"If the codshead can't see what we're about he soon will."
Kydd laughed, watching one lucky shot skim the tops of the waves to miss the cask narrowly.
"I do conceive he wishes to speak us," Hallum said apologetically, looking at the direct course steered and the dark figure angrily gesturing by the fore-stay.
"He thinks we're frightening th' fish!" Purchet chuckled.
On balance Kydd thought that Vixen was making better practice, for Wolf was gamely taking seas over the bow, which must have been making it hard to keep a footing at the gun.
"Er, it seems there's a naval officer aboard," said Hallum.
"Give that t' me," Kydd said, snatching the telescope. The gesturing figure of a hatless post-captain leaped into view. "Man the side—we've a visitor."
"You'll give me an explanation, sir, this minute!" fumed the officer, after he had heaved himself energetically aboard.
"I beg your pardon, sir?" Kydd said coldly.
"Austen, Captain Francis Austen, district captain of the Sea Fencibles and I'll have your explanation as to why you're stirring up my command to no purpose."
Kydd allowed his gaze to move to the final stages of the engagement where, to the raucous joy of the seamen, Wolf's next shot smashed the barrel to flying wreckage. "I have a roving appointment from Admiral Keith as Inspector of Sea Fencibles, and—"
"Inspector? And you a commander?" Austen said, in disbelief.
"Shall we go below, sir? I'd be happy to explain."
It took all of a bottle of Kydd's best claret to make good his position, that the inspectoring was no more than a cover for a deeper game but that he had to make a good show of it.
Austen made clear his conviction that the Sea Fencibles, by taking the second line of defence, were releasing the Navy for their aggressive first line at the French coast and, furthermore, by being part-time were able to support themselves between times providing fish for the nation and at no cost to the government.
As to the business at Ramsgate—which had sent him after Kydd in hot pursuit—Austen pointed out that the Fencibles had their own range and gun for live practice safely out of the way near North Foreland. Any dilatoriness Kydd had seen in mustering at the harbour was because their instructions were that, in the event of an alarm, maroon rockets would boom over the town and each then would know his duty.
Only after it was discovered that both had fought at the Nile and shared an admiration for Horatio Nelson did the atmosphere thaw and Austen accept the convenience of a passage back to Ramsgate.
"And you'll oblige me exceedingly, dear fellow, should you now allow my Sea Fencibles to go about their business without alarums and anxieties. Please believe, they're a fractious crew if they see themselves practised upon."
"Ceased as of this minute, and my report will be a warm one, you may be assured, sir."
Idly picking up a book lying on the sideboard Austen raised his eyebrows. "Descartes, Regulae ad directionem ingenii—Rules for the Direction of the Mind no less! I find I must admire your choice of literature, Mr. Kydd."
"Oh, er, that belongs to my ship's clerk and particular friend. He's a prime word-grinder, Renzi, and is now engaged in writing a book."
"Goodness me. How curious! I wish he could meet my sister, Jane—she takes such satisfaction in scratching away and swears she will be published some day, bless her heart," Austen said fondly.
CHAPTER 10
"NICHOLAS! TAKE A SEAT, m' friend. It seems the waters o' Bath are in truth a sovereign cure, you looking so well."
Renzi sat in his usual chair by the stern windows and stretched lazily. "Such a quantity of women, each with a tongue that simply could not be still. That a man must find peace in a man-o'-war is a singular thing." Then he gave Kydd a quizzical look. "Far be it for me to lay criticism at the feet of my worthy commander but did I not see a gaudy red at the ensign staff supplanting the pristine blue of our noble Admiral Keith?"
"Aye, you did. For now we are an unattached ship while I top it the inspector of Fencibles."
"Oh?"
"Well, you should know this is b' way of a blind while we are on a secret tasking."
Renzi jerked upright.
"Why, nothing t' remark," Kydd told him. "In fact, we're not to trouble the French in any wise."
"The Irish?"
"No. Oh, I'm sanguine you'll hear of it in time, but I'll ask you t' keep it in confidence. Our real task is to act as trials ship and Navy liaison to an American cove who's been inventing a submarine boat."
"Was this by any chance a man called Fulton?" Renzi asked, with a curious note in his voice.
"Er, yes, but here he's known as Mr. Francis."
Renzi's face tightened. "I didn't think to see that man again."
In dawning realisation, Kydd said, "Then—then it was you conducted him to England?"
"Yes."
"How did—you were in France?"
"Paris."
Kydd's face was grave. "Nicholas, now the French know you did—"
"There is nothing to connect my quitting the country with Fulton's departing. It's rather him that stands into danger. The French may now rue his leaving and take steps to silence him. Is he guarded?"
"Yes. In Dover Castle." Then Kydd challenged, "Why do you dislike the man?"
"Did I say that?" Renzi came back defensively.
"He's a genius who's going to give us the means t' get at Boney's flotillas," Kydd said stoutly.
"He's a mendacious and deluded fool, who covers his motives for creating his evil machines with absurd nonsense about saving the world from itself."
Kydd blinked in surprise at Renzi's intensity. "He's said some strange things, I'll agree, but if he's going to provide us with—"
"Have you not considered the nature of what he is doing, pray? He desires we send out these submarines, like assassins in the night, to fall upon unsuspecting victims who are powerless to defend themselves. This is never within the usages of war of any civilisation worth the name."
"Well, Nicholas," Kydd said lightly, trying to lift the mood, "if it is so dreadful, no navy will want to put to sea, and there you'll have your universal peace."
"Do not insult my intelligence," Renzi said. "In Earth's bloody history there will always be found those who place their lust for domination over any consideration of ethics or humanity and would, without hesitation, subject the world to a reign of terror for their own cruel ends."
"Are you meaning that our employing this against Boney is immoral by your lights?" Kydd snapped.
"Damn it, I am! And I'm surprised—very surprised—that you should see fit to encourage such a means of waging war."
"So, out of notions of honour we should lay aside the weapon that saves us from Bonaparte?"
Renzi did not reply at once, as if he were considering his response carefully. "If we're speaking of honour, consider this little analogy. What is the difference, may I ask, between he who faces another squarely in a duel, and the one who waits until darkness to break into his opponent's house to slaughter him in his bed?"
"Desperate situations call for radical measures."
"There must be limits to acceptable behaviour in war or we're lost as a species. And pitting a man, sword in hand, against an unarmed, blindfolded adversary is nothing but contemptible."
"You are, of course, hoist b' your own petard, Nicholas."
"Do go on," Renzi said stiffly.
"Before, you said that there'll always be found those so lost t' honour who'd think to employ such a means. By logic, therefore, we must ourselves acquire the same, or the godly must surely be overcome by the unrighteous."
"That's as may be, but it does not make it an acceptable course for an honourable nation." He paused. Then, with a twisted smile, he added, "And yet, you see, you have omitted one small matter."