A Private Revenge by Richard Woodman

Author:Richard Woodman [Woodman, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Historical, Sea Stories, War & Military
Publisher: Sheridan House
Published: 1990-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

'He doesn't want to hang 'em,' said Quilhampton to the lounging officers in the wardroom.

'He'll have to. A court martial at Prince of Wales Island will condemn them without a thought ...' remarked Fraser.

'Not if he punishes 'em now, quickly ...'

'You mean flogs them?' asked Fraser.

'Yes,' replied Quilhampton, "twill serve as an example to the rest.'

'Good God, man, we were hanging people before! D'you think their blessed Lordships 'd approve of a mere flogging? They want stiffs for desertion, not red meat. He'll no' flog them, but keep them in irons until he can have them court-martialled by a full board at Penang.'

'But he doesn't want to hang 'em,' persisted Quilhampton.

'Och, you presume on your knowledge o' the man, Jamie. I sympathise but not even Captain Drinkwater can get awa' from the fact that desertion's a hanging offence.'

'Tomorrow will tell who's right. If he hasn't flogged 'em by seven bells in the forenoon watch I'm not James Quilhampton.' Quilhampton rose, yawning. 'I've the middle tonight, and I'm weary ...'

'What do you think, Mister Lallo?' Fraser asked of the surgeon who had sat silently through this exchange.

Lallo shrugged. 'I've no idea. Mr Q's solution seems the most humane, yours the most in conformity with the regulations ...'

'And the easiest for you,' added Fraser drily.

Ah yes.' Lallo's tone was unenthusiastic. 'Mr Fraser,' he said, suddenly shifting in his chair and reaching for the decanter on the wardroom table, 'there are other problems that confront us, you know.'

'Oh ... ?' Something in Lallo's voice caught Fraser's attention. 'What?'

'I thought I had three cases of lues as a legacy of California, now I have five, maybe six.'

'And is that so unusual? I saw the venereal list myself only this morning.'

'Two of the cases I'm certain are syphilitic, but the others ...'

'You are not sure?'

'No, I mean, yes, I'm sure.' Lallo rubbed his hand across his forehead in a gesture of extreme exhaustion. 'But it isn't the pox.'

'Well what is it?' snapped Fraser, a sudden fearful cramp contracting the muscles of his belly.

'Button-scurvy ...'

'Scurvy?'

'No! Button-scurvy, Mr Fraser, framboesia, the yaws ...'

'The yaws!'

'Aye, and it's contagious.'

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