Windrush (Jack Windrush Book 1) by Malcolm Archibald

Author:Malcolm Archibald [Archibald, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Creativia
Published: 2016-03-10T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Pegu October 1852

Jack nodded. 'I am glad to see you on board.'

She wore the same short white jacket she had worn in Rangoon but with a green longyi tight around her hips and a bright orchid placed in her hair. 'Commander Marshall asks that you join us in his cabin,' she repeated.

This woman is going to give nothing away.

'Then I shall join you both with pleasure,' Jack's bow contained more respect than mockery.

'This way,' she turned without another word and walked away. Jack glanced briefly at the smooth slide of her hips within the longyi and looked away again.

I have no time or inclination for distractions.

'We are going ashore tomorrow,' Marshall began the conversation even before Jack had sat at the small table that was bolted to the deck, 'me, you, Myat Lay Phyu,' he nodded to the woman, 'and as many men as you think will be best for an escort.'

Myat Lay Phyu: that is an enchanting name. It suits her.

'Might I ask where we are going, sir? I take it we are hunting for Bo Ailgaliutlo and his dacoits?' Jack kept his voice level and polite. 'If I knew it would help me judge how many men to bring.'

Marshall held his eyes for a long thirty seconds before he replied. 'We are hunting for the renegade, Bo Ailgaliutlo, Windrush. Myat Lay Phyu is my translator.'

'I wondered why she was on the ship,' Jack held out his hand. 'How do you do, Myat Lay Phyu?' He stumbled over the syllables of her name.

Her touch was light and firm. 'Very well than k you Ensign Windrush. How do you do?' Her face was impassive. 'Myat will do if you cannot manage the rest of my name.'

'You speak English very well,' Jack complimented her.

'So do you,' Myat replied. She withdrew her hand and folded it beside its sister in front of her. Even in her short pale grey jacket and longyi, she did not look as out of place as he felt in that cabin.

'I am English,' Jack said.

'I know.' Myat's expression did not alter.

Myat is the only woman I have ever wanted to like me, and she most obviously does not. She treats me as if I was a buffoon.

'Now the pleasantries are complete; I will ask you both to pay attention.' Marshall shuffled some papers on his immaculate desk. 'We will be landing shortly after dawn. By then the locals will have time to recover from their surprise at seeing us here and will have called in the head man, whatever his name is,' he glanced at Myat.

'His name is Bo Loung' she said and relapsed into silence.

'Bo Loung,' Marshall repeated.

'How long will be ashore for?' Jack tried to calculate rations and water.

'I do not know,' Marshall said. 'I will talk to this Bo Loung fellow through Myat and ask about the renegade Bo Ailgaliutlo.' There was no expression on his face. 'That is my duty. I will also try to persuade Bo Loung to back the British against the King of Ava.

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