Command a King`s Ship

Puigserver interjected, 'Of that I am sure, Capitan.' He glanced coldly at Raymond. 'Let us be frank. To avoid further trouble in this uneasy truce, for that is what it is, we must move with caution. The French gained next to nothing in the Indies despite all their efforts, and they are, how you say? Touchy about any swift expansions around their dwindling influence there. Your final destination will be Teluk Pendang. A fine anchorage, a commanding position for any country with the will to expand elsewhere in that area. A bridge to empire, as some Greek once remarked.'

Bolitho nodded. 'I see, Senor.'

He did not, nor had he even heard of the place mentioned.

Raymond said sharply, 'When peace was signed last year, our Government despatched the frigate Fortunate to Madras with the bones of this present agreement in her care. On her way around the Cape of Good Hope she met with two of Suffren's frigates which were returning to France. Naturally enough, they knew nothing of the peace, and Fortunate's captain was given no time to explainthe point. They fought, and Fortunate so battered one of the enemy that she took fire and sank. Unfortunately, she, too, was set ablaze and was lost with most of her company.'

Bolitho could picture the scene. Three ships on an open sea. Countries at peace at last, but their captains eager to fight, as they had been conditioned to do.

'However, one of the French captains, the surviving one, was a veteran called Le Chaumareys. One of France's best.'

Bolitho smiled. 'I have heard of him.'

Raymond seemed flustered. 'Yes. I am sure of it. Well, it is believed in some quarters that France, through Le Chaumareys, now knows about this arrangement we are making with Spain. If that is so, then France will be troubled at the prospect of our gaining another possession, one which she fought for on Spain's behalf.'

Bolitho did understand now. All the veiled remarks at the Admiralty. The secrecy. No wonder. One hint that England was about to push her way further into the East Indies, no matter for what outward. reason, and a war might burst out again like an exploding magazine.

He asked, 'What are we to do?'

Raymond replied, 'You will sail in company with the Nervion.' He swallowed hard. 'She will be the senior ship, and you will act accordingly. Upon arrival at Madras you will embark the new British Governor and convey him, with whatever forces he may have, to his new destination. Teluk Pendang. I will accompany you with despatches for him, and to advise in any way I can.'

Puigserver beamed at them, his black eyebrows arched like great bows. 'And I will be there to ensure that there is no nonsense from our people, eh?'

Raymond added wearily, 'The French have a forty-four-gun frigate in that area, the Argus. It is said that Le Chaumareys is with her. He knows the Sunda Isles and Borneo as well as any European can.'

Bolitho breathed out slowly. It was a good plan as far as it went. A British squadron would invite an open battle sooner or later, but two frigates, one from each nation, would be more than a match for the heavily-armed Argus both verbally and in artillery.

Puigserver walked slowly to the broad window and stared down at the anchored ships.

'A long voyage, gentlemen, but I hope a rewarding one for us all.' He turned towards Bolitho, his square face in shadow. 'Are you ready to sail again?'

'Aye, Senor. My people are preparing to take in more water and fresh fruit, if that is possible.'

'It is being attended to, Capitan.' He showed his teeth. 'I am sorry I cannot entertain you now, but in any case, this island is a dismal place. If you come to Bilbao.' He kissed his fingertips. 'Then I will show you how to live, eh?' He laughed at Raymond's grim features. 'And I suspect we will all know ourselves much better after this voyage is done!'

The Spanish aides bowed politely as Puigserver walked to the door, and he called, 'We will meet before we sail.' He turned away. 'But tomorrow we raise our anchors, come what may.'

Raymond walked round the table as the babble of conversation broke out again. He whispered fiercely, 'That damned fellow! One more day with him and I would have told him a thing or two!'

Bolitho asked, 'In which vessel will you be sailing? Mine is a fine ship, but smaller by far than the Spaniard.'

Raymond twisted round to watch the Spanish captain who was discussing something with his companions in a low voice.

'Sail in the Nervion? If your ship were a damned collier brig I'd take her in preference!'

Davy whispered, 'I think they expect us to leave, sir.'

Raymond scowled. 'I will come to your ship and arrange things there. Where no ears listen even to one's breathing!'

Bolitho saw his escort waiting outside the door and smiled to himself. Raymond seemed to have a very vital role in things. Tact, however, was beyond him.

They returned to the jetty with hardly a word, but Bolitho was very conscious of the tension within the man Raymond. On a knife edge. Tortured by something. His work was overreaching him perhaps.

As the scarlet-coated oarsmen propelled the Governor's barge towards Undine Bolitho felt a sense of relief. A ship he could understand. Raymond's life was as alien as the moon.

Raymond clambered up from the barge and stared vaguely at the assembled side-party, at the comings and goings of Undine's seamen as they worked the tackles on the opposite side. Casks and nets of fruit, and straw hats to protect the unwary from sunburn.

Bolitho nodded to Herrick. 'All well?' He touched Raymond's arm. 'Mr. Raymond will be a passenger with us.' He turned sharply as he heard a shrill of laughter from the cabin hatch.

'Who let that woman on board? In God's name, Mr. Herrick, this is not the Nore or Portsmouth Point!'

Then he saw the girl. Small and dark, in a bright red dress, she was talking to Allday, who was obviously enjoying himself.

Raymond said heavily, 'I had hoped to explain _earlier, Captain. That girl is a maid-servant. My wife's maid.' He looked as if he was going to be sick.

Herrick tried to dispel Bolitho's sudden anger. 'She came out with her lady just an hour back, sir. She had authority.' He looked worried. 'I had little choice in the matter.'

'I see.'

Bolitho strode aft. All those thousands of miles in a small crowded ship-of-war. Raymond was bad enough, but his wife and a maid were too much. He saw some seamen nudging each other. They had probably been waiting just to see his reactions.

Very calmly he said, 'Perhaps you would, er, introduce me, Mr. Raymond?'

They went aft together, and Davy whispered, 'God's teeth, Mr. Herrick, what a mixed gathering we are fast becoming!'

Herrick glared at him. 'And I suppose you have been out there damn well enjoying yourself!'

'A little wine. Some fair company.' He chuckled. 'But I thought, too, of you, sir.'

Herrick grinned. 'To hell with you! Get into your working clothes and help with this loading. You need a million eyes today!'

In the meantime Bolitho had reached his cabin, and stared at it in dismay. There were boxes everywhere, and clothing spilled across furniture and guns, as if there bad been a violent robbery aboard.

Mrs. Raymond was tall, unsmiling, and almost beside herself with anger.

Her husband exclaimed, 'You should have waited, Viola. This is our captain.'

Bolitho bowed slightly. 'Richard Bolitho, ma'am. I had just mentioned that a thirty-two-gun frigate has barely the room for luxury. However, since you have chosen to sail with us, I will do all that I can to-' He got no further.

'Chosen?' Her voice was husky with scorn. 'Please do not delude yourself, Captain. He does not wish me to travel in the Nervion.' Her mouth twisted in contempt. 'He fears for ray safety when I am with Spanish gentlemen!'

Bolitho noticed Noddall hovering anxiously by the dinin compartment and snapped, 'Help Mrs. Raymond's maid to stow all this'-he looked round helplessly-'gear.' He save Raymond slump down on the bench seat like a dying mad. No wonder he looked troubled. 'And pass the word for the first lieutenant.' He glanced around the cabin, speaking his thoughts aloud. 'We will have these twelve-pounders removed temporarily and put quakers in their place. That will allow a little more room.'