THE GUN KETCH

'They are indeed a scurvy pair of Tom-Noddys, sir,' Lewrie agreed, assaying a small witticism to ease the tension of this vitally important first interview with the man who could make or break him in the next three years, which had so far been tantamount to a disaster. 'At present, they're no better than fresh-caught landsmen. Confused they may be, but neither of them is backward. They learn fast, sir.'

'What is your armament, sir?' Garvey inquired suddenly, changing tack abruptly. 'Your draught?'

'Alacrity mounts ten six-pounders, four dismountable two-pounder boat-guns, and the usual swivels, sir,' Lewrie answered crisply, glad to be back on safe professional matters. 'Properly laden and ballasted, she draws just shy of nine feet. Say a half less than nine, sir.'

'Hmmmm,' Garvey mused, idly toying with the lid of his silver inkwell, opening it and closing it again and again, as if something other than ink would magically appear for once. 'Anything needful?'

'Firewood and water, the usual plaint, sir,' Lewrie smiled in reply. 'Restock our biscuit and salt-meats from the dockyard… she is in all other respects ready for sea, sir.'

'A touch too weak for deep-water patrolling,' Garvey surmised. 'We've more than our fair share of pirates and buccaneers, still, and ships voyage past the Bahamas at their peril. Too many privateersmen from the late-lamented war, spoiled by easy pickings. You're not well armed enough to cow merchantmen violating the Navigation Acts, either.'

'Aye, sir,' Lewrie responded automatically whenever some senior officer paused to gather his thoughts, as he did in this case.

'Shoal-depth enough, though, to be useful inshore, in most instances, where the opposition would be even smaller and weaker-armed than your ketch. This fellow Gatacre, d'you say… I was to supply him with a suitable vessel?'

'I could not presume to know his complete orders, sir,' Lewrie wavered, 'nor the contents of whatsoever directives from the Admiralty accompany him. I may only suppose. He did, however, express a desire for two local- built luggers, in addition to ship's boats from the vessel supporting him, sir.'

'And what do you possess for ship's boats, sir?' Garvey smiled.

'A twenty-foot launch, a cutter of similar size, and my gig, sir.'

'Since he is already aboard your vessel, Lewrie, and you have room enough aboard, after all, I do believe I'll let him stay there,' Garvey smirked. 'The other cutters and such of this squadron would cramp him unmercifully. But Alacrity, now used to extra 'lumber' aft, will cope, I am certain. And those two Naval Academy midshipmen?'

'Aye, sir?' Lewrie felt his buttocks puckering in dread. He'd been charitable at best as to their prospects and abilities, but would be glad to see the back of them. He'd not have them if they came with a post-captain's rank!

'Good at mathematics, to the exclusion of all else useful,' Garvey said, leaning back in his cool leather chair. 'And who could be more helpful to the exacting work of hydrography than superior students of mathematics and surveying, hmm?'

'What a splendid idea, sir!' Lewrie beamed, pissing down his back as if the bastard had done him a signal honor, though he seethed at the very idea! 'What eminent good sense it is, sir. I should be delighted! May I suggest to Mr. Gatacre that he may feel free to call upon you to discuss his other requirements, then, sir? Once you have had time to peruse what the Admiralty wrote you concerning his duties, that is. A day, perhaps, at your convenience, sir.'

'Uhm, of course, he may,' Garvey replied, taken aback by Alan's reaction. 'You may.' He'd thought to punish this upstart for treating his kin so badly, to be the whipping boy for the Admiralty's callous unconcern for their comforts. To put this 'newly' in his place, right from the start!

'And may I be allowed to inquire, sir, as to whether I may give leave tickets to my hands, too, sir?' Lewrie fairly oozed unctuous oils of sociability, sounding as though butter would not melt in his mouth. 'Once Alacrity is reprovisioned and suitable luggers found, before we begin our surveying, sir?'

'I might allow it,' Garvey almost sulked, put out that Alan was not 'put out.'

'Within reason, mind.'

'Further, sir, might I inquire as to your Standing Orders for the Bahamas Squadron?' Lewrie pressed, bestowing blissful smiles upon his station commander. 'Do you require captains to sleep aboard, as I do believe the Channel Squadron is wont to do in wartime? Or may I consider shore lodgings for myself between voyages, sir?'

'Like to stretch your legs on solid ground, do you?' Garvey asked, lifting an eyebrow, which evident suspicion as to his motives almost made Lewrie cringe with worry it might be disallowed.

'A run ashore now and again would be welcome, sir,' Lewrie replied with bright-eyed innocence. 'Within limits, of course, sir.'

'I do not begrudge my officers their pleasures, Lewrie,' Garvey informed him. 'What's good for Jack is good for his betters aft. So long as you conduct yourself with the proper decorum expected of a Sea Officer, a Christian, and an English gentleman.'

And just when did you last see decorous Sea Officers, Lewrie asked himself in wonder at such a ludicrous statement? Leaping rantipole and playing balum-rancum in church? Hymn-singing in brothels?

'So I would have time to seek out an establishment, sir?' Alan said, cocking a brow of his own to nail the agreement shut without having to mention the necessity of such lodgings, or the fact that he had brought Caroline with him. He didn't think Garvey would care for that.

'I suppose,' Garvey sighed. 'Yes, you may.'

'Thank you, sir. Quite grateful. Quite.'

'Before you sail, I will send specific orders aboard, Lewrie,' Garvey went on, pulling the packet of official documents to him for an excuse to dismiss him. 'As to the survey, what needs doing against our piracy problem, the enforcement of the Navigation Acts, and how I expect ships of the Bahamas Station to conduct themselves. Use your hydrographic work to familiarize yourself with what perils our waters hold. And remember, I warn you now, to handle your vessel with due care and sober rectitude, or I'll dismiss you from her command and replace you with an officer who does things my way. Hear me?'

'I understand you completely, sir,' Lewrie told him with sucha sober and abashed countenance that even Garvey thought he'd gotten his message rammed home sufficiently.

'What with all this correspondence, and the cares of this squadron, I have no more time for you, Lewrie. You may dismiss.'

'Thank you for receiving me so promptly, sir.'

Chapter 2

'Fubsy, crusty dilberry,' Lewne seethed at supper ashore that evening, 'combed like a louse from the hairy, dirty black fundament of all Creation!'

Caroline put her napkin to her mouth to hide her snickering.

'Pompous, posturing, pus-gutted, hymn-singing… barnacle!' He ranted on, though in a low voice, as he wrangled knife and fork over a stringy cut of beef tougher than old anchor cables which would end up costing him half a crown when the reckoning was fetched.

'Alan, dearest,' Caroline suggested once she trusted herself to lower the napkin and not cackle out loud at his frustrated antics, 'I am so sorry this Garvey was so uncharitable towards you, truly. But he is your superior, after all. Do compose yourself. Or, at the least, wait until we're in our set of rooms. Who knows who might be listening?' She waved one hand at the many officers at table nearby.

'Sorry, Caroline, but the man rowed me beyond all temperance,' Alan sighed, giving up on the 'choice cut of English beefsteak' and leaning back in his chair. At least the wine was more than palatable, and he topped up their glasses. Bloody shilling the bottle, he noted chalked on the neck. Nassau had grown no less expensive than it had been during the war. 'I don't believe anything could please the man.'

'Out of sight, out of mind, then,' she replied. 'On this survey of yours. Which I am certain you shall complete