Heart of Oak

16. Out of the Shadows

"There's a sight to touch your heart! "Captain Adam Bolitho lowered the telescope and rubbed his eye with the back of his hand. He trained the glass again, he had lost count of the times, and waited for the image to steady.

"I prayed for this. "He heard Julyan the master clear his throat, and realized he must have spoken aloud, his guard down, and unable to hide his true feelings.

He moved the glass very slowly: figures, even faces coming alive, working at sheets and halliards, the big sails fighting back as the schooner butted too close to the wind. The two cutters were towing close astern, and he had already seen the uniforms, aft by the schooner's tiller. Vincent was safe, and so was Squire. He had closed his mind to the harsh possibility that accompanied every raid or cutting-out attempt. But it was always harder to accept if you were waiting, and not personally at risk. The canvas-covered shapes by the bulwark had been visible when the schooner rolled to the wind. It was wrong to feel thankful, but, like the flag they had hoisted above the captured vessel, he was conscious only of his pride in them.

He walked across the deck and trained the telescope over the opposite quarter. Merlin's topsails were bright against the hard horizon, holding the first hint of sunlight.

Francis Troubridge was on time for his rendezvous… Now there was something for him to pass on to the commodore.

He closed the telescope. It might be more than he had bargained for.

"I shan't tell you again. Now do it!"

Monteith, losing his patience and his temper. He had been on deck without a break since the ship had dropped anchor, in sole charge. In fairness, he had shown no sign of flagging.

Adam thought of the drifting dhow which had begun the whole chain of events, and the surgeon's description when he had returned aboard after his precarious visit.

Four killed and two slightly injured, by canister shot, as expected. Murray had done what he could, but the dhow's crew had been eager to make their way without further interference, and to bury their dead when the time was right.

Murray seemed to take it in his stride; he was used to pain and death in every guise. He had even served at Trafalgar.

Where was the dhow now, he wondered. Perhaps sheltering in one of the countless coves that pockmarked this coast, hiding places for trader and pirate alike.

They had no choice. Today's enemy might be the law of the land tomorrow.

July an had joined him, frowning pensively.

"The schooner's got no anchor, sir. If that wind comes back, they'll have to stay under way."

Adam looked toward Merlin, but without the glass she was a blur between sea and sky.

"I'm sending the schooner to Gibraltar. If they need more proof, she should be enough. "He did not mention the commodore by name. "She'll need a prize crew."

He saw the question in Julyan's eyes. "Merlin will supply it."

He looked across the heaving water again, patches of sunshine now like drifting sand on the current. "We shall need all our people before you know it."

"They're manning one of th "cutters, sir. "That was Jago.

Always there, like a shadow.

Adam shaded his eye: Vincent was climbing down into the boat, unlike the last time, with only a minimum of hands at the oars.

He thought of the cabin, still in darkness below his feet. Just to sit for a few moments in the old chair. Or at the little desk, with her last letter…

He pushed away the temptation with great effort, and said quietly, "When you go below, Luke, "and sensed him moving closer, "fetch my prayer book, will you?"

Jago nodded. He knew who the other passengers would be in the cutter, and was surprised that it could still matter. Count for something. He had seen so many go over the side, good, bad, friend and enemy. But it did.

He waited long enough to see the cutter come alongside and the first lieutenant climb up the ladder which had been lowered for him. They were swinging out a net on block and tackle for the three dead men.

He saw Vincent hesitate as the captain met him by the gangway and reached out to grip both his hands.

"I am so proud of you, Mark. That was bravely done!"

He heard Vincent answer, "It was Lieutenant Squire, sir. I would have died, but for him."

The grip remained as the captain responded, "And that was bravely said!"

Jago went below, and nodded casually to the marine sentry as he pushed his way into the great cabin.

Morgan had been standing by the stern windows, and came to greet him. It was never too early or too late for him to be about and busy.

He said cheerfully, "You look scuppered, Luke, boyo. I've got just the something to liven you up! "He paused in the pantry door. "I see that they're back. It was a long night. "He waited, testing the moment. "Have you heard anything, old friend?"

Jago faced him squarely, no longer surprised that they had become so close.

"I think we're goin "to fight, "he said.

Commander Francis Troubridge stared across the water at the schooner.

"Yes, I can muster a prize crew for the run to Gibraltar. I have a master's mate who served in a schooner in "the bad old days", as he calls them. "He turned to look at his own command, a searching gaze which Adam understood and remembered. Like his own first ship, all that time ago. He had been even younger than Troubridge.

He was saying, "I'll have to see the commodore. "Again, the youthful smile Adam had come to know so well when he had been Bethune's hard-worked flag lieutenant. Only a few months ago…

The smile widened to a grin. "If he's still in command, of course!"

Adam said, "I have a report you must deliver to him. I doubt if it will surprise him. But he will not be pleased."

Troubridge walked with him to the quarterdeck rail. He did not need to be told that this was a matter of urgency.

Intelligence and intuition had served him well as a flag lieutenant, and he had needed both under Bethune. Do this, Flags, or Why wasn't I told, Flags? And Adam Bolitho he would never forget. On deck, under fire, men dying around them. And his face when the smoke had cleared, compassionate and self-critical, always questioning his own performance.

He had seen that Onward's capstan bars were shipped, with extra hands already mustered to weigh anchor yet again.

There was always tension and excitement in preparing to sail. Now he was feeling it more intensely himself, in command of his own ship.

And the familiar sight of corpses sewn in hammocks, awaiting burial. Not like that other time, when they had buried Catherine Somervell at sea, but Adam Bolitho would be recalling it when he did his duty by these three victims of battle.

He asked suddenly, "What do you intend, "and tried to smile, "sir?"

Adam saw him glance once more toward Merlin, almost protectively.

"D'you have a good first lieutenant, Francis?"

The question seemed to puzzle him, but he nodded. "He can give me a few years, and I sometimes think he wonders if I'm good enough for the task. "He laughed lightly. "I shall overcome it, I suppose."

Adam was watching the schooner.

"I was once told that envy and ambition often walk the same deck. "He turned back to Troubridge. "I believe Nautilus is being handed over to the Aboubakr government as a symbol of trust, and in the hope of future co-operation. France has made no secret of its ambitions in Africa."

"I was told as much, when Merlin was ordered to liaise with you and Saladin."

Adam hardly heard him.

"When we went to the aid of a merchant dhow, my surgeon went aboard to offer aid to some of their wounded. One was beyond help, and died while he was there. Murray is a good manЦ resourceful, too. The dying man gave him a name, and he remembered it. This morning, as dawn broke, my first lieutenant came across from our prize and brought me some documents, which some one had been trying to throw overboard in a weighted bag. Just a few items, some in French."

He paused, and Troubridge bent his head in concentration, listening closely. "And that same name featured prominently. Mustafa Kurt."

"But that's not a."

Adam smiled. "Originally he was Turkish. I don't know what flag he flies now. I first heard about him after the Algiers campaign. He had been overseeing the Dey's harbour defenses. And it was a damned close-run thing, as Our Nel would have put it."

Troubridge regarded him steadily. "And you think this Mustafa Kurt is going to try to overthrow the present power in Aboubakr, and seize NautilusT Adam saw Vincent on the gangway, waiting.

"I think he's already there. Has been from the beginning."

"My God! "He looked again at Merlin. "I'm not letting you sail alone! If it's true, he'll have the whole coast ablaze! D "you think I'd stand by and let you face it single-handed? It would be no mere cutting-out exploit this time!"

Adam took his arm and walked with him to the gangway. Merlin's gig was below the entry port, a side-party waiting to see Troubridge depart.

He said, "Go now. The commodore must be alerted," and saw the anguish and indecision on Troubridge's face. "I can order you to leave. But we are friends."

Troubridge stepped back, dismayed, perhaps shocked. Then he said curtly, "I shall never forget! "and turned and strode along the gangway.

Adam stood watching the boat pull clear of the side.

Troubridge did not look back.

Eventually he knew Vincent had joined him, and said, "Merlin is sending a prize crew, Mark. We will weigh anchor as soon as it's done."

There was an uncertain silence.

"Was it hard, sir?"

"Harder for him, I think. "He looked across at the schooner, a marine's scarlet coat vivid in the sunlight. Guarding prisoners.

Vincent was already calling out names, glad to be doing what he knew best.

And if I am wrong…

Luke Jago had heard most of it, and could feel his initial anger giving way to impatience. He had seen some of the seamen around the capstan looking over at Merlin, and muttering to each other as if all hell was about to break loose around them. What did they expect when they signed on? He realized that Bolitho was looking at him, and called, "I've brought the book, Cap'n. "He took a chance. "One of old Dan Yovell's, mebbee?"

Adam nodded, then he said briskly, "So let's be about it, shall we?"

Gordon Murray stood in a corner of the sick bay, head bowed beneath a deckhead beam while he washed and dried his hands.

One finger at a time, slowly and with care. Force of habit: something he now took as a matter of course, rather than necessity. He had learned the hard way, like most naval surgeons. He could still remember when he had caught one of the loblolly boys in his first ship slicing mouldy cheese with one of the surgical knives.

He cocked his head, listening to the sounds above him, and the regular creak and sigh of timbers, could picture the tall pyramids of canvas braced round, as he had just seen them.

The ship leaning over, holding the wind. What there was of it.

Down here it was quiet, subdued. Only two men had required treatment after the capture of the schooner, and they had been lucky, despite some ugly gashes. Unlike the ones he had heard go over the side. He was too familiar with that to be moved by it. He thought of the names written on the canvas wrapped corpses he had seen in the past. Unless it was some one who…

He straightened his back, head precisely between the beams.

Everything in its place. He heard his assistant speaking to one of the wounded sailors. A good man, Erik Larsson, a Swede who might have made a fine doctor. Notoriously impatient, and sharp with any one he believed to be malingering to avoid working ship, or to gain a few extra tots of grog. No bad thing in a crowded man-of-war. But despite Murray's curiosity, he had made a point of never questioning him, or asking how a Swede had found his way into a British warship. Maybe that was why Larsson trusted him. They trusted one another.

He thought of the dying man aboard the dismasted dhow, wounded in the stomach by grapeshot. It was a wonder he had remained alive as long as he had. Murray had been in several sea-fights, had known the toll so high that there had scarcely been a space left on the orlop for a man to die, let alone receive any treatment.

He could recall the fingers like steel on his wrist, as if every last ounce of his strength had been concentrated in them.

Gasping out the name. Nodding, eyes suddenly alive, when Murray had repeated it until he was satisfied. Then he had spoken it one last time, like a curse, with his dying breath.

And later, after Vincent had returned aboard with the documents he had saved from destruction, the discovery of that same name. He had seen doubt and caution in the captain's face, and then the first hint of excitement. Like a huntsman with the unexpected scent of quarry. But it was something deeper and stronger than that.

And now they were under full sail again. It would end nowhere. Or they would have to fight.

He remembered Trafalgar. He had been serving in the eighty-gun Tonnant, under Captain Tyler. She had been a French ship, captured at the Nile, like others which were to serve again under new colours. He had heard some of the younger hands voicing their resentment that Onward had been ordered to act as escort to Nautilus when they had first arrived at the Rock. It was nothing new.

Some one tapped at the door: one of the sailmaker's crew, a huge bundle of loose canvas gathered in his arms.

Murray said, "Larsson will show you where to stow them. I hope we will not need them."

He took his thoughts from it. He did not need to be reminded that whatever happened men would die, and others, like this sailmaker, would have to stitch them up for their final journey.

Jeff Lloyd tipped the canvas on to the deck and began to sort and fold the various pieces into matching lengths.

He saw the surgeon go to his desk and begin to write something in a book. Callous bastard. He glanced around the sick bay and through to the orlop deck beyond. It was peaceful here, good to be away from the mess and the constant chatter and speculation about chasing after another suspected enemy.

Pirate, more likely.

He thought of the burials he had seen carried out almost as soon as the anchor had been catted. They couldn "t wait. He had known one of the dead men well. Worked on a farm before he had decided to quit and volunteer for the navy. Whistling aboard ship was forbidden. In case, they said, it might be mistaken for a call announcing a vital command or duty. Only a fool would believe that.

But this man had whistled in a gentle, fascinating fashion.

Sometimes, maybe in the dog watches, when there was some quiet, he could recall the soft, easy whistle. Like real music.

Even the loud-mouths had piped down to listen and enjoy it.

With some of the others he had watched the brig Merlin, her arrival after the cutting-out, and then her departure, with their prize as an unlikely consort.

They all had their own thoughts. Lloyd had heard Merlin was under orders for Gibraltar again. What then? To him it meant reaching back to another life, the one that lay in the past. And must remain there. People soon forget.

Like the ones they had just buried, and Ned Harris, who had wanted too much to keep his mouth shut. It was shut now.

But he could not prevent himself from thinking of the woman who had changed everything. At the time it had seemed like a secret joke, or a form of revenge when she had encouraged him. Her husband was always away from their home in Plymouth: a shipbuilder, who had interests in other yards. Women too, most likely. She had probably recovered by now, and maybe she had already found a new lover to drive away the boredom.

Or was it deeper than that? She might even think of writing to him. She had done so twice before. He had since destroyed the letters.

She would not dare. Surely she would see the danger, the risk? That night, when her other lover had visited her without hint or warning, he had been there with her.

The shock of recognition had saved him. The fury, and the true realization of danger, had ended it. The other lover had lain dead and bleeding outside the door.

But there had been a witness, who had been working ashore at a local alehouse, repairing casks for the landlord. The witness had been Ned Harris, the cooper.

Lloyd looked down at his hands. Only she knew, and had seen it happen. He had thought about it today while the captain had been reading from his prayer book, before they had tipped the three bodies over the side.

If a cruel twist of fate had not brought him to the house that night, he would have been standing there today, in Captain Bolitho's place.

And now, only she would know this dangerous secret. It would be safe with her. Had to be. They must never meet again.

He smiled. It was better, safer to look ahead. He found he was humming a little tune to himself. One of those his friend used to whistle, before they buried him at sea.

Murray walked past. "All done? Good lad."

Jeff Lloyd heard him leave the sick bay, and call out to some one in the passageway. Another officer.

He could not help it, but he was rocking back and forth on the deck, and shaking with uncontrollable laughter.

David Napier sat at the table and stared at the writing paper by his elbow. There were only two small lanterns alight in the midshipmen's berth, and the air was stifling. It was about midnight, but he was not tired, nor even remotely sleepy. There was no point in worrying about it, he thought, he would be called in a few hours for the morning watch. And no sense in slinging a hammock; all hands would be called early this coming day, and the nettings would have to be secured and shipshape before dawn.

He looked over to the opposite end of the mess. Midshipman Deacon was sitting in the other small pool of light, his official diary wide open and his folder of notes and diagrams weighed down with a pair of brass dividers. Not that there was much motion to dislodge them. He had already noticed that Deacon's pen also lay untouched.

He listened to the hull murmuring around him. So familiar now, the memories of Audacity softened and no longer lying in wait, except perhaps at moments like these.

The ship seemed so quiet, with only an occasional intrusion, some one coughing, or rope being hauled through a block and made secure enough to satisfy the officer of the watch, or one of his subordinates, who could find no peace with his thoughts.

It was very dark on deck. No moon to mark the sea breaking away from the bows, or touch the figurehead's outthrust trident.

Simon Huxley was on watch now, with Monteith as his lord and master. At least he would have little time to brood. Young Walker would be up there with him. That should help…

Tomorrow would be Walker's birthday. Thirteen years old.

And he was full of high spirits at the prospect.

Napier sat thinking quietly over the day's events. Watching the schooner parting company, a prize crew waving and cheering. A stark contrast to the three burials. It had come to him then, like a shock. Half of Onward's company had not seen men buried who had been killed by the violence of the enemy, or ever been under fire themselves.

They would have felt it today. Clearing for action, rigging nets to repel boarders, gun drill, all timed to the minute by Maddock and the first lieutenant.

The old hands bided their time. I'll believe it when I sees it! Or Don't they know the war's over? Afterwards, Napier had seen Maddock the gunner, making his way to the narrow passage that led only to the magazine. He had been carrying the thick felt slippers he would wear if Onward was called to action. Down there in his world of fuses and packed charges, it only needed a single spark to turn the ship into an inferno, or blast her apart.

Napier had heard one of his friends ask Maddock why he had chosen his trade, if it meant being trapped below amongst all the powder and fuses.

He had grinned and retorted, "I can't stand the noise on deck!"

But that was then.

He shivered, but not from cold.

He stared at the paper swimming in the dim light, and touched it. It was still hard to accept, but he could see the old grey house quite clearly. The faces, some of them familiar, the horses nodding from their boxes when he passed, or taking apples from his hand. The staircase and the portraits. And the admiral's sister. Aunt Nancy.

He touched his face, his mouth. And Elizabeth.

He wanted to stop, to laugh at himself. She would not even do that

He felt a hand on his shoulder, firm, insistent.

"Rise an' shine, sir! "The face seemed to be floating above the table, and he knew he had fallen asleep.

He got to his feet and saw the man grinning, satisfied that he was awake.

"Like a millpond up top, sir. No war today! "He hurried into the shadows, laughing.

Napier looked around, feeling his pockets, ensuring he would not forget anything. Deacon had disappeared, his diary and papers packed away. Unable to work, or to sleep.

He realized that a tankard was standing in the foul-weather slot beside him. It was Deacon's: he had seen it often since he had joined Onward, and it had his initials engraved on the side.

It was half full. Deacon must have put it down carefully, so that he would not wake him, or need to explain. It was cognac.

Preparing him, and perhaps himself.

Napier sipped it slowly and stared at the blank sheet of paper on the table.

Feet were thudding overhead, but his hand was quite steady.

Dear Elizabeth…

He swallowed the rest of the cognac and reached for his hat.

It was today.

Adam stood in the centre of the cabin and watched the empty darkness of the sea astern, in marked contrast to the deckhead skylight, where the first red rays gave colour to the shrouds, and the hint of canvas above. He stretched until his fingers could feel the movement, the life of the ship, lifting and plunging gently as she headed into an early dawn.

It seemed quiet after the bustle of hammocks being stowed, and the shouts hurrying along some one who had not heard the pipe, or had forgotten that today was different. Because the Captain had decided, and demanded, as much.

He touched the back of the chair, where he had been attempting to sleep. He had gone over it again and again.

Suppose he was mistaken? The whole ship's company keyed up for possible action, only to find that their captain had made an error of judgment. Lost his nerve…

Perhaps the French government had rescinded the order to hand Nautilus over to the Aboubakr rulers, or no such order had yet been received by Capitaine Marchand and his company. In which case… He shrugged. Better to be a laughing-stock than allow people to die for no purpose.

He recalled the faces of his officers, in this cabin, when he had explained his reasons and his intended course of action.

Squire had said, "If these rebels, whoever they are, were ruthless enough to try and sink Nautilus before she could act as French guardship, there'll be no stopping their next attempt to control the coast. All the way to Algiers, if need be!"

Vincent had said only, "We have no choice. It's too late for us to wait for assistance."

Julyan had offered even less. "That's nothing new!"

A door closed and Adam heard Jago speak briefly to somebody in the lobby.

He felt his chin: a smooth shave, as only Jago could give, and without fuss or argument, no matter the time of day or night, in storm or flat calm. Always ready.

He glanced around the cabin. His coat, hanging near the quarter windows, swaying to the easy motion, buttons and lace catching the strengthening light. Waiting for Morgan to stow it away once the crisis was over.

Like Jago, he had already been and gone. The breakfast, which he had prepared even before all hands had been piped, still lay untouched on the table.

He looked at the coat again and thought of his uncle, wearing his dress uniform that day aboard Frobisher, when an enemy marksman had shot him down.

He had always said, "They will want to see you."

And it was true. Adam had seen men's faces turning aft in the heat and hell of battle to look for their captain, and be reassured.

Something made him turn his back and cross to the opposite side of the cabin. His sleeping compartment was still in darkness, but the door was open. He stood quite still, gazing at her face in the reflected light. Morgan must have put the painting in the cot, ready for it to be taken down to the orlop if or when the ship cleared for action.

Looking directly at him, like that day in the studio: Andromeda, chained to a rock as a sacrifice. And later, when she had overcome her fear, and had lain with her wrists tied with her own long hair, and had given herself to him.

He put his hand inside his shirt and felt the silk ribbon he had taken from her that day.

He heard the screen door again. Jago was back.

He was carrying the old sword, moving it slightly up and down in its scabbard.

"Good as new, Cap'n. "He did not look beyond the open door, at the painting propped in the cot. He knew.

He said, "Fair an' clear. Wind's backed a piece, nor "west, they tells me."

Adam saw it in his mind.

Jago added, "No land in sight, "and watched Adam take the sword, and hold it to the light. That old blade could spin a few yarns.

"We should sight land again in an hour or so. We shall change tack if the wind holds steady."

Jago sighed. Always planning, always worrying.

He thought of the painting, and the girl who had posed for it.

The ship had a strong rival.

He hesitated, and then asked, "Suppose Nautilus don't come out lookin "for a fight? "He saw him turn abruptly. Maybe he had gone too far this time.

Adam laid the sword on the table.

"Then we'll go in looking for her! "Then he smiled. "But she will!"

They both looked up as some one ran heavily across the deck.

"Midshipman o "the watch, sir!"

It was Napier, a seaman close on his heels and panting noisily.

"Masthead reports sail to the nor "east, sir. "He almost dragged his companion in through the door. "Mr. Squire's respects, sir, and he said you would wish to speak to the lookout."

Adam nodded. "Nesbitt, isn't it? A Devon man, if I remember rightly."

The seaman grinned and ducked his head with pleasure.

"Aye, zur, Brixham! "It gave him time to recover his breath.

"Tell me what you saw."

"Frigate, zur. No doubt about it. "He gestured. "I "ad a glass, zur."

More voices, then Vincent appeared at the screen.

"I've just been told, sir!"

"Nesbitt here has good eyes. "Then to Napier, the formality abandoned, "Take care of yourself, David."

Then he turned and stared astern for a moment.

"I'll come up directly. "Vincent waited by the door until he had turned back, and their eyes met. "You may beat to quarters."

Jago watched his face once they were alone again. It was as he had expected, but, as always, it came as a shock.

He looked at the coat, hoping he might yet change his mind.

They wants to see you alive, Cap'n! But knowing that he would not, he lifted it down.

At that moment, the drums began to rattle.