The Gathering Storm (19 page)

A ragged cheer. Ahead of them, away to starboard, the
dashing corvette had been struck with terrible slamming
force right through her stern. The width of her stern gallery
had been smashed clear away, and the deck beyond swept
by a storm of iron. Her rudder, her wheel, and her mizzen
has been splintered. A flying fast, bravely handled, beautiful
little ship of war had been rendered into matchwood,
in a few devastating seconds.

And still Rennie did not stir.

*

The two boats lay in a narrow channel between rocky islets,
riding the swell that rose and fell there, sucking against the
black walls of rock. They were anchored, and hidden from
view, so that if boats came looking for them they would
not be easily discovered. Nor could they be seen from the
west, out to sea, unless a vessel came directly opposite to
their position.

'Not that anyone in those ships will be looking for us at
present.' James Hayter, half to himself.

'What say?' Lieutenant Leigh, beside him, lowered his
glass.

'Nay, nothing.' James shook his head. 'We must remain
here concealed until the action is over.'

'I think
Expedient
has prevailed, Hayter.' Raising his glass
again.

James looked seaward, peering under a shading hand,
then asked for the glass. Mr Leigh gave it to him, and
James focused on the several ships in turn, and the terrible
damage all had sustained. Drifting smoke, angled sails, a
sense of brief preternatural calm, and foreboding.

'I could not say with certainty that she has prevailed, you
know.' Moving the glass. 'The corvette to the south has
been took out of the battle, certainly.' Sweeping to the
north. 'As has that second corvette. But the French frigate
is no worse damaged than
Expedient
herself, and will in all
probability attack again.'

'You think so?'

James handed the glass back to Lieutenant Leigh, who
peered through it, and:

'No, I think not. Captain Rennie has tacked, and now ...
yes, he means to lay alongside the frigate and board her.
Yes! He has loosed another broadside into her! Christ, what
a frightful pounding ...'

And the sound of the broadside echoed deep and heavy
across the sea.

THUD THUD THUD THUD-THUD THUD THUD

Smoke boiled and rushed, enveloping the two ships in
an angry cloud.

'May I see?' James tapped the lieutenant on the shoulder,
and was given the glass a second time. He focused, in time
to see an answering broadside from the French ship, just
as
Expedient
came alongside. A moment, as the two vessels
were again obscured by smoke, and the echo came.

THUMP-THUD THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMPTHUD

'That contest ain't decided.' James, grimly. 'Not by any
measure.' Giving Mr Leigh the glass and pointing. 'If
Expedient
's people was preparing to board at that moment,
and if as I suspect the French commander had ordered
grape loaded in his guns ... God knows what frightful
slaughter has just occurred.'

'We spoke too soon, hey?' Peering.

'Are you a religious man, Leigh?'

'At moments such as this – I think perhaps I am.'
Lowering the glass.

'Hm. Then ye'd better offer up a prayer for
Expedient
and her people.'

'I think perhaps I will, Hayter.' Quietly.

'Aye, and for us, sequestered here. It will be a bloody
miracle if we survive this day unmolested ourselves.'

*

Captain Rennie came to himself, and attempted to sit up.
'Has he come about, on t'other tack? Why are the guns
not firing?'

'Nay, Captain, do not attempt effortful speech, if you
please, sir.'

'Dr Wing ... ?'

'I am here. And you are not dead, not quite yet. However,
if you will oblige me, I should like you to ...' Restraining
Rennie, pushing him gently back down on the hanging cot
he had rigged in his cramped dispensary. '... just lie back
again, will you?'

'I must go on deck. Why are the great guns silent?'

'It will not be wise for you to go on deck. The deck is
very bloody and muddled, just at present, and you can do
nothing—'

'Muddled?'

'Well, yes, that is the word I would use. You may wish
to find another. Lie back, and allow me to examine your
ears, though I expect – since you can hear me – that the
eardrums are not impaired.'

'In course they ain't, good God. I am not impaired at
all, Doctor. Why was I brought below?'

'A roundshot near took off your head, you were knocked
off your feet by the shock of it passing so narrowly close,
and lost consciousness. It is a common thing, in action.'

'Ah, is it? Common, hm?'

'Aye, sir, it is. I have made a little study of the phenomenon.
Perhaps I shall write a paper. The larger the size and weight
of the ball, the greater the shock. You were lucky. A six-pound
roundshot, I think, from the smaller ship? Had it been an
eighteen-pound shot, or a carronade ball, the effect might well
have been to shock the life out of you. As it is, you were merely
concussed.'

Rennie felt his head and upper body. 'But I suffered no
injury at all. I was not hit. Why in Christ's name are the
great guns not firing? Was that second corvette bested?'

'So I understand. The action has ceased.'

'What happened to the frigate?'

'The French frigate caused very great damage to us, and
we to them. I have brought you here because there was no
room to accommodate you anywhere else below. There has
been a very great deal of injury, and death.'

And now Rennie saw the condition of Dr Wing's clothing.
His shirtsleeves and breeches were caked and slimy with
blood.

'How – how many injured?'

'Near half an hundred. And thirteen killed.'

'Hell's flames ...'

'Aye, that is a closer word than muddle, you are right.
The deck is like a corner of hell.' Quietly.

'We must return for the boat, if the action is done. Has
the French frigate struck? A damn silly question, hey? She
must have done, else the action would still proceed. And
now, Doctor, I really must go on deck.' Sitting up again.

'She has not.'

'Eh?'

'The action has ceased – for the moment. The French
frigate stood away to the west, bad crippled as I understand
her condition, but not killed. And we are left bad
crippled ourselves.'

'Then we must return for the boat while the French ship
is out of the way.' Decisively. 'This is our only chance of
success.'

'Captain, I warn you. Strenuous activity of any kind will
be very inimical to your condition.'

'Damnation to that. A headache never killed a sea officer
yet. Oooghh!' Clutching his head as his feet reached the
deck and he stood.

'Please to lie down again, sir.'

'I will not lie down, damn you! I am the commanding
officer of a ship of war, and I mean to prevail. Our boat
must be rescued, and the action we have begun today be
fought out to the end. Stand aside.'

And he thrust the diminutive doctor away, and went up
the ladder.

*

'We will pull toward
Expedient
,' decided James Hayter.
'Stand by to weigh, the pinnace to be lead boat.' Louder,
standing up in the stern sheets.

'D'y'really think it worth the risk, Hayter? With the royal
party aboard?' Lieutenant Leigh, standing beside him and
speaking very low and earnest in James's ear. 'It is a league
and more of hard rowing, against a stiff breeze and a lifting
sea.'

'It is our only chance, while the French frigate is disengaged.'
Speaking quietly and urgently in turn. 'In any wise
we shall be needed aboard, Leigh, with so many casualties
likely in the ship. Needed to fight her guns, all of us.'

'Yes, you are right.' A nod. 'Very well.' Then: 'Will you
go into the second boat?'

'Aye. And then you wait for my command.'

'Very good.' A thought. 'But look here, Hayter, I think
perhaps I had better give the commands from now on, you
know. After all, you ain't even commissioned at present –
in least, not in the navy.'

A brief chuckle. 'D'y'know, I had not allowed that simple
fact to enter my mind. I have no authority over you at all,
my dear fellow. You must forgive my presumption in
behaving as if I was the senior officer present, when I am
on the beach, in truth.'

'Thank God you are not still on the beach, in literal
truth. Hey?'

'Yes indeed, thank God.' Sobering. 'Very well, I will go
into the second boat – and wait for your command.'

Presently, when James had returned to the second boat,
and occupied the stern sheets, Lieutenant Leigh:

'Get your oars to pass!'

The oars lifted up from the thwarts.

'Ship your oars!'

The oars in the thole pins, and extended.

'Give way together, lads! Lay out with a will, but let us
row dry!'

And the two boats emerged from their narrow hiding
place, the pinnace ahead, into the open sea. Three miles
distant to the west
Expedient
began to swing limping toward
them.

When they were nearly within pistol shot of her, half a
glass after, the French frigate came limping in from the
west in pursuit.

'Christ's blood ...' James, in a whisper to himself.
'...
Expedient
must go about to fight her guns. We are lost,
unless ...'

And aloud, standing up and bellowing in his most carrying
quarterdeck:

'In the pinnace, there! We must get under
Expedient
's lee
when she goes about, else we shall be smashed to splinters!'

As if in answer there echoed across the water from
Expedient
:

'Stand by to go about! Starboard battery ... ready!'

As
Expedient
went about on the starboard tack, the two
boats were not close enough to her to find any protection,
and were left exposed to leeward on the open sea.

* * *

Aboard
Expedient
, Captain Rennie had made a very bold
decision. He was desperately short of guncrew, and his starboard
broadside would not now be his standard battery of
eighteen-pounder long guns, but his quarterdeck and fo'c's'le
thirty-two-pounder starboard carronades, a mere six guns.
Six guns – but with a broadside weight of metal of 192
pounds.

'As he goes about in turn, we will smash his foremast.'
Rennie, to Richard Abey beside him on the quarterdeck.

'Very good, sir.'

Rennie waited as the French frigate began to make the
manoeuvre, in order to bring her own guns to bear. As she
tacked to starboard Rennie nodded to Mr Abey, who:

'Starboard carronades –
fire-fire-fire
!'

The thudding explosions of the squat smashers, belching
flames. A fiery, sulphurous fog of smoke and fragmented
wad enveloped the quarterdeck. As the smoke cleared,
Rennie and his young lieutenant saw the result of their
attack. The French frigate had taken the full, concentrated
weight of shot through her bow and foremast. Her
bowsprit, figurehead and cutwater had been destroyed, and
her foremast now fell with a rending crash, the headsails
snatched fluttering down amid a tangle of stays and
shrouds. The ship faltered and lost headway, and was hopelessly
crippled.

Rennie lifted his speaking trumpet, the metal glinting in
the sun, and:

'Marksmen in the tops, fire at will!'

From
Expedient
's fore and maintops, Marine sharpshooters
directed a hail of musket fire, plus canister shot
from half-pounder swivels, across the French ship's decks.
The frigate drifted closer.

'Re-lo-o-o-o-oad!'

The carronades rapidly reloaded – sponged, cartridge,
shot and wad rammed – and within a minute:

'Starboard carronades ready!'

'Aim using the swivel trucks, Mr Abey. Aim – and fire
at will.' Rennie, with a grim little nod.

The carronades turned on their transversible trucks, as
Richard Abey:

'Starboard carronades – point and fire at will!'

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM-BOOM

Now the destruction of the French frigate was complete.
Her mainmast trembled, lurched, and went by the board,
and the naked ship was dying in the sea, blood leaking from
her shattered strakes in telling red slicks. Screams came
from her, and pitiful cries and moans.

Rennie gripped a backstay, felt his eyes fill, and shook
his head. To himself:

'But only a little time since, I wished the wretches all
the sufferings of hell ...' Wondering at this spontaneous
change of heart, of feeling, of soul. Aloud, as if to purge
himself of emotion:

'They have got what they asked for, by God.'

And then he saw young Richard Abey's face as he stood
at the rail. He was staring at the French ship in appalled
silence. A tear fell on his cheek. He turned to look at Rennie,
and there passed between them an apprehension that was
at once fleeting and profound, that seemed to say:

'What is this life we have chosen, that brings us to do
these things?'

And the moment was gone.

Rennie crossed to the larboard rail, and lifted his glass.
He had been aware of the unprotected boats all the time
during the bloody culmination of the action, and now, with
relief:

'I see Lieutenant Leigh in the pinnace, and our hands at
the oars – and at the oars of the boat following. Somehow
they have captured a boat.' A pause as he peered, then: 'By
God, they have got him in the pinnace ...'

'Sir?' Richard Abey crossed the deck.

'Lift y'glass, Mr Abey. Y'see that central figure in the
huddle of people in the lead boat?'

'Yes, sir.' Focusing.

'That is King Louis. That is the king of France.'

'Yes, sir. But ain't that – ain't that Lieutenant Hayter, in
the second boat?'

'Tom Makepeace dead?' James put down his fork and stared
at Rennie.

'Aye.' A sigh. 'In the action. And my third, Mr Souter,
and a great many others.'

'That is sad news indeed.' All pleasure in their reunion
now tempered and diffused by this harsh intelligence.

'Aye, it is. This commission has cost us very dear. In least
it has not cost you your life, James, thank God though in
view of the risks you have took – have been obliged to take
– it is a miracle you wasn't killed.'

'I might have been killed, had not I received very kind
assistance, as I explained.'

'Ah, yes.' Nodding, a glance. 'Well well, we have done
our duty between us, and we have got the king and queen
out of France, and safe into my quarters in the ship.'

'But not yet out of French waters. Which brings me again
to my request, sir.' Leaning forward over the table. They
were in the gunroom – Rennie's cabin being occupied by
the royal party – sitting at one end of the mess table over a
snatched meal. From above and without came the clatter
and crack of mallets and chisels, and scattered splashing as
battle detritus was heaved over the side. Rennie poured wine
into their glasses, and now shook his head.

'No no, James. Do not iterate that request, if y'please. I
have more than enough on my mind—'

'We cannot weigh until rudimentary repair is completed,
you said so yourself, sir. While we lie here, let me take the
gig and go ashore, and bring Madame Maigre away – if I
can find her. There is no need of a boat's crew, I can manage
the gig on my—'

'It's out of the question, James.' Over him. 'We must
proceed as soon as we are able.'

'But, surely—'

'On any number of grounds, out of the question. As I've
already said to you.'

'I know all the grounds, all the objections. I am willing
to take my chance. Leave me behind, if you have to. I will
follow you home to England.'

'Sail to England in a bloody gig! Are y'mad, James? Has
living in disguise addled your brains?'

'Greater things have been done in boats.'

'You cannot mean – Captain Bligh?' An incredulous frown.

'If he could sail a thousand leagues in a launch, I can sail
an hundred in a gig, sir.' Defiantly.

'Don't be such a damned fool.' Sternly, then, tilting his
head: 'Who is this woman, James? What does she mean to
you, exact?'

'Without her protection I would certainly not be sitting
here now. Further, she is part of the king's entourage. It
would be the cruellest indifference to abandon her altogether,
do not you—'

Over him: 'James, James – I am very sorry, but if she has
not been took, she is dead.'

'We cannot know that for certain.'

'The attacking party was already advancing from the cliff
down the beach by the time you embarked with the royal
party, yes? She must've been took then, don't you think so,
or killed by a musket ball? Unless ... unless ...' Raising his
eyebrows.

'Unless what?'

'Unless she was one of them, all along. A revolutionist.'

'Eh?'

'Had not you considered it?'

'Nay, I had not!'

'But good heaven, you described to me the events leading
to your escape from the château with the royal party,
through the lanes to the inlet. How did the National Guard
know that the king was hid at the château? How did
they know to follow you to the inlet? They must have
been told. They must have been given information from
within, so to say.' He shrugged.

'You cannot think that Juliette would—'

'Juliette?'

'Madame Maigre. You cannot believe that she would be
so duplicitous. It's – it's impossible.'

'Why?'

'Well, you do not know her, in course, else you would not
suggest such a thing. Forgive me, but it is just infamous
bloody nonsense.'

'Why?'

'What d'y'mean
why
? I know her. I know her loyalties and
beliefs. I know to a certainty that she could never—'

'Y'know nothing of the kind, James.' Over him, shaking
his head.

'What?'

'It is wrote all over your face, it is in your eyes. You are
infatuated. The woman has took you in, hook, line and gaff.'

'I am sorry you should think so little of me, sir, when I
have done my part as honourable as I could. I reject everything
you have said about Madame Maigre. You do not
know her.'

'Well well, I will not like to add to your distress, when
ye've been so cleverly duped.' Raising a hand as James began
furiously to reply. 'Nay, do not let us argue, if y'please.
Whatever she may have accomplished, we have left her
behind now, and that is the end of that.'

'Very well, if you will not allow me the gig I will take the
French boat instead.' Standing.

'What did y'say?' In turn growing angry.

'I am not under your command, I think. I am not commissioned
in the service. I am acting as an independent agent
in this, under the distant command of Mr Mappin and the
Fund. I have brought that second boat to the ship, and I
have decided independent that I will take it away.'

'You will do no such fucking thing, sir!'

They glared at each other across the narrow table. From
the deck above:

'Boats approaching from the east! And two sail of ship
from the so-o-o-outh!'

The two officers ran on deck. Two fishing boats could be
seen approaching from the east. James looked at them only
briefly, but Rennie peered at them through his long glass.
He lowered the glass, stepped to the other rail, and focused
the glass on the two ships to the south. A moment, and:

'Now then, Mr Hayter.' Lowering his glass and turning.

'Sir?'

'We must set aside all difference, agreed? Under the
circumstances?'

'In course, yes, agreed.'

'You are willing to forget all about going ashore, and to
return to duty as a sea officer?'

'I am, sir.'

'Very good. I am appointing you my lieutenant.'

'Under Mr Leigh?'

'You will replace Mr Makepeace, and act as my first. My
clerk will write it down later.'

'Very good, sir. I have no blue coat.'

'Damnation to dress regulations, Mr Hayter. They have
never troubled you in the past, and you have a natural
authority as an officer. All I ask is that you apply it on my
quarterdeck. We are attacked from the east, and from the
south, and will soon be fighting for our lives.'

'From the east? But surely we have seen these boats before,
along this coast. They are only bisquines, are not they?
Fishing boats?'

Rennie thrust his glass into James's hand, and pointed.
'Aye, bisquines, but they are full of troops.'

James peered through the lens and saw that Rennie was
right. The two bisquines had been commandeered. He swung
the glass to the south, and peered at the two approaching
ships. They were frigates. He returned the glass to Rennie.

'I beg your pardon, sir. Shall we beat to quarters?'

'We will first cut our cable and run due west, Mr Hayter.
As soon as we are under way we will then clear for action.
I hope that's the last bower I lose, I'm running short.' Moving
aft to the tafferel.

'Very good, sir.' James strode to the breast-rail, and lacking
a speaking trumpet cupped his hands at his mouth, filled his
lungs and bellowed:

'On the fo'c's'le there! Cut away the bower! Cut the cable!'
A moment, then turning: 'Hands to make sail! Topmen aloft!'

The boatswain's call echoed along the deck. All around
him James saw and heard the familiar, pulse-tightening rush
and flurry of the ship coming alive. Even in her half-smashed,
half-crippled condition
Expedient
was a man-of-war, and
lifted herself to that imperative with a heartening surge of
purpose. All activity of repair was abandoned, topmen
jumped aloft, sails were loosed and set, and yards braced.
The ship swung free, gathered herself and stood west into
the wind.

The master Bernard Loftus ran up the ladder from the
waist, stopped short and stared at James in wonder.

'By God, it really is you, James.'

'Aye, it is.'

'I heard you was aboard, but could scarce believe it.'
Brushing at his shirt and pulling on his coat. 'I was in the
orlop assessing damage with Mr Adgett. How came you—'

Over him: 'Long story, Bernard, best told when we are at
ease, which we ain't just at present.'

'You are right. We are not.' And he hurried aft, putting
on his hat, and calling back as he went: 'Welcome back!'

James was about to raise his cupped hands to his mouth
a second time when Rennie left the tafferel and came forrard
to join him.

'Two things occur to me, Mr Hayter.'

'Sir?'

'Before we beat to quarters, the royal party must be got
below into the lower deck. They cannot remain in my cabin
during an action. Second, how many soldiers protect the
king?'

'Half a dozen, I should say ... Ah, I see your design, sir.
Guncrew.'

'Aye, we are going to need every man we can muster. I
fought the last action against the frigate with carronades
alone, but that will not answer against two frigates now. We
must man as many of our guns as we are able, short-handed
as we are. You and I, and Mr Loftus, must take our places
at the tackles. And the middies, too. Idlers, waisters, any man
that is on his legs.'

'Unless we can contrive to outrun those frigates, sir. Crowd
on sail, beat west, and then run north to England.'

'We are in no condition to run, only to limp. The chase
would be short, and end in disaster.'

James glanced aloft, then forrard. 'Very good, sir. We must
gain the wind, turn and fight.'

'Aye, we must.'

'What of the other frigate, though? There is no possibility
she will return to the battle?'

'None. She was dismasted, and drifted away. Her people
attempted to tow her with boats, but she drifted inshore
away to the north, behind the islets.'

'Ah. Then there's only the two frigates approaching need
concern us.' A faint smile.

'Aye, those.' Grimly, lowering his voice. 'I cannot pretend
that I am sanguine as to the outcome, James. Do not forget
those damned fishing boats.'

James, lowering his voice in turn: 'We have been in dark
places before this, sir, with all the odds against us, and we
have always prevailed.'

'Perhaps not today, though. I cannot help feeling – this
ain't our fight, James.'

'Not our fight ... ?'

'Well well, perhaps with the cargo we carry it ain't the
time to say so, you are right. If we are attacked in one of
His Majesty's ships then it is our fight whether we like it or
no, and we must lift our heads and hearts, and do our best.'
A moment, then: 'I will like to shake your hand, James.'

James held out his hand. 'Good luck, sir.'

Rennie gripped the hand, shook it, and: 'God bless you,
my dear friend.'

*

Lieutenant Hayter, coatless and with a kerchief tied round
his head, ducked below the hammock cranes as a chopping
hail of grapeshot smacked into rigging and timber
just over his head. Splinters and frayed fragments of tarred
cable spun and scattered. A fragment cut his cheek, and
another nicked the corner of his eye. He winced, sucked in
a breath, and stumbled to his feet. Tears streamed from
the cut eye, mingled with drips of blood.

'Re-lo-o-o-o-ad!'

Crack! Crack! Crack-crack!

Canister shot sang, and bit into everything it hit, thudding,
pocking, lethal.

James ran aft, and found Rennie standing with apparent
calm by the binnacle, holding his glass under his arm.
Ducking as more shot fizzed and whirred across the deck,
James:

'Sir, I must ask leave to put a proposal, before it is too
late.'

'It is already too late, Mr Hayter.' Calmly, grimly.

'No, sir, no. I think not.' Ducking again. 'Will not you
crouch down, sir?'

'I will not.'

James felt himself obliged to stand up straight on his legs.
He was half-blinded, and he felt dazed and sick, but he
would not allow himself to display weakness before his
captain.

'Sir, I think I must take the royal party out of the ship,
and away in a boat.'

'In a boat, good God! Why is your mind so fixed on
boats? It is madness in an action such as this. I will not even
consider it.'

THUD THUD THUD

Expedient
's remaining larboard carronades. The deck shuddered
underfoot, and a fog of smoke and grit swirled about
the two officers.

'Sir, if you please, I must press—'

'I will not hear any more! Return to your station, sir.'

'Christ's blood, will not you listen! It is their
only chance
!'

Lieutenant Hayter had spoken with such vehemence and
conviction that Captain Rennie turned to look at him, as
smoke boiled all round. And was forced to admit to himself
that the lieutenant was probably right.

'Sir, we must strike very soon, else be blown to pulp and
matchwood. If I can get away in a boat with the king, hide
among the islets, and then make for England, there is hope
for His Majesty yet. If he is took, there will be none. He will
be executed.'

'Nay, James.' Shocked. 'Not even the revolutionists would
commit so foul a crime as regicide.'

'Would not they? Then why has the king fled? Because
he does not like their manners?'

'I imagine because he wished—'

James, over Rennie: 'They meant to kill him, if he had
stayed in France. They mean to kill him if they take him a
prisoner now.'

Rennie looked at him a long moment in the hanging
smoke, and at last sniffed in a breath.

'Very well, James. I must accede to your wish, since you
have been in France and know the condition of life there
better than I. We will go about and haul in one of the boats
lying astern, and get you and the royal party into it. We
will fight our guns long enough for you to slip away under
our lee.'