But Bolitho would not be consoled. For three days while he had lain useless and incapable in his cot the small invasion fleet had been preparing to get under way. Signals must have poured from the flagship to every captain in the harbour, and what Pomfret must be thinking was past consideration.
He said, 'What time is it?
'Three bells of the First Dog, Captain.' Allday sat down on a stool and stretched his legs. `The squadron will sail in company tomorrow morning.'
Bolitho said, `Are there despatches for me?' He tensed, not knowing what to expect.
Allday's reply was even more surprising. `All taken care of, Captain.' Now that Bolitho was pulling out of the fever's grip he seemed almost cheerful. 'The admiral has sent his orders across, but nobody outside o' this ship knows a thing about your illness, that I can promise!'
Bolitho closed his eyes. It was not difficult to picture Allday and Gimlett watching over him. The weariness on their faces, and obvious pleasure at his recovery spoke volumes. But to keep his wretched fever a secret from the assembled squadron called for much more than the efforts of a coxswain and a buck-toothed steward. He felt his eyes pricking with sudden emotion at the realisation that his whole ship's company must have made it possible.
Allday said quietly, 'There is nothing to fear, Captain. You must be strong and well again so that you can keep us out o' trouble.' He grinned. 'All this harbour routine is good training for the young gentlemen.' He watched as Bolitho opened his eyes and added, 'The officer from Snipe has taken charge and has been acting first lieutenant the whole time. The flagship has approved, Captain.' He controlled the smile on his lips. 'It just awaits your confirmation.'
Bolitho allowed his limbs to fall limp. That explained it. Rooke could never have coped on his own.
Quietly he said, 'He must be a good officer.'
'Oh, he is!' The grin could no longer be held in check.
Bolitho stared from one to the other with mounting exasperation. 'Well? What are you so damn happy about?' The effort of shouting made his head fall back to the pillow, and he did not even resist as Gimlett wiped his forehead with a damp cloth.
There was a movement beyond the screen door and Allday said calmly, 'That'll be him, Captain.' He did not wait for Bolitho to speak further but stood up and opened the door.
The Hyperion had swung slightly at her cable, so that the small cabin was thrown momentarily into deep shadow. But as Bolitho craned his head to stare at the figure framed in the door he imagined for a few seconds that he was still gripped in a feverish dream. For there was the white triangle. But as he strained his eyes and blinked away the mist he realised that it was no figment of imagination or part of any nightmare. The lieutenant had one arm across his body in a white sling, so that against his shadowed figure it indeed gleamed like a small sail.
But Bolitho forgot his fever and his apprehension as the ship swung slowly back again and the filtered sunlight fell full across the man's face. He still could not find the words, and he knew that the other man was gripped by the same emotion.
Then he said, 'For God's sake tell me I am not dreaming!'
Allday laughed with sudden excitement. 'It's him, Captain, Lieutenant Thomas Herrick as ever was!'
Bolitho tugged his hand from the blankets and seized Herrick's across the side of the cot. 'It's good to see you, Thomas.' He felt the pressure returned, firm and hard, as he remembered it from the past.
Herrick watched him gravely. 'And I can't tell you how I feel, sir.' He shook his head. `You've had a bad passage, but things will soon be all right again.'
Bolitho could not release his hand. 'Things will get better now, Thomas!'
The excitement and shock of seeing Herrick again had left him suddenly exhausted, but he said, 'Where have you been? What have you been doing?'
Allday interrupted, 'I think you should rest a while, Captain. Later on I can.,.'
Bolitho croaked, 'Shut up, damn you! Or I'll have you flogged!'
But Herrick said, 'He is right, sir. You rest and I will tell you all my news, what there is of it.'
Bolitho relaxed and closed his eyes as Herrick continued in
the same level tones he remembered so well. Without effort he could see him as the stubborn, idealistic lieutenant aboard the Phalarope in the West Indies, and again in the frigate
Tempest in the vast wilderness of the Great South Sea. Above all else he could see him as what he was, a loyal, trusted friend.
Herrick had changed a little'sincc he bad last seen him. His body was more stocky now, and there were streaks of grey in his hair. But his face was still round and competent, and the eyes which watched him over the cot were as bright and blue as on their first meeting.
Herrick was saying quietly, 'When we paid off the Tempest in '91 I had every intention of sticking out for another ship with you, sir. I think you knew that.' He sighed. 'But when I got home to Rochester I found my father dead and money too short for anything beyond staying alive. My father had been a clerk and did not even own the house we grew up in. And I was on half pay, so I had no choice but to take what I could get. I shipped out in an East Indiaman, something I swore never to do, and was lucky to get it with the best part of the Navy paid off and kicking their heels on the beach. I thought maybe when I got back to England you'd be fit and well again, but by that time we were at war again.'
Bolitho said slowly, 'I tried to find you, Thomas.' He did' not open his eyes but felt Herrick tense beside him.
'You did, sir?'
'I went to Rochester. I met your mother and the sister you have supported all these years. I never knew she was a cripple'
Herrick sounded stunned. 'She never said you'd been there!'
'I told her to say nothing. You were away at sea, and knowing you of old I guessed you would leave that security if you thought I had a ship to offer. And I did not at that time.'
Herrick sighed again. 'They were difficult days, sir. But I picked up a berth in the Snipe and sailed with the convict convoy from Torbay. At Gibraltar we got new orders, and the rest you know.'
Bolitho opened his eyes and studied Herrick's face intently. 'But your captain, Tudor, came aboard at Gibraltar. He knew I wanted a seasoned first lieutenant, and must have told you.'
Herrick looked away. 'He told me. But I deserted you after the Tempest paid off. I was not going to use an old friendship to gain me fresh favours.'
Bolitho smiled sadly. 'You've not changed, Thomas! Still the proud onel' He continued, 'The Snipe's loss was a hard blow for you. With the war expanding as it is you would have got command in no time. Post rank would have followed, and you would have what you richly deserve.' He saw the sudden embarrassment on Herrick's face and said, 'When we capture St. Clar they will be wanting a senior lieutenant to command the sloop Fairfax, if she's still there!'. He tried to struggle up on to his elbows but Herrick forced him back to the pillow. 'You must go to Sir Edmund, Thomas! If you stay in this ship you'll never get the chance of commanding that sloop!'
Herrick stood up and fidgeted with his sling. 'I missed my way once, sir. I'd rather stay with you, if you'll have me.' He saw Bolitho twist his face away and added firmly, That is how I want it, sir.'
B' litho turned and studied him, not knowing what to say.
Then Herrick smiled, so that in the half-light he looked almost boyish. 'Besides which, I know I'll stand a better chance of prize-money if I keep with you, sir. And don't forget I was Pomfret's third lieutenant when he commanded Phalarope. If there are any favours in the offing he might well be disposed towards me!'
Bolitho said quietly, 'You can joke about it, Thomas. I think you have made the wrong decision.' He reached out and gripped his hand again. 'But by God it's good to have you aboard!'
As Herrick moved out of his vision Gimlett said, 'I think you had better take some soup, zur.'
Bolitho answered firmly, 'Take it away! I am getting up directly, if only to get away from your clumsy hands!'
Allday looked across at the steward and winked. Under his breath he said, 'I think the captain is feeling better!'
The following day dawned bright and clear, and when Bolitho walked out on to the quarterdeck the salt wind in his face was better -than any tonic. Also it had freshened during the night, and when he glanced up at the masthead pendant he saw that it was whipping out to its full length.
