Stand Into Danger Read Free Page A

breath.
    He examined Bolitho very slowly, his eyes taking in everything from his hair to his new buckled shoes.
    He said, “I’m Palliser, the senior.”
    He had a crisp way of speaking. He glanced away as Poad ran through the door with a jug of wine.
    Bolitho watched the first lieutenant curiously. He was very tall, so that he had to stoop between the deckhead beams. In his late twenties, but with the experience of a man far older. He and Bolitho wore the same uniform, but they were so far apart they could have been standing on either side of an abyss.
    â€œSo you’re Bolitho.” The eyes swivelled back towards him above the rim of the goblet. “You have a fair report, in words, that is. Well, this is a frigate, Mr Bolitho, not some overmanned third-rate. I need every officer and man working until this ship, my ship, is ready to weigh.” Another fierce swallow. “So report on deck, if you please. Take the launch and get yourself ashore. You must know the lie of the land around here, eh?” He gave a fleeting smile. “Lead a recruiting party to the west bank and examine those villages. Little, gunner’s mate, will assist. He understands the game. There are some posters you can put up at the inns as you go. We need about twenty sound hands, no rubbish. We are up to full complement, but at the end of a long passage that’s another matter. We shall lose a few, have no doubt of it. Anyway, the captain wants it done.”
    Bolitho had been thinking of unpacking, of meeting his companions, of having a meal after the long coach journey from Falmouth.
    To settle things quite firmly, Palliser said offhandedly, “This is Tuesday, be back aboard noon on Friday. Don’t lose any of your party, and don’t let them pull the wool over your eyes!”
    He banged out of the wardroom, calling for somebody else.
    Rhodes appeared in the open door and smiled sympathetically. “Hard luck, Richard. But his manner is rougher than his thoughts. He has picked a good shore-party for you. I’ve known some first lieutenants who would give a new junior a collection of moonstruck felons for company, just to give him hell when he returned.” He winked. “Mr Palliser intends to have a command of his own soon. Bear that in mind at all times as I do, it helps considerably!”
    Bolitho smiled. “I’d better go at once, in that case.” He hesitated. “And thank you for making me welcome.”
    Rhodes sank down in a chair and thought about the noon meal. He heard the clatter of oars alongside and the shout of the launch’s coxswain. What he had seen of Bolitho he liked. Young certainly, but with the restless quality of one who would do well in a tight corner or in a screaming hurricane.
    It was strange how you never considered the worries and problems of your betters when you were a midshipman. A lieutenant, junior or not, was a kind of superior being. One who berated and was quick to find fault with the youthful beginners. Now he knew better. Even Palliser was frightened of the captain. Probably the lord and master was terrified of upsetting his admiral, or someone higher still?
    Rhodes smiled. But for a few more precious moments there was peace.
    Little, the gunner’s mate, stood back, his broad hands on where his hips should have been, and watched as one of his men tacked up another recruiting poster.
    Bolitho pulled out his watch and looked across the village green as a church clock chimed midday.
    Little said gruffly, “Mebbee time for a wet, sir?”
    Bolitho sighed. Another day, after a sleepless night in a tiny, none too clean inn where he worried that his small recruiting party might desert, in spite of what Rhodes had said about their selection. But Little had made sure that part had gone well. He was totally at odds with his name; squat, overweight, even gross, so that his belly sagged heavily over his cutlass belt like a sack. How he managed it