Part 2: Strangers
The smoke and fire burned and stung Archie's eyes and splintering wood everywhere.
"Fire!" cried Archie as his men rolled out the 12 pounder again.
"Now we've got 'em sir." Bracegirdle said to his Captain who stood eyes peering straight-ahead hands clasped behind his back.
"Send, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Hornblower to board her, Mr. Bracegirdle."
"Aye, aye sir."
"Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Hornblower." Mr. Bracegirdle called.
Archie turned his golden head towards Mr. Bracegirdle. His uniform was covered in black burn marks, his face covered in slight soot. He scampered lightly over to Bracegirdle. Horatio came up behind him.
"Well, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Hornblower please take your men and board the ship."
Loud shouts of 'hurrah' covered the deck, the captain of the French 64 the Etoile had strike the colors.
Archie turned back to his men.
"Come on lets go." Archie shouted as he leaped into a jolly.
**********************************************
On board the Etoile…
Lucy checked her jacket a third time for the papers again. They were there and she really had no need to worry. She could hear the canon's shudder and send loud crashing sounds through the air. So finally an English Ship had come across the Etoile. That was a comfort for the papers were burning fiery holes in her pockets. She grabbed the guns of the table and headed out on deck. She made her way though the burning smoke and flying splinters. She spied two groups of Englishmen boarding on to the Etoile and her eye caught one. He wasn't very tall but his auburn red hair shone golden and he brandished his silvery sword killing Frogs as he went. His eyes were the most wonderful color, the color of the blue ocean. She watched him closely as he fought with his men to secure the ship. She also saw another young man who fought beside him. He was tall and lanky with brown hair and deep brown eyes. She walked around the deck, a quirky smile watching all the destruction enveloped to her.
**********************************************
Archie looked around the deck and watched as Horatio and their men secured the ship for Captain Pellew. He brought up his sword to block another swipe from the wounded man in front of him. Then he turned his eyes to the Etoile's wounded Captain, who lay on the blood soaked deck. He picked up his gun and aimed for a shot. Archie's eyes traveled to the victim's back.
"No! Horatio!" Archie yelled as he pulled out his gun. He raised it to shoot, pulled the trigger, but nothing came out. He had not shot! Archie took off running Horatio would not get hurt.
"No!" He yelled as the Captain's fingers itched slowly toward the trigger.
"Archie what the…?" Horatio muttered stunned as Archie came running towards him, knocking him to the deck. The captain fired and the blazing metal stung and tore at Archie side. He looked to the Captain who picked up another gun.
Just finish me off…he pleaded silently as he winced at the wrenching and agonizing pain in his side. But before the man could fire a shot he was killed. A man, dressed in aristocrats' clothes, a black coat and black hat, jabbed a knife into the French Captains neck. Archie fell back and let out a relieved sigh, it hurt and sent a shooting pain into his ribs making it very hard to breath.
"Oh my god, Archie." He could her Horatio's voice but it was too far away to comprehend. Archie closed his saddened eyes.
"Well, I got my heroics, Horatio." Archie managed to whisper before a surge of pain went through him and he black out.
**********************************************
Lucy watched closely as the rest of the French were marched into the jollyboats. She spied as the English officer she had saved, was carried off by his friend. He was hansome; Lucy had to give it to him that. His golden red hair made him look like an angel and his deep blue eyes could rival the depth of the seas. Her heart pounded and fluttered deep within her chest. She closed her eyes and imagined him again and smiled seeing his pale, hansome face.
"All right, you too Frenchie." A rough sailor's voice rang through her thoughts and erased the man's face from her mind.
Lucy opened her eyes as she felt her hands being bound. A marine stood in front of her, looking her up and down.
"Come on Sir, you are to see the Captain." The marine said pushing her towards the boats.
Lucy pursed her lips as she thought, Captain Pellew is the captain and he would surely like these papers of mine.
The marine pushed her into the jolly and she looked back to see a man in a British Naval uniform take his place on the quarterdeck of the Etoile. His men working skillfully to clean up the men of battle. Blood and carnage were light on the breeze and filled it with a slight tangy taste. Lucy just smiled her rose lips full and her brown eyes peering out into the ocean. This is what she had wanted, everything was going as planned. The Marquis, his wife and daughters were nearing England by this time and she was to hand over the next move by the French to the English. All in a day's work, right? Right! She leaned back into the jolly as she pondered about the man she had saved. She could tell he was a courageous man and fear was not in his grasp for he had run to save a man from a lethal bullet. Her heart started to lurch and flutter again. Her mind was confused and shattered for a split second all her thoughts directed to him. But then as she attempted to order her mind, she told herself, Lucy you've got to act like a man now!
She didn't really pay attention to what happened next but as soon as she was on the Indefatigable she was ushered to see the captain. He knowingly stretched himself to his full height, as she was untied. Lucy eyed the captain trying to find out what kind he was. His graying, brown hair was tied back; his taut but handsome face set on Lucy. No doubt about it, Lucy thought making conclusions, he is a good captain.
"Ah, Captain Pellew." She said being the first to break the silence.
"Yes, now who are you?" the captain said quietly, eyeing his captain. Perfect English, the Captain said to himself, could be a spy though.
"Thank god this is an English Ship." Lucy announced reaching into her jacket and pulling out the papers.
"John Patterson," Lucy said making a low bow and presenting the captain with her papers, "These I think you should look at."
"Well, Sir…these are…well…straight from the Offices of the French Republic in Toulon bound for Le Harve." The Captain stammered blown away by his luck at finding an Englishman with these.
"Yes they are, Sir, I was hoping they could be of use." Lucy said quietly, casting her hazel eyes to the floor, smiling.
"Be of use…" the Captain choked, then abruptly came back to his senses, "Well thank you, Mr. Patterson and welcome to the HMS Frigate Indefatigable."
Captain Edward Pellew eyed Lucy again. He knew this person was not who they seemed but he didn't know what. So he dismissed Mr. Patterson to his quarters.
"Mr. Jacobs will show you your quarters. Thank you again, Mr. Patterson," the Captain said eyeing the young man once more as he exited his cabin.
There was something he didn't like about 'Mr. Patterson' but he couldn't really tell what it was. Pellew was convinced he wasn't a spy for the official documents he handed over and they were official. It was indeed something else and months later when he would finally discover the answer to his questions, boy would Captain Edward Pellew be surprised.
**********************************************
Archie Kennedy awoke to the rocking of the ship. His side ached in pain and he turned over in the hammock and went face to face with Horatio.
"Archie, you've awake!" He exclaimed his brown eyes alight.
"Well, so Mr. Kennedy, you have decided to join the world of the living." Dr. Sebastian said bringing the water pitcher with him.
Archie's surroundings registered, he was in the sick bay of the Indy. He tried moving again bit a searing pain in his side prevented him from it and he winced.
Seeing Horatio's worried look, he replied, "I didn't think saving you Horatio, would be so much work."
His still pale lips curved into a slight smile.
"You are going to live, Mr. Kennedy." Said Dr. Sebastian.
Archie chuckled, the pain making it hard to breathe, "Thanks for the reassurance doc. I am going to live, how about that?"
"Archie I…(pushed you out of the tree.)" Horatio said trying to keep his inner feelings inside.
"(What tree? We are out in the middle of the damn ocean!")"
"I want you to meet someone, Mr. John Patterson."
Archie's eyes went wide and he guessed his mouth was open too, as he looked on the slim figure stepped into the light. It was the man on board the Etoile, the one that had killed the captain. He still had on his long black coat and black hat.
"Mr. Kennedy, It's a pleasure meeting you." The man said nodding his head.
Archie studied the man in front of him. He had deep hazel eyes and small auburn wisps of hair could be seen from under his hat. He looked about seventeen, eighteen or younger. He had soft features and wore aristocratic clothes. Surely aristocratic by birth, Archie thought regarding his own station.
"So, Mr. Patterson what brought you to be on the Etoile?" Archie asked trying to spark a conversation. He coughed and winced again at the searing pain in his side.
He saw Horatio eye him cautious as he lay in pain.
"I was aboard a trade ship I work on, when it was attacked and sunk by the Etoile. Unforuntatly I was the only survivor." The young man spoke slowly the words slow to come off the tongue. His eyes darted around the room, he missed nothing, Archie could tell.
"Archie, would you like anything?" Horatio added getting to his feet.
"Yes actually?" Archie said a small twinkle in his eye as Horatio looked so eager to serve his friend.
"I would like you to get some sleep, I am sure you have spent every waking hour here." Archie said as Horatio's face dropped.
"But…" Horatio pleaded.
"That will be all, Mr. Hornblower." Archie said trying to mimic Captain Pellew.
"All right, Archie." Horatio said, he knew he couldn't win, so he meandered back to his berth.
"Good friend you have there." Mr. Patterson said getting up to talk with the doctor.
"You are Spanish, Doctor, right?" He said quietly watching Doctor Sebastian working with his medicine.
"Si, usted habla espanol? ^Yes do you speak Spanish? ^" The doctor asked, arching one dark eyebrow.
"Si, vivo en Pontevedra. ^Yes, I live in Pontevedra." Mr. Patterson replied.
"Niza para satisfacerle, Señor. ^Nice to meet you sir. ^" The doctor said turning back to his patient.
"Right, now Mr. Kennedy if you would drink this please." Dr. Sebastian held out a glass of murky water.
"It will help you sleep better." The doctor added seeing the wide-eyed questioning look from Archie.
This was Archie's worst nightmare and the doctor was encouraging him to take it. The doctor was giving him laudanum. No…he'd never take it again. The pain he could live with but not the nightmares…
"No, Doctor for pity sake's please no laudanum." Archie pleaded.
He knew the doctor meant well, he just wouldn't drink it.
"Come on, son it will be all better after you drink it." The doctor said sympathetically.
He probably thinks it the taste, I don't like, Archie thought's sending a shudder all over his body.
No, it would never be better, the dark, the nightmares, Simpson, Archie knew he could live with the pain, but these haunts he knew would kill him. It was better to face the pain. Archie clamped his jaw shut.
"Mr. Kennedy, it will be all right, you are making this hard for me." The doctor reached to close Archie's nose so he could pour the liquid in his mouth. But Archie was prepared to fight a blue fire was clear in his eyes.
Mr. Patterson watched the spectacle and pulled a small pouch out of his coat as he reached for another glass of water.
"Wait Doctor, I have a better idea."
Mr. Patterson's young face cam into Archie's view, he was holding a glass of murky water. The young man's hazel eyes read of sincere sadness.
"Maybe, if Mr. Kennedy will take this." Mr. Patterson motioned to the glass in his hand.
"That's laudanum too. Isn't it." Archie spat looking at the distasteful murky water.
"No, Mr. Kennedy, you are quite wrong. This is willow bark, which has the same affect as laudanum without the side affects. It is quite bitter though." Mr. Patterson's voice was steady.
Archie reached up hesitantly to take the glass. Were they trying to trick him? Well he had to take the chance. He took the glass and swallowed the water. Boy, Mr. Patterson was right this stuff is awfully bitter. It is definitely not laudanum.
"Well, thank you again Mr. Patterson." Archie said settling back down in his hammock, relaxing.
"Donde usted aprendió sobre cuidarse? ^Where did you learn about doctoring? ^" The doctor asked quietly.
"Oh aquí y allí, pero el doctor cuando usted está hacia fuera en un campo de batalla o en el centro de una descarga de la carnicería usted descubre cosas que usted nunca sabía, cuidándose es una de ellas. ^Oh here and there, but Doc when you are out on a battlefield or in the middle of a carnage dump you find out things you never knew, doctoring is one of them. ^ " The young man replied a small smiled spreading across his lips. His brown eyes flashed a worried look back to Archie Kennedy as he finally got some peaceful sleep.
**********************************************
Lucy stretched out on the cot she was given in her small quarters aboard the Indefatigable. Her heart beat against her chest hard and she started to dream about Archie Kennedy. Bloody hell, he was handsome and he took a shot better than most men did. Just before she finally began to dose off, to a much-needed sleep there was a steady knock on the door.
"Yes, come in." Lucy said sitting up.
Who would be disturbing here now?
It was Doctor Sebastian who popped his head through the door.
"Señor Patterson." The Doctor said meekly.
"Si. Doctor cuál es mal? ^Yes. Doctor what's wrong? ^"
She could tell something was wrong, the doctor was sweating, his dark brown hair was plastered wet on his brow.
"Vine gracias por él por la corteza del sauce y por un favor … ^I came to thank you for the willow bark and for a favor…^" Lucy eyed the Doctor cautiously,
"Le pienso veo esto, yo lo pienso he usado apagado…. ^I think you see this, I think it has worn off…. ^"
**********************************************
Archie strained to breathe, the pain he couldn't…he felt the clawing at his sides and face and fought wildly to defend himself. Pain seared as his flesh and he shook violently. He felt the hard hit as he splattered to the floor. He clawed at the air and swiped his fist through it. Then he felt like he was drowning, he couldn't breathe and tried in anguished pain to gasp for air, but to no avail. Nooo! Cried his inner self as the pain returned worse than ever.
He could hear as voice, a familiar voice and he strained to hear as he fought against the wrenching pain.
It was Horatio's voice; he now realized and was sure of it. What was Horatio doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be sleeping? He was having a fit wasn't he? Archie told himself as he strained against the constant pressure. He tried to relax but it wasn't working. He groaned in both pain and humiliation of having a fit. He hadn't had one in so long, he thought they'd finally be over. And now they had returned worse than ever like the Grim Reaper or the Black Death. Always in the dark, haunting him. He strained to hear the other voices as he tossed and turned on the floor. He felt someone's hands on him, to pick him up and place him back in his hammock. Two other voices entered his spinning mind. They were talking in Spanish. Oh my god, he thought, I am back in El Ferrol. Archie struggled even more clawing at the air again trying to get out of the whirlpool he was in. He felt Horatio grab his hand and he flinched away. Then it began again, the violent shaking and churning. His body ached and the pain teared at his burning skin. He couldn't fight it. It was no use. Then he felt cooling sensations envelop his body and it settled to just twitching. A hand brushed his forehead, a soft hand that comforted him. The twitching ceased, as did the shaking, he felt calmer. Cold shocks went through his body and finally he was able to gasp for air.
Opening his eyes, he saw a blurry Horatio sitting next to him, the Doctor his arms full of bags of ice that he placed around Archie and Mr. Patterson looking down at him with a concerned but a determined stare. Archie felt humiliated to have suffered a fit in front of this kind stranger. He just wanted to curl up into a ball, but he didn't think his battered body would allow it.
"Mucho hielo, Señor? ^More ice, sir. ^" The doctor asked Mr. Patterson.
"No, no creo aqui suficiente. Gracias Doctor. ^No, I think we have enough. Thank you Doctor. ^" Mr. Patterson replied.
"No, gracias para ti. ^No, thank you.^" The doctor said.
Archie tried to register what they were saying, all he knew was it was about him. The ice made his skin feel numb, but it felt good and stopped his fit, so he made no remark on the cold. He finally closed his weary eyes and rested back amidst the ice and rough blankets strewn over his body.
He thought about John Patterson to keep his mind on something. Poor boy, he thought, barely seventeen, eighteen. He had probably been born to a lord or a sir and chose, to sail on trading ships as his getaway price. His features were almost too effeminate to be a man, probably the youngest of his family. As Archie thought he remember his own early life, how his father hated his crippled, third son who chose the Navy. He cringed as he thought back to his fall, the constant fits and his teasing and horrible older brothers. He wondered now, was he really alone…
**********************************************
That was the last Archie saw of Mr. Patterson on board the Indefatigable. For when they put into port he was off, without a word.
End of Part Two