Chapter 7

At Archie's pronouncement, Horatio's look of confusion deepened. "What do you mean, I'm not dead? I'm here, aren't I?"

Wellard said softly, "You can't be dead, sir. Physical pain...it just doesn't exist here. Pain is the only way to tell if you're alive."

"Then what am I doing here?"

"Ohhhhh!" Archie gasped, a look of realization dawning on his face. "You're having an out-of-body experience, Horatio."

"A WHAT?"

"Never mind, they won't be defined on Earth for another few centuries," Archie replied. "But if you're not dead, you have to go back. Your body will die without your spirit to inhabit it."

Head reeling from all this talk of spirits, and out-of-body experiences, Horatio stopped walking. "No," he said firmly. "I don't want to go back. Why would I, now that I've seen you here, happy and well again. Do you think I want to go back without you?"

"My body is buried in a shallow grave in Kingston, Horatio. Wellard was buried at sea. There's nothing for either of us to go back to...but you! Your body is still breathing! The longer you delay, the less likely it is that you will survive!"

"But don't you understand?" Horatio said in frustration, "All I want is here, Archie. If I leave, you'll be stuck here, won't you?"

Archie dropped his gaze. "That's true," he admitted reluctantly. "Wellard and I won't move on without you. This is not a bad place to wait. So you must go back. It's your duty, Horatio!"

Astonished that Archie would use this arguement against him, Horatio was getting angry. This showed itself in his harsh tone. "My DUTY? I did my duty, Archie. I protected my men! I got them home safely! I DIED for my duty!"

"Yes," his friend replied calmly. "And now you're going to live for it."

"No! I'll not abandon you again!"

"Horatio," Archie was becoming angry himself. "Listen carefully. I dragged myself to a courtroom and made a confession so you might live, because I was as good as dead. I did not make this sacrifice so that you could die six months later, after giving up!"

"Is that what you think I'm doing, giving up? I'll have you know that-"

"Begging your pardon," Wellard interposed. "Perhaps you'd care to discuss this with Him."

"Who?" Horatio asked, forgetting anger in his curiousity.

Wellard simply nodded towards the quarterdeck, where stood a lone figure.

"Commodore Pellew?" Horatio breathed, astounded.

Archie followed his friend's gaze to the individual in question. "Well," he chuckled, "Not quite."

"Then who?"

Wellard said softly, "Everyone sees Him differently, sir."

"Oh." His eyes widened in comprehension. "Ohhhh."

"Come, Horatio, let us see if he can convince you from this mad course you wish to take," Archie pulled at his jacket sleeve.

"Archie!" he protested, "I really don't think that this-"

And suddenly, He was there. No coming, no time to prepare, He was simply there, sizing him up through Pellew's eyes. "Well Mr. Hornblower," he said quietly. "How is it that you've found yourself here?" Without waiting for an answer, he turned, and said, "Walk with me."

Horatio turned a panicked glance at Archie, who simply smiled reassuringly and mouthed "Go."

He quickly turned and followed the retreating figure across the quaterdeck.