In the King's Name by Alexander Kent Read Free Book Online

couple?”
    Jago touched his arm and saw the fresh pipeclay drift from his belt. “Later, mebbee, Tom. I’ll be with the cap’n.”
    Fairfax knew him better than most. Except, maybe, Bolitho. He glanced over toward the cabin skylight. “So be it, matey!”
    Below in the great cabin Adam Bolitho sat, his body at one with the motion of the ship, a following sea weaving reflections across the deckhead like lively serpents. Astern, and as far as any lookout could see, the ocean was theirs. Empty, not even a bird to give any hint of life but their own.
    In the tall glass Morgan had placed by his elbow, the dark red wine was rising and falling so slowly, hardly at all. Morgan had retreated to his pantry again, and the door was partly closed, with not a clink or a rattle to disturb his captain; he had even sent his new recruit, Tregenza, to another part of the ship for the same reason.
    Adam glanced at the chair which had been moved directly opposite this old bergère, where Gordon Murray had almost fallen asleep after painstakingly taking his captain through the procedure by which he had saved Lord’s life. It had been a very close thing. The blade had just missed severing the major artery and vein, both of which branched through the inside arm, and, had that happened, stitching the wound would have been impossible even in a hospital ashore.
    Murray had stifled another yawn and apologised. “Even now, one cannot be certain. There is always the danger of infection …” But he had suddenly smiled. “However, I am confident that, given time, he’ll be back in his galley wielding those knives. He’s a strong lad. Courageous, too. I’m quite proud of him.”
    Adam had watched him swallow wine. Some of it had dripped over his chin like blood.
    â€œAnd we’re proud of
you
. When I first saw the wound …” Adam shook his head. “I’ll see that it goes in your report. We’re privileged to have you among us.”
    He sipped his own wine now, but it seemed metallic on his tongue. He looked up, taken off guard as feet thudded across the deck overhead. In step. Marching. Marines.
    Morgan had materialised like a ghost and was picking up the empty glass. “Later, sir, I shall—” He did not continue.
    The door was open. It was Jago, wearing his best jacket, and with his hat squeezed under his arm. He looked at Adam’s uniform and then at the old sword which was lying across the table. “Ready when you are, Cap’n.”
    Adam picked up the sword. Jago was waiting to fasten it to his belt, like others before him.
    â€œYou’ll never know …”
    But the shrill of calls and hurrying feet stifled the rest.
    â€œClear lower deck! All hands! All hands lay aft to witness punishment!”
    It was now.

3 T HE W ITNESS
    L IEUTENANT J AMES S QUIRE leaned on the quarterdeck rail to ease his stiff shoulders. Four bells, and still two more hours of the forenoon watch to complete. He glanced at young Midshipman Walker, who was sharing the watch, and wondered what would have changed in the navy
by the time he’s my age
.
    He smiled. Probably nothing.
    He saw some of the new hands clustered around the forward eighteen-pounders while the gun captains took them through the drill, loading and running out. They were on the weather side, and with
Onward
leaning slightly to the wind they would find the guns needed all their strength. Maddock, the gunner, never spared any one where his broadside was concerned.
    Men working on or above deck had paused and were looking on, some of them perhaps remembering their fight with
Nautilus
, and others, like Drummond, the bosun, further back still. He had served at Trafalgar aboard the
Mars
, in the thick of the action.
    â€œStand by!
Together
, this time!” Maddock had just taken over, head on one side, the deafness his only weakness after too many broadsides in the past. But woe betide any one