Alexander Kent - Sloop Of War

Bolitho reached out his arms and then let them drop to his sides. He was defeated. Had been so for longer than he had understood?

Yet in the dusty sunlight, as she stood watching him, her violet eyes holding him at a distance, he knew that if there was anything he could do or say to keep her he would use it?

She moved to the door." You are a strange man. But I can see no future for you." Then she was gone, her shoes fading on the staircase until he was quite alone?

He did not remember how long he stood in that empty room. Minutes? An hour? When at last he walked down the stairs and into the overgrown garden he realised that even the shabby carriage had gone? He crossed to the pond and stared at his own reflection?

If she had been angry, or frightened, anything he could have recognised, he might still have known what to do. There had not even been contempt. She had

dismissed him with no more thought than if she had been rejecting a useless servant?

A foot scraped on stone and he swung rounds seeing in those seconds four dark figures lined against the ragged bushes?

"Easy, Cap'n!" One of them had a drawn sword, and he saw the others were also well armed." There's no sense in strugglin'!"

Bolitho backed up to the pond, his fingers on his hanger?

Another of the men chuckled." Aye, that's rights Cap'n. Somewhere for us'n to hide yer corpse when we've done with you. Most considerate, eh, lads?"

Bolitho remained quite still. He knew it was useless to bargain with any of them. They had the looks ob professional criminals, men who worked for a fee, no matter what the final cost might be to them. He was suddenly very calm, as if their arrival had driven away his other despair like a cold wind?

"Then I'll take a couple with me!"

He snatched out his hanger and waited for them to attack. Two carried pistols, but there were probably military patrols nearby and a shot might bring them running?

Steel clashed with steel, and he saw the leader's grin fade to an intent frown as they locked blades together. He ducked as one man struck at his necks twisted his hanger and slashed him across the faces hearing him scream as he tumbled back into the bushes?

"Damn you, you bloody bastard!" Another dived forward, his sword sweeping under Bolitho's guard? But it glanced from his belt buckle and he was able to thrust him aside with the hilt, catching him on the jaw with such force it almost tore the hanger from his grip?

The garden swam in a mist of pain as something struck him savagely on the forehead, and he realised that one of them had hurled a stone. He hit out with the hanger but felt it pass through air. Someone laughed, and another called hoarsely, "Now, 'Arry! In the guts!"

Feet pounded through the shrubs, and Bolitho was pushed aside by someone in a blue coat who shouted, «At 'em, lads! Cut 'em down!"

Swords grated and sparked, and a body rolled thrashing into the pond, the blood staining the surface like red weed?

Bolitho lurched to his feet, realising that Heyward and Tyrrell were driving the two attackers against the house, while Dalkeith stood watchfully nearby, his beautiful pistols shining in the sunlight?

Heyward brought his man to his knees and jumped back to let him roll silently on to his face and stay there?

The sole survivor threw down his heavy sword and yelled, "Quarter! Quarter!"

Tyrrell swayed awkwardly on his crippled leg and said harshly, "Quarter be damned!"

The sword took him in the chest, holding him to the wall for an endless moment before allowing him to slide beside his companion?

Tyrrell sheathed his blade and limped to Bolitho's side?

"All well, Cap'n?" He reached out to steady him? "Just in time, it seems."

Heyward stepped over one of the corpses? "Someone wanted you dead, sir."

Bolitho looked from one to the next, the emotion rising to mingle with his understanding?

Tyrrell grinned." You see, I was right."

Bolitho nodded heavily. Someone wanted you dead? But the worst part was knowing that she had realised his peril, and had done nothing. He glanced at the corpse sprawled in the pond?

"What can I say? How can I find words?"

Dalkeith murmured, "Let's say it was for Rupert Majendie, too."

Tyrrell slipped his arm over Heyward's slim shoulder for support?

"Aye, that'll do." He glanced at Bolitho and held his gaze." You've done plenty for us. An' in Sparrow we look after our own!"

Then together they walked out to the road and towards the sea?

1k MISTAKEN IDENTITs BOLITHe leaned back in his chair and stared wearila at the open log. He was stripped to the waist, but could feel no benefit in the overheated cabin. He touched his mouth with the pen, wondering what he should writes when there was nothing to report. Around and above him the ship swayed and dipped in a gentle south-easterly breeze, and he pitied the watch on decks sweating out another day of relentless glare and fierce sunlight. Even the Sparrow seemed to be voicing her protest. The timbers groaned and trembled to the motion, dried out by salt and heat, and through the open windows he saw the carved scrollwork by the sill splitting open, the paint flaking away to reveal bare wood?

Once on station north of the Little Bahama Bank he had anticipated being recalled to more active duty within a matter of weeks. But like most of his men, he had long since given up hope. Week followed weeks with Sparrow and her attendant sloop, Heron, dragging their wearying patrol through July, each dawn bringing an empty horizon, and every hour tightening its grip on their small, isolated existence?

And now it was August. Perhaps Christie had insisted on three months' supplies because he had had no intention of recalling Sparrow until the end ob that time. Maybe they had all been forgotten, or the war was over. It was as if the whole patrol area had been drained of movement. Unlike their last visit to the Bahama Banks, when they had taken prizes or had gossiped with lawful merchantmen, they had seen nothing. Their routine varied little. Usually they kept Heron's topsails just within sight below the horizon, and on a parallel tack swept back and forth well clear ob reefs and shoals. With the masthead lookouts of both sloops able to see one another, it was possible to sweep an area some sixty miles wide, unless the weather changed against them. Even a real storm would be welcome. But the agonising discomfort was getting everyone down, not least himself?

There was a tap at the door and Dalkeith entered, his round face shining with sweat. The forenoon watch had half run its course, and Bolitho had found it necessary to meet the surgeon at this time every day when he had completed his inspection of the sick?

He gestured to a chair." Well?"

Dalkeith groaned and shifted his bulk carefully to avoid the glare from the open skylight?

"Two more down today, sir. I've got them below. E few days' rest might revive 'em for a while."

Bolitho nodded. It was getting serious. Too much heat and not enough fresh food or fruit. Lock had already opened the last barrel of lemons. After that…?

Dalkeith had been carrying a glass of water which he now stood on the table. It was the colour of tobacco juice. Without comment he took a flat bottle from his pocket and looked at Bolitho for permission to pour himself a stiff glass of rum?

Again, it was one of their little routines. Although how the plump surgeon could stomach rum in this heat was beyond Bolitho?

Dalkeith smacked his lips." Better'n this water." He frowned." If we can't get a fresh supply of drinking water I'll not answer for the consequences, sir."

"I'll do what I can. Maybe we can close with some small island and find a stream. But I am not too hopeful hereabouts. Was that all?"

Dalkeith hesitated."I'm supposed to hold my peace but friendship and duty rarely go hand in hand. It's the first lieutenant."