Sea of Grey

British trade and the Navigation Acts were still in force, and American ships that overstepped the boundaries of their 'cooperation' had to be stopped and searched, at the same time.

American vessels could still use their neutrality to trade with the Dons in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Santo Domingo… but contraband and martial cargoes were not allowed, on the other hand?

Americans could trade with the French on Hispaniola, in Saint Domingue, if they wished to risk it, but on the other hand, the export of arms, monies, and agents to British colonies on American ships was to be stopped?

Good God, the newborn United States Navy (so said his orders) would share the private signals books with Royal Navy warships, and an American naval presence in the Caribbean was expected shortly, but… they're not yet allies, nor are they yet at war with France, so give all aid and assistance, but joint operation as co-belligerents, out in the open for all to see, was to be avoided, unless there was pressing need for quick action?

'Double-dealing hypocrisy!' Lewrie felt like shouting in anger, as he leaned over his sleeping cat to scan his orders once more.

And, to top all, he was to be on the lookout for Spithead and Nore Mutiny deserters, Royal Navy deserters, or British merchant tars who had taken service in American vessels to avoid the Impress Service, and their proper duty in the Royal Navy… even though American ships were already ready to fight over the demand for a rфle d'йquipage by the French, listing crewmens' names and national identities?

Most especially, he was to seek out specific persons, listed by name and description, who had served in the Hermione frigate in these waters, those who'd mutinied against a Captain Pigot, murdered him in his bed, murdered officers, mates, and midshipmen, then sailed her off to a port on the Spanish Main and sold her as 'prize' to support themselves… even were they aboard American merchantmen or warships?

Were any found, they were to be taken aboard, bound in chains on the orlop or in the bilges, thence to be taken '… with all despatch' to either English Harbour, Antigua, or Kingston, Jamaica for court-martial and later hanging… whichever was closer.

'Troll for pregnant, female sturgeons, too?' he whispered.

God, give me reasonable orders! he gravelled to himself; fetch home the Golden Fleece, sweep out the Aegean Stables… something like that. Somethin do-able, for pity's sake!

He lifted Toulon from his lap and deposited him on the desktop before him, the cat grumbling and arching as he turned to go aft for a whiff of fresh air. The transom sash-windows were open a touch, letting in brisk cool air, after weeks of tight-shut 'fug.'

Close-up, he now took note of how the panes were splattered with dried salt, and half-misted on the outside with a dull grey film of sea salt crystals… given his mood, he could almost mistake it for smears of congealed pork fat. He rubbed his hands together, disliking how the

air felt so coolly humid and… greasy! Of how humid-oily-clammy his skin felt under his clothes.

'This cruise will turn t'shit,' he muttered softly.

It would be more 'war on the cheap,' more sleaziness, one more hefty dollop of semi-covert underhandedness, where, he foully suspected, his every step must be circumspect… else he'd finally find the one' 'slick' one that tumbled career, repute, and income to Perdition'

'Aspinall?'

'Aye, sir?'

'A glass of claret, if ya will.'

' 'Fore Noon Sights, sir?' Aspinall dared to query, surprised 'Aye.'

CHAPTER TEN

The difference that a couple of weeks made was amazing, running before the Nor'east Trades, sometimes with the winds large on the starboard quarter, sometimes right up the stern, and 'both sheets aft.' In what seemed a twinkling, the horizon expanded, the scudding gloom overhead lifted, parted, and turned cerulean blue, swept by mares' tails in faint, cloudy tracings. The seas no longer churned like washtub suds, but rolled in majestically long periods, spattered with choppy smaller waves that broke and parted against the hull with the sounds of elated sighs, no longer hammering or threatening.

And the sunrises, and sunsets!

Magnificent orange suns, presaged by a faint streak of grey on the horizon, burst like bombshells, painting the eastern skies amber, shading to dusty rose-red or the palest yellow for a brief minute or so, and one could feel the day coming, racing across the ocean faster than any frigate could ever swim, or wing-churning sparrow fly, as the warmth spread outward, westward, as if the doors to a lush garden had been flung open, and hands and officers and mates standing Quarters to greet any nasty surprises at dawn could smile with relief for Proteus to be alone once more, and with a small measure of delight at Nature's glories.

And the sunsets, at the end of a long day of work or gun drill, late enough now to fall in the Second Dog Watch after the crew's mess, brought off-watch hands on deck to peer forward, westward, to savour a sight that most, in their coal-smoked, foggy, and rainy towns, hamlets, or villages had rarely seen. Great, towering cumuli, shading off to pearly-grey or charcoal, were speared by sword-blades of golden light, the sun golden-red, surrounded by roses ahead; and a soft, blue-grey gloom astern, in which first stars could be made out, swept closer by the minute to overtake their ship as it surged over the sea with a sibilant hissing, the tops'ls painted gilt, or a gleaming parchment hue.

Shoes had been dispensed with, suffocating blue wool jackets so welcome in March were stowed away except for Sunday Divisions. Shirt sleeves were now rolled above the elbow, loose slop trousers gathered above the knees, collars spread wide and placket buttons undone for a breath of cooling air, or a greater exposure to the healing rays of a benign sun. Shirts were rarely worn at all, for many doffed them despite the Surgeon Mr. Shirley's warnings about sunburn and the cost of butter-based salves that would be deducted from their pay if they appeared lobster- red at Sick Call.

Officers and senior warrants, now… some dignity was demanded, though Lewrie did allow them to dispense with cocked hats and uniform coats. Proper breeches, clean shirts, and neck-stocks were de rigeur. And stockings and shoes. It was only during the Second Dog that they could undo their stocks, roll up their sleeves, and savour the cooling winds 'til full sundown, before heading aft and below to the gun-room for their own suppers, at the change of watch.

Pipes would glow on the darkening deck, as the smokers had the last taste before heading below, off-watch, or taking station for the eight-til-midnight. Fiddles, fifes, penny-whistles, and the soft hums of Desmond's uillean pipes would sound every sunset, unless it rained, and crewmen would dance hornpipes or slip-jigs, sometimes for competition between eight-man messes, sometimes between larboard or starboard watches, to see who was the best. Country-dance tunes would jerk and tootle more urgent paces, more exuberant turns on the decking, and the men might pair off by twos to practice for future shore leaves in the islands, or perhaps to whimsically recall better times before they'd taken the King's Shilling and gone to sea.

Bedding was dry now; clothing did not have to be wrung out to be donned. Every third day or so, there would come a mildish squall, with lashings of warm, welcome rain, creating a scurry for all hands to rig canvas sluices to catch it in empty casks, to trap enough for a cask to be scrubbed clean of the slick, brownish growth that eventually would infest them, turning reputedly fresh water pale brown and semi-opaque. Stubs of soap would appear, along with salt-stiff, sweat-stiff shirts and trousers to be spread on the deck, scrubbed furiously while the rain lasted (sometimes only minutes), then thrashed or slapped or wrung out, then hung up to dry after the rain had passed. A bit more than a few might strip naked and pound the smuts from the slop clothing they wore at that moment, or merely stand wide-armed, mouths open and turned up like hatchling birds waiting to be fed, to be showered cooler and cleaner. All in all, HMS Proteus was a happy ship. They had been paid, just before departing Sheerness, the usual six months of arrears made good, and the wonders of the