He turned, but Bolitho was already standing behind Yovell's round shoulder, his face unusually stern with concentration.
To all captains and officers-in-charge of such vessels under my command…
He thought suddenly of the last courier schooner that had run down on them. He could not recall when it had been. One day was much like all the rest.
There had been no more letters from Catherine. He felt another touch of anxiety and concern. He could still hear her voice nonetheless. Don't leave me…
But all Avery saw was the vice-admiral.
It took another full day, even under all the sail Valkyrie could carry, before the small island of San Antonio was sighted by the masthead. Without the other ships in company it had been strangely lonely, and many times Bolitho had seen seamen pause in their work to stare at the sea as if they expected to sight another friendly vessel.
The island seemed to rise from the ocean itself as the Valkyrie tilted to the unwavering south-westerly. It was, as Tyacke had described, a bleak place. It could have been the remaining half of an extinct
volcano, on the side of which Bolitho saw the crude monastery like an extension of the terrain it was built on.
With the coming of dawn every available glass was trained on it while the sailing master and his mates studied the chart, which they had mounted near the wheel itself.
Avery joined Bolitho by the quarterdeck rail, his jaw still moving discreetly on a piece of salt pork which was too tough to swallow.
"How long, sir?"
Bolitho rested his hands on the rail, feeling the rising heat that would soon engulf the whole ship.
Two hours. More or less." He rubbed his eye and trained the telescope once again. There was some smoke rising from a saddle in the land which he had taken earlier for haze. There was life here. He had heard that the monastery had had many changes of occupant during the course of its long life. Disease had taken a toll, and once, Tyacke had told him, all the monks had died of starvation simply because the sea had been too rough to launch any of their boats. What sort of men would give up the real world for such a demanding life, and, some would say, pointless sacrifice?
He heard Trevenen snapping out orders to his lieutenants. He was very much on edge, for the safety of his command, perhaps?
The sailing master called, "Steady on nor' nor' east, sir! "
Trevenen folded his hands behind his back. "Leadsman in the chains, Mr. Urquhart, lively now! "
The first lieutenant was with the master. "But there's no bottom hereabouts, sir."
"Damn it, do I have to repeat everything I say? Do as I tell you! "
Bolitho could understand any captain's anxiety for his ship. But this place was known for its isolation, and for the impossibility of landing here without the use of boats.
Avery thought the same but said nothing. He watched
Urquhart hurry past, his face flushed with humiliation at being upbraided in front of the hands.
The leadsman's cry echoed aft. "No bottom, sir! "
Bolitho raised the telescope and studied the hard landscape as it continued to grow and reach out on either bow. There was a patch of green below the monastery, a possible kitchen garden.
The sea was deep, and he watched a big swell at the foot of some fallen rocks. According to Tyacke and the chart there was a tiny cluster of huts used by visiting fishermen when their favourite catch was in season.
Bolitho saw Allday lounging against an eighteen-pounder, his new cutlass already in his belt. Urquhart might resent having Avery and Allday with him, especially as he was in charge. Trevenen would see to that.
Ozzard appeared at his side. "Shall I bring your coat, Sir Richard?"
Bolitho shook his head. "No. Someone may be watching us. It is better this way." He saw Ozzard's expression as he stared at the island. As if he loathed what he saw. What had done this to him?
"No bottom, sir! "
Trevenen said, "Shorten sail, Mr. Urquhart! Take in the t'gallants and stays' is We are moving too fast over the water! "
Men swarmed to the ratlines. With their captain on deck they needed no urging.
Bolitho stiffened. There was the landing place, and he could see one of the wooden huts beyond it. Even a castaway would feel wretched here.
He said "You may assemble the landing party, Captain."
Trevenen touched his hat but did not look at him.
Bolitho watched one of the cutters being swayed up from the boat tier. The chosen party of men looked capable enough. They were all armed, and he saw the gunner getting ready to supervise the mounting of a swivel in the boat's bows once it was in the water.
Urquhart had donned his sword, and looked vaguely ill at ease as he handed over his duties to the second lieutenant.
Bolitho watched the courses being brailed up to the yards and felt the way go off the ship as she rolled heavily in the offshore swell.
He said, "Just make certain that all is well, Mr. Urquhart. These are men of peace, and any unnecessary show of force would be resented. Discover what you can." He glanced at Allday. "And be careful."
Urquhart nodded stiffly, very aware of his captain standing nearby with a sardonic smile on his lips.
Trevenen said, "Stand by to wear ship. We shall heave-to! "
It would be a hard pull for the oarsmen, Bolitho thought. Nevertheless, he sensed that the sailors who were remaining on board envied the landing party.
"Sway out the boat! " As Valkyrie came up into the wind with all remaining sails flapping in confusion, the selected men clambered down into the cutter alongside. The last to board were the two lieutenants. Bolitho noticed that Urquhart was careful to climb down last, as if he needed to prove that, on this occasion at least, he was the senior officer.
"Bear off! Out oars! "
The cutter looked deceptively small in the great glassy swell, but was soon under command and cleaving through the steep water like a dolphin.
Bolitho said, "You may get under way again, Captain. But stand no further offshore."
Valkyrie steadied again as the courses and topsails were reset, and with neither Allday nor Avery to talk to be felt strangely depressed. Instinctively he reached up to his damp shirt and touched the locket inside. I am here. You are never alone.
He rubbed his left eye and winced. It must be getting worse. They must never know.
He took up the telescope again and looked for the boat but it was merging with the shore, moving briskly towards the landing-place, possibly aided by an undertow.
He went down into the cabin and dabbed his eye with water.
Yovell said gently, "Is there anything I can do, Sir Richard?"
He dropped the cloth, angry with himself. He had told others to delegate and to trust those they commanded, so what was the matter with him?
He answered, "I think everyone believes I am wasting time."
Yovell smiled inwardly. Bolitho meant the captain. "Never mind, Sir Richard. Mr. Avery and Allday will get a warm welcome. Fresh faces must be more precious than Christianity in this place! " He was surprised as Bolitho turned to stare at him, his eyes wild in the reflected light. Then without a word he snatched the old hanger from the bulkhead, and was still buckling it around himself as he ran to the companionway.
"Captain Trevenen! " He swung round blindly, unable to see him, caught off-guard by the sun's power. "Heave-to immediately! " He saw the others looking at him as if they thought him mad. Dyer, the second lieutenant, was turning to the captain, not knowing what to do.
Trevenen sounded very calm, almost defiant. "You ask me to perform some strange things, Sir Richard! "
"I am not asking you. Just do it! " He could not resist adding, "Do I have to repeat everything I say?" It was petty, and later he might regret it. But there was no time. Above the squeal of blocks and the boom of canvas he shouted, "I want two boats, a squad of marines in each one! " Men seemed to be scampering in all directions, dodging the hands at the braces and halliards as they brought the ship into the wind again.