Andromeda
"It must have been exciting," Morse said wistfully.
He was an odd bugger, Morse. Jim had half expected him to turn up his nose at the story, but instead he seemed enthralled; mouth quirked, eyes gleaming.
"Not bad," Jim acknowledged, sipping at his lager. "The Captain was like Mr Bright. Carry on, and all that. Cut from the same jib, so to speak."
Max smiled shrewdly. "Do you remember your first, then, Sergeant Strange?"
"Aye, Andromeda." Jim chewed thoughtfully on a chip. "Pretty little thing she was, and she made for a nice chase. Two nights and a day, a decent share of booty all around. And she walked beautifully at the end."
"Such a long chase, and your suspect walked?" George asked, startled.
"Oh aye, she walked," Jim said grimly. "Every man jack aboard her. Straight to Davy Jones' Locker."
There was a stunned silence.
"I suppose she won't be bothering you again," Morse said eventually. "That's something."
"Arrrrmen to that, Matey," Jim agreed, and clinked glasses with Morse.