Afterwards, he thought it was like seeing Yovell's despair clear away. Another memory had been sparked. All he needed.
'For all of us, sir.'
And tomorrow…
Galbraith straightened his back in spite of the bandage, and said quietly, 'Here comes Halcyon.'
Adam walked to the opposite side, feeling their eyes following him. The helmsman, Sergeant Bloxham, leaning on a musket on which the bayonet was still fixed. Midshipman Deighton, his telescope still trained on the distant ships, gnawing his lip to make a lie of his composure.
And Jago, watching the slow-moving frigate, feeling her pain. Sharing it. Foremast shot away, sails riddled with holes, the hull gouged by gunfire at close quarters.
Magpie was following astern; she had been in the thick of it, but looked unmarked by comparison.
The second ensign Halcyon had hoisted when the flagship had made the signal Prepare for battle had been lowered to half-mast, for the man who had been Tyacke's midshipman at the Nile, and had loved his ship above all else. Both ship and captain had fought their last fight.
Adam climbed into the shrouds as if something had snapped, releasing him from frozen immobility, and shouted, 'A cheer, lads! Give them all you have!'
He waved, and imagined he saw a telescope being trained from Halcyon's splintered quarterdeck.
Then he climbed down and felt Jago's hand steady his arm. It must be the smoke. The fight had continued all afternoon. It would soon be dusk.
He stared around at the damage, his mind dulled by Unrivalled's wild cheering, which Halcyon's people would always remember, even when they were sent to other ships.
He said, 'Pipe the hands to the braces, if you please.' If only his eyes would stop smarting.
He looked at the anchorage again, already hidden in smoke and shadow.
Unrivalled was the last to leave. As ordered.
And tomorrow…
He heard Jago remark, 'Our gig will need more than a couple of new planks when we gets home, sir.'
'Yes.' He did not trust himself to say more.
Home had a new meaning now.
Jago watched him, and was satisfied.
Like his ship, he thought. Second to None.
