Lloyd stood up slowly.
'Glad to, Mr. Falcon.'
The carpenter touched his arm, smiling.
'Good lad. See me for a wet at stand-easy!'
Lloyd folded his tools with great care. Buying himself more time.
He had been wrong. Ned Harris was still laughing.
Lieutenant Mark Vincent tried to stifle a yawn, and signalled with his free hand to warn the cabin sentry of his arrival. But he was not quick enough.
'First lieutenant, sir!'
Vincent said, 'There was no need, at this hour.'
In the small, swinging circle of light from the lobby lantern, the Royal Marine might have grinned. Almost.
'Cap'n's still up an' about, sir.'
How could that be? He had just taken over the morning watch when Bolitho had come on deck. That was yesterday.
Did he never sleep? The screen door opened slightly. It was Jago, Bolitho's coxswain.
'I came as soon as I could.'
Jago's eyes shone only briefly in the same swinging light.
The unfastened coat and dishevelled turn-out would not pass unnoticed. It should not matter. But it did.
It was after midnight, and apart from the watchkeepers every sane man was tucked in his hammock and asleep. It had been a long day. And tomorrow… He tried to shut it out of his mind.
There was plenty of light in the great cabin, so that the stern windows looked like black mirrors, throwing back the captain's reflection sharply. He was standing by the table, his log book unopened, the pad which usually lay on the small desk beside it, marked at intervals with unused quills. Charts also, including the one they had used at the last conference before Aboubakr.
'All quiet on deck, Mark? 'Almost in the same breath.
'Sorry to drag you down aft.'
He moved toward the quarter and stared into the darkness.
'I've been thinking about our shadow. She was still holding station astern at nightfall. And she will be there at first light.'
Vincent waited in silence, unsure where this was leading.
'Whoever planned to disable Nautilus must already have estimated her time of arrival. 'He spread his hands. 'And known that she was coming to Aboubakr. Such intelligence could only have originated in Gibraltar. But there was no time or opportunity to inform any one that we would be in company with her.'
Vincent heard sounds in the pantry. Morgan was standing by his captain, despite the lateness of the hour.
He said, 'Rebellion, sir?'
'Whoever holds that fortress and commands the only good anchorage until Algiers, might determine the future of a nation. 'He stretched his arms. 'Given the right allies.'
'The French?'
'Perhaps. When they're ready. 'He gestured. 'Take a seat, Mark. We can have a mug of something in a moment. 'He moved to his old chair and ran a hand along the worn leather.
'But for us Nautilus would be a wreck, and her people dead.
What, I wonder, would have been the next move?'
He paused and looked at the deckhead, listening.
'She's sailing well. Running like a good mare with the scent of home. 'He smiled. 'You've done her proud, Mark. I shall not forget.'
Vincent watched him, feeling the energy and the frustration driving him. He was by the quarter gallery now, his hand against the glass as if to hold the darkness beyond.
'Landfall today, Mark. If only.
Vincent could guess what he was thinking. Of the girl who could be sharing it with him.
Adam turned away from the windows.
'They're waiting for our return, at Gibraltar. As ordered. You can think me crazy, but I was of half a mind to come about and run down on that damned schooner, chase her inshore and cut her out, to hell with the risk! 'He laughed shortly. 'Maybe the wind waited until now, when it's too late, even for a touch of madness!'
'But for you, we would be taking bad news to the flagship.'
'Us, Mark. It was a great deal to ask of a new company. 'He glanced at the littered table. 'I heard that they responded well to the sale of Harris's effects. It's little enough, but most of them gave what they could. I only wish.
Vincent waited, at last knowing why he was here, surprised that he had not understood. All the days and the long nights, the doubts and the first hint of danger. And fear. The Captain had been carrying it, sharing it with no one.
'I flogged a man because he fell asleep on watch, because he was insolent, and maybe had been drinking beforehand. 'His hand moved. 'I could call now for cognac and drink my fill, because I command here. And yet a murderer walks free amongst us, to blacken the name of the ship. I am not proud of it, Mark.'
'We did all we could, sir. OtherwiseЦ 'Something fell on the deck overhead and somebody laughed. He must have been standing close to the cabin skylight; another voice was hissing a warning. Then there was silence again.
Adam said, 'Thank God they can still laugh. 'He tugged out his watch and held it close to one of the lanterns. 'I've kept you listening to my woes far too long. We've a long day tomorrow. Today.'
Vincent walked to the screen door, oddly unwilling to leave.
He looked through the great cabin, remembering the envy and resentment he had felt; knowing this was a moment of special significance, and only later would he understand why.
Adam said, 'Get some sleep. You have the forenoon watch.
I shall see you then.'
The door was shut and Vincent was outside in the swaying circle of light once more, with the same sentry, his body leaning slightly as the hull dipped beneath them.
He could still see the cabin in his mind. A fresh shirt lying near the old chair. The uniform coat hanging nearby, not the faded seagoing one with its tarnished lace. And no doubt his coxswain would be on hand to shave him when dawn changed those stern windows from black to blue.
This night's conversation was something he would not forget. A privilege, and a warning.
13. Ships That Pass
Commodore Arthur Carrick waited for his servant to close the cabin door behind him and gestured to a chair.
'Be seated, Bolitho. I regret leaving you to cool your heels, but now I am all attention.'
Almost an hour had passed since Adam had boarded the flagship, although he had seen no other visitor arrive or leave before him.
The same flag lieutenant had met him at the entry port, and had explained that the commodore was eager to see him but was extremely busy. That, despite the signal for Onward's captain to repair on board, which had been hoisted even before the anchor had hit the bottom.
Nothing had changed aboard Tenacious, although some awnings had finally been spread to protect the upper deck from the sun. Here in the great cabin the quarter windows were open, and there was a slight breeze from the harbour.
He sat in silence as Carrick unfastened the folder, which Adam had checked with care before climbing down into the gig. The guardboat had signalled Onward to a different anchorage this time, convenient for the shore, but a longer pull for the gig's crew. Even the urbane flag lieutenant had been unable to hide his surprise when Adam had requested that his men be allowed aboard the flagship, rather than left sitting tired and parched in the sun.
