Alexander Kent - In the King`s Name

Then he added hastily, “I’ll shove off now. One of your young gentlemen’s approaching.” It was Napier.

Unexpectedly Jago said, “Stay, will you?”

Drummond shrugged. “You got the tiller, Luke.”

Napier slowed down and halted by the stand of boarding pikes at the foot of the mainmast. He had already recognized the old cutlass, despite its scabbard. The same one which had saved his life aboard the sinking Moonstone .

He was saying rather shyly, “I wanted to see you, when you have a moment. Maybe later-” when a voice echoed along the deck.

“Bosun!” Pause. “Bo-sun!”

Drummond raised his fist and bellowed, “Comin’, sir!” and added quietly, “I’d better go. Mister bloody Monteith needs me!”

He grinned defiantly at Napier and strode away.

Jago saw the boy’s eyes on his hand as he closed it gently around his forearm.

“I’ve been wanting …” The grip tightened very slightly.

“I think I knows what you want to say. One day when you’re a cap’n, with your own ship an’ all the men to fetch an’ carry for you, you’ll remember the bad old days with us. Eh, sir? ”

“Well, that’ll keep him quiet for a bit!” Drummond was back, and somehow he knew they were both glad of the interruption.

Adam Bolitho walked into the great cabin and closed the screen door behind him. This sanctuary was always the same, and yet he never took it for granted. More spacious, even bare without those familiar articles which had already been safely stowed away.

Hugh Morgan gestured to the chair and the sword lying across it. “I’ve given it a proper polish, sir.”

Adam nodded, but he was looking at the sleeping cabin door. “I just wanted a moment with him.”

Morgan lowered his voice. “Captain Tyacke is almost done, sir. Then I’ll clear the space. As usual.”

Adam continued on his way aft and gazed at the sea, the changing colour almost gentle after the pitiless glare on deck.

He touched the chair, alone now and facing astern. Even the little desk had been taken away, with his most recent letter half-finished in one of the drawers.

Morgan murmured, “If you would care for something before-”

“Later, maybe.”

He listened to the rudder and the regular clatter of rigging. The motion was uneven, erratic, and had been since the change of tack.

Tyacke’s leather satchel was lying on the bench seat beneath the stern windows. Where he must have used the old telescope to look back at his flagship-perhaps for the last time if the breaker’s men were waiting in the wings. The thought made him look away from the sea and around the dim cabin again. Suppose it was Onward?

“Ah, there you are, Adam. I was just coming to have a few words.”

Adam had been half expecting it, but it still came as a surprise. Tyacke was in full uniform, even to the tarnished gold aiguillette fastened across his breast.

He said, “No more signs of trouble, then? Good.” He had not waited for an answer. Adam watched him walk to the bench seat and lean on it while he peered down into the water below the counter.

“I’ll have the cutter lowered when we’re more in the lee of the land.”

“A good boat’s crew?” But he said it as if his mind were elsewhere. “Something I wanted to ask you.” The scarred face turned, the sea’s light reflecting across it. “I’d like one of your experienced midshipmen to go with me. He can take care of the admiral’s instructions.” One hand moved dismissively. “Not your signals middy-he’s acting lieutenant, if you need one. I thought young Napier would fill the bill, after what I’ve seen of him.” He looked up as a call shrilled somewhere and feet responded across the deck. “With your consent, of course.”

In the seconds before Adam could answer, Tyacke had walked over to the bergere, and was gazing down at the sword as if he wanted to touch it.

He said only, “Equality Dick,” and the blue eyes came up steadily and held Adam’s.

Adam said, “I’ll do all I can.”

Morgan interjected sharply, “I think you are wanted on deck, sir.”

He was for the most part a warm-hearted person, but as Adam strode past him on his way to the door he saw Morgan regarding Tyacke with something like hatred.

Vincent was waiting by the companionway. “I thought you should know, sir.” He glanced past him as if he expected to see Tyacke close on his heels. “Masthead reported another sail, same course as ours. But small, hard to identify. May be one of those brigantines the flag captain mentioned.”

Adam opened his telescope and climbed into the nettings. There was mist nearer the coast, and the vessel was directly stern-on, all sails set but scarcely visible, overwhelmed by the solid mass of land reaching out on either bow as if waiting to ensnare them.

“You may be right, Mark, but she’s well ahead of us. Warn the lookouts to report any change of bearing.” He knew the others near and around the wheel were trying to hear what was being said.

He jumped down to the deck and saw that the second cutter had already been moved to the quarter-davits, ready for lowering. “We’ll lower the cutter when we clear the point. Closer for the oarsmen, but room enough for us , if we need to change tack in a hurry.”

Vincent said, “I’m told that Midshipman Napier is going with the flag captain, sir?” He hurried on. “He’s young, but I daresay experienced enough. He should be safe enough in the same boat as Captain Tyacke!”

He turned away as Julyan appeared on the quarterdeck. “The master is about to rig a dog-vane, sir. Close inshore it can detect any change of wind quicker than anything. He swears by them.”

But Adam was looking at the empty cutter, and Vincent tried to imagine what he was thinking.

It was the right decision. But would I have made it ?

Lieutenant James Squire leaned over the quarterdeck bulwark, observing the cutter’s slow progress down Onward ‘s side. Always an anxious time in the open sea, in case something vital was left behind or forgotten. He had hoisted and lowered boats countless times during his years at sea. But there was always the possibility of some potentially fatal oversight.

He watched for the cutter’s shadow as it rose and fell beneath the keel.

“Handsomely does it!”

Too soon, and the boat might overturn when it hit the water. Too late, and …

“Avast lowering!”

Squire looked up briefly at the outthrust spur of land, saw some tiny white-painted hut or beacon perched at the seaward end. Closer now, but it would still be a strong pull for the cutter’s crew, double-banked or not. He had done it a few times himself.

“Pass me the glass!” He had to repeat it. Midshipman Huxley was paying more attention to the cutter, no doubt too busy thinking about his friend Napier going ashore with Captain Tyacke.

A few more turns and the cutter was pitching and plunging alongside, some of her crew already securing equipment while trying to keep their balance, Fitzgerald, her coxswain, peering critically across the span of open water to the unmoving layer of mist, above which was a tiny patch of colour. The Union Jack.

Squire turned as someone muttered a warning, “Heads up!”

Captain James Tyacke walked to the quarterdeck rail and stood in silence, studying the land. Squire was aware of the effect of the uniform, and saw it in the faces of the seamen around him. Perhaps, by that gesture, the day had suddenly acquired new meaning and purpose in their eyes.

He heard Vincent call, “I’ll have the cutter brought to the entry port, sir!” and saw Tyacke shake his head.

“Take too long.” He might have smiled, but there was another emotion in his eyes.