Alexander Kent - Command a King`s Ship

Jardine said harshly, 'If he comes, my men can hold him off until help arrives. When the brig reaches Madras they'll soon send a force to finish this ruffian! Even when the Navy is apparently incapable of so doing, what?'

Bolitho waited, watching. Raymond's hands on the window sill.

Well, Mr. Raymond? Is the gallant major right?' He saw the hands take a firmer grip and added, 'Or did you suggest is your report to Sir Montagu Strang that Pendang Bay is, i' your opinion, no longer an asset?'

Jardine bared his teeth. 'Rubbish!' He hesitated and askectt 'Well, Sir?'

Raymond sounded very calm. 'I told the truth. No ship' will be sent, other than transports to remove the Company'' soldiers and their dependents.'

Jardine exploded, 'But I can manage, sir! You should have told me first!'

Bolitho said, 'You cannot manage, Major. Muljadi will have more than a thousand men when he comes. His stronghold is crammed to capacity, that I did see. You may have been able t' hold the walls until help was forthcoming from Madras Without it, your only chance is a forced march through dens' jungle to the east'rd to contact the Dutch East India Company' base and find safety.' His tone hardened. 'But through dense jungle, and at this time of the year, I doubt if many would survive, even without attack from those who will want to impress Muljadi with their loyalty.'

Raymond said thickly, 'No blame can fall on my shoulders! I reported what I knew! I had no knowledge of this othei frigate!' He tried to recover his original calm. 'Any more that, you did!'

Conway stood up very deliberately, each movement aii effort of will.

'But you could not wait, Mr. Raymond. You used your authority to seek your own ends and despatched the brig even after I requested she be held here until Undine's return.'

He walked to the opposite side of the room and stared un• seeingly at the close-knit jungle.

'So what can we do? How best can we prepare ourselves for slaughter?'

He turned with the speed of light and yelled, 'Well, Ms Raymond? Will you explain, for indeed it is beyond me!'

Major Jardine stammered, 'Surelyit cannot be that hopeless?

Puigserver was watching Bolitho. 'Well, Capiaan? You have been inside the lion's den, not us.'

Bolitho looked at Conway. 'May I suggest something, sir? '

The admiral nodded, his wispy hair in disorder. 'If there is anything left to say.'

Bolitho walked to the table and moved the heavy silver inkwells into a pattern.

'The Benuas are much as they appear on our charts, sir, although I suspect some of the smaller channels between the islets are silted and shallow. The fortress stands high on a central islet, a rock-pile, if you like.' His fingers made a sweeping gesture down the front of one inkwell. 'The seaward face of the islet is sheer, and what I first took to be reefs at its foot I now believe are fragments of cliff which have fallen away over many years of wear.'

He heard Captain Strype say gloomily, 'That rules out any hope of a scaling attempt. It is hopeless.'

Conway glared at him and then snapped, 'Continue. What about this cliff?'

Bolitho looked at him calmly. 'If we attack at once, sir.' He ignored the gasps. 'Before Muljadi is ready. We might nip his whole plan in the bud.'

Conway exclaimed, 'Attack? When you have just finished destroying our hopes even of staying alive!'

'The main gun battery is on the seaward rampart, sir. Bring it down and the ships at anchor will be without immediate protection.'

Conway was rubbing his chin in quick, nervous movements. 'Yes, I can see that. But how?'

Jardine sneered, 'An act of God maybe?'

'The schooner, sir.' Bolitho kept his gaze fixed on Conway's lined forehead, seeing all the doubts and apprehension gathering like a storm. 'We could use the prevailing wind, sail her straight on to the fallen rocks at the foot of the cliff, filled to the deck beams with powder and a goodly fuse. The explosion would, I believe, bring down more of the cliff.' He hesitated, feeling the sudden tension around him. 'And the battery.'

Captain Strype was staring at the inkwell as if seeing the actual explosion. 'It might well work, sir! A damn fine idea!'

Jardine growled, 'Hold your tongue! What sort of fool would do such a thing anyway?'

He fell back as Conway snapped, 'Be still!' To Bolitho he added, 'And you think this is a reasonable risk?'

'I do. The schooner would be lightly manned, and her crew could get clear in their boat once the final course was laid. A long fuse would allow them time enough.' He kept his eyes steady. 'The moment the charge explodes I will force the channel in Undine and take the anchored frigates before they can recover. After an explosion like that, they will not be expecting a further intrusion.'

Puigserver nodded grimly. 'Fair justice, too.'

Conway glared at him. 'It is the wildest plan I have ever discussed.'

Bolitho said quietly, 'I must argue that point, sir.'

'What?' Conway swung on him. 'Are you questioning me again?'

'I recall a certain captain, sir. Years back, when I was a stupid midshipman. He took a fair chance or so when he considered it necessary.'

Conway reached out and gripped his wrist. 'Thank you for that.' He looked away, patting his pockets as if searching for something. 'I'd forgotten.'

Bolitho said, 'The troops will have to remain here, of course.'

He thought he saw relief on Jardine's heavy face, resentment on his aide's. Strange, he thought, that the one who appeared the weaker was _the stronger after all. -

He added, 'If this plan fails, and we must face that possibility, it will be up to the sepoys to evacuate the settlement as best they can. But please take my word for this. No parley with Muljadi, for to him victory means only one thing. Extinction for all those who have represented his enemies throughout his entire life.' He pointed towards the window. 'And once through those palisades, there will be no time left for regrets,'

Conway returned to the table, his face very composed.

'I agree.' He glanced at Jardine. 'Set your men to work transferring powder to the schooner, every barrel and cask from our magazine, if that is what is needed.'

He looked at Bolitho. 'And who will command the schooner, have you thought of that?'

'I am not decided, sir.' He smiled gravely. 'Yet.'

He turned as Raymond walked around the table, show ng his face at last in the sunlight.

Raymond said, 'I acted as I thought fit.'

Conway nodded, his eyes contemptuous. 'If we survive this affair, you may yet share the advantages, if there are any.' His tone was like ice. 'If we fail, you will probably receive the knighthood you covet so dearly.' He paused as Raymond hurried to the door. 'Posthumously, of course!'

When he faced the table again Conway seemed about ten years younger.

'Now that I am decided, Bolitho, I cannot wait!'

Bolitho nodded. He could feel his muscles and bones aching as if from physical effort, and could barely realise what he had done, what he had committed himself and his ship to.

He said, 'I will return aboard now, sir. I need fresh water and fruit if there is any.'

Faces flashed across his thoughts. Carwithen with his axe embedded in the pirate's neck. Davy's pride at being given command of the schooner. Fowlar's genuine pleasure with his temporary promotion. And Herrick most of all. What would he say to this pathetic, desperate plan? Smile? Shake his head? Accept that at last his captain had made the one fatal mistake? For all of them.

Conway was saying, 'You are a sly-boots, Bolitho, more than I ever suspected.' He made as if to reach for the new decanter but changed his mind. 'If I am to lose my head, then it had better be a clear one, eh?'

Puigserver was touching one of the silver inkwells with a spatulate finger.