." Gabe watched the man thinking it over.

"I would have to know who it was that would protect me and perhaps we could be partners, eh senor?"

"Fine," Gabe said, "Let's agree on price and I will send you money for the partnership with the man who will protect you."

Chavez looked skeptical as he spoke, "Only one man, senor?"

"Aye," Gabe replied, "His name is Dagan."

"What about papers senor? Do we have to have documents drawn up?"

Gabe paused and looked at the man, "Is your handshake not good enough?"

"Si, senor, Domingo's word is as good as gold."

"Then we don't need any papers," Gabe said as he departed.

Sir Raymond Knight sat at his desk going over the notes he had made while talking to all concerned parties in the assault case against Midshipman Lancaster. By concerned parties, he meant Lancaster, Lum and Domingo Chavez.

Knight had talked to a number of soldiers who were known to have been in the bar at the time of the incident. However, none claimed to have seen or heard anything out of the ordinary. Giving a sigh, Knight pushed his chair back and thinking aloud said, "Well, it don't help none but it don't hurt us either." It all boiled down to how well the three did being cross examined by the provost marshal. Lum was the key. If he did well Lancaster would be free, otherwise…