Chapter Two: A Dangerous Declaration
Monotonous. That was the word Doctor Maturin often used to describe the ship's unvarying routine. It almost made a man anxious for battle. Lucky Jack Aubrey was certainly itching for action. The Surprise had received word that the French gunner, La Pucelle, was raiding merchant ships and had attacked the HMS, Cherub, almost sinking her. It had fallen to the Surprise to find the ship, sink her, or take her as a prize.
Bonden was at the helm, trying to stifle a yawn. It was almost noon, but the fog was still so thick, he could hardly see two feet in front of him. He smiled as he recalled that Will was below deck in the sick-berth, out of this damp weather. When Barrett had discovered that Will had served as a loblolly boy under his Surgeon father, Barrett passed on the information to Dr. Maturin. The doctor was always after the captain to send him more help and was able to get the young man reassigned.
Barrett's motives were not completely altruistic, another word he'd learned from the doctor. In fact, they were damned selfish--not to mention dangerous. It was safer down below and Barrett trusted the doctor to make certain the young man stayed safe, since Barrett's duties prevented him from doing so. Still, Bonden found his sense of duty beginning to slip away until all there was left was Will Sheppard's smile.
Noon was called to the captain by Lt. Pullings, followed by eight strokes of the ship's bell. The Boatswain piped to dinner and the crew tucked into their rations of pork and pea soup. Soon after, the crew received their grog rations on deck and brought them to the mess below.
Bonden was relieved at the helm by Mr. Wilde and was looking forward to a nap before his next watch, but first he had something important to do. With his own grog ration in hand, he went below and retrieved the special item he'd acquired a week before--a mango. He examined it before he wrapped it in a kerchief and wished he had given it to Will sooner. The Surprise had traded goods with the locals off the coast of West Africa last week. Barrett traded a beaded necklace he'd bought in Spain a few years before for the mango. He had planned on saving the necklace just in case he met a nice lass and decided to give up the sea and settle down, but as the years wore on, that dream seemed increasingly unlikely. Will's health was more important than some silly dream. Truth be told, Will was quickly becoming the most important thing is Barrett's life. He closed and locked his sea chest as the men started to sing:
Farewell and adieu to you, gay Spanish ladies,
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain,
For we've received orders for to sail to old England;
But we hope very soon we shall see you again.
Mr. Warley's loud, off-key voice nearly drowned out Will's sweet tenor, but Barrett strained to hear it. Bonden's smiled turned to a frown when Will poured his grog ration into Joe Plaice's cup. The old seaman laughed, then patted Will on the back and drained his cup. Will was a generous lad--too generous. Grog, rum mixed with water, not only provided the fluids a sailor needed, but the lime juice mixed in it prevented scurvy. Barrett knew Will's generosity came from an intense dislike of the brew, but he was bound to fall ill if he didn't drink it.
When the song was over, Barrett managed to catch Will's eye. He jerked his head and the lad dutifully left his comrades for a private chat with the Coxswain. Barrett touched the boy's shoulder and led him to an empty alcove. He unwrapped the kerchief and presented Will with the mango.
Will's eyes lit up as Barrett had hoped they would. "Where did you get it?"
Barrett put a finger to his lips. "Never you mind. Just eat it, sooner rather than later; it's starting to turn. You've got to stop giving away your grog ration before you get sick."
Will looked up at him sheepishly. "I'll stop giving it away if you agree to share this with me."
Barrett sighed. "That's what I mean. You don't have to offer the shirt off your back to make friends."
"You know I don't give away my grog ration to make friends," Will protested. The hurt in the young man's voice cut straight to Barrett's heart.
Barrett put a hesitant hand on Will's shoulder. "Some make think you do and try to take advantage."
"But not you," Will replied sweetly. "That's why you must share it with me."
They waited until after dinner and the next watch was called on deck before they cut into the precious fruit.
Barrett spent an inordinate amount of time cutting the mango into two unequal sections (Will would have the larger half if Barrett had to feed it to him himself). He groaned inwardly at the enticing mental picture that suddenly formed in his head. "How are you getting on in sick-bay?"
"The doctor's assistant, Mr. Higgins, hates me, I think," Will said with a wry grin. "I'm forever emptying buckets and when there aren't any to empty I find myself wishing there were, just to escape his scowls. Dr. Maturin means to take me on as an apprentice; he has me dressing wounds already. I sewed up that gash on Mr. Nagle's hand this morning, if you want to have a look at my tailoring skills. Mr. Higgins was none to happy about that, I can tell you."
Barrett snorted. "He's probably afraid you're his replacement, as well he should be. He's a villain, that one. Tried to cheat Slade out his grog ration by pulling a worm out his throat. Turns out he stole the worm from Dr. Maturin, hid it in his hand and just pretended to pull it out. You're clever, but you're honest--" Will turned away with a strange look on his face. Bonden took it for modesty. "Higgins should be shaking in his shoes. You'll make a damn fine Surgeon's Mate someday."
Will smiled shyly at the praise, but was obviously pleased. "Thank you so much for putting a word in for me. I can manage well enough on deck, but I'm a better loblolly boy than a seaman, being so small." He met Barrett's eyes and for the first time, Bonden noticed there was a hint of dun in the green irises, with tiny flecks of gold.
Barrett handed him his portion of the mango with a look that said he'd best not argue. Bonden put the fruit to his lips, but waited until Will took his first bite. The young man closed his eyes as he chewed, no doubt savoring the tart flavor. Will laughed when a bit of the juice escaped his mouth and ran down his chin. Barrett absentmindedly licked his lips and had to stop himself from dabbing the sweet fluid from Will's face.
When Will met his eyes again, Barrett recognized what he saw there. It mirrored his own disturbing thoughts about his mate, but Will's eyes were full of joy--and love. "I've never had such a friend as you, Barrett. I can never repay you for your kindness, but I mean to try."
Now it was Bonden's turn to look away. "You don't owe me nothin'--anything."
"It isn't out of a sense of duty that makes me want to." Will leaned toward him and touched his bare forearm lightly. Barrett's whole body jumped as if he'd been struck by lightening. "Don't you see? Everything I have is yours. All you need do is ask."
Barrett pulled away. "You don't know what your saying--"
"I know my heart, Barrett," Will whispered. "It belongs to you."
Barrett's own heart was pounding in his chest; excitement mixed with anger until he thought it would burst from his chest. Why was Will--his Will, he silently confessed--doing this to him? The lad was too young to realize what his declaration would mean for both of them. It would likely destroy them if Barrett gave into his desire. And he would, of course. His unconditional surrender to Will was just a matter of time. He suddenly wished that La Pucelle would attack and he would have his heart cut out by a French sword, anything that would stop the pain this impossibly beautiful young man was causing him.
Barrett's private torture was interrupted when whichever gods were listening to his lament granted his wish.
The Surprise was under attack.
To be continued…
Gay Spainish Ladies is a tradition sailor's song, sung in the film.
