Chinese Whispers by Andrew Wareham

Author:Andrew Wareham [Wareham, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Electronic Book Company
Published: 2018-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

“Ellen, I’ve been given Obelisk. She’s in Hong Kong and I must sail to join her in Shark by three o’clock. She’s China Station. With luck, I shall be back in a very few weeks. For the while, I need everything packed instantly. I must speak to your father… No, you do that for me, if you will. Ask him to send a message to Sia, informing him of the appointment, which he must know about, and offering my general sense of obligation to him. I cannot outright say that I know he has worked the oracle for me – though I am sure he has, somehow.”

“What is she, Magnus?”

She rang the bell and gave orders to the butler and sat back as the house dissolved into running chaos about her.

“They so much enjoy shouting and having a panic, Magnus! It is tedious, but who am I to deny them the pleasures of their existence? Now then, Obelisk – what manner of ship is she?”

Magnus explained the nature of the cruiser, mentioning that she was ‘protected’ because her upper deck, from stem to stern, was made of thick armour plate.

“Probably something like two-inch plate, which will stop anything up to a six-inch brick on a falling trajectory. Distant shell fire is always falling, when it hits. Any range greater than point-blank, that is, by definition. Useful when scrapping with other cruisers or facing shore guns. Better than no armour at all, but something to the sides has much to recommend it too.”

“But she will not be required to scout for the fleet, you say?”

“Too slow. Do well on the big rivers and very handy at running the inshore blockade, though not so useful out to sea where the distances and speed can be greater. I don’t know if she has a light twelve pounder aboard. If not, I shall try to lay hands on one. Very useful, a gun that can be set ashore. Percy Scott is said to be working up a land mounting for four point seven and six inch quick firers. Using them in South Africa, so the buzz has it.”

She appreciated that he expected to take a party ashore in China during this command. She wanted to tell him to be careful – but that was not what the naval wife did.

“Will you take Jian with you, as your interpreter, Magnus?”

“Yes. I can fiddle that. I want to get him to Hanshan, to bring him to Lord Ping’s attention. There’s a chance that young Mr Ping will be sent to London – in that event, I would like Jian to accompany him. He did very well by me in the Yanking business and I owe Jian a reward. He, poor chap, believes that to be sent to London will be just that. It may well be in his case.”

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