Chapter Fifteen

A loud pounding on his door roused Archie from a sound sleep. Cursing quietly, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and got to his feet. He padded over to the door in his bare feet, and flung it open. Horatio stood there.

"Good god, Archie, Mr. Bowles told me what happened! Are you all right?"

"And a good morning to you, too, Mr. Hornblower," grumbled Archie. He stood aside and Horatio entered the cabin, pushing back his coat as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

"I'm sorry, Archie," he said contritely. "Did I wake you?"

"No," Archie sighed as he flopped down on the bed. "I had to get up to answer the banging on my door anyway."

"Right," said Horatio, not really getting it. He joined Archie in sitting on the bed. "So are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Archie answered with a yawn. "It wasn't as bad as it could have been."

"Well, perhaps not, but still! A fire aboard ship..."

"I suppose it was just my own version of a fire ship," said Archie without thinking. "Do you think it will win me my commission?"

Horatio stared at him. "Archie?"

"What?"

"You remember the fire ship? You weren't even there."

"No," said Archie slowly as he sat up, "but you told me of it, of course."

"Not since the accident."

Both men stared at each other for a moment. Hope leapt into Archie's eyes as he leaned forward.

"No, you haven't. But Horatio, I remember it, every detail. How you felt when you saw Foster was on the exam board, how you completely messed up the very first question they posed to you, how you saved the Indy by steering the fire ship away... Horatio, it's all there! I know it!"

Horatio tried to check his own enthusiasm. "Anything else, Archie? Any memories, of, say, Matthews, or someone from Justinian, or your family?"

Archie thought for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. Everything was there, he knew it, but he just couldn't bring it out. Sighing, he looked up at Horatio.

"No. Nothing."

Horatio, too, was disappointed, but not discouraged. "It's all right, Archie. Things are coming back to you, little by little. The memories appear to be sparked by certain things that happen, that bring back related memories. Eventually, they'll all be back."

"Yes, of course they will," Archie agreed. "And I guess that I have proven that it is not necessary to know your past in order to conduct your present."

"That you have, Archie," Horatio grinned. "And then some." He was quiet for a moment before continuing, trying to think of the right way to bring up something he wanted to discuss.

"Archie?"

"Hmm?" Archie was leaning back against the bulkhead, his eyes closed.

"Do you remember anything about the accident? Do you recall what you were doing right before it?"

Archie frowned, sitting up and looking at his friend. "The accident? No, I really don't remember a thing about that day."

"What about the battle? Do you recall any details of the gun being blown? Who were you talking to afterwards?"

"Afterwards? Afterwards I was in sick berth, unconscious. Horatio, what is this all about?"

"Archie, what happened to you may not have been an accident."

Archie stared at him. "You're mad."

"No," Horatio replied, shaking his head. "Archie, you were seen on your feet speaking to someone after the cannon was blown. I think that someone hit you over the head, trying to injure or kill you."

"Why on earth would anyone want to do that? And who…" Archie stopped and stared at Horatio. "Malley."

"I don't know that it was Malley," said Horatio. "I've not ruled him out, but it wasn't him you were speaking to directly after the hit."

"So who was it?"

"Haversham," Horatio said quietly. "And from what I am told, he looked very angry with you."

"Haversham?" said Archie doubtfully. "What would he have against me?"

"That's the problem," Horatio said unhappily. "I just don't know. We know nothing about the man, Archie, nothing about his past. For all we know, he joined the Navy to hide from the authorities. Perhaps he is a murderer, or a thief, and you found out and confronted him with it. Maybe he had to get rid of you."

"I wonder what I found out," Archie mused. "Must have been pretty bad, for him to strike an officer and risk the noose." He looked at Horatio. "So how do we go about finding out?"

"I don't know," said Horatio. "I was considering just asking him."

Archie stared. "You are mad. Horatio, if he tried to knock me over the head and kill me, why would you think that he wouldn't do the same to you? Look, we need to be cautious about this."

"No, I don't think so," said Horatio, crossing one leg underneath the other and turning to face Archie on the bed. "Haversham would never try anything if the both of us were there together - he'd know he can't beat us both."

"Perhaps not right then, but who is to say about later?"

"Then what do you suggest, Archie? That we ignore the fact that someone tried to kill you?"

"It's the someone part that bothers me. Look, Horatio, I know that I have no memory of what these men were like before the accident, but Haversham just doesn't strike me as a killer. He tends to just shrug off anything that should bother him. I can't imagine him being violent enough to bash me over the head."

"I agree it seems out of character, but he was seen next to you right before it happened."

Archie leveled his gaze on Horatio. "I still think it's Malley. And if it is, maybe we no longer have anything to worry about."

"What does that mean?"

Archie shrugged. "I did save his life, after all. That should count for something."

Horatio sighed. "It should, but it doesn't. Archie, I believe that Malley hates you even more now than he did before, if that's possible."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because I heard him up on deck. You risking your life to save him after he'd panicked has humiliated him. He was saying that he'd gone to the captain to tell him that you had pushed him overboard, but the captain brushed him off, and told Malley that you would not be punished for nearly burning the Indy. Malley said that the captain was so influenced by you that he cannot see the truth, that you tried to kill him."

Archie cocked his head. "Does he really believe that?"

Horatio nodded. "Apparently so."

"Ah, well, I suppose it had to come out sometime. I did, you know."

"Did what?"

"Tried to kill Malley. I knew he couldn't swim, so I just pushed him over the side."

Horatio's mouth dropped open. "Archie! You didn't!"

"Of course I did. How else was I to get rid of him?"

"But, but," Horatio stammered, staring at his friend. "How could you? Archie, that's murder! You could hang for that!"

Archie grinned. "Not if I don't get caught. Who would believe a stupid man like Malley, over the dashing acting lieutenant from a titled family? It was the perfect opportunity."

"But...why?"

Archie sobered as he faced his friend. "It was for the good of the ship, Horatio. Malley was fostering dissent amongst the men, and who knows where that may have eventually led. Mutiny? Can't have that, can we? So, I took matters into my own hands."

Horatio, horrified, rose to his feet. "Dear god, Archie! I can't believe....murder? You?"

Archie shrugged. "Well, I almost got away with it, but someone saw me, so I had to change tactics and save him, instead. Too bad, really."

"Good god," Horatio whispered. "You really tried to kill him."

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Horatio, I'm teasing. You are such an easy mark. I did not push Malley overboard, all right? Now, sit down, and let's think about this. Perhaps if we drop some hints to Haversham and Malley both that we know more than we do, one of them will tip their hand. What do you think?"

Horatio sat back down, eyeing his friend warily. Blast. Both versions of Archie liked to tease and torment him. It wasn't fair. Shouldn't there be some sort of regulation about tormenting your superior officers?

"All right, Archie, I suppose we could do that, and see what happens. In the meantime, how about I help you study for your exam?"

Archie smiled. "I'd like that, Mr. Hornblower. Since I am unlikely to find myself faced with a fire ship, I suppose I shall have to do this the old-fashioned way, and actually study for the exam."

"Very amusing, Mr. Kennedy. Would you care to start now?"

Archie shook his head. "No, what I need right now is some food and fresh air. How about a trip up on deck? Then maybe we could find Haversham or Malley and begin questioning them."

Horatio nodded as he rose to his feet. "Capital idea, Archie. Let's go."

The two men left the room and made their way up on deck, with a brief detour to the galley for some biscuits for the both of them. They arrived up top and looked around for any member of Archie's division. Whitney was lounging around, while Walters dozed beside him. Haversham was nowhere in sight, so Archie and Horatio focused their attention on Malley, who was sitting and conversing with Fuller, the two of them with their heads close together.

"That doesn't look good," Archie commented to Horatio as they made their way across the deck. "Wonder what they're up to now?"

"Let's find out, shall we?" answered Horatio as they reached the side of the two seaman, who looked up at their approach. Malley looked up, anger blurring his features as he saw the two hated officers, and he leaned back, arms crossed across his chest. Fuller, as always, remained silent, just watching them all.

"Good day, Malley, Fuller," Horatio nodded to them.

"Sir," Malley spat out, obviously forcing himself to use the respectful address. Fuller merely nodded.

"Mr. Kennedy and I have some questions we'd like to ask you."

"Huh," Malley grunted. "You askin' us? Thought you pretty-boy officers already knew everythin'."

"All right, Malley," Archie said sharply. "I don't know what your problem with us is, but you will not speak to Lieutenant Hornblower in that manner. He asks the questions, and you answer them. It's that simple."

Malley glared at him, then turned to Horatio. "Yes, sir?" he said, with exaggerated politeness.

Horatio clasped his hands behind his back. "I'd like to ask you a couple of questions about the day that Intrépide attacked. For a start, what were you doing when your gun was destroyed?"

"What? You thinkin' it were my fault? Listen..."

"No, you listen, Malley. The frogs blew up your gun, not you. I am merely trying to establish the whereabouts of Mr. Kennedy's crew immediately following the loss of the gun. Where were you?"

"Just aft of it," Malley said sullenly. "Me 'n' Walters was trying to get away when it blew."

"And after the gun blew, what did you do?"

"Got to me feet, 'long with Walters. Whitney were just fore of us, with Fuller here. I seen Haversham 'n' Ken - Mr. Kennedy directly 'cross from us."

Horatio nodded. So far, it was the same as what Walters had reported. "So then where did you go?"

Malley looked suspiciously at him. "Whaddya mean?"

"I mean, Mr. Malley, where did you go when you got back to your feet? Did you go to aid your shipmates, to find out if they were injured? Did you check your gun?"

"Didn't need to check the gun. It were a smokin' black hunk o' iron."

"So where did you go?" Horatio pressed. "Did you go to another gun, to see if you could help the crew? Did you see if anyone needed your assistance?"

"Perhaps he tried to jump overboard," Archie supplied helpfully, and Horatio shot him a look.

"You are not helping, Mr. Kennedy."

Malley was looking at Archie with pure venom in his eyes. "I ain't the coward," he said angrily. "I ain't the one who tried to starve myself to death cuz I was too weak 'n' scared to come back to the Indy. I ain't the one who near got my mates killed on a bridge cuz I thought the frogs was after me. And I sure as hell ain't the one who used to lie 'neath Jack Simpson and beg for more every night."

"That's enough, Malley!" Horatio roared, but Malley ignored him.

"You liked bein' Jack's whore, dint you? I heard all 'bout how you 'n' him couldn't keep your hands off'n each other, how you used to beg for 'im to take you..."

Horatio grabbed Malley, dragging him to his feet and pinning him against the railing, his arm against the bigger man's throat. "You shut your mouth, Malley, or by god, I'll see it is shut permanently."

"Truth hurts, huh? Ever'one knew 'bout them two. I weren't even aboard that ship, but I heard all 'bout it from them that were. Stinkin' filthy…"

With a cry of disgust, Horatio threw the burly sailor away from him. "Get out of my sight, Malley, before I toss you overboard myself."

Malley threw them a furious look before turning and stalking off, Fuller trailing along behind him. Horatio, feeling sick to his stomach, turned back to his friend.

"Archie…"

Archie just looked at Horatio, then walked away. Horatio followed after him. Both men were silent as they made their way through the ship and entered Archie's cabin, the door closing behind them. Horatio waited for Archie to speak, but it was several minutes before he did. When he finally did, his voice was empty of all emotion.

"Is what Malley said true?"

Horatio closed his eyes for a second, trying to decide how best to handle this. He'd worked hard to win Archie's trust, and he was not going to let the spectre of Jack Simpson take it away now. The truth, he thought sadly. He deserves no less.

Facing Archie squarely, he said quietly, "From a certain point of view."

Archie's eyes blazed. "Throwing my own words back at me? What does that mean?"

Horatio took a deep breath. "It means that yes, you were with Jack Simpson. But you were not there willingly, Archie."

Horror flashed into those brilliant blue eyes. "He forced me?"

"Yes," Horatio said simply. "He was an evil man, and you did not deserve what he did to you. He's dead, Archie, and the world is a much better place because of it."

A pulse throbbed in Archie's jaw as he looked at the deck beneath their feet, and Horatio let him sort through his emotions. Damn Malley, he thought bitterly. Archie does not need this distraction right now.

"I need to know everything, Horatio."

"Archie, I'm not sure that's wise."

"Please, Horatio. Surely you can tell me the truth of what happened."

Horatio sighed, dreading this. He and Archie had not spoken of this since those long nights in El Ferrol, where Archie finally, by unburdening himself to his best friend, could begin to put this nightmare behind him. It had always been difficult for Horatio to even contemplate, much less talk about, what had happened but he knew that his discomfort was nothing compared to Archie's pain.

"All right, Archie. Sit down."

Archie sat, and Horatio began speaking, telling him of everything that had happened to him aboard Justinian, everything he had been subjected to since the age of twelve. Archie paled while he spoke, but said nothing, just allowing Horatio to tell the tale. When he finally finished speaking, there was silence in the tiny cabin.

Archie rose to his feet, wrapping his arms around his shoulders as if to hold himself away from the memories. He stood still, just staring at his sea chest, not really seeing anything in front of him.

"You'd think I would remember something like that."

"Aye," Horatio said softly. "But perhaps it is a blessing that you do not."

Archie nodded, still facing away from Horatio. The images provoked by Horatio's narrative had been merely that - images. He could recall nothing of that time, could not even see the face of his tormentor, could not feel the fear that Horatio said had nearly paralyzed him. He tried to conjure up the emotions that he should feel toward Jack, but there was nothing. Turning around, he looked at Horatio.

"You're right. I still do not remember anything about that time, and now I am grateful that I do not. The past cannot rule my life, Horatio. I must move into the future. Jack Simpson is dead and gone, and my past has been buried with him. Malley may believe what he will. You and I know the truth."

Horatio smiled at him. "Yes, we do, Archie. And those people who know you, who care for you, also know the truth, and will not listen to Malley and his ravings. The man is angry, Archie, and he seeks to hurt you in any way possible."

Archie regarded him. "Horatio. Malley brought that up for a reason."

Horatio stared back, their thoughts running along parallel tacks. "He wanted to change the subject. He wanted to get our attention away from what he was doing when you were attacked."

Archie nodded. "He's our man, Horatio, he has to be."

"I agree, Archie, but now we have to prove it."

Archie snorted. "Malley is not very bright - it shouldn't be difficult. All we have to do is get him angry enough to start ranting and raving, and he'll hang himself. Literally."

"And I hope I am there to see it," Horatio said grimly. "Honestly, Archie, I do not know how you have put up with him all these months. He could try the patience of a saint. I wonder why he hates officers so much?"

"The devil only knows, Horatio. Perhaps it is merely because he is forced into this life, while as officers, we chose to be here. I imagine it is nothing more complicated than that."

"Well, he should do as many others have, and simply accept his lot in life. He could make it so much easier for himself if he would stop fighting everything all the time, and just concentrate on doing his duty."

"Oh, Horatio," Archie sighed. "Not everyone looks on life as you do. Why, to some of us, there is actually something besides duty!"

"I cannot imagine what, Archie," Horatio said, raising his head and looking down his nose at his friend. "Duty is all."

Archie tilted his head as he looked at Horatio. "Did you ever have any fun as a child, Horatio?"

"I never was a child, Archie. I was born an adult." He turned and opened the door, preparing to leave.

"Now, that I believe," Archie grumbled as he followed Horatio into the passageway. "Makes it very difficult for the rest of us, you realize. We have so many years to catch up to..."

"Look, Archie," Horatio said as they arrived abovedecks. "Looks like Haversham finally decided to show his face."

Archie followed Horatio's look, and saw Haversham lounging aft, idly watching the deck being holystoned. They made their way over to him, taking their time so as not to alarm him.

"Good day, Mr. Haversham," said Archie.

Haversham rose to his feet. "Mr. Kennedy. Lieutenant Hornblower. Something I may do for you gentlemen?"

"Yes," Archie said bluntly. "You may tell me what you and I were discussing just before the gun blew, the day of my so-called accident."

Haversham eyed him, his eyes betraying nothing. "I don't know what you are speaking of, Mr. Kennedy. I remember no conversation."

"You see, that's just it," Archie said, walking in a circle around the sailor. "I don't remember it either, but it happened. There were witnesses, Haversham, and they will be more than willing to remind the both of us what that conversation consisted of. And of course, I will remember myself, in due time. My memory is returning, more every day."

"I'm glad to hear that, sir," Haversham said coolly. "It's a real shame about what happened to you. Guns can be such nasty things, can't they?"

"If it was the gun," Horatio said. "We don't believe it was."

"Really."

"Yes," Archie said. "See, someone hit me over the head, someone who was right next to me when the gun blew." He stopped and regarded Haversham in pretend surprise. "Now, wait. Wasn't that you, Haversham?"

"I don't know what you mean," Haversham said, rising to his feet and starting to walk off. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work waiting for me, and I must get to it." Before Horatio and Archie could say anything, he disappeared down the stairs.

The two men exchanged glances. "Curious," Archie said.

"Very curious," Horatio agreed. "And just begging for more information. We'll get it from him, Archie, sooner or later. He has something to hide."

"Yes," answered Archie, still staring after Haversham. "And I intend to find out just what he wants to keep so secret."