Ramage's Devil (The Lord Ramage Novels Book 13) by Dudley Pope

Author:Dudley Pope [Pope, Dudley]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Historical Fiction
ISBN: 9780755124541
Publisher: House of Stratus
Published: 2011-03-11T16:00:00+00:00

Ramage stood on the fore side of the quarterdeck with Aitken as they watched the Murex brace up the foretopsail yard and then bear away to the rendezvous, the clewed-up courses soon set and drawing.

‘Handsome little ships, those brigs,’ Aitken said. ‘Any nostalgia, sir?’ he asked, knowing Ramage had commanded the Triton.

‘Yes and no. “Yes” because they are handy – we tacked that one out of the Gullet with only a dozen men, and looking back on it we could probably have made do with eight. “No” because I found it strange being in that particular one, where most of the men had mutinied and handed over the ship (and their loyal shipmates) to the enemy. It’s as though treachery rubs off like soot, marking everything and leaving a distinctive smell.’

‘Aye, evil has a distinct smell, and all of us can recognize it. In our case it’s the smell of brandy.’

‘It has been bad, eh?’

‘Almost beyond belief, sir. We could see no end to it. There’s nothing in the Articles of War or the Regulations and Instructions about it. Bowen reckoned medical reasons were the only safe way, but for the first day or so, when the drink wasn’t in him, he was bright enough. Cunning and fawning, but shrewd. It seemed to me, sir, that if we took away his command and then he was cunning enough to keep off the liquor for a few weeks before the court martial, at the trial he could make it all look very different…’

‘Yes, that’s the danger. When you look at something from different directions, you get different views.’

‘And Bowen knew all about the effects of drink. That’s how we came–’

Ramage held up a hand to stop him. ‘I’m sure the ship’s officers didn’t conspire against the captain, Aitken, because that’s forbidden. As you know, Article XX specifies death as the only punishment for anyone “concealing any traitorous or mutinous practice or design”. So don’t mention anything resembling conspiracy – the listener immediately becomes guilty as well.’

Aitken grinned. ‘I understand that, sir. Well, it’s wonderful to have you on board again.’

Ramage nodded and looked across at the Murex, now a couple of miles away. ‘I think we can get under way now and rejoin the admiral with the brig. Admiral Clinton is a very puzzled man.’

They walked forward again and Aitken picked up the speaking trumpet. Ramage realized that since he last stood here a couple of months or so ago, as they tacked up the Medway to Chatham, he had married, been to France, escaped capture when the war broke out again, recaptured the Murex brig, and relieved the new captain of the Calypso of his command. What he had not done was try to rescue Jean-Jacques.

‘I’m going below to see Bowen and his patient,’ he told Aitken. He gave him a folded piece of paper. ‘Here is the rendezvous, and you’ll sight the fleet before nightfall. Ignore the Blackthorne if she starts making signals – there’s no signal in the book to describe what we’re doing.

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