With All Despatch by Alexander Kent

Author:Alexander Kent [Kent, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: C429, Kat, Extratorrents
ISBN: 9780099493884
Publisher: Random House UK
Published: 2006-01-22T13:30:00+00:00

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Vatass saw tiny flakes of snow settle on his face and hair before he lowered the cover and sat down again.

“We’re putting to sea as soon as makes no difference.” He held up one hand. “Save the protests. I know you’ve only just come to rest. But at any moment I may receive a direct order from the admiral, one I cannot ignore, which will prevent our going.” He lowered his voice as if to conceal an inner anguish “I’ll not leave him unsupported and without help.” He kept his eyes on the young lieutenant’s face as he poured him another glass, some of the brandy slopping unheeded across the neatly written orders. “Well, Hector, are you with me?”

“Suppose we cannot find Wakeful? ”

“Damn me, we’ll have tried! And I shall be able to hear that man’s name without the shame of knowing I failed him, after the pride he returned to me by his own example.” He waved vaguely over the chart. “The frontiers will be closed, and any alien ship will be treated as hostile. Wakeful is a sound vessel, and her commander a match for anything. But she’s no fifth-rate.” He glanced around the cabin. His command and his home; as if he could already see Telemachus facing up to a full broadside, with only her carronades and six-pounders to protect herself.

Vatass knew all this, and guessed that, whatever happened, his chances of an immediate promotion were in serious jeopardy. But he had always looked up to Paice’s old style of leadership, even more, his qualities as a true sailor. Rough and outspoken, it was easy to picture him in his original role as master of a collier-brig.

“I’m with you.” He considered his words, his young face suddenly serious. “What about the admiral?”

Paice swept the papers from his chart and picked up some dividers.

“I have the feeling that there is someone more powerful than that fine gentleman behind our captain!” He looked across at Vatass and studied him for several seconds.

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Vatass tried to laugh it off. It was war anyway. Nothing else would count now. But Paice’s stare made him feel uneasy. As if he did not expect they would ever meet again.

“More vessels lying ahead, Cap’n!” Allday ducked beneath the boat’s taut canvas and peered aft through the snow. It was more like sleet now, wet and clinging, so that the interior of the small boat was slippery and treacherous.

Bolitho crouched beside the Dutch skipper at the tiller and narrowed his eyes to judge the boat’s progress under her two lug-sails. One side of the river was lost in sleet and mist, but here and there he could see the lower portions of hulls and taut cables, probably the same ships he had passed in the night after leaving Wakeful. Even in the poor light the small fishing boat was a pitiful sight.

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