A/n: This is a plot bunny that bit me unawares. If this is not to your
liking, please let me know. I'd like to improve someday. :D
DISCLAIMER: Horatio Hornblower, the characters and "universe" do not belong to me! I do not derive any profit herefrom. QED!
The lieutenant straightened and awaited his superior to climb aboard.
"Timely arrival, Mr. Eccleston; timely."
"Yes, Mr. Bracegirdle." The first lieutenant's gaze swept the debris- ridden deck. "Although I wish we could have arrived just a trifle earlier."
"Well yes, there is that," the portly lieutenant commented drily, "but it will provide Mr. Chadd with another excuse to exercise the men--"
"He won't be exercising anyone any more," was Eccleston's cool retort. "I regret to report that Lieutenant Chadd is dead."
"Oh. My apologies then, sir." When Lieutenant Bracegirdle would have commented further, Eccleston interrupted brusquely.
"Where's the captain? I must see him at once."
"Down below, sir." At Eccleston's inquiring glance, the second lieutenant continued, "A nasty splinter in the thigh, a gusher. The doctor thinks he can save the limb, but..."
"Right, then." The senior removed his hat, rubbed his hand through his hair, and replaced the hat upon his head. "Perhaps the good doctor hasn't operated on the captain yet. I'll just pop below and--"
"But sir! You know Hepplewhite; the captain will likely be attended to first. I expect he will be thoroughly dosed with laudanum by now."
"And I expect you're correct, d*** it!" Eccleston muttered and began to pace.
"Sir? May I be of any help?" Bracegirdle drew in a breath. "Has anything happened--?"
"Bloody *Mr* Simpson happened!" Then the tall lieutenant proceeded to describe what transpired aboard the Papillon, from the preliminary ruckus aboard the jolly boat, to the successful cutting-out expedition, to Kennedy and Hornblower's losses, then Hornblower's recovery and subsequent accusation.
Eccleston stopped walking. "The thing is, I'm inclined to believe Mr. Hornblower's version of events, but without objective proof," the first lieutenant shook his head, "my hands are tied. I was hoping the Captain--" He sighed. "I suppose we shall have to wait until the Captain regains his senses. He'll want to attend to the matter himself."
Bracegirdle nodded his agreement. "I daresay he's taken quite an interest in young Hornblower. Not that I blame him one whit. That lad has a lot of potential...and who else but the Captain would ever have discovered it?"
"Not I, and the Captain sees fit to remind me of this daily," Eccleston affirmed in a distracted tone. "But what do we do with him [i]now[/i], by George?"
His counterpart remained silent. It was not his place to tell the acting captain how to perform his duties.
Eccleston sighed. "Very well. First things first, I suppose. I shall take command here until the Captain is able to resume it...and if you would be so kind as to take charge over the Papillon for the time being?"
"Aye aye, sir." A pause. "Just out of curiosity, sir, who would I be relieving?"
"Mr. Hornblower. And please send him over at your earliest convenience."
"Aye, sir," the rotund lieutenant saluted, then climbed down into the waiting boat.
Eccleston watched him a moment, then turned to the division chiefs, who were ready to deliver their reports. This was going to be a long day.
DISCLAIMER: Horatio Hornblower, the characters and "universe" do not belong to me! I do not derive any profit herefrom. QED!
The lieutenant straightened and awaited his superior to climb aboard.
"Timely arrival, Mr. Eccleston; timely."
"Yes, Mr. Bracegirdle." The first lieutenant's gaze swept the debris- ridden deck. "Although I wish we could have arrived just a trifle earlier."
"Well yes, there is that," the portly lieutenant commented drily, "but it will provide Mr. Chadd with another excuse to exercise the men--"
"He won't be exercising anyone any more," was Eccleston's cool retort. "I regret to report that Lieutenant Chadd is dead."
"Oh. My apologies then, sir." When Lieutenant Bracegirdle would have commented further, Eccleston interrupted brusquely.
"Where's the captain? I must see him at once."
"Down below, sir." At Eccleston's inquiring glance, the second lieutenant continued, "A nasty splinter in the thigh, a gusher. The doctor thinks he can save the limb, but..."
"Right, then." The senior removed his hat, rubbed his hand through his hair, and replaced the hat upon his head. "Perhaps the good doctor hasn't operated on the captain yet. I'll just pop below and--"
"But sir! You know Hepplewhite; the captain will likely be attended to first. I expect he will be thoroughly dosed with laudanum by now."
"And I expect you're correct, d*** it!" Eccleston muttered and began to pace.
"Sir? May I be of any help?" Bracegirdle drew in a breath. "Has anything happened--?"
"Bloody *Mr* Simpson happened!" Then the tall lieutenant proceeded to describe what transpired aboard the Papillon, from the preliminary ruckus aboard the jolly boat, to the successful cutting-out expedition, to Kennedy and Hornblower's losses, then Hornblower's recovery and subsequent accusation.
Eccleston stopped walking. "The thing is, I'm inclined to believe Mr. Hornblower's version of events, but without objective proof," the first lieutenant shook his head, "my hands are tied. I was hoping the Captain--" He sighed. "I suppose we shall have to wait until the Captain regains his senses. He'll want to attend to the matter himself."
Bracegirdle nodded his agreement. "I daresay he's taken quite an interest in young Hornblower. Not that I blame him one whit. That lad has a lot of potential...and who else but the Captain would ever have discovered it?"
"Not I, and the Captain sees fit to remind me of this daily," Eccleston affirmed in a distracted tone. "But what do we do with him [i]now[/i], by George?"
His counterpart remained silent. It was not his place to tell the acting captain how to perform his duties.
Eccleston sighed. "Very well. First things first, I suppose. I shall take command here until the Captain is able to resume it...and if you would be so kind as to take charge over the Papillon for the time being?"
"Aye aye, sir." A pause. "Just out of curiosity, sir, who would I be relieving?"
"Mr. Hornblower. And please send him over at your earliest convenience."
"Aye, sir," the rotund lieutenant saluted, then climbed down into the waiting boat.
Eccleston watched him a moment, then turned to the division chiefs, who were ready to deliver their reports. This was going to be a long day.