Chapter Eight

"Gentlemen! What a pleasant surprise it is to see you. Will you be staying long?"

Horatio shook his head as he signed the register at the Black Swan. "Not this time, Mr. Andrews, but we shall hopefully return in a few days. We'll be here for tonight, and then back to the ship for several nights watch, but then we will be free again to return."

"Well, I'm always glad to see such fine young gentlemen as yourself. Room fifteen is free - nice and clean with a view of the street. That suit you as usual?"

"Just fine, Mr. Andrews, just fine," Horatio said, turning to look at Archie. "Ready, Mr. Kennedy?"

Archie was looking around him, studying the place. Small but clean, the room was filled with lower-ranking officers and the sounds of drinking and cards being slapped upon the scarred tables. Not the Mermaid, he thought with a sigh, but at least it shows some promise of entertainment.

"Yes, Mr. Hornblower," he finally answered Horatio. "I'm quite ready for dinner."

Horatio laughed. "Yes, you did work up an appetite, didn't you. Let us take our dunnage upstairs, and then we'll come down and order some dinner." He grabbed his valise from where he had dropped it on the floor, and headed up the stairs. "Coming, Mr. Kennedy?"

"Of course, sir," Archie answered, picking up his own bag and following him up the narrow stairs. They went up three flights of stairs before they finally reached their room.

"Good god, Mr. Hornblower," Archie groaned. "Could you not have procured a room closer to the dining room, instead of in the attic?"

Horatio, disappointed, looked at him. "This is the room we always take, Archie. It may be small, but it is the only thing we can afford, if we also wish to eat while ashore." He opened the door and went inside, Archie following after him.

"This?" he said in disbelief. "This is where we stay? Mr. Andrews should be paying us to stay here - there's scarce room to turn around! And there is only one bed - I suppose that I, as the junior officer, must sleep on the floor. Well, at least there is a washbasin. I suppose that is some small comfort."

"I'm sorry, Archie," Horatio said apologetically. "It isn't much, but it really is the best we can procure for our money. The bed is big enough for two, so I shan't force you to sleep upon the floor, and besides, we won't be spending all of our time here. There is much for us to explore, many old familiar places we always go, and I should like to visit as many as possible. Surely something will be familiar."

"The only thing that is familiar," Archie grumbled, "is this gnawing in my stomach. Is it now time for us to go eat?"

Horatio laughed. "Very well, Archie. If you are ready to dine, then dine we shall."

The two men threw their bags on the bed and went back down to the dining room, taking a table near the back of the room. A pretty young serving girl came to take their order, smiling at the two handsome young officers. Horatio nodded to her, but Archie returned her smile with a brilliant one of his own, and the girl colored slightly.

"What can I get you fine sirs?" she asked in a light, musical voice. "We have a fine chicken this evening, specially prepared."

"That sounds perfect," Archie said, smiling at her again. "We'll take two, and two pots of ale, please."

Dropping a small curtsey, the girl smiled back, then hurried off to the kitchen. Horatio shook his head.

"Another conquest already, Archie?"

Archie grinned as he looked around. "She's certainly a pretty little thing, don't you think? That cloud of dark hair, those beautiful brown eyes - she's quite charming."

Horatio snorted. "I do not think it is her charm you are looking at, Archie."

Archie laughed, and the two men leaned back against the booth and looked around. Horatio nodded to a couple of officers he recognized, but Archie merely looked at them blankly. No, sighed Horatio to himself, he still doesn't know anyone.

Their meal arrived quickly, and the two men dug in with gusto. The serving girl had been correct, and the chicken was delicious. Horatio hadn't realized how hungry he was, and conversation lagged as they quickly filled their bellies. Archie ordered several more pots of ale, though Horatio stopped at two.

Finally, their appetites satisfied, they put down their forks and pushed their plates away. Archie finished off his ale, and ordered more.

"Archie, don't you think you've had enough?" Horatio asked reprovingly. "You don't wish to cloud your mind any more than it already is."

Archie glared at him, and opened his mouth to reply, when someone stopped at their table.

"Why, Lieutenant Hornblower! How unexpected!"

Horatio looked up. "Good heavens," he said with surprise. "Lieutenant Chalke." He rose to his feet and shook the older man's hand. "It's been quite some time."

"Years," Chalke agreed, nodding to Archie. "The last time I saw you, you were merely a midshipman, and had just challenged that brigand Mr. Simpson to a duel. I assume you came out the winner, since you are here now."

Horatio shot a glance at Archie at the mention of Simpson's name, but Archie had not reacted at all. Good, he thought with an inward sigh of relief. He turned back to Chalke.

"That, sir, is another story, perhaps best told over a game of cards. Would you care for a hand?"

Chalke's eyes lit up. "Ah, yes, I would, even though I've not forgotten how badly you beat me the last time! Perhaps I shall have better luck this turn."

Horatio turned to Archie. "Mr. Kennedy? Would you care for a hand of whist?"

Archie frowned. "Whist? Do I play?"

Chalke looked puzzled, and Horatio hastened to explain. "Mr. Kennedy has had a few too many cups of grog tonight, I do believe." He turned back to Archie, a mercenary gleam in his eye. "Why yes, Mr. Kennedy, you very much enjoy a good game of cards. We've spent many an evening aboard the Indy with a deck of cards."

"Indefatigable?" said Chalke with respect. "You serve with Pellew, then? You've done well for yourself, sir."

"I - we - are very fortunate," Horatio said humbly. "She is a fine ship, with a fine captain. Are you still with the Goliath?"

"No, no," Chalke shook his head. "I am now second lieutenant aboard Renown, under Captain James Sawyer."

"Sawyer," Horatio said, almost with awe. "He is quite a legend."

"Well, yes, I suppose," Chalke said uncomfortably. "Now, one of my midshipmen is here with me, so we have a fourth. Shall we?"

Horatio nodded. "Come, Mr. Kennedy. The cards await." Archie tried to get up, but fell back in his seat. Planting his feet, he tried to rise again, but bumped into the table and fell back again. He looked up at Horatio, blue eyes wide with inebriation.

"I think, sir, that I shall require assistance."

Horatio shook his head and took Archie by the arm, hauling him to his feet. "Are you able to walk?"

"Of course," Archie said haughtily. Slowly, he put one foot in front of the other and carefully made his way across the room. Halfway through, he swayed slightly, and tipped to one side. Horatio caught his arm.

"Are you well, Mr. Kennedy?"

"I'm just fine," Archie said, slowly enunciating each word. "Just listing a little bit. It would help if this ship would stop pitching so. Are we having a squall?"

Horatio steadied his friend, and Chalke smiled as he asked, "You wish to take a reef, sir?"

"I do not," Archie said with dignity. "I wish to take a pi-"

"Very good, Mr. Kennedy," Horatio said hurriedly, interrupting him. "Let's see if we cannot get this ship a little more steady for you."

"That would be nice," Archie agreed, shaking his head vigorously, and teetering against Horatio. "Are we having a storm, then?"

Horatio and Chalke exchanged amused grins. "No, Mr. Kennedy," Horatio said. "We are having a card game. Remember?"

"Can't remember anything, remember?" Archie mumbled, then grinned. "But at least I remember that I can't remember, and that you remember that I can't remember, and…"

"All right, Mr. Kennedy," Horatio laughed. "Perhaps a game of cards and some coffee will help your memory."

The three men sat down at the table occupied by Midshipman Farley, and the game quickly commenced. Archie soon sobered up enough to realize that he was losing - badly - and he glared as Horatio won another game. Bets were settled up, with Horatio taking almost everything, and Lieutenant Chalke and Midshipman Farley said their good nights. Archie was still glaring at Horatio.

"I thought you said I played cards."

"Oh, I did, Mr. Kennedy. I just never said you were any good at it."

"Thought we were supposed to be friends," Archie grumbled as he shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs out of it. He was sober enough now to realize that Horatio had set him up to lose, and Archie was none too happy about that.

Horatio's heart leapt into his throat. After all he had done this past week to try to remind Archie of how close of friends they had been, had he thrown it all away for the chance to win some coins? What if Archie never forgave him, what if he thought Horatio had deliberately taken advantage of his poor card skills? He looked over at Archie, who was sulking in his chair.

"Archie, I'm sorry," he said contritely. "Look, this money is for the both of us. Now we can dine wherever we wish, and still have plenty of money left over. Perhaps you would like to return and buy that Shakespeare book Mr. Griffith recommended. Maybe…"

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Mr. Hornblower," Archie said with disgust. "I do not want the blasted book." He looked at Horatio, arching an eyebrow. "There is something you can do to make it up to me, though."

"Anything, Archie. Just name it."

"Can we please have some fun? I say we go find a couple of young ladies and take them up to that tiny room we have…"

"Archie!" Horatio said, embarrassed. "I don't think so."

"What? This is not something we have ever done before?"

"Not exactly."

"Ah," said Archie knowingly. "You mean this is something YOU have never done before."

"Archie..."

"Oh, for god's sake, Mr. Hornblower, let yourself go! Have some fun! For once in your life, forget about duty, and enjoy yourself!"

"It's not that simple for me, Archie."

"Why not?"

"Because I cannot just, simply, well, be casual about it. I wish to be with a young lady who means more to me than simple physical release."

"Well, not me," stated Archie. "I intend to enjoy myself. You'll stay down here, then, and not disturb us?"

Horatio regarded him warily. "You are so certain you can find a young lady of a willing nature?"

"Trust me, Mr. Hornblower," Archie grinned, turning the phrase Horatio had so often used on him. "That will not be a problem." He looked across the room to where their serving girl sat at the bar.

"Archie, you cannot be serious."

"Why not? She's pretty, she was definitely interested…"

"You don't know what she was interested in, Archie. Not all women will go to bed with any man who smiles at her. Perhaps she is a proper young lady who will slap your face if you suggest such a thing to her."

Archie laughed. "Oh, Mr. Hornblower, you are much too rigid. I suggest you go find yourself another three boring officers, and play several games of whist, and I shall see you when we have both concluded our business. Good evening, sir."

Horatio watched as Archie made his way over to the girl, then shook his head as Archie kissed the girl's hand and bowed slightly before her. The two remained at the counter for some time, talking and laughing, the girl blushing as Archie leaned in close to her and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes sparkling, she nodded, and jumped off her stool. Archie took her hand and they headed up the stairs.

Horatio watched them go in disbelief. He would never understand why it was so easy for some men. He, himself, could not even speak to a female without stumbling over his words, if he was even able to think of something to say. Invariably, he just made an idiot out of himself, an undignified fool who could not banter with females. Women always loved Archie, even if he rarely took advantage of their interest. Horatio simply did not understand how to relate to them.

"Left behind, eh, Mr. Hornblower?" It was the proprietor, clearing off the table next to him.

"Yes," sighed Horatio. "Perhaps I should have another pot of ale."

Andrews laughed, then fetched him a drink. "Molly's a good girl," he said as he placed the mug in front of Horatio. "She'll give him a fair tumble, I'll wager."

Horatio colored. Good heavens, did no one have any propriety these days? Quickly, he drained his cup of ale, then rose to his feet. Perhaps a nice long walk would be good. The girl Molly had not appeared back downstairs yet, so it looked like Archie would be occupied for quite some time, and as he had no desire to walk in on the two of them, he needed something to do to occupy his time. A walk was ideal.

**********

"I thank you, kind sir," Molly giggled as she left Archie's room. "Maybe we can do it again sometime."

"Count on that," Archie agreed. When the girl had left, he quickly washed up at the washbasin and pulled his clothes on. He headed out the door and down the stairs, not listing at all along the way - his exertions had worn off the effects of the ale he'd had. Now he had to find Horatio.

Arriving downstairs, he looked around the room. Several card games were going on, but there was no sign of Horatio. Strange, thought Archie, and then he shrugged. Perhaps his friend had finally taken his advice and found himself a willing woman for the evening. Now there was a positive step! He decided to go outside and look around, just in case Horatio was merely sitting out in the darkness, waiting for him to finish.

There was no sign of Horatio anywhere outside, either, so Archie continued on down the street, eventually finding himself headed toward the Smiling Mermaid. It won't hurt just to look in there, he told himself. Maybe someone will have seen him.

"What are you sayin'?" came a familiar voice from the alley just outside the Smiling Mermaid, and Archie slowed his steps, stopping at the end of the alley. Something told him that he wanted to hear what was being said, so he waited in the shadows, noting two men standing in the darkness, conversing.

"I'm tellin' ya, Whitney, it's God's honest truth."

Malley, thought Archie with distaste. What lie is he feeding poor Whitney now?

"I dunt b'lieve it. Mr. Kennedy 'n' Mr. 'Ornblower ain't like that."

"Well, o' course they ain't gonna show it to ever'one - they sneak off into the cable tiers and such."

"Why would they do that?" asked Whitney, doubt evident in his voice. "I mean, they got their own cabins - why'd they want to go where they might get caught?"

"Cuz," Malley said with exasperation. "Them cabins got too thin o' walls. Someone'd hear them, fer sure. Why you think they allus take shore leave together? Gives 'em even more time fer it."

"Nah, it ain't so."

"I swear it! Look, Whitney, I seen 'em."

"You seen 'em?" Whitney sounded completely astounded. "Ya mean, act'lly..."

"Yep," Malley continued on, excitement in his voice. "I seen 'em plain as day, way down deep in the hold - Kennedy flat on 'is back, 'n' Hornblower atop 'im, cryin' out 'is name - it's disgustin', it is. They should hang fer what they are."

Archie, still hiding in the shadows, was numb with shock. He knew he hadn't mistaken Malley's meaning, and a chill crept over him as all sorts of pieces began to fall together.

"I still dunt b'lieve it," Whitney said slowly, "but if you act'lly saw 'em..."

"Oh, I did," Malley said gleefully. "And we gots to do somethin' 'bout it. We all knows the damn Admiralty looks t' other way most times, even if the Articles of War say they should be hanged, so we got t' be the ones t' take care of 'em. Gotta be us."

Archie couldn't listen anymore. He turned and fled into the night, fighting back the images in his head, images of himself with the man who kept claiming he was his best friend....No. It couldn't be so. And yet, now so many other things made sense, so many things he'd instinctively questioned, but had pushed aside because Horatio assured him they were friends.

An image floated into his mind; Molly in the bed with him, her dark hair flowing across the pillow, her brown eyes laughing with pleasure. Dark hair, dark eyes. Just like Horatio. Dear god, had he chosen her because she looked like him? Had his body remembered what his mind had forgotten? Archie stopped and leaned against a wall as he fought back a wave of nausea. Had he thought she was Horatio?

Horatio. He had to find him, had to confront him about what he'd just heard. God knew what he'd do when he found him, but it must be done. This was one part of his past he had to know about. He had to. His life could depend on it.