Lieutenant by Kate Grenville Read Free Book Online Page B

the size of France, Spain and Germany combined.
    Governor Gilbert was still reading. ‘The natives are on all occasions to be treated with amity and kindness,’ he shouted above the increasing swell of sound from the prisoners.
    Some small object flew out of the middle of the crowd towards him and fell into a bush nearby.
    ‘It is of the utmost importance to open friendly intercourse with them,’ he pressed on. ‘Without their cooperation, the progress and even the existence of this colony will be threatened. His Majesty has instructed me to establish good relations with the greatest possible despatch, and to become familiar with the native tongue as swiftly as opportunity may make possible.’
    This was an aspect of New South Wales that Rooke had not considered: the colony needed an astronomer but it might also need a linguist. It was true that, in the two weeks since the day of beads and looking-glasses, the natives had appeared only once or twice, and then fleetingly. Rooke had been on board each time and not seen them. He had glimpsed figures across the port on the opposite shore, smoke rising from various distant points, and canoes silhouetted against the bright water. But so far there had been no opportunity to show the natives amity and kindness .
    It seemed to Rooke that the governor was hurrying to bring the assembly to a close.
    ‘I ask that you kneel with me now,’ he cried. ‘The reverend will give thanks on behalf of us all, kindly step up Mr Pullen.’
    From the crowd a female voice guffawed. ‘Thanks! Thanks for what?’
    He thought he recognised the voice of a handsome foul-mouthed woman who, off Rio, had been dunked in the sea to quieten her. She set them all off now, the prisoners on their feetshouting and whistling, threatening to overrun the line of marines.
    Rooke steeled himself to do his duty, but Wyatt spoke to Lennox with a twitch of an eyebrow, and Lennox waded into the crowd. The prisoners must have been familiar with the captain. Lennox had only to lay about him briefly with the butt of his gun and they subsided, so that Rooke was not obliged to do any more than grip his musket and look alert.
    But there would be other times, he thought, endless other times when every man in a red coat would be required to act. On the voyage he had established his distinction from the other marines. He must continue as he had begun. The western headland of the cove had a high remote look that might suit an observatory, and would certainly suit a man who had no wish to play the part of prison guard. He would investigate it as soon as he could and make sure that Lieutenant Rooke was seen to be too busy with the celestial bodies for any terrestrial duty.
    The reverend was up on the box now, unwinding his usual endless flowery prayer. For his homily he had taken a line from Psalms: What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? Rooke thought it might have been especially selected to provoke a congregation of men and women who had no choice about being in a place where benefits promised to be thin on the ground. The governor’s face was entirely without expression as he listened, but Rooke thought he saw more tightness than usual in his narrow jaw.
    When the reverend paused for a breath the governor was ready.
    ‘Amen,’ he announced, and Pullen was obliged to move on to the benediction.
    The assembly dispersed, the work parties were chivvied back to their axes and picks. Rooke slipped away, avoiding the eye of anyone who might call, Oh, Lieutenant Rooke, might I trouble you to give me some assistance here? To get to that promising headland, though, he had to pass the space being cleared on the western side of the stream. Major Wyatt referred to it as the parade ground, although as yet it was nothing more than a slope of grey dirt bristling with stumps.
    Walking briskly, as if on some urgent errand, Rooke heard the major’s unmistakable roar and saw him out of the corner of his eye,