1801

'Captain Sawyer paced the deck in front of me a mad look in his eye accentuated by the blood dripping from his forehead. I've quite taken to the position of gunner…involves blowing lots of things up and waving around a cutlass and pistol. Ha.'

"Should we go get 'em, sir?"

"Pursue the dogs to the end of the world if necessary."

"Aye, sir."

'Were getting a new compliment of crew…well…if you call them a crew. My lot at CID would have a better clue about how to behave than this bunch of ingrates.'

"I said wait for my order before you hoist it you numpty," bellowed Hunt, at the sailors trying to sway up the net full of provisions. "Handsomely, now, handsomely." 'Can't believe I'm using that phrase.' "Woah!"

'The net suddenly took on a life of its own, swinging across the deck almost flattening the idiot standing in its path. Then the blummin lieutenant had the cheek to try and blame me.'

'I try to sleep…but I can't. Every night, laying back listening to the creaking if the hull and the sound of waves crashing always seemed to be punctuated by the sound of a ventilator. It's bloody annoying. And this lack of sleep is getting on my wick. I've definitely been thrown into a lions den, with backstabbers and arse kissing. Its like eating an egg mayo sandwich from the station cafeteria, risky but if it's the only sarnie left and your stomachs doing the Edinborough Tattoo your only option.'

"I must have the crew on my side," grumbled Captain Sawyer. "Any ideas Hobbs?"

'I have to remember not to correct him.'

"Well, I'm parched, sir."

"Excellent idea!"'Eh? I was only hinting I wanted a whisky from his drinks cabinet.' "Extra tot of rum for everyone."

'Not what I wanted, you tight git, but it's better than nothing I suppose.'

"Oy! Mate, watch it!" 'Took at a swipe at some bastard that thought he could shove past me.'

"You watch it, damn your eyes man," the sailor yelled, spitting with anger.

"I'll give you something to worry about."

"You throwing a hissy fit Styles?" said Matthews placing a restraining hand on his friends shoulder. "It's not worth it mate. Just get back to work or you'll be in trouble."

"No use wasting me precious time on this scum," growled Styles.

'Now we could have parted as enemies with pride intact but that great big idiot spat in my face. Well I don't put up with that kind of disrespect.'

"You're asking for a hiding you are."

"Why don't you-,"

"Styles, don't do anything stupid."

"Yeah, be a good lackey and do as you're told. Don't do anything stupid." 'Tyler said that we should keep talking to youSo here's today's newspaper. Oooh, look City won-,' "Chris you ruddy pillock!"

"Sir?" asked Matthews, a little disconcerted. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Of course, I'm fit as a bloody fiddle," snapped Hunt, storming off down the gangway.

'Why, oh, why, oh, why? Why me? Why this place and why can't I just wake up?' He closed his eyes, wishing himself back home.

"You can if you want to," said a voice.

'The figurehead woman again. What does she want?'

"Back again so soon. We've got to stop meeting like this."

"Always the sarcasm but its really just hiding the frustration, the loneliness isn't it?"

"I don't need no shrink."

"All your friends visit you, but your wife she hasn't come to see you even once. I wonder why that is?"

"You keep my Mrs out of this. She's a cracking bit of skirt and a diamond to put up with the likes of me alright. And no one disses her, except me, understand?"

"You can threaten all you want but it won't get you anywhere."

"Wanna bet?"

"Not hit rock bottom yet? When you do you'll be able to lay on your back, look up and see who you are."

"I don't have a ruddy clue what you're on about!"

"What motivates you Gene Hunt?"

"I'm not taking advice from some watery tart who talks in riddles!"

The bell marking the time pierced the night air as the woman disappeared like a puff of smoke. 'That reminds me I'm dying for a ciggy, wonder if the captain of the marines has a spare pipe.'