affair. He will be serving new masters himself when he returns to France.”
Tremayne said gruffly, “He’d be a fool to go. They’d have his head in a basket before he could say ‘knife.’ If half the things I’ve heard are true, it must be like Hades in Paris.”
Hardacre spoke for the first time, his voice very slow and level. “You do not understand a word, do you, Mr Raymond?” He stood up and walked to the nearest window and threw aside the blind. “Captain Bolitho can see it, even I, a landsman, can understand, but you? ” His voice rose slightly. “You are so full of your own greed and importance you see nothing. There has been a revolution in France. It may even spread to England, and God knows there are some who will never get justice without it. But out here, in the islands which you only see as stepping- stones to your damned future, what does it really mean?” He strode across to the table and thrust his beard at Raymond. “Well, tell me, damn your eyes!”
Bolitho said quietly, “Easy, Mr Hardacre.” He turned to the table. “Had you told me that Genin was the man who had found sanctuary with Tuke, I might have foreseen some of this. Now it may be too late. If Tuke knows about the revolution, he will see Genin not merely as a useful hostage but as a means to an end. Genin is no longer a fugitive, he represents his country, as much as you or I do ours.”
Raymond looked up at him, his eyes glazed. “The Narval? Is that it?”
Bolitho looked away, sickened. “When Narval’s people are told of the uprising in France they’ll tear de Barras and his lieutenants to pieces.”
Tremayne said bluntly, “I reckon he’ll know b’now. I heard of two French packets which rounded the Horn within days o’ me. The news will be across the whole ocean, if I’m any judge.”
Bolitho tried to think without emotion. All the sea fights, the names of captains, French and English alike, which had become a part of history. History which he had helped to fashion. As had Le Chaumareys.
This great sea was alive with countless craft of every kind. From lordly Indiamen to brigs and schooners, and down further still to the tiny native vessels which abounded here. Like insects in a forest, or minute sea creatures. Yes, the news would spread quickly enough.
In the seven months since the revolution had begun the whole world might have changed yet again.
Only one thing was clear and stark, like a wreck on a reef.
Tuke would capture the Narval. It was so simple it made him want to walk out into the darkness. De Barras’s men would rise to their new banner willingly. After the barbarous way they had been made to live and serve de Barras, it would be like a flood bursting.
And then Tuke would emerge in his new role, not merely a troublesome pirate, but a real force to be reckoned with. Raymond was correct in one thing. It would mean war. England would never stand by and watch a new France expanding at her expense. Every ship would be needed desperately. They had been unready for a clash with Spain over trade concessions. What would they do when confronted with a freshly blooded France?
Tuke, with his small but unchallenged flotilla of vessels, would do as he pleased, take what he wanted. Found an empire if he so wished. He looked at Raymond again. And he had known about Genin all the time.
Tremayne said, “I will put to sea tomorrow.” He grinned. “Today, that is.”
Raymond said tonelessly, “Pigeon is carrying despatches for the Governor of New South Wales.”
Tremayne winked. “And for Commodore Sayer. He’ll be writing fresh orders for you, Dick, double-quick!”
Hardacre leaned over the sill and sniffed the air. “Light soon now.” Without turning he said, “And my schooner is out looking for de Barras. If Tuke already knows about these things, he’ll come out of hiding. He’ll not risk attack from a frigate. The Narval would pound his little vessels to boxwood before they got in range.”
Bolitho remembered the powerful guns, Tempest’s topgallant mast plunging down to the deck, killing and maiming as it went.
Almost to himself he said, “All Tuke has to do is wait. If de Barras learns the news, he’ll be even more desperate to recapture his prisoner. His ship is all he has now. Without her, he is as good as dead.”
Tremayne stood up, his sea-boots creaking. “I’ll be off directly, Dick. If you have any despatches, I’d be obliged to get ’em afore noon.” He tried to grin. “But you’re all safe and snug here. Your fifth-rate and th’ big transport in the bay. You could hold off an army, eh?”
Raymond spoke up sharply. “De Barras is no longer our concern. This settlement is. I will be getting more men and supplies soon. Once they arrive, Tuke and his followers will sheer off and go to another hunting-ground.”
Tremayne regarded him calmly. “If you think that…” He turned away. “I’ll have a boat alongside Tempest till an hour afore I up-anchors. Send your despatches into her.” He gripped Bolitho’s hand. “I’ll tell ’em about you, when I drops the anchor in Carrick Road again. I often sees your sister. I’ll pass it kindly to her.”
“Thank you, William. But I may be there before you.”
As the other captain left the room Bolitho felt suddenly heavy. It was like an evil dream, when nobody would listen or understand what you were trying to say.
With Tuke on the rampage, and the forces of authority unable or unwilling to contest his power, the islands would fall on one another’s throats as in days past. The spear and the war club would lay the islands open for traders and pirates to plunder as they thought fit.
He saw Hardacre watching him. He knew. A betrayal. There was no other word for it.
But would the French sailors rise against their officers? No matter what Tuke or Yves Genin told them, could they bring themselves to mutiny and smash down all they had been disciplined to obey without question?
When a nation rose against its King and turned murder loose on the streets it could face up to almost anything, Bolitho decided grimly.
He said, “I am requesting permission to put to sea, sir. I’ll find de Barras and tell him what we know. It would be far better to send him and his ship away than to bring superior forces down on our heads by remaining silent.”
“No.” One word, and yet it rebounded around the room like an iron shot.
Hardacre said, “Then I’ll be down to the village and speak with Tinah. There are things to prepare.” He glanced at Bolitho. “I’ve no doubt you wish to discuss matters, too!”
As the door closed behind him Raymond said, “I have my own responsibilities, and you are here to support me to the best of your ability.”
“I know my orders, sir.” Was it possible to sound so calm, when all he wanted to do was pull Raymond by the lapels of his beautiful coat and shake him until his face was blue.
“Good. In my opinion de Barras will either defeat Tuke or return to France if he learns what has happened. Either way it is no longer our affair. War will come, if it has not already begun, and we must prepare the Levu Islands as instructed.” His mouth hardened. “And I imagine that you will be able to drive Tuke’s schooners away, should they come too close, eh?”
“D’you know what I think, sir?” Bolitho leaned out of a window and gripped the sill to prevent his hands from shaking. “I believe that there will be no bases here, not now, nor any time in our lives. The war we knew was a sounding-brass, the one to come will be fought with giants. There will be neither need nor time for islands and governors to control them.” He drew in a breath very slowly, tasting the sea, feeling it pull at him. “No supplies or soldiers will come either.”
Raymond exclaimed, “You’re mad! What do you think I was sent for?”
Bolitho did not face him. “Think about it. I was kept out here because of you. Because I challenged your authority five years ago and stood between you and a man you wronged and allowed to go into oblivion. Because of other, more personal matters also, you used your skills to maroon me here. De Barras is another. But he was driven out of France too late. By then his sort had created anger and hatred, which in turn will try to destroy our world, too. And you? Do you not think it strange that you have joined our little world?”
When he received no reply he turned and saw Raymond staring at the table, his open despatches spread between his outthrust arms.
Then he said hoarsely, “You are wrong. Of course I will get support. I have worked all my life for proper recognition. I will not stand by and see it all…” He lurched to his feet, his eyes blazing. “I am the governor here! You will do as I say!”
They stayed quite still, facing each other like strangers.
Then, as Bolitho made to leave, he heard voices in the compound and feet on the stairs outside.
It was neither Hardacre nor his overseer, but Lieutenant Keen. He was dressed only in shirt and breeches, and he looked beside himself with anxiety.
“I am sorry to disturb you, sir.”
