For My Country’s Freedom

closer to the wind, the other vessel responding to a bright hoist of signal flags.

There was no need for such a manoeuvre. Her captain could remain on his present course untroubled by either the convoy or her escort. Instead, he was taking the wind-gage, and would hold it until he was ready.

'I think they intend to attack, Dick. In fact, I am sure of it.'

The use of his first name surprised Hudson almost as much as the simple acceptance of something unthinkable.

'You know this ship, sir?'

'I have been aboard her and have met her captain. An impressive man. But know her? That is another matter.'

Adam stared along the deck above the mass of silent figures towards the beak-head, the perfect shoulder and gilded hair of the figurehead. Daughter of the Wind.

Almost to himself he said, 'We are of one company, Dick. Some good, some bad. But every so often we must forget our differences. We become an instrument, to be used rightly or wrongly as directed.'

'I see, sir.'

He touched Hudson’s arm, as he had seen his uncle do on many occasions.

'I want you to make a signal to Commander Eames of the

Woodpecker, repeated to our fat charges. Make more sail. Disperse the convoy' He hesitated for only a few seconds. Suppose I am wrong? But his conviction to the contrary was more compelling. 'Then make Enemy in sight to the north- west'

He heard men calling out as the midshipman in charge of signals and his crew ran to the halliards, while Hudson repeated the instructions behind them. He saw Lieutenant Vicary staring at him, his face suddenly pale under the tanned skin.

He asked quietly, 'Will we be able to outreach them, sir?'

Adam turned and looked at him, and through him. 'Today we are the instrument, Mr Vicary. We fight, that others shall survive.'

Hudson glanced at the streaming flags. 'Orders, sir?'

Adam tried to discover his innermost feelings. But there were none. Did that mean there would be no tomorrow?

'Orders? Carry on with the punishment.' He smiled and was suddenly very young. 'Then you may beat to quarters. The rest you know.'

He turned away as the drums began to roll again and the frozen images came to life.

A voice called out as the lash cracked down, 'Woodpeckers acknowledged, sir!'

Adam watched the punishment without emotion. They were committed. I committed them.

The instrument.

11. Like Father, Like Son

Adam Bolitho returned to his place by the quarterdeck rail and looked along the full length of his command. The deck had been sanded around each eighteen-pounder so that the gun crews would not slip and fall in the heat of battle. Equally, sand soaked

up the blood if the enemy’s iron came crashing inboard.

Lieutenant Hudson strode aft and touched his hat. 'Ship cleared for action, sir.' His face was full of questions.

Adam said, 'Well done, Mr Hudson. Nine minutes. They are improving.'

He stared up at the clear sky and felt his heart quicken as the masthead pendant licked out in the breeze. This time it did not fall back limply to the mast. The wind was getting up. Very slightly, but if it held… He shut the ifs and buts from his mind.

Instead he said, 'You are probably asking why I did not order the nets to be spread.' How open and vulnerable it looked without them. The nets were usually prepared as the ship was cleared for action, mainly to protect the gun crews from falling wreckage but also to be joined to the loosely-slung boarding nets, to trap enemy attackers until they could be driven off with pikes and musket fire. Any sign of either would warn the Americans that they were ready to fight.

Likewise, he had told Hudson to keep the marines out of the fighting-tops where their bright uniforms would shout the same readiness for action.

Hudson listened to his brief explanation, not knowing whether to find hope in it or to disbelieve it.

Adam said, 'Unity has all the sea room in the world. Like us, she depends on surprise. My guess is she will keep to wind’rd and try to cripple us at long range. Then she will attempt to board us.'

Hudson said nothing. He could see the dilemma that confronted the captain. If the Americans were allowed on board there would not be enough men to fight them off-too many were away in Anemones recently taken prizes. However, if the captain showed his hand too soon, Unity’s massive broadside might dismast them even as she remained safely beyond accurate fire from Anemone.

Adam raised his telescope and studied the other ship with

complete concentration. She had set more sail and had left her small consort astern. Commodore Beer would not be able to see the convoy as yet, nor would he know it had been ordered to disperse, and devil take the hindmost.

He said, 'Full broadside. Double-shotted for good measure. Go to the gun captains yourself, although most of them will not need to be told.'

He glanced at Lieutenant Vicary by the foremast. Like the third lieutenant, George Jeffreys, he had barely seen any real action at close quarters. He thought of Unity ’s guns. They would soon know all about it.

He felt Starr beside him and spread his arms to receive the coat with its gold epaulettes. He had been so proud when he had been posted, just as he had known how pleased Bolitho would be.

It had been fate. Golden Plover running herself on the African reef, and all hope given up for his uncle and Catherine. He swallowed hard. Valentine Keen had been reported lost in that wreck as well.

How it haunted him, the night it had happened. Zenoria had come to him to share their grief, and out of that shared grief they had discovered a love they had hidden from one another and from the rest of the world.

He touched his breeches and felt her glove against his leg. Could see her eyes as she had gazed into his when he had reached up to the carriage window at Plymouth.

'All guns loaded, sir!'

He thrust the memories away: they could not help him now.

'Keep the hands out of sight. Just a few idlers gaping on the larboard gangway will suffice. A natural thing, eh? ’Tis not every day we see a true symbol of freedom!'

Joseph Pineo, the old sailing-master, nudged one of his three helmsmen, but nobody else moved or spoke.

Adam dragged out his watch and flicked open the guard.

Beyond it he saw one of the young midshipmen taking huge breaths, his eyes watering as he stared at the other ship plunging over the water.

Suppose I am mistaken? That there had been no declaration of war even though he and many others had expected it? Two ships passing, and nothing more?

He said, 'With this puff of extra wind I intend to come about and engage him on the starboard side. He may anticipate it, but he cannot prevent it.' He smiled suddenly. 'We shall soon see if all our drills and exercises have had any value.'

He looked again at his ship, a lingering gaze full of questions, Hudson thought; memories too. Missing faces.