First Voyage by David Healey

Author:David Healey [Healey, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Intracoastal Media
Published: 2012-11-15T05:00:00+00:00

• • •

Alexander wasn't yet ready for bed. He was exhausted after rising so early and from the long, tense flight into France. At the same time, his heart was still pumping with the excitement of the mission. They were in France! At any moment they might be overrun and captured by French troops swarming out of the darkness, but Alexander found the thought of thumbing his nose at Napoleon to be more thrilling than frightening.

His nerves singing, he decided to accompany Captain Amelia as she made one last check of the farm before turning in for the night. The darkness was impenetrable beyond the little house, barn, and farmyard. It was raining harder, and they were soon wet through.

"You did well today, Mr. Hope," the flyer captain said, taking Alexander by surprise. "It's not just anyone who can adapt so well to flying. You show some skill for it. If you should ever decide to switch branches of the service, I should be glad to put in a good word for you."

"Can that be done?"

"It is frowned upon, it's true, but you are just beginning your service, so I'm sure an exception would be made."

"That's very kind of you, but Captain Bellingham sponsored me, and I feel a duty toward him."

"Captain Bellingham is a good man," Amelia agreed. "I know these last few weeks can't have been easy on you, Mr. Hope. You have been thrust into navy life at a rather late age and I've heard the ensigns' mess isn't always ... civil."

"If I'd gone away to a boarding school instead of the navy, I likely would have encountered the same situation," Alexander said sourly.

"I know a bit about what it's like to be an outsider, you know, being that I'm a her in His Majesty's service. Now, considering that it's improper to say such things about the service and that poaching promising young officers for one's own branch is considered bad form, if you repeat anything of this private conversation I shall have my gryphon peck out your heart."

"Yes, Captain." Alexander was glad the darkness hid his smile, though he thought the flyer commander might be half serious.

Captain Amelia peered into the wet night. "It would be better to post a watch," she said. "We are in enemy territory, after all. But there are only four of us, and we'll need our sleep—and our strength—to get back to the Resolution."

"Gryphons have keen ears and a good sense of smell, haven't they? They can alert of us to any trouble," Alexander said as they trudged side by side through the darkness at the edge of the little farm yard. The road was some ways off, screened from the house by an orchard. Fortunately for them, the road was not well traveled.

"Gryphons are better than guard dogs, to be sure," Amelia replied. "But it's not really the French cavalry I'm thinking of tonight. The rain will keep them from patrolling. I'm more concerned that this Frenchie farmer is going to slip out and give us up.

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