weapon. It felt like that right now: letting the opponent test your arm, lead him on, and then take him off balance.
Laforey said, 'All we must do is return the prisoner under escort surely? Then Captain Keen will have to answer for his actions at a later date. We are at war, gentlemen.'
Bolitho felt the touch of ice at his spine, but it was the same as the thrill of battle, heedless of the outcome.
'Why not ask me, Sir Hedworth?'
Jerram glared at him for several seconds. 'Very well, Sir Richard, since it seems we are forced to dally here. Where is the prisoner?'
'Thank you, sir.' Bolitho felt his left eye sting and prayed it would not fail him now. 'She has returned to England under my protection. I paid for her passage and will produce the bill for same if you intend to court-martial me. Not before. I ordered Captain Keen to bring her to the flagship. Do you imagine that any captain can act without his flag-officer giving consent or encouragement?' He glanced at Keen's face. 'I did both.' He continued, 'That girl was unlawfully transported, something I intend to prove, Sir Hedworth, in a far more convincing court than your charade here today! How could you possibly know what the Orontes' master said or did not say? My God, man, he's almost halfway to New South Wales!' His voice sharpened. 'And you will know about it when the proof is published, gentlemen, believe me, you shall know about it, and what greedy, dishonest men will do for revenge!'
Pullen stood up. 'You take all the responsibility, Sir Richard?'
Bolitho faced him, calm again. 'Yes. Captain Keen is under my command and will remain so until I am ordered otherwise.' He looked as steadily as he could manage at the black-garbed figure.
'When you explain to your superiors of admiralty, Mr Pullen, and you tell them what I intend, you may be surprised at the outcome, and when that happens I trust you will show the same zeal as you did when you tried to arrest a young girl who has already suffered brutality beyond measure.' He looked again at Keen. 'That too is being taken care of.'
Laforey asked irritably, 'Why did we not know about this?'
Bolitho tried not to blink his damaged eye. 'Some were too eager for the kill, Sir Marcus. To hurt or to damage me through another's reputation.'
Jerram dabbed his face. 'I can proceed no further, sir.' He looked at Herrick. 'At this stage.'
Herrick opened his mouth and then looked towards the screen doors as a lieutenant entered and after some nervous hesitation made his way aft.
He handed a piece of paper to Laforey, who thrust it across to Herrick.
Bolitho remained standing. He may have ruined his career, but Keen and his Zenoria were safe.
Herrick looked up, 'I think you should see this, Sir Richard.'
Bolitho took the paper and read it carefully, aware that every face was watching him. He could feel the rising tension, mounting to match his despair and anger.
He looked around the great cabin, the same one where he had planned each battle, had survived, when so many had not.
He said quietly, 'His Majesty's armed schooner Columbine has entered harbour.' His voice was so low that many craned forward to hear him better. 'My squadron was attacked last week and the Helicon,' he glanced at Jerram without expression, 'under that same Captain Inch, was severely damaged with many killed and wounded.' He saw Keen watching him, his handsome features quite stricken. Bolitho continued in spite of the catch in his voice which he could not control. Dear God, not Inch too. 'What we anticipated has happened. Jobert is out, and my squadron engaged them. When they needed me, I was here.' He picked up his hat. 'As Sir Marcus said, we are at war. It is a pity that some still do not realize the fact.'
Herrick said, 'You may leave with your flag-captain.'
Bolitho looked along the table and said in the same level tone,
'I have one more thing to say.' He glanced from face to face. 'God damn all of you!' Then he strode from the cabin, and after a brief moment Keen followed.
Herrick sat quite still for several moments.
Then he said, 'This court is dismissed.' He was stunned by Bolitho's anger, and yet not surprised. He had done and given too much to care any more.
Pullen said breathlessly, 'He'll never get away with this!'
Herrick said flatly, 'You didn't understand, did you? The French are out, man, and Nelson will be watching Toulon like a hawk, and be too hard-pressed to release ships to search for Jobert! Nothing stands between Jobert and his intentions but that man we all wronged just now!'
Laforey watched the people leaving the cabin. Silent now, as if they had pictured the battle through Bolitho's quiet voice.
Herrick helped Laforey out of his chair. 'I know Bolitho better than any man.' He thought suddenly of Allday. 'Except one possibly. To him loyalty stretches in both directions. If people try to scar him through others he will fight back like a lion.' He tried not to think of the blazing anger in Bolitho's eyes. 'But there are some battles he can't win.'
He waited for his captain to see the visitors into their boats and then returned to the cabin of which he had been so proud. If I were still his captain he would have acted the same way for me. When he needed me, what did I do? My duty? It was an empty word now.
If Bolitho had been with his squadron the result might have been exactly the same. But Bolitho would feel it deeply, nurse it like another wound until he conquered it. Or it killed him.
His servant peered in at him.
'Can I bring some hands to return the furniture, sir?' Herrick eyed him sadly. 'Aye, do that. And clean it too. It smells rotten in here.'
While Herrick stared through the stern windows Argonautes green barge moved slowly amongst the other ships.
Bolitho noticed that the stroke was slower and guessed Allday was taking his time to give him a moment to recover himself.
Keen sat beside him, his face grave as he watched the harbour. He said suddenly, 'You should not have done what you did, sir.'
Bolitho looked at him and smiled. 'You had no control over events where that girl was concerned, Val. I took the responsibility because I wanted to. She has come to mean a lot to me, just as her happiness counts a great deal.' His face softened. 'With you it was a matter of humanity to begin with, then your heart took the tiller.'
Keen said in a low voice so that the oarsmen could not hear him, 'May I ask how you know who is behind this attack, sir?'
'No. Not yet.' Bolitho tried to find comfort in the fact that a simple bluff had worked, but it evaded him. All he could see was Inch facing the enemy. The schooner's message had little news of value, except that the enemy flagship was named Leopard.
Almost to himself Bolitho said, 'The French went for Rapid. Inch tried to support her and took the whole weight of the attack. Why did they want the brig, I wonder?' Keen watched his profile and wondered how much more there was about Bolitho he did not understand.
Bolitho shrugged, 'Remember Achates, Val?'
Keen nodded and smiled, 'OldKatie, yes, I remember her.'
'When Jobert attacked us we were outnumbered three to one. To draw him into close quarters we concentrated our fire on his smallest ship, the Diane, and so we took Argonaute.'
Understanding flooded Keen's face. 'And now he's done the same to us!'
Argonaute's shadow covered them as the barge glided alongside in the choppy water.
Bolitho gripped his sword. The wind was still strong. The same one which had blown from the west and had brought the French with it. He looked up at the faces of the waiting side party. Was this ship cursed after all? Still French, no matter what they could do to her?
As his head lifted through the entry port and the salutes died away, Lieutenant Paget, who had preceded them in the gig, raised his hat and yelled, 'A cheer for the Admiral, lads!'
Keen had seen the look in Bolitho's eyes; he said, 'It's men, not ships, sir.'
