A Matter of Honour by Nick S. Thomas

Author:Nick S. Thomas [Thomas, Nick S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Historical, War & Military
ISBN: 9798327116375
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

The sun had gone down and Craven had been drinking throughout the day, but he kept on going. He and Hunt roared with laughter as they kept on drinking and playing cards with some common sailors, tossing coins about as if they were nothing. Craven had returned with a respectable purse of money and had no expenses of his own. Unlike anyone who was locked up in a gaolhouse, who was expected to pay an entrance fee and daily costs for their upkeep, condemning some who could not pay for release to be incarcerated for the rest of their days. Craven did not yet know of any incarnation of his comrades, but he was about to find out. Paget and Charlie stepped into the bar, eagerly searching for him in a replay of the night before, and this time Craven looked even more exhausted by the prospect of Paget hounding him.

“What is it this time?”

“Birback, Sir, he is locked in a gaolhouse.”

“Of course, he is,” sighed Craven.

“But not just him, Sir, Sergeant Matthys also.”

“Matthys?” Craven looked to Hunt who burst out into laughter, as he imagined the embarrassment the pious Sergeant would be feeling. Craven quickly went back to his game, tossing a few more coins into the middle of the table.

“What will you do, Sir?”

“Do?”

“You have to help them, Sir.”

“Why? Why do I have to help them? This is not a war. They are not captured by the enemy. They are sobering up in the gaolhouse because they went looking for trouble and they found it,” snarled Craven.

“Sir? Birback perhaps, but Matthys? He only went to help because I asked it of him. And that was because you would not help, nor Captain Ferreira.”

Craven looked increasingly frustrated, wanting to get on with enjoying himself.

“Must Captain Craven be responsible for everyone all the time?” Hunt asked.

“Yes, for that is his duty.”

“If that were true, would those under his command also not have a responsibility to keep their behaviour in check?”

Paget stuttered as he tried to respond.

“An officer’s job is to protect his men from the enemy and maintain discipline. Perhaps a few days in the gaolhouse will be a lesson to them both,” added Hunt.

Paget looked furious, but Craven was indifferent. He was having far too much fun and didn’t want to stop.

“Sir? Will you abandon our men now when they need you?”

“I have not abandoned anyone, Mr Paget. In fact, they have abandoned me. For they have gotten themselves into this trouble and robbed me of two soldiers. Perhaps Captain Hunt is right. Maybe they will learn a lesson here.”

Paget tried to go forward and speak again, but Charlie held his arm back and shook her head, pleading with him to stop. She pulled him to one side where they could talk quietly.

“Why do you stop me now? Why not press further?”

“Because it will get you nowhere. Craven is nothing if not stubborn. Keep pressing him, and you will anger him and bring down a torrent upon your head.

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