Invasion

'Well, you should know this is b' way of a blind while we are on a secret tasking.'

Renzi jerked upright.

'Why, nothing t' remark,' Kydd told him. 'In fact, we're not to trouble the French in any wise.'

'The Irish?'

'No. Oh, I'm sanguine you'll hear of it in time, but I'll ask you t' keep it in confidence. Our real task is to act as trials ship and Navy liaison to an American cove who's been inventing a submarine boat.'

'Was this by any chance a man called Fulton?' Renzi asked, with a curious note in his voice.

'Er, yes, but here he's known as Mr. Francis.'

Renzi's face tightened. 'I didn't think to see that man again.'

In dawning realisation, Kydd said, 'Then—then it was you conducted him to England?'

'Yes.'

'How did—you were in France?'

'Paris.'

Kydd's face was grave. 'Nicholas, now the French know you did—'

'There is nothing to connect my quitting the country with Fulton's departing. It's rather him that stands into danger. The French may now rue his leaving and take steps to silence him. Is he guarded?'

'Yes. In Dover Castle.' Then Kydd challenged, 'Why do you dislike the man?'

'Did I say that?' Renzi came back defensively.

'He's a genius who's going to give us the means t' get at Boney's flotillas,' Kydd said stoutly.

'He's a mendacious and deluded fool, who covers his motives for creating his evil machines with absurd nonsense about saving the world from itself.'

Kydd blinked in surprise at Renzi's intensity. 'He's said some strange things, I'll agree, but if he's going to provide us with—'

'Have you not considered the nature of what he is doing, pray? He desires we send out these submarines, like assassins in the night, to fall upon unsuspecting victims who are powerless to defend themselves. This is never within the usages of war of any civilisation worth the name.'

'Well, Nicholas,' Kydd said lightly, trying to lift the mood, 'if it is so dreadful, no navy will want to put to sea, and there you'll have your universal peace.'

'Do not insult my intelligence,' Renzi said. 'In Earth's bloody history there will always be found those who place their lust for domination over any consideration of ethics or humanity and would, without hesitation, subject the world to a reign of terror for their own cruel ends.'

'Are you meaning that our employing this against Boney is immoral by your lights?' Kydd snapped.

'Damn it, I am! And I'm surprised—very surprised—that you should see fit to encourage such a means of waging war.'

'So, out of notions of honour we should lay aside the weapon that saves us from Bonaparte?'

Renzi did not reply at once, as if he were considering his response carefully. 'If we're speaking of honour, consider this little analogy. What is the difference, may I ask, between he who faces another squarely in a duel, and the one who waits until darkness to break into his opponent's house to slaughter him in his bed?'

'Desperate situations call for radical measures.'

'There must be limits to acceptable behaviour in war or we're lost as a species. And pitting a man, sword in hand, against an unarmed, blindfolded adversary is nothing but contemptible.'

'You are, of course, hoist b' your own petard, Nicholas.'

'Do go on,' Renzi said stiffly.

'Before, you said that there'll always be found those so lost t' honour who'd think to employ such a means. By logic, therefore, we must ourselves acquire the same, or the godly must surely be overcome by the unrighteous.'

'That's as may be, but it does not make it an acceptable course for an honourable nation.' He paused. Then, with a twisted smile, he added, 'And yet, you see, you have omitted one small matter.'

'Oh? And what's that?'

'If this should be the manner of war then where might distinction be won by the valiant? Where is the triumph, the victory, in the mass destruction of unwary sailors?'

'Be that as it may,' Kydd said tightly, 'but tell me this. If you feel as you do, why did you take such pains t' bring the man to England?'

Renzi sighed. 'So as not to leave him to the French, the main reason. And—and he has created a wondrous undersea chariot with which to visit Neptune's kingdom that might yet be of incalculable value to science.'

Kydd said nothing and Renzi continued, 'Since returning I have had time to consider, and now I've come to realise I loathe to the depths of my being what he is visiting on the world. I fear I cannot face him again. If he comes aboard I must tell you I will not sit at the same table with such a man.'

Troubled, Kydd could see that more than duty and morality had now entered his friend's thinking. But was there