The great cabin in the Acheron was larger, and more lavishly decorated than Captain Aubrey's one on the Surprise. Tom marvelled at the bookshelves that arrayed the walls and wondered how all that could be hastily bundled away at beating to quarters. He smiled at the files of music, reminding him of the Surprise, and of how he had stood his evening watches and listened to the captain and the doctor's music playing in the Cabin. He found it hard to believe that all this was his now. Or at least until the Acheron was sold into the service; and then he would get a little sloop, far removed from the luxury in which a captain of a large frigate lived.
The patched stern windows were open, letting in the breeze to the previously stuffy cabin, and Tom stared out into the dark sea, where the Acheron's lights were reflected beautifully.
He stretched himself, and opened the door to his night cabin. Realising something was missing, he called for Johnson, a supernumerary landsman who had been his servant aboard the Surprise and was now his steward, to bring him a cot.
He lay down gratefully, as ever his tall frame spilling over the sides of the hammock, and fell quickly asleep, as every seaman, able to fall asleep and wake up at a moment's notice.
The ship sailed gently but speedily through the water, royals and studdingsails set, and the huge white moon illuminating the ship on the obscurity of the waves.
The air was warm; they were nearing the equator, but the heat wasn't yet oppressive. They would need to put in for stores; the Acheron's were apparently very low, or else had been emptied over the side when the French had realised they were losing the battle, and the jury main-topmast would not stand any force of gale; thus leaving the undermanned ship thrashing in the water.
Tom also doubted that any of the Surprise's hands would be safe under the care of the French surgeon, who seemed particularly incompetent.
Surprise had come out to Brazil to stop Acheron carrying the war here, and she had succeeded. Now the greatest sea power this side of the Atlantic was under Tom's command; a thought which sat strangely on his shoulders.
The midshipmen's merry celebratory singing from below floated up to the deck, and Tom listened to it, almost asleep, and it brought back happy memories from his past.