Bolitho #26 - Second to None by Alexander Kent

Author:Alexander Kent [Kent, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2010-04-07T04:00:00+00:00

Adam rested his hands on the trestle. “You spoke earlier of the other supply ship, Captain Lovatt?”Lovatt twisted his head from side to side, as if he could hear something. Or someone.

“Mercenaries! War makes us all hunger for something!” He was quiet again as the cloth moved gently over his brow. “I could not offer my men a reason for dying, you see? It was a gesture. A final conceit!”

He seemed to see Avery for the first time.

“Who is this? A spy? A witness?”

O’Beirne moved as if to restrain him but Adam shook his head.

“This is George Avery. He is a friend.”

“Good.” Lovatt closed his eyes and O’Beirne gestured quickly to another basin. It contained a folded dressing, soaked in blood.

Avery watched a thin tendril drip from Lovatt’s mouth, like red silk against his ashen skin. The boy dabbed it away, frowning with concentration as Avery had seen him do when he had poured the captain’s wine.

“Thanks, Paul. I—I’m so sorry ...”

Avery had seen many men suffer, and had endured great pain himself. And yet still he thought, with immense bitterness, why did death have to be so ugly, so without dignity?

Pain, suffering, humiliation. A man who had once hoped and loved, and lost.

“Where lies the land, Captain?” Stronger again.

Adam said quietly, “We are nor’-east of Bona. Ship’s head, west-by-south.”

The eyes found and settled on his face. “You will see to his safety, Captain?”

“I will do what I can.” He hesitated. Where was the point? “You have my word on it, Captain Lovatt.”

Lovatt let his head fall back and stared at the white deckhead. Adam saw the boy Napier show fear for the first time, and guessed that he thought Lovatt had died.

He must not leave it now. Could not.

“There were two other frigates in harbour.” He repeated the question, and saw the hazel eyes focus again.

“Two. Did I tell you that?” He looked at Napier and tried to smile. “So like your mother, you know? So . . . like ...her.”

Adam leaned over the trestle, hating it, the despair, the pain, the surrender. The very stench of death.

He asked sharply, “Will they sail?”

He could feel O’Beirne’s disapproval, his unspoken objections. Avery was very still, a witness; it was impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Something thudded on the deck overhead, and there were sounds of tackle being hauled through the blocks. Normal, every-day shipboard noises. And there were men up there too. Who depend on me.

I must not care what others think.

He persisted, “Will they sail?”

“Yes.” Lovatt seemed to nod. “So run while you can, Captain.” His voice was failing, but he tried once more. “But promise me . . .” He gave one small cry and more blood choked the words in his throat. This time it did not stop.

O’Beirne dragged the dead man’s arm from Napier’s waist and pushed him away, knowing that any show of sentiment would make a lasting impression.

Adam laid his hand on the boy’s shoulder.

“That was well done. I am proud of you.”

Napier was still staring at Lovatt’s contorted, bloodied face.

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