Command a King's Ship

by Alexander Kent

  `Are you telling me something I do not already know?' Conway had gripped the table violently. `I ordered you to tell Le Chaumareys to return Colonel Pastor unharmed! The Spanish government would have raised a savage argument against England if we had allowed him to remain a prisoner, and right under my nose !'

  Bolitho recalled his own voice. Taut and flat. Not daring to arouse Conway's fury any more than it was.

  `When I found I had captured Muljadi's son I knew I could bargain, sir. There was a good chance I would succeed As it turned out, we arrived in time. I fear that Pastor would have died in a few more days.'

  Conway had screamed, `Pastor be damned! You took Muljadi's son, and you dared to release him! We could have had that bloody pirate crawling at our feet, pleading for his

  son's life!'

  Bolitho had said abruptly, `There was a frigate lost in these waters during the last months of the war.'

  Conway had been taken off guard. `Yes, yes. The Imogene, Captain Balfour.' He had squinted against the sun's glare from a window. `Twenty-eight guns. Had been in battle with the French and then got caught by a gale. Drove aground, and her people were taken off by one of my sloops. What the hell does she have to do with it?'

  `Everything, sir. But for my meeting with Muljadi I would never have known until we were totally unprepared. The frigate, the Imogene, is there, sir, in the Benuas, and from what I saw, about ready to weigh anchor.'

  Conway had lurched against the table, as if Bolitho had actually struck him.

  `If this is some trick, some ruse to deter my-'

  `She is there, sir. Refitted and repaired, and I have no doubt well trained by Le Chaumareys' officers.' He could not conceal his bitterness. `I had hoped the brig would still be here. You could have sent word. Demanded help. There is no choice in the matter now.'

  The next part had been the worst. Conway walking unsteadily to the sideboard and fumbling with another decanter, and muttering, `Betrayed, right from the start. Raymond insisted on sending the brig to Madras. She's a Company vessel, and I could hold her no longer. He had all the arguments. All the answers, too.' Claret had slopped over his shirt like blood as he had shouted, `And me? Nothing but a cat's-paw! A tool for Strang and his friends to use as they please!'

  He had smashed a goblet with the decanter and groped hurriedly for another, adding, `And now you, the one man I trusted, tells me that Muljadi is ready to attack my settlement! Not merely content with showing me to be incompetent, Raymond will now tell his damned superiors that I cannot even hold this territory under the British flag!'

  The door had opened noiselessly and Puigserver had moved into the room. He had glanced briefly at Conway and had said to Bolitho, `I stayed until your return. My men have sailed in the Bedford, but I could not leave also without offering my gratitude for securing Don Pastor's release. You seem to make a habit of risking your life for others. I trust that this time it will not go unrewarded.' His black eyes had moved to Conway again. `Eh, Admiral?'

  Conway had stared at him vaguely. `I must think.'

  `We all must.' The Spaniard had settled in a chair, his eyes still on Conway. `I heard some of it through the door.' He had shrugged. `Not spying, you understand, but your voice was somewhat forceful.'

  Conway had made a new effort to control himself. 'Conference. Immediately.' He had fixed Bolitho with a bleary stare. `You wait outside. I must think.'

  Now, as he looked emptily at the small figures below the palisade, Bolitho could feel his returning anger, a sense of urgency.

  'Richard!'

  He swung round and saw her at the corner of the square tower. She was well covered against the sun, and wore the same wide-brimmed hat as before. He hurried to her and seized her hands.

  `Viola! I was wondering

  She shook her head. `Later. But listen.' She reached up and touched his cheek very gently, her eyes suddenly sad. `It has been so long. Eleven days, but they were years. When the storm came I worried about you.' -

  He tried to speak, to break the pain in her voice, but she hurried on, `I think James suspects. He has been very strange lately. Probably my maid let slip something. A good girl, but easily flattered into words.' She studied him searchingly. `But no matter. He will do nothing. It is you I am concerned for.' She dropped her head. `And it is all my fault. I wanted him to be something in this world, mostly, I suspect, for my own gain. I drove him too hard, too fast, wanting him to be the man he could never be.' She squeezed his hand. `But you know all this.'

  Voices echoed below the parapet and Bolitho thought he heard footsteps.

  She said huskily, `James will have sent his own report to Sir Montagu. He knows now that Conway is not the man for this appointment, and will use this knowledge to his own advantage. But you, my darling Richard, will be included in his report. I know him so well, you see. To get at you, to use his petty revenge, he will also blame.you for the inability to destroy an ignorant pirate, French aid or no!'

  He replied quietly, `It is worse than that. Muljadi has many men at his back. When once he has overthrown this settlement the whole area will rise to support him. They have little choice. The pirates will become saviours, the protectors the invaders. It is not uncommon.'

  She turned her head quickly and he saw a pulse jumping in her throat.

  `Listen to me, Richard. Do not become further involved. You are valuable to your country and to all who look up to you. Do not, I implore you, continue to look up to those who are unfit even to lick your boots!' She cupped his face in her hands. 'Save. your ship and yourself, and damn their eyes, I say!'

  He held her wrists very gently. `It is no longer so simple.' He thought of Le Chaumareys, encouraging him to quit, to get away and still retain his honour. `And I wish to God you had sailed in the brig. Muljadi has more strength now, and when he comes ...'

  He let his gaze move outward and down towards the anchored

  frigate. How small she appeared in the harsh glare.

  `There is only Undine between him and these walls.'

  She stared at him, her eyes wide and suddenly understanding. `And you intend to fight all of them?' Bolitho prised her hands away as a sepoy corporal rounded

  the tower and said, `Captain Bolitho, sahib, the governor will

  meet you, please.'

  Bolitho looked at her and said, `Now we will see, Viola.' He tried to. smile. `The battle's not done yet.'

  He found Conway seated behind the table, his stained shirt covered by his heavy dress coat. Puigserver had not moved, and Raymond was standing with his back to a window, his face hidden in black shadow. Major Jardine and his second-incommand made up the conference.

  Conway said sharply, `I have told them, Bolitho. Word for word as you described it to me.'

  `Thank you, sir.'

  Bolitho looked at Raymond, knowing it would come from him. `You took a great deal upon yourself, Captain. More, I suspect, than the governor intended?'

  `Yes, Sir. But I was taught to use initiative, especially when beyond the fleet's apron strings.' He saw Puigserver examining one shoe with sudden interest. `The fact is, Muljadi intends to attack this settlement. It is all he can do now that he has lost his hostage, and understands that we are informed of his additional frigate. It has changed everything.'

  Jardine said harshly, `If he comes, my men can hold him off until help arrives. When the brig reaches Madras they'll soon send a force to finish this ruffian! Even when the Navy is apparently incapable of so doing, what?'

  Bolitho waited, watching. Raymond's hands on the window sill.

  Well, Mr. Raymond? Is the gallant major right?' He saw the hands take a firmer grip and added, `Or did you suggest is your report to Sir Montagu Strang that Pendang Bay is, i' your opinion, no longer an asset?'

  Jardine bared his teeth. `Rubbish!' He hesitated and askectt `Well, Sir?'

  Raymond sounded very calm. `I told the truth. No ship' will be sent, other than transports to remove the Company'' soldiers and their dependents.'<
br />
  Jardine exploded, `But I can manage, sir! You should have told me first!'

  Bolitho said, `You cannot manage, Major. Muljadi will have more than a thousand men when he comes. His stronghold is crammed to capacity, that I did see. You may have been able t' hold the walls until help was forthcoming from Madras Without it, your only chance is a forced march through dens' jungle to the east'rd to contact the Dutch East India Company' base and find safety.' His tone hardened. `But through dense jungle, and at this time of the year, I doubt if many would survive, even without attack from those who will want to impress Muljadi with their loyalty.'

  Raymond said thickly, `No blame can fall on my shoulders! I reported what I knew! I had no knowledge of this othei frigate!' He tried to recover his original calm. `Any more that, you did!'

  Conway stood up very deliberately, each movement aii effort of will.

  `But you could not wait, Mr. Raymond. You used your authority to seek your own ends and despatched the brig even after I requested she be held here until Undine's return.'

  He walked to the opposite side of the room and stared un• seeingly at the close-knit jungle.

  `So what can we do? How best can we prepare ourselves for slaughter?'

  He turned with the speed of light and yelled, `Well, Ms Raymond? Will you explain, for indeed it is beyond me!'

  Major Jardine stammered, 'Surelyit cannot be that hopeless?

  Puigserver was watching Bolitho. `Well, Capiaan? You have been inside the lion's den, not us.'

  Bolitho looked at Conway. `May I suggest something, sir? ‘

  The admiral nodded, his wispy hair in disorder. `If there is anything left to say.'

  Bolitho walked to the table and moved the heavy silver inkwells into a pattern.

  `The Benuas are much as they appear on our charts, sir, although I suspect some of the smaller channels between the islets are silted and shallow. The fortress stands high on a central islet, a rock-pile, if you like.' His fingers made a sweeping gesture down the front of one inkwell. `The seaward face of the islet is sheer, and what I first took to be reefs at its foot I now believe are fragments of cliff which have fallen away over many years of wear.'

  He heard Captain Strype say gloomily, `That rules out any hope of a scaling attempt. It is hopeless.'

  Conway glared at him and then snapped, `Continue. What about this cliff?'

  Bolitho looked at him calmly. `If we attack at once, sir.' He ignored the gasps. `Before Muljadi is ready. We might nip his whole plan in the bud.'

  Conway exclaimed, `Attack? When you have just finished destroying our hopes even of staying alive!'

  `The main gun battery is on the seaward rampart, sir. Bring it down and the ships at anchor will be without immediate protection.'

  Conway was rubbing his chin in quick, nervous movements. `Yes, I can see that. But how?'

  Jardine sneered, `An act of God maybe?'

  `The schooner, sir.' Bolitho kept his gaze fixed on Conway's lined forehead, seeing all the doubts and apprehension gathering like a storm. `We could use the prevailing wind, sail her straight on to the fallen rocks at the foot of the cliff, filled to the deck beams with powder and a goodly fuse. The explosion would, I believe, bring down more of the cliff.' He hesitated, feeling the sudden tension around him. `And the battery.'

  Captain Strype was staring at the inkwell as if seeing the actual explosion. `It might well work, sir! A damn fine idea!'

  Jardine growled, `Hold your tongue ! What sort of fool would do such a thing anyway?'

  He fell back as Conway snapped, `Be still!' To Bolitho he added, `And you think this is a reasonable risk?'

  `I do. The schooner would be lightly manned, and her crew could get clear in their boat once the final course was laid. A long fuse would allow them time enough.' He kept his eyes steady. `The moment the charge explodes I will force the channel in Undine and take the anchored frigates before they can recover. After an explosion like that, they will not be expecting a further intrusion.'

  Puigserver nodded grimly. `Fair justice, too.'

  Conway glared at him. `It is the wildest plan I have ever discussed.'

  Bolitho said quietly, `I must argue that point, sir.'

  `What?' Conway swung on him. `Are you questioning me again?'

  `I recall a certain captain, sir. Years back, when I was a stupid midshipman. He took a fair chance or so when he considered it necessary.'

  Conway reached out and gripped his wrist. `Thank you for that.' He looked away, patting his pockets as if searching for something. `I'd forgotten.'

  Bolitho said, `The troops will have to remain here, of course.'

  He thought he saw relief on Jardine's heavy face, resentment on his aide's. Strange, he thought, that the one who appeared the weaker was _the stronger after all. -

  He added, `If this plan fails, and we must face that possibility, it will be up to the sepoys to evacuate the settlement as best they can. But please take my word for this. No parley with Muljadi, for to him victory means only one thing. Extinction for all those who have represented his enemies throughout his entire life.' He pointed towards the window. `And once through those palisades, there will be no time left for regrets,'

  Conway returned to the table, his face very composed.

  `I agree.' He glanced at Jardine. `Set your men to work transferring powder to the schooner, every barrel and cask from our magazine, if that is what is needed.'

  He looked at Bolitho. `And who will command the schooner, have you thought of that?'

  `I am not decided, sir.' He smiled gravely. `Yet.'

  He turned as Raymond walked around the table, show ng his face at last in the sunlight.

  Raymond said, `I acted as I thought fit.'

  Conway nodded, his eyes contemptuous. `If we survive this affair, you may yet share the advantages, if there are any.' His tone was like ice. `If we fail, you will probably receive the knighthood you covet so dearly.' He paused as Raymond hurried to the door. `Posthumously, of course!'

  When he faced the table again Conway seemed about ten years younger.

  `Now that I am decided, Bolitho, I cannot wait!'

  Bolitho nodded. He could feel his muscles and bones aching as if from physical effort, and could barely realise what he had done, what he had committed himself and his ship to.

  He said, `I will return aboard now, sir. I need fresh water and fruit if there is any.'

  Faces flashed across his thoughts. Carwithen with his axe embedded in the pirate's neck. Davy's pride at being given command of the schooner. Fowlar's genuine pleasure with his temporary promotion. And Herrick most of all. What would he say to this pathetic, desperate plan? Smile? Shake his head? Accept that at last his captain had made the one fatal mistake? For all of them.

  Conway was saying, `You are a sly-boots, Bolitho, more than I ever suspected.' He made as if to reach for the new decanter but changed his mind. `If I am to lose my head, then it had better be a clear one, eh?'

  Puigserver was touching one of the silver inkwells with a spatulate finger.

  `When will it be, Capitan?'

  `Early.' Bolitho watched him thoughtfully. Puigserver, too. Hehadbeeninthe story from thevery beginning. `Dawn attack.'

  Conway nodded. `And if ever you have prayed for the wind to set fair, then do it from now on.'

  Bolitho smiled. `Aye, sir. I will bear that in mind.'

  He made to leave, but halted as the admiral added gruffly,

  `Whatever the outcome, we will have tried. Done our best.' When he turned towards the sunlight Bolitho was shocked to see the moisture in his eyes.

  `Raymond was right, of course. I'm not the man for the appointment, nor do I suppose it was ever intended I should retain it once the settlement had been founded ...' he hesitated, `... or lost. But we will show them.'

  He strode to his private door and slammed it behind him

  Puigserver_whistled. `The old lion awakes, eh?'

  Bolitho smiled sadly. `If you have k
nown him as I once did, senor. If you had seen the people cheering themselves hoarse, with the smoke of battle still thick between decks, then you would have understood.'

  `Perhaps.' Puigserver grinned broadly. `Now away with you, I think you have learned a great deal since we first met. About many things, eh?'

  Bolitho walked out past a nodding servant, and then start-'d as someone touched his sleeve. It was Viola Raymond's nud, her face screwed up with fright as she whispered, `This way sir! Just down here!'

  Bolitho followed her quickly, and then saw the pale figure by a door at the far end of the passageway.

  He asked, `What is it? We should not meet like this.'

  She stared at him, her eyes blazing. `You are going to ,.et killed! He just told me!' She threw her big hat on the floor and added angrily, `And I don't care! I don't care what happens to you!' Then she threw herself against him, her voice breakingsn sobs as she cried, `It's a lie! I do care, my darling Richard! I'll die if anything happens to you! I didn't mean to say those things.'

  He held her chin in his hand. `Easy, Viola.' He pushed the hair from her forehead. It was hot and feverish. `I had no choice.'

  Her body shook uncontrollably and she gripped his axt0s even tighter, oblivious to her maid, and the real possibility that someone might walk into the passage at any second.

  `And no chance ! No chance at all!'

  Bolitho held her away and waited until she was calmer.

  `I must go now. And I will take care.' He saw her returning anguish and said quickly, `I must not damage my new watch, now must I?'

  She tried to return his smile, the tears flowing freely down her face as she said, `I would never forgive you.'

  He turned and walked towards the stairway, and then stripped again as she called his name. But she did not follow him. Instead she held up one hand, as if he was already a long -,eay off. Beyond reach.

  He found Allday waiting by the beached gig and said sharply, `Back to the ship.'

  Allday watched him curiously. `They're taking powder casks to the schooner, Captain.'

  `Is that a question?' He glared at him but Allday's face was unmoved.

  `I was just thinking. Mr. Davy's not going to be happy about this.'