Mutineer

by Sutherland, J. A.

  “Order!” Crandall yelled.

  “Said they’d bathe in our blood!” Neals yelled to be heard over the shouts of the crowd.

  “Order!” Crandall was standing now, but the crowd’s outrage was too great for them to obey.

  “Taunted young Ledyard there that he’d be strangled!” Neals shouted, pointing Ledyard out for them.

  “Order, damn you all, or I’ll have this room cleared!” Captain Crandall shouted. He waited while the watchers took their seats and quieted.

  Lonsdale consulted his tablet for a moment.

  “Captain Neals, please do continue. The events that followed this?”

  “Yes, well, cooler heads than Carew’s prevailed, as you can see from our presence here.” He smiled at the brief laughter from the crowd. “We, my officers and I, were confined to my quarters and under guard. Carew herself entertained to remain in that compartment, as well. I presume to keep watch over us. During this time we had no real knowledge of what was happening to the ship, though I did note many of the mutineers seemed to consult with Carew. Given her presence amongst us, of course, we were unable to even discuss retaking the ship. Though had I known their plans for it, I would have acted regardless.”

  “And what were those plans, Captain Neals?”

  “After some days of sailing, we found ourselves in the hands of the Hanoverese. Not through capture, mind you, but due to the mutineers sailing Hermione, bold as brass, straight into an enemy system and handing her over!”

  The shouts from the gallery behind her were the loudest yet and as the presiding captains again shouted for order and decorum. Something struck the back of Alexis’ head and she turned. It was the first time she’d really looked at the crowded gallery behind her and she gasped in shock. The watching officers were on their feet, shouting and glaring at her. A dress beret lay on the floor behind her chair and as she looked back up, two more flew from the crowd to strike her in the face.

  “Order!” Crandall stood and glared at the crowd. “I will tolerate no further outbursts, no matter the provocation, or this courtroom will be cleared! Decorum, gentlemen, no matter the provocation! Continue, please, Captain Neals.”

  Neals cleared his throat. “Well, sirs, it was at this point that I began to suspect that these events were not just happenstance. After being removed from Hermione, we were taken to meet with a Hanoverese commodore and at the end of this meeting, Carew remained behind and met with the foreign officer in private. Now I ask you, gentlemen, what commodore would have the time to meet privately with a very junior midshipman? Not even a midshipman, really, for she’d been disrated at this time. And not just once, for I became aware of many meetings between this commodore and Carew during our captivity. More, in fact, than I myself, the senior officer of the prisoners, was granted.”

  “What is it you suspected, captain?”

  “I came to believe, and still believe to this day, that Carew was in league with the Hanoverese from the start, that she colluded with them to foment dissatisfaction amongst Hermione’s crew, and that the loss of my ship was not a spontaneous act of mutiny, but the deliberate, planned actions of a foreign agent!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “He can just do that?” Alexis demanded. She threw herself onto the cot in her small cell and glared at Lieutenant Humphry. After the reaction to Captain Neals’ testimony, Captain Crandall had ordered a recess for the day and sent Alexis back to her cell. “Just spout lies and those … vile insinuations of his? And there’s naught you can do to stop him?”

  “I will have an opportunity to question Captain Neals, certainly, when it comes time to present your defense. Should I find it advisable to do so.” Humphry had stopped near the door to the cell where he could see the marine sentry stationed outside. “But, as I’ve warned you, the court will give great credence to the testimony of a full Post Captain. Without something to refute him —”

  “He’s a bloody liar!”

  “Ah, well, I’ll go with that tomorrow, shall I? ‘Captain Neals, isn’t it true that you are a bloody liar?’ ‘No.’ ‘There you have it, gentlemen of the Court, Carew is free to go and let’s all be off to an early pint, yes?’”

  “He—”

  “As may be, Carew, but can you prove it? It’s your word against his and he has the greater status. Did you not hear the gentlemen he named as friends? Lords and admirals. ”

  “You said the statements from the men support me!”

  “They do.” Humphry nodded. “But, again, the words of a captain carry more weight. Captain Neals and the other officers will face their own courts martial for the loss of Hermione, but that will come after yours. And yours is pivotal to their own. If you’re convicted of mutiny and sedition, Captain Neals will likely be acquitted of Hermione’s loss.”

  “More than seventy spacers and marines came out with us, lieutenant. How can one man’s words carry more weight than all of them?”

  “All of those men will be facing their own courts martial for mutiny, Carew. Captain Neals’ contention is that they were all, every one of them, involved in the mutiny and came back with you to work further mischief within the Service. The statements of the other officers support Captain Neals’ version of events … at best, and it is a poor best, is that of Lieutenant Williard who insists on saying—” He consulted his tablet. “— ‘I do not recall this, but, perhaps, Captain Neals’ recollection is the sharper.’” He shrugged. “I do wish you would take my advice, it is the only way you might save yourself.”

  “I will not.” She picked up the pillow from the cot and hugged it tightly to her chest. “You’re supposed to be defending me! How can you even suggest such a thing?”

  “This is not a civilian court, Carew, with a bought and paid for defense such as your Mister Grandy. My oath, as with all the officers of the court, is to seek justice and the best interests of Her Majesty’s Navy. As I see it, this can best be served by hoping for some mercy from the court and being done with it.” There was a knock at the hatchway and he looked out. “Ah, speak of the devil, indeed. Your Mister Grandy is here.” He laid a hand on the latch to slide the hatch open, but paused. “Explain to the court that you are were simply an impressionable young woman, caught up in events that you did not fully comprehend the consequences of — this, I believe, is your only chance to avoid the noose.”

  “You want me to admit to everything that bastard’s accused me of and then beg them not to kill me because I’m just a silly little girl! I’ll not do it.” She threw the pillow across the room. “And if I did, you’d then have me turn on the men and say they were guilty as well? What of them, then?”

  “They’ll likely hang in any case, Carew. Testify against them, before they do so against you. The Navy must show swift action and put this mess behind us!”

  “They did nothing, damn you! You have the men’s statements. ‘To a man,’ you said — to a man they’ve said the same as me!”

  There was another knock at the door. “A moment!” Humphry yelled. “Yes, Carew, ‘to a man’. Each was offered leniency to testify against you and rejected it. Over seventy of them? That in itself’s suspicious enough. It makes Captain Neals’ contention that you exerted some … unnatural hold over the crew all the more believable.”

  “Good lord! What is wrong with you people? I feel like I’m through the bloody looking glass!”

  “In my experience, Carew, to find no man in such a group who will act to save himself? Very odd indeed.”

  “It must be quite sad for you, Lieutenant Humphry.”

  “Sad?”

  “To be in a Service that speaks so much of loyalty, and yet cannot recognize the same within its very midst.” She closed her eyes. “Do, please, leave, lieutenant. I have no more stomach for your counsel today.”

  Humphry slid the hatch open and left without another word.

  Grandy entered, paused, and slid the hatch shut with a nod to the marine outside then a raised eyebrow for Alexis. His short mustache t
witched as he made a place to sit on the edge of the cot. He couldn’t represent either Alexis or Isom in the court martial, as he wasn’t in the Navy, but he’d been offering what advice he could.

  “I take it things did not go well?”

  “One could say that, Mister Grandy.” She stood to retrieve her pillow, then returned to the cot. She put her back to the compartment’s corner and drew her legs up, cradling the pillow between her legs and chest. “I do believe they’re going to hang me.”

  Grandy sighed and crossed one leg over the other. “So it seems. You and more than a few of the crew, as well.”

  Alexis choked on a laugh that turned into a sob. “You do not comfort me, sir.”

  “Not my place to comfort you, girl. Just to give you my legal opinion.” He shook his head. “From what I was told of Neals’ testimony …” He shook his head again. “You need one of the officers to turn and denounce Neals. That’s the only thing the captains will listen to. Some proof, other than a common spacer’s word.” He paused. “Look, then, is there any of them that might come around and change their story? If there is, I’ll try to speak to him before he’s called to testify tomorrow and see what I can do — it’s certain-sure that Humphry won’t bother.”

  Alexis snorted. “He seems worse than useless. I don’t at all understand how he intends to defend me.”

  “He doesn’t,” Grandy said, then continued at her shocked look. “The man’s more concerned for his own position, I wager. He’ll lose no prestige or patronage if you hang, but will if he’s seen to attack a Post Captain with Neals’ sort of friends.”

  Alexis was silent for a moment. “Then why …” She sighed. “Why would they assign him to defend me?”

  Grandy shrugged. “His name was next on the list for defense, I’d suppose. But you can’t rely on him, clearly, and dwelling on the why will do you no good either. Is there any of the officers who might be convinced to go against Neals? Even one of the midshipmen, though they’re not commissioned — a friend, perhaps?”

  Alexis laughed. “No, most certainly not one of the midshipmen.” She considered the question for a time. “Lieutenant Williard, perhaps.”

  “Lord Atworth?”

  She nodded, a little surprised that Grandy knew of Williard’s title. “He’s no fan of Neals. Not like the others.”

  “I’ll speak to him, then. Perhaps I can convince him to break ranks with the others.”

  “Will they let you in to see him?”

  “In?” Grandy frowned. “Likely just ask to speak to him at the club over dinner.”

  “The club? Dorchester’s?” Alexis felt her breath catch. “Do you mean to say he’s out?” If Neals and the others were to face their own courts martial, how could Williard be out and about? She saw the look on Grandy’s face and knew the truth. “Well, then, they all are, aren’t they? Of course. I don’t know why I expected differently … Neals, Williard, all the way down to that little shite Ledyard, yes? Walking around free while the lads and I are locked up.” She laughed. “Do make room, Mister Grandy. There’ll be a damned great rabbit joining us any moment. Fur like snow, he’ll have.”

  * * * * *

  “Did Mister Grandy speak to you about Lieutenant Williard, Lieutenant Humphry?” Alexis whispered. They were back in court for a new day of testimony. The captains had not yet arrived, but the gallery was full, including Neals and the rest of Hermione’s officers and she didn’t want them to overhear.

  “Lieutenant Williard? Why would Grandy speak to me about him? Why, for that matter, should I speak to Grandy at all?” Humphry snorted. “You would do well to ignore your Grandy, Carew, and listen to me instead. He is not Navy.”

  Alexis started to answer, but the bailiff entered and called the court to order. She stood with the others as the captains entered and took their seats, then sat herself. She turned to tell Humphry that Grandy had been going to speak to Williard about his testimony, but there was no time.

  “You may proceed, Lieutenant Lonsdale,” Crandall said.

  “Thank you, sir. Lieutenant Adam Williard, Lord Atworth, if you please.”

  Alexis tried to catch Williard’s eye as he took the stand and swore the oath, but his gaze never wavered from the rear of the compartment. He didn’t look to the captains standing judge, nor even at Lonsdale when the questioning began.

  “Lieutenant Williard, you were, until the death of Lieutenant Dorsett during the mutiny, Second Lieutenant aboard Hermione?”

  Williard paused for a moment before answering. “I was.”

  “And you were Second Lieutenant aboard Hermione at the time Captain Neals took command of the vessel, is this correct?”

  Again the pause. “Yes, that is correct.”

  “So,” Lonsdale said. “It would be a fair statement that you witnessed the entirety of Captain Neals’ tenure aboard the ship, as well as that of Carew?”

  This time, Williard’s pause was longer. “I was aboard and Second Lieutenant during that time, yes.”

  “And as Second Lieutenant, it was your responsibility to oversee the midshipmen, correct?”

  Williard’s brow furrowed. “It is generally the responsibility of all the officers and senior warrants to oversee the midshipmen, as to their training and education.”

  Lonsdale frowned. “But as Second Lieutenant, it fell to you to oversee the midshipmen’s berth. You would have spent the most time with them?”

  “I kept details neither of my own time spent with the midshipmen nor that spent by the other officers, so could not truthfully say who spent the most.”

  Alexis lowered her head and closed her eyes. Williard was clearly determined to put as little meaning into his testimony as possible. While he might not condemn her, it was certain he had no plans to contradict Neals either. Lonsdale was plainly frustrated with him, and even the three captains were regarding him with furrowed brows, but she didn’t see how that would help her. He’d been her last, only, chance. Perhaps if Humphry were to press him, but when she turned to her counsel to suggest it, she saw that Humphry wasn’t even listening to the testimony, he was engrossed with his tablet and barely paying attention.

  Lonsdale soon allowed Williard to step down, seeming to have elicited nothing from him but that he had, indeed, been aboard some ship which may have been called Hermione. Williard stalked out of the compartment without looking at anyone, his eyes steadfastly forward.

  “Midshipman Coleman Bushby, please,” Lonsdale called when Williard had stepped down.

  And that’s it for me, there’s not a one of the midshipmen who’ll say aught in my favor.

  “Mister Bushby,” Lonsdale asked, “are you familiar with Carew, there?”

  “I should say so!” Bushby said. He caught Alexis’ eye and grinned broadly. “She tried to poison me!”

  Lonsdale’s eyebrows rose, as did those of the three captains. “Poison you, sir?”

  “Indeed. Didn’t know it was her, at first, but there were tainted stores brought aboard. Burned my gut something fierce. Canion, there, got the worst of it — almost died, he did. Had to be dragged to the surgeon barely able to breathe!”

  “I see,” Lonsdale said. “And you’re certain it was Carew that was responsible?”

  “In cahoots with the gunroom steward, yes,” Bushby said. “He’s one of the crew came back with her to cause more trouble. He had access to all our stores and she was quite … close to him.”

  “So you concur with Captain Neals’ belief, sir, that the mutiny along with these poisonings were deliberate acts on Carew’s part?”

  “No doubt in my mind. First she weakened us, you see — the officers — then she and the crew were better able to take over. She was never a real part of the berth with us — not a proper officer at all — but it was only once we were captured that I realized what she’d been up to. When she and her Hannie friends beat Timpson.”

  “Beat him, you say?” Lonsdale asked. “Along with the Hanoverese?”

  “She did the
beating, mind you. Had her Hannie partner stand by so the rest of us couldn’t stop her and there was nothing Timpson could do but take it. Would’ve been shot by the Hannie if we’d done aught to stop her.”

  “And did Carew, at any point—”

  A klaxon began sounding from the compartment’s speakers, harsh and grating.

  “That’s the invasion alarm,” Crandall said, standing. “Marines! Get the prisoner back to her cell — the court’s in recess!”

  * * * * *

  Alexis remained alone in her cell for two days after the alarm, with no visitors and no word of what was happening. After the initial alarm, there had been no others, so perhaps it wasn’t an invasion, but she had no way of knowing. A marine guard slid the hatch open three times a day to deposit of plate of food — a spacer’s portion of vat-grown beef and plain ship’s biscuit, a tot of watered rum, and no more. She ate what she was given, mindlessly, barely noticing how bad it was.

  Lieutenant Humphry did not visit her to discuss the case, nor did Mister Grandy. She suspected that Grandy had, at least, tried to do so. Why he would be turned away now, and why Humphry would not bother to come at all, she didn’t know.

  It was almost a relief when the hatch slid open on the third day and a marine informed her that the court was prepared to resume her trial. She straightened her jumpsuit as best she could, fingers lingering for a moment at the collar where her rank tabs had once been, and followed the marine to the courtroom.

  * * * * *

  “Are you prepared to resume, Lieutenant Lonsdale,” Crandall asked.