Command

heartbreaking of all, his books were torn and scattered in every direction.

Trembling with emotion, he tried to take in the pitiful scene. A lump in his throat grew until it threatened to choke him.

CHAPTER 15

'SO KIND OF YOU TO COME at this notice, Mr Kydd,' Governor King said importantly. 'Do sit—I have a matter of some gravity to discuss with you, touching as it does on the security of our colony.'

Kydd was mystified. There had been wild rumours about the French, at the moment lying peacefully across the harbour and about to sail soon, but this would scarcely concern him.

'Do I understand it to be the case that you will be returning to England shortly?' King asked.

'Aye, sir—just one or two matters still in hand that should not delay me long.'

'Then we can count ourselves fortunate, Mr Kydd, for there is a service of some urgency that you, sir, are uniquely suited to perform for us.' King steepled his fingers and held Kydd's eyes. 'The French and we are now at peace. Yet this does not mean there is no danger to be apprehended from that quarter—they are in need of an overseas empire for their trade concerns, and are active in that object.

'And now, sir, that which I expressly warned their lordships about is come to pass. Colonel Paterson informs me that he overheard Commodore Baudin's officers speaking in warm terms over dinner of their intention to effect a plantation of their people in the island of Van Diemen's Land, 500 miles to our south, now it is proven to be a separate land mass from New Holland.' He paused. 'I need not trouble to detail to an officer of the Royal Navy the severe strategical consequences of the French maintaining a species of fortress there!'

Kydd nodded gravely. Van Diemen's Land had no settlements of any kind by any nation, and therefore stood as an empty wilderness awaiting the first to claim it. To lose the territory would be a catastrophic blow and its consequences could not be greater for this distant outpost of England. 'Sir, does not th' government know of this as a possibility?'

'They have been informed,' King said heavily, 'and will, no doubt, respond in time. However, to wait for most of a year for a reply is not a course open to me. I would be judged harshly by the future, sir, were I to sit passively by while the territory is expropriated by others. Therefore my duty is clear: I intend to plant a colony of our own in Van Diemen's Land, with or without instructions and support from England.'

'Sir. ' Surely he was not being asked—

'It is essential that we act as speedily as we are able, but even so, to prepare in depth for a descent that is permanent will take time. The French are sailing: we need to act now to forestall them, not wait cravenly. It has always been my conviction that M'sieur Baudin, being a principled gentleman given right of free passage as a scientifical, would not think to violate its terms, but he has a master in Paris who would not hesitate.

'This is at the least a serious reconnaissance for the most propitious place for a first French colony, and at the worst . . .' King paused significantly. 'I do believe they intend to move very soon on Van Diemen's Land and by landing a small party thereby establish a claim.'

With a growing apprehension Kydd heard King out. His sympathy was all with the man who was making positive, vital decisions in total isolation. The stakes were clear: this was the reality of the clash of empires at first hand, the striving of nations that would end in this vast land speaking one language or quite another, an allegiance to Crown or to revolution. It was a situation in which a false move by either could result in misunderstanding, even war.

'Mr Kydd, I have no vessels of force I can send to persuade the French from their course, not even one King's ship. Therefore I must proceed by other means.'

He went to his desk and pulled out several large sheets of paper. 'These are Commander Flinders's notes of his recent explorations. You see they are not yet made up into a sea chart but they will be adequate for our purposes.'

'Sir, ye haven't said—'

'My plan is to dispatch two vessels south—one to the west of Van Diemen's Land and the other to the east. They are to find the French and by any means dissuade them from their intentions.'

'Er, dissuade, sir?'

King's eyes went opaque. 'You will understand now how pleased I am that at these times there is an officer of renown and discernment at present here in New South Wales. Mr Kydd, it is not within my powers to appoint you to a naval command but as governor I may make you master into a colonial government vessel. Should you accept, you will have my full support in any action you deem necessary upon a meeting with the French. Will you consider serving your country thus?'

'Of course, sir,' Kydd said instantly. How else could he respond?

'Thank you, sir. You have no idea how this eases my mind in these very unusual times. Shall we get down to detail?

'Lieutenant Robbins will take the westerly search in Cumberland and yourself the easterly in Suffolk. I apprehend that the most likely places for the French will be Port Dalrymple in the north or somewhere in the Derwent to the south. This is not to discount the possibility that they will consider an initial landing on the large northward islands, therefore I am requiring that Lieutenant Robbins will go to the west, including King Island, while you will take the easterly half. Is this clear?'

'Sir. Th' Suffolk—what sort o' vessel is she?'

King looked apologetic. 'The same as Cumberland, an armed schooner, country-built here in Sydney Town. Very handy craft, we use 'em for every task. Forty tons, square sail on fore and main, I should think well suited for your use.'

Forty tons! A sixth the size of little Teazer —but then he recalled that Flinders's famous circumnavigation of Van Diemen's Land had been in a like-sized vessel.

'Well, Mr Boyd, let's be about th' storing,' Kydd said briskly to the mate. Suffolk was indeed tiny— and so was her crew: just eight seamen and Boyd. Six of the eight were convicts on ticket-of-leave, but to Kydd's eye they seemed diligent and competent enough.

There was little more to be done than store for a three-week voyage; clearly the schooner was to be employed because she was available. Bobbing to a single buoy off the jumble of structures that was the shipyard, she was heaved in to the little jetty and a chain of men set to loading.