Avery said quietly, "The admiral is aware of Trevenen's hatred of your family, sir. A simple but cruelly effective weapon." He was speaking more quickly, as if he might regret the impulse if he hesitated. Trevenen comes of lowly stock, sir."
"All to his good, I'd have thought." Even as he spoke Bolitho recalled Trevenen's endless discussions with the purser and his clerk about ship's stores and the fresh fruit which was so necessary in these demanding climates.
Avery said, This is not how I meant it to end, sir. You have my word on it." He sounded as if he had turned away to look around the cabin. "It has been my great fortune to serve with you, and I know I have dismissed my chances for good."
There is something else?"
Avery said, "I feel in my bones that we are intended to fight. I am not new to it, nor will I fail you when it begins."
Bolitho heard the squeal of halliards from above in that other world, probably an acknowledgement to the other frigate's signal.
He tried to remain calm. "I never doubted your ability."
Avery said, "When you know a secret…"
"Tell me only if you wish. You have said enough to destroy you already."
"Captain Trevenen is a coward, sir. I have watched him. I am a good judge of men, I think."
Heavy feet pounded on the ladder and Trevenen's knuckles rapped impatiently on the door.
For a moment they stood staring at one another. Then Bolitho said, "That took courage too." He paused. "It is still a secret, Mr. Avery." He said sharply, "Enter! "
Trevenen almost burst into the cabin, "She is Anemone, Sir Richard! " It sounded like an accusation. "Her captain is coming aboard! "
"Is that all, Captain?"
Trevenen took a grip on himself, his massive figure swaying about as if he had forgotten where he was.
"Orcadians lost! Yellow Jack! "
Bolitho caught his breath. Without asking he knew what must have happened. In the time available Adam had not been able to report to Keen, which probably meant that Keen's ships had already sailed.
"I shall come up directly."
As the door slammed shut Allday came in by the other entrance.
Bolitho said quietly, "Poor Stephen Jenour. He did not want a command, you know. I forced it on him. I might as well have shot him."
Avery was disconcerted, uncertain what to say. "I'm sure it's what any officer would want, sir."
"I doubt that." He reached out for Avery's arm but missed it in the shadows.
"We have a war to fight, Mr. Avery. Put other thoughts from your mind. You did it for me and you acted rightly. Every commander must know his weakness as well as his strength."
Allday placed a glass by his hand, "Wet, Sir Richard." He could not say more.
"We shall wait on deck, sir." Avery followed the burly coxswain into the filtered sunlight. It seemed incredible that Anemone had already changed tack and run down under their lee. Avery could even make out individual figures, men dashing past the guns to haul on the boat-hoisting tackles.
Then he turned and was astonished to see the intensity of Allday's stare.
"What is it?"
Allday said steadily, "I've not known you that long, sir, but I happen to believe you've come to belong to Sir Richard's little crew as he calls us." He did not smile. "Otherwise I'd not be saying a word, see?"
"I was sorry to hear about Jenour, though I scarcely knew him."
Allday brushed it aside. "He was a good man. We all trusted him, I mean." Then he made up his mind. "I think you should know, sir, because I've seen the way he's taken to you…" He hesitated and then blurted out, "If you speaks of it to anybody but us, I shall know."
Avery waited, knowing that it was not merely important, but vital.
"He's going blind, sir. Left eye. He was badly wounded. We have to watch him, like."
"I thank you for your trust. I mean that most sincerely."
Allday did not seem to hear. "Sir Richard used to have a flag lieutenant, the Honourable Oliver Browne, he was. A real gentleman, an' I means that in the only true way. Always spoke of We Happy Few, he did. Then he got himself killed." His eyes hardened. "Not in any sea-fight, neither."
He moved away as Anemone's sails were backed and the gig dropped smartly alongside. Over his shoulder he said, "Now you're one of the few, sir! "
Valkyrie came up into the wind, her sails like thunder in the fresh breeze. Avery stood by the hammock nettings while the side-party prepared to receive Anemone's captain.
"So there you are! " Bolitho strode from the companion hatch and glanced at the compass before acknowledging the officer-of-the-watch.
Avery watched him, and was moved by the easy way he could bridge the distance from quarterdeck to forecastle, from naval hero to ordinary pressed seaman; and something of his admiration and his sadness must have revealed itself on his face. Bolitho looked first at Anemone and then toward Allday, who was standing by one of the guns.
Then he said quietly, "He told you, didn't he?"
"A little, sir. You can trust me." He hesitated. "Can nothing be done?"
"I believe not." He smiled. "Let us receive my nephew and find out what he knows! "
It was astonishing. I believe not, he had said. But his tone implied the opposite.
Avery looked at Allday and saw him give the briefest of nods. He was accepted.
Bolitho stood just outside the door of the sickbay. Beyond the hull the sea would be in total darkness, with only the occasional glow of phosphorescence or a breaking crest to betray movement. The ship felt even quieter than usual, but for reasons other than fear of punishment.
Just before darkness had closed in to conceal one ship from another, Larne had made one last signal. Tyacke had sighted several sail to the north-east. They could only be the enemy.
Bolitho thought of Adam's brief visit to receive his orders and to describe the horror he had seen in the drifting Orcadia. He had the strongest feeling that, bad though it was, Adam had spared him the worst part. He had described how he felt about leaving his patrol area to join them, and how he had announced his approach by the single broadside the lookout had heard. He had sighted an Arab topsail-schooner, which must have been tracking the Anemone after she had left the Orcadia: one of Baratte's scouts, or a slaver who was still willing to risk capture. Either way there had been too little time to give chase with the added risk of losing her in an approaching rain squall. Adam had fired a broadside at extreme range and had left the vessel dismasted and adrift to fend for herself.
The enemy's strength was unknown, but their own numbers were probably already listed in Baratte's mind like a plan of action.
Whatever they were, they would not proceed further in the darkness. They would hold as close together as possible until first light.
Bolitho could picture the Valkyrie's watch below, brooding over what they would perceive as inevitable, the land men and the youngsters asking the old Jacks what to expect. What is it like?
He heard Avery walking very softly behind him. Leaving him to his thoughts, instantly ready if he was needed.
How did he know Trevenen was a coward? There had certainly been no doubt in his voice. Something Sillitoe had told him, or had it been his father, who had died in battle?
Trevenen's reward for lying under oath to save his captain from disgrace was no small thing. Just to be Valkyrie's captain now was privilege enough to ensure his promotion to flag rank, if he could stand clear of trouble or causing offence to Hamett-Parker. It was not cowardice in that case, but just as dangerous.
Minchin loomed out of the shadows. "Yes, Sir Richard?"
"How is he?"
Minchin scratched his head. "Sleeping now. Been fretting a mite, but that's usual enough."
He grinned as Herrick called, "Who is that?"
Bolitho stepped into the light of a solitary lantern. "I am here, Thomas."
Herrick gasped with pain as he tried to drag himself into a sitting position. Between his clenched teeth he exclaimed, "Hell's teeth! One arm is more trouble than two! " Then he lay still again, his eyes glowing in the flickering light.