Alexander Kent - Command a King`s Ship

Bolitho had been shocked by Conway's appearance when he had reported ashore within thirty minutes of dropping anchor. Wild-eyed, more shrunken than ever, he had been almost beside himself with anger and despair.

He had shouted, 'You dare to stand here and tell me that you actually chose to ignore my orders? That despite the importance of my instructions you made no attempt to parley with Le Chaumareys?'

Bolitho had stood very still, his eyes on Conway's distorted features. An empty decanter lay on the table, and it was obvious he had been drinking heavily for some time.

'I could not parley, sir. To do so would have been to recognise Muljadi. Which is exactly what the French want.'

'Are you telling me something I do not already know?' Conway had gripped the table violently. 'I ordered you to tell Le Chaumareys to return Colonel Pastor unharmed! The Spanish government would have raised a savage argument against England if we had allowed him to remain a prisoner, and right under my nose!'

Bolitho recalled his own voice. Taut and flat. Not daring to arouse Conway's fury any more than it was.

'When I found I had captured Muljadi's son I knew I could bargain, sir. There was a good chance I would succeed As it turned out, we arrived in time. I fear that Pastor would have died in a few more days.'

Conway had screamed, 'Pastor be damned! You took Muljadi's son, and you dared to release him! We could have had that bloody pirate crawling at our feet, pleading for his

son's life!'

Bolitho had said abruptly, 'There was a frigate lost in these waters during the last months of the war.'

Conway had been taken off guard. 'Yes, yes. The Imogene, Captain Balfour.' He had squinted against the sun's glare from a window. 'Twenty-eight guns. Had been in battle with the French and then got caught by a gale. Drove aground, and her people were taken off by one of my sloops. What the hell does she have to do with it?'

'Everything, sir. But for my meeting with Muljadi I would never have known until we were totally unprepared. The frigate, the Imogene, is there, sir, in the Benuas, and from what I saw, about ready to weigh anchor.'

Conway had lurched against the table, as if Bolitho had actually struck him.

'If this is some trick, some ruse to deter my-'

'She is there, sir. Refitted and repaired, and I have no doubt well trained by Le Chaumareys' officers.' He could not conceal his bitterness. 'I had hoped the brig would still be here. You could have sent word. Demanded help. There is no choice in the matter now.'

The next part had been the worst. Conway walking unsteadily to the sideboard and fumbling with another decanter, and muttering, 'Betrayed, right from the start. Raymond insisted on sending the brig to Madras. She's a Company vessel, and I could hold her no longer. He had all the arguments. All the answers, too.' Claret had slopped over his shirt like blood as he had shouted, 'And me? Nothing but a cat's-paw! A tool for Strang and his friends to use as they please!'

He had smashed a goblet with the decanter and groped hurriedly for another, adding, 'And now you, the one man I trusted, tells me that Muljadi is ready to attack my settlement! Not merely content with showing me to be incompetent, Raymond will now tell his damned superiors that I cannot even hold this territory under the British flag!'

The door had opened noiselessly and Puigserver had moved into the room. He had glanced briefly at Conway and had said to Bolitho, 'I stayed until your return. My men have sailed in the Bedford, but I could not leave also without offering my gratitude for securing Don Pastor's release. You seem to make a habit of risking your life for others. I trust that this time it will not go unrewarded.' His black eyes had moved to Conway again. 'Eh, Admiral?'

Conway had stared at him vaguely. 'I must think.'

'We all must.' The Spaniard had settled in a chair, his eyes still on Conway. 'I heard some of it through the door.' He had shrugged. 'Not spying, you understand, but your voice was somewhat forceful.'

Conway had made a new effort to control himself. 'Conference. Immediately.' He had fixed Bolitho with a bleary stare. 'You wait outside. I must think.'

Now, as he looked emptily at the small figures below the palisade, Bolitho could feel his returning anger, a sense of urgency.

'Richard!'

He swung round and saw her at the corner of the square tower. She was well covered against the sun, and wore the same wide-brimmed hat as before. He hurried to her and seized her hands.

'Viola! I was wondering

She shook her head. 'Later. But listen.' She reached up and touched his cheek very gently, her eyes suddenly sad. 'It has been so long. Eleven days, but they were years. When the storm came I worried about you.' -

He tried to speak, to break the pain in her voice, but she hurried on, 'I think James suspects. He has been very strange lately. Probably my maid let slip something. A good girl, but easily flattered into words.' She studied him searchingly. 'But no matter. He will do nothing. It is you I am concerned for.' She dropped her head. 'And it is all my fault. I wanted him to be something in this world, mostly, I suspect, for my own gain. I drove him too hard, too fast, wanting him to be the man he could never be.' She squeezed his hand. 'But you know all this.'

Voices echoed below the parapet and Bolitho thought he heard footsteps.

She said huskily, 'James will have sent his own report to Sir Montagu. He knows now that Conway is not the man for this appointment, and will use this knowledge to his own advantage. But you, my darling Richard, will be included in his report. I know him so well, you see. To get at you, to use his petty revenge, he will also blame.you for the inability to destroy an ignorant pirate, French aid or no!'

He replied quietly, 'It is worse than that. Muljadi has many men at his back. When once he has overthrown this settlement the whole area will rise to support him. They have little choice. The pirates will become saviours, the protectors the invaders. It is not uncommon.'

She turned her head quickly and he saw a pulse jumping in her throat.

'Listen to me, Richard. Do not become further involved. You are valuable to your country and to all who look up to you. Do not, I implore you, continue to look up to those who are unfit even to lick your boots!' She cupped his face in her hands. 'Save. your ship and yourself, and damn their eyes, I say!'

He held her wrists very gently. 'It is no longer so simple.' He thought of Le Chaumareys, encouraging him to quit, to get away and still retain his honour. 'And I wish to God you had sailed in the brig. Muljadi has more strength now, and when he comes…'

He let his gaze move outward and down towards the anchored frigate. How small she appeared in the harsh glare.

'There is only Undine between him and these walls.'

She stared at him, her eyes wide and suddenly understanding. 'And you intend to fight all of them?' Bolitho prised her hands away as a sepoy corporal rounded the tower and said, 'Captain Bolitho, sahib, the governor will meet you, please.'

Bolitho looked at her and said, 'Now we will see, Viola.' He tried to. smile. 'The battle's not done yet.'

He found Conway seated behind the table, his stained shirt covered by his heavy dress coat. Puigserver had not moved, and Raymond was standing with his back to a window, his face hidden in black shadow. Major Jardine and his second-incommand made up the conference.

Conway said sharply, 'I have told them, Bolitho. Word for word as you described it to me.'

'Thank you, sir.'

Bolitho looked at Raymond, knowing it would come from him. 'You took a great deal upon yourself, Captain. More, I suspect, than the governor intended?'

'Yes, Sir. But I was taught to use initiative, especially when beyond the fleet's apron strings.' He saw Puigserver examining one shoe with sudden interest. 'The fact is, Muljadi intends to attack this settlement. It is all he can do now that he has lost his hostage, and understands that we are informed of his additional frigate. It has changed everything.'