sir. It seems the gallant French captain wishes to enquire about water and provisions on the surrounding islands.”
Hardacre nodded grimly. “I’ll go. It is vital that his ship enters each anchorage in a peaceful manner. I don’t want these people to see him as an enemy.” He added, “No matter what I think.”
Herrick looked hard at the chief. “There was a man taken prisoner. His name was Finney.”
“I knew Finney.” Tinah glanced at the building. “I did not tell my friend how he died. Just that he did die.”
Herrick asked harshly, “Can you tell me?”
“If your captain wishes.” The chief sighed. “North Island is not like this one. Finney was tied to a stake and covered with clay taken from the stream. His breath was kept for him by a reed through the clay.” His eyes were fixed on Herrick’s. “Then his body was held over a very slow fire.”
Herrick turned away, revolted. “Baked alive, for God’s sake!”
Tinah shrugged. “My father told me of such things. But in North Island…”
Herrick nodded. “I know. They are different from your people.”
The chief watched Herrick as he returned to the building. “That must be the strong one. The man who stood alone.” He nodded. “Yes, I have heard of him.”
Hardacre came back and said, “It is done.” He looked at Bolitho. “If that’s all, Captain?”
Bolitho touched his hat. “Yes.”
Hardacre and the chief obviously had things to discuss. A rift to heal before it could destroy both of them.
In Raymond’s room again he found the others taking wine.
The other door opened, and a servant stood aside to allow Viola Raymond to enter.
Raymond introduced her to de Barras, who bowed from the waist and kissed her hand, saying, “My dear lady, I was so grieved that you did not come to my humble quarters with your husband, the Resident.”
She replied, “Thank you,M’sieu le Comte, perhaps another time.”
The French lieutenant bowed stiffly and mumbled something in very broken English.
Viola looked at Herrick and held out her hand. “Why, Lieutenant, it is so nice to see you again.”
Herrick’s tan hid what must have been a blush. “Er, thank you, ma’am. It’s good to see you, too. Indeed it is.”
She crossed to Bolitho and offered her hand. “Captain?”
Bolitho touched her fingers with his lips. “Mrs Raymond.”
Their eyes met, and he felt the gentle pressure of her fingers on his.
As she moved away to speak with the servant, de Barras walked to Bolitho’s side and said softly, “Ah, now I think I know why she did not come to my ship, oui?”
He returned to his lieutenant, laughing quietly to himself.
Herrick whispered, “Did you hear that, sir? Impudent dog!” He turned his back to the others. “But you see how it goes, sir? You must take care!”
Bolitho looked past him, watching her hair lying across her shoulders. Take care. Herrick did not know what it was like to stand meekly by and watch the one you loved so dearly held at arm’s length.
The only bright piece of news had been that brought by the young chief, Tinah. If they could run the pirates to earth, and destroy their power once and for all, there was the very real possibility that Tempest would be ordered home, to England. And then?
Herrick watched his captain sadly. It was hopeless. It was like telling a bull not to charge, a cat not to chase mice.
He saw a table being prepared in the adjoining room and counted the chairs.
Well, we might as well make the best of it while it lasts, he decided.
12. The Worst Enemy
THE FRENCH frigate weighed and put to sea two days after the conference in Raymond’s spartan headquarters.
Her departure seemed to restore some of the readily offered hospitality from the islanders, and it was rare not to find some of them on Tempest’s deck or alongside in their swift-moving canoes. Bartering, bringing gifts, or merely watching the hands at work on the dwindling list of repairs, it all helped to ease the tension.
The islanders had no cause to fear or dislike the French sailors, and in fact they had had no opportunity of meeting many of them. Only small parties had gone ashore to gather fuel or supplies, each escorted by heavily armed men.
Bolitho had decided that despite or because of their simple standards and judgements the islanders had sensed the oppression aboard the Narval as he had done, and not understanding it had rejected it.
Life aboard Tempest was hard enough, especially at anchor in a sheltered bay, with the sun seeming to grow hotter each hour to add to the discomfort. But in the dog watches it was rare not to hear the scrape of a shantyman’s fiddle or the slap of bare feet as off-watch seamen took part in one of their ritual hornpipes.
From the Frenchman they had heard nothing. Just the chime of a watch-bell, the occasional order being piped between decks. Cowed, humiliated, the ability to seize even the smallest enjoyment had been crushed out of them.
With Narval gone from the bay, Bolitho soon discovered that Raymond intended to keep his word on the matter of responsibility. When not being employed aboard, Tempest’s specialists, like the carpenter and the cooper, the sailmaker and the boatswain, would be required on the island, using their skills to help with the modest but much needed building programme, both of huts and the blockhouses to defend them.
The surgeon too was more on land than in his sickbay, tending to the wounded and the rarer illnesses amongst the villagers. It was an arrangement which suited Gwyther very well, Bolitho knew, and when he returned to the ship he rarely appeared without some tropical find, a violently coloured plant or some strange-looking fruit.
Captain Prideaux attended to the siting of the new blockhouses, despite the obvious resentment of the two Corps officers.
When they had protested to him he had snapped, “You keep telling me that this or that is not your job. That you should not have been sent here by the Governor of New South Wales anyway, and I am heartily sick of it! In a King’s ship you have to be ready to attempt anything, no matter how you may feel about it.”
One of them had replied hotly, “You insult us, sir!”
Prideaux had looked almost happy. “Then I will give satisfaction, to both of you if need be!”
To his disappointment they had retired with some haste.
As he had walked through the village or down along the glistening beach Bolitho had wondered what Narval was doing. De Barras had promised to make a long patrol around North Island and on to the next group. To see, and be seen. If he was lucky enough to flush out one or more of Tuke’s vessels, he would certainly exploit the victory and press on with his search.
Bolitho had enough to keep him occupied for most hours of every day. In mounting heat, he went about his duties with impassive determination, knowing Raymond was waiting to complain, to criticize, if he lowered his guard.
It was common enough for sea officers to do what he was doing. Even the commander of a modest sloop-of- war or brig was expected to show his King’s authority when need be. As Prideaux had hotly remarked, no matter how you may feel about it!
But he felt vulnerable, knowing she was never far from him and yet rarely able to meet her without Raymond being present. Was Raymond trying to pretend that everything was as before as far as she was concerned? Or was he merely enjoying Bolitho’s dismay and want whenever they met?
And although he tried to tell himself he was being too protective, he was worried for her health. She spent some of her time accompanying the surgeon on his rounds, and did not spare herself or share the attitude of the islanders-when it bears heavy on you, stop work.
Lieutenant Keen was employed in charge of the shore parties, and Bolitho had seen him more than once with a native girl of slender beauty who seemed to regard him as one of the gods. In his turn, Keen watched her with an expression of one completely lost. Bolitho had found himself feeling depressed and envious of their blissful
