Alexander Kent - Sloop Of War

Bolitho watched him leave and then slit open the envelope. He was still reading the neatly worded orders when he heard voices in the passageway beyond the door. Graves first, curt and resentful, then another, calm to begin with and then loud with anger? The latter finished with, "Well, how in God's name was] to know? You could have made a signal, you bloody fool!"

There was a sudden silence and then a further tap on the door?

The lieutenant who stepped into the cabin was not at all what Bolitho had been expecting. Too junior for temporary command, Colquhoun had said, and yet this man was probably two years older than himself. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and deeply tanned. His thick auburn hair brushed the deckhead between the beams so that he seemed to fill the cabin?

Bolitho glanced up at him calmly." Mr. Tyrrell?"

The lieutenant nodded briefly." Sir." He took a quick breath." I must apologise for my late arrival aboard.] have been in th' flagship."

Bolitho looked down at the table. Tyrrell had an easy drawl, the mark of a man born and bred in the American colony. He was like a half-tamed animal, and the quickness of his breathing betrayed the anger which he still harboured?

Bolitho added, "Our sailing orders have just arrived."

Tyrrell did not seem to hear." It was personal business, sir, I hadn't th' time to arrange otherwise."

"I see."

He waited, watching the man as he stared restlessly towards the stern windows. He had a strange way ob standing, with one arm hanging down his side, the other inclined towards his sword. Relaxed, but wary? Like someone expecting an attack?

He continued, "I would have preferred to meet ma first lieutenant on board when I arrived."

"I have sent Cap'n Ransome's remains ashore to be conveyed home with his possessions, sir. As you were not yet in command I felt personally free to act as] thought fit." He looked at Bolitho evenly." I was aboard th' flagship to ask, plead if required, for a transfer to another ship. It was refused."

"You felt that by being passed over for command that your talents would be better suited elsewhere, is that it?"

Tyrrell gave a slow smile. It changed him instantly from an angry man to one of obvious charm, with the inbuilt recklessness of a fighter?

"I really am sorry, sir. But no, it was not that. As you no doubt know, I am what th' late Cap'n Ransome would term a `local colonist." ' He added bitterly, "Although when I came aboard a year back it appeared we were all on th' same side against the rebels."

Bolitho stiffened. It was strange he had never considered the feelings of those like Tyrrell before? Good American families, loyal to the Crown, the first to stand together against the sudden revolution in their midst. But as the war had spread, and Britain had fought to retain a grip, then a foothold in the colony, the loyal ones like Tyrrell had all at once become the outsiders?

He asked quietly, "Where is your home?"

" Virginia. Gloucester County. My father came out from England to found a coastal shipping trade. I was master of one of his schooners when th' war began.] have been in th' King's service since that time."

"And your family?"

Tyrrell looked away." God knows. I have heard nothing of them."

"And you wished to transfer to a ship nearer home? To take yourself back to what you now consider your own people?" Bolitho did not conceal the bite in his tone?

"No, sir. That ain't it." He raised one arm and dropped it again, his voice angry." I am a King's officers no matter what Ransome chose to believe, damn his eyes!"

Bolitho stood up." I will not have talk of your late captain!"

Tyrrell replied stubbornly, "Cap'n Ransome is safe now in his cask of spirits in th' hold of a transport. His widow at his great London residence will weep for hims his service which cost him his life." He laughed shortly? "Fever, they said." He looked round the cabin." See all this, sir? A woman's hand. We barely logged a mile in Sparrow, without him having some damned doxa aboard for company!" He seemed unable to stop himself." That's th' sort of fever which killed him in the end, and damned good riddance, if you ask me."

Bolitho sat down. Once again the ground had been cut from under him. Women, here in this cabin. He had heard of such things in grander ships, but only occasionally. But in Sparrow, where there could be little safety if called to do battle, it was unthinkable?

Tyrrell was studying him grimly." I had to tell you, sir? It's my way. But I'll say this one thing more. If disease hadn't taken him, I'd have killed him myself."

Bolitho looked up sharply." Then you're a fool! If you have no more strength than in your bare hands then] will ask for your transfer, and make no mistake about it!"

Tyrrell stared at a point beyond Bolitho's shoulder?

"Would you behave so calmly, sir, if one of th' women had been your sister?"

The door opened a bare inch and Stockdale's battered face peered in at them. In his hand was balanced a small silver tray, two glasses and a decanter?

He wheezed, "Thought you might want a bit od refreshment, sir." He watched the two men and added, “Sort o' celebration like."

Bolitho gestured to the table and waited until Stockdale had left. Still without speaking he filled the glasses, conscious of Tyrrell's eyes following every movement. A bad start. For both of them. If there was still time to make amends it was now. This minute. IfTyrrell took advantage of his surrender, there was no saying where it would lead?

He handed him a glass and said gravely, "I have two sisters, Mr. Tyrrell. In answer to your question, I daresay that I would not." He smiled, seeing the sudden surprise in the lieutenant's eyes." I suggest you propose a toast for the pair of us, eh?"

Tyrrell reached out and held his glass against Bolitho's?

"Then let's drink to a new beginning, sir."

Bolitho held his glass steady." No transfer?"

He shook his head." None."

Bolitho raised the glass." Then, to a new beginning." He took a sip and added quietly, "Which is well for your Mr. Tyrrell. We are sailing tomorrow to join the inshore squadron." He paused, seeing the sudden desperation on the other man's features." Not so very far from the coast of Maryland."

Tyrrell said, "Thank God. I know I'm being stupid, but just being off that shoreline again will make th' world a difference."

Bolitho put down his glass." Then I will meet our officers informally at the close of the first dog watch." He was careful to make his tone formal again. Each ob them had shown enough of his inner reserves for the present." In the meantime you can take me on an inspection around the ship. And I will want to see everything, good and bad."

Tyrrell nodded." So you shall, sir." A slow grin spread across his face." I have a shrewd feeling that Sparrow is going to fly like she's never done before." He stood aside as Bolitho threw on his coat and buttoned his shirt." Now if you will follow me, sir."

Bolitho looked at Tyrrell's broad shoulders as they walked towards the sunlight on the gun deck and held down a sigh. If each day was going to present a battle of wills, it would make the privilege of command a testing experience?

He said, "We will begin with the starboard battery, Mr. Tyrrell."

The first lieutenant paused below the break in the quarterdeck." As you said, sir. Everything." He grinned again." Good and bad."

Stockdale picked up Bolitho's shaving bowl and peered at the untouched breakfast on the cabin table? Overhead and throughout the ship the air was alive with noise and bustle. To a landsman the activity ob preparing to get under way would appear haphazard and disorganised, but to the practised eye each man had his place, and his reason for being there. The miles of cordage and rigging, each scrap of sail had Z