Chapter Eight: Doctor Maturin Has a Plan

"Bonden has violated Articles Two and Twenty-seven!" Aubrey bellowed as he and Stephen argued the man's fate in the wardroom. "I have no choice but to call for a court-martial."

Stephen furrowed his brow. "Two and Twenty-seven? Which ones are those?"

With a sigh, Jack passed the Articles of War to the doctor. The Articles were read aloud at least once a month for the edification of the crew. Jack was annoyed that Stephen had failed to memorize the Navy's laws after all these years and tapped his foot impatiently as Maturin read aloud:

"'Article Two: All flag officers, and all persons in or belonging to His Majesty's ships or vessels of war, being guilty of profane oaths, cursings, execrations, drunkenness, uncleanness, or other scandalous actions, in derogation of God's honour, and corruption of good manners, shall incur such punishment as a court martial shall think fit to impose, and as the nature and degree of their offence shall deserve.'" Stephen removed his spectacles and rubbed his eyes. "It isn't as if Bonden brought some whore on board."

"No," Jack quipped, "he cleverly hid his whore in plain sight."

Stephen held back a vitriolic reply and read Article Twenty-seven: "'No person in or belonging to the fleet shall sleep upon his watch, or negligently perform the duty imposed on him, or forsake his station, upon pain of death'" Stephen paused. "'or such other punishment as a court martial shall think fit to impose, and as the circumstances of the case shall require.'" The doctor met the captain's gaze. "You can't seriously be considering putting him to death."

Jack turned away from his old friend. "That's for a court martial to decide."

"Half the crew left their posts to watch the spectacle. We were standing still, for God's sake!" Stephen was relieved to see a certain lack of resolve in Jack's eyes.

Aubrey knew he was being unreasonable, but was in no mood to admit at the moment. "Not only did Bonden hide her true identity from me, he engaged in illicit relations with her and got her pregnant!"

"A fact we would not have discovered had she not volunteered to help a fellow crew member. Bonden did indeed keep the truth from you, but not for one second did this ship or her crew suffer for itquite the opposite in fact." Stephen grinned wryly. "You're angry because she fooled you."

"She fooled all of us," Jack replied without amusement. "Some ship's doctor you are, not to notice such a thing."

Stephen swallowed hard as his eyes shifted to the floor.

Jack slammed his fist on his desk. "You knew!"

"I suspected," Stephen said, raising his hand in protest. "I never asked the question, fearing the answer. For the good of the crew." He grinned sheepishly. "Shall I call for the Master-at-arms?"

"Dammit, Stephen!"

"I have a solution, if you'd like to hear it."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Jack replied, folding his arms across his chest.

"Let them marry and allow her to stay on as my nurse," Stephen suggested. "She's a finer Surgeon's Mate than Higgins can ever hope to be. I don't want to lose her."

Jack snorted. "For the good of the crew, of course."

"Of course."

"You heard what Bonden said to her," Jack reminded him. "They're on the outs. What makes you think they'd want to marry, assuming I'd agree to this solution of yours?"

"Bonden is angry and hurt. He loves Miss Sheppard very much." When Jack raised an eyebrow, Stephen added quickly, "One can tell just by looking at him."

Jack sat down wearily and shook his head. "What would you have me do, Stephen? Celebrate the happy nuptials and give the crew an extra ration of rum?"

"Yes!" Stephen replied enthusiastically. "Except the part about an extra ration of rum."

"I cannot let this pass," Jack said quietly. "Bonden must be punished."

"Then just flog the man and have done with it, the happy nuptials to follow."

Jack gazed at his old friend in surprise. "You're actually recommending that I have him flogged."

"Better that than a hanging," Stephen said. "It is up to your discretion, Jack. And I defy you to find a precedent for this in naval law. Miss Sheppard has served with distinction; you've said as much yourself in the past."

"When I knew her as Mr. Sheppard." Jack began gazing at the Articles of War, without really seeing them. "I'll take it under advisement."

It took Stephen a moment to realize he had just been dismissed.

Higgins sat next to India's hammock as he was ordered, stealing frequent glances at his charge. Even in her grief, India realized she had become a more interesting curiosity than all of Doctor Maturin's exotic specimens combined. She wondered how the other menher friendsthought of her now. Barrett was not only popular, but respected as well. They would blame her for his fall, as they should. If only she hadn't told him how she felt, none of this would have ever happened. India felt a lump in her throat that threatened to choke her when Doctor Maturin returned.

Despite the protests of the doctor and Higgins, India climbed out of her hammock and took Maturin's arm. "Has the captain decided what to do with Barrett?"

"Not yet," the doctor replied with an encouraging smile, "but I have no doubt he'll treat him fairly."

India took a chair and began wringing her hands with worry. Doctor Maturin wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and tried to distract her with his latest manuscript, a treatise on the flora and fauna of the Brazilian Rainforest. India listened politely, grateful for the doctor's efforts on Barrett's behalf. Though the doctor would never speak of a private conversation between him and the captain, India knew he had done his best to argue mercy for her beloved. Yes, beloved.

Despite the hurtful things Barrett had said to her, India still loved him. But did he still have feeling for her? She recalled the look of panic in his eyes as she lay bleeding on deck, but she also remembered his cruel words and ice-cold expression when she told him their child was dead. She rubbed her eyes on her sleeve as Slade, Nagle and the Boatswain Hollar entered sick-bay.

Doctor Maturin rose. "What is it?"

Slade stepped forward with a bowl of soup in his hand. "Scuttlebutt has it that Miss Sheppard ain't drawing a ration no more."

"She'll not starve, I assure you," the doctor replied

India approached her crewmates and smiled broadly. "Thanks, Slade, but you eat your ration. I'm all right."

"You are at that, WillI mean, Miss," said Nagle. "You stitched me right nice and half the crew besides at one time or another. T'isn't your fault you're a lass."

India felt as if she would burst into tears, but she managed to stop herself. "How's Barrett getting on? Any word?"

The three men looked at each other, then at the doctor. "Well, that's the other reason why we're here," said Mr. Hollar. "There'll be no court martial…"

India breathed a great sigh of relief. Doctor Maturin smiled in triumph.

"But he will be punished." Hollar paused and looked down at his feet. "Tomorrow at eight bells."

The boatswain didn't have to tell her what that meant. Barrett was to be flogged.

Hollar managed to meet her anxious gaze. "And the captain expects you to be there, if you're fit enough."

India remained silent, but the doctor vehemently protested.

"That's to be your punishment, I suppose," explained Hollar. "To see the result of all the trouble you've caused, begging your pardon, Miss."

She lowered her head and nodded. "I'll be there."

"Do you love him?" Nagle asked.

India smiled sadly. "With all my heart."

"Then don't shame him tomorrow," her mate warned. "Stand at attention and don't make a sound."

"You'll not hear a peep from me," she replied. "I promise."

I've always found it rather perverse that a man is forced to create the whip that will be used on his own back.

Barrett almost grinned at the memory of Doctor Maturin's words on the subject of flogging. He agreed it was a strange custom, but it was tradition. A man sentenced to flogging had twenty-four hours to make his own cat-o-nine tails. If his cat was not completed in time, the unfortunate sailor's punishment was supposed to be increased, but he had never heard of Jack Aubrey following that part of the tradition.

Barrett put the bundle of cord aside, leaned over and rubbed his sore ankles. They were starting to swell a bit from the irons and lack of movement. He almost looked forward to being brought on deck tomorrow so he could stretch his limbs out. He took up his cat again and started singing absent-mindedly under his breath:

The maiden, oh, the maiden oh.

The sailor loves the maiden, oh!

So early in the morning,

The sailor loves the maiden, oh!

He stopped abruptly, annoyed at himself for his unconscious choice of song. Barrett had spent the last several hours convincing himself he was done with India, but the minute he let his mind wander, he was singing songs about a sailor loving a maiden.

If only he had left her a maiden, he wouldn't be in this fix. Though he was still deeply hurt that India had kept her pregnancy from him, he knew he had only himself to blame. When he withdrew his affections from her weeks ago, what else could she do but hide her condition? Now all was lost.

True, he would not be facing court martial, but the captain would soon send India away. Barrett would do what he could for her, of course. He planned to give her all the money he had and he would send her off with a letter to his sister in London (surely, Doctor Maturin would help him write it). Annie was in service to a well-to-do family in Kensington; he hoped she could secure India a situation. He frowned at the thought of India working as a servant girl, but it was the best a poor woman could hope for.

As if it had just occurred to Barrettas indeed it didhe suddenly understood why India had fought so hard to continue living in this man's world. As Will Sheppard, India had position and respect. She could use her healing talents to their full potential. All these things had been stripped from her now and she would be forced to live the rest of her life as a drudge. With a deep sigh, he abandoned his cat and felt tears stinging his eyes. He prayed he could hold her just once more, if only to beg her forgiveness.

The next day just before eight bells, Barrett shielded his eyes as sunlight streamed into his dank cell, followed by three figures. One held a bayonetthe Royal Marine charged with guarding him. As his eyes adjusted to the bright light he recognized Hollar and Doudle. The boatswain picked up Barrett's cat and pronounced it acceptable with a nod, while the marine removed his leg irons. Doudle helped Barrett to his feet and handed him his best shirt. "You'll be all right, mate."

"Aye," said Hollar. "It'll be over before you know it."

Barrett snorted and grinned in an effort to cover his nervousness as he changed his shirt. In all his years in the service, this would be the first time he faced such a punishment.

As they led him on deck, Barrett had been prepared to see the grate he would soon be tied to on the gangway, but he wasn't prepared to see India standing next to Doctor Maturin. She looked pale and weak, but she stood at attention, her head held high. As there were no appropriate clothes for her aboard ship, she still wore her shirt and trousers, but her kerchief, hat and jacket were denied her now that she was officially a civilian; which made Barrett wonder why she was on deck at all. She should be in sickbay resting.

The Royal Marines stood with their bayonets fixed, as the crew looked to Captain Aubrey taking his place at the helm in front of a podium.

"Uncover!" ordered Lt. Pullings. All but the Captain removed their hats.

Aubrey set the Articles of War upon the podium and began to recite: "'Article Thirty-six: All other crimes not capital committed by any person or persons in the fleet, which are not mentioned in this act, or for which no punishment is hereby directed to be inflicted, shall be punished by the laws and customs in such cases used at sea. '" He met Barrett's eyes. "Barrett Bonden, coxswain, you are hereby charged with failure to report the presence of a woman aboard ship and engaging in an illicit affair with said woman. Have you anything to say in your defense?"

"Not in my defense, sir," Barrett replied as he stole a glance at India, "butI don't want her here." He could see the hurt in her eyes at his words, but he was only trying to protect her from witnessing his ordeal.

"Request denied," Aubrey answered curtly. "Seize him up."

Barrett removed his shirt and allowed his mates to tie him to the grate.

"One dozen," the captain ordered. "Mr. Hollar, do your duty."

Barrett could feel India's eyes boring into him, but he stared straight ahead through the grating as the first five lashes tore into his flesh. Right before the sixth, he turned his head toward her and met her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she flinched at each stroke, but she didn't make a sound. For that he was very proud.

"Seven…eight….nine…"

"That's my girl," he breathed.

India smiled through her tears and mouthed, I love you.

Barrett closed his eyes and grinned, the sting of the cat biting into his back briefly lessened.

As soon as Doudle and Hollar untied him, India rushed to him and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. The marine closest to them moved to stop her, but Captain Aubrey shook his head.

'I'm so sorry for the all the horrid things I said," Barrett croaked.

"Don't worry about that now, dearest," India said gently. "I need to look after you."

Barrett nodded weakly and leaned against her as she led him below. If the two lovers had been able to tear their gazes from each other, they would have been surprised to see the stirring expressions of the entire crew at the sight of their obvious devotion to each other.

And no one was more affected by the sight than Captain Aubrey.

To be continued…