18 The Only Victor by Alexander Kent

Author:Alexander Kent
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-03-16T23:50:29+00:00

12

STORM WARNING

SIR CHARLES INSKIP peered gloomily from a narrow window and shivered as a sudden squall rattled the thick glass.

"This is hardly the treatment I had been expecting!"

Bolitho put down his empty coffee cup and joined him to look across the harbour at some of the vessels which lay at anchor. He had not failed to notice the thick bars across the window, nor the way they had been kept in semi-isolation since they had stepped ashore. Their quarters in what appeared to be a part of a fortress were comfortable enough, but the door was locked at night all the same. He saw Truculent tugging at her cable, her furled canvas quivering as the wind ruffled up the surface of the anchorage and pounded against her hull and rigging. She, too, appeared isolated and vulnerable. The big Danish frigate Dryaden, which had met and then escorted them into Copenhagen, lay some two cables clear. Bolitho gave a grim smile. That was not a sign of trust, but to make sure she would suffer no damage if Captain Poland tried to cut and run. Truculent was lying directly beneath the guns of one of the main batteries. It would be an unhealthy place to be if it was forced to open fire.

Seven days. Bolitho tried not to let his mind linger on it. Inskip had told him repeatedly that they were here at the suggestion of a senior Danish minister named Christian Haarder. A man dedicated to keeping Denmark out of the war and safe from attack either by Franceor England.

Bolitho looked towards the array of anchored men-of-war, their scarlet flags with the distinctive white crosses taut and bright in the stiff wind. It amounted to quite a fleet despite the savage losses in this very harbour some five years back. The Danes had probably mustered all their available warships from the mainland to place them under a single command. It made good sense, no matter what happened.

Inskip said irritably, "I have sent two messages with no effect. Out of courtesy the palace was informed, and my own letters should have made further delays totally unnecessary."

"People must be wondering about the presence of one of His Majesty's frigates in the harbour." Bolitho watched a long-oared galley pulling slowly past the Truculent, the red blades rising and failing gracefully like a relic of ancient Greece. But Bolitho knew from hard experience that they were not simply for decoration. They could outmanoeuvre almost any ship under sail, and for armament they carried a solitary, heavy cannon with which they could maul a vessel's stern and pound her into submission while her prey was unable to bring a single gun to bear. To be attacked by several at once, as the flagship had been, was like being a beast torn apart by fleet-footed wolves.

Inskip said, "They'll soon find out if they keep us waiting much longer."

Bolitho saw Allday gathering up the cups although Inskip's own servant was in an adjoining room. He glanced at his watch.

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