Author: Algrene
Rating: PG13
Disclaimers: I do not own any of the Master and Commander names or characters, but I do own the plotline and a few characters I made up.
HMS Surprise tore through the water, the fierce January gale adhering around her. Her crew was battered and exhausted, bilge pumps clanking perpetually, and constant leaks were being stopped up. Captain Jack Aubrey emerged from a hatchway to the anarchy on deck.
"Sir!" First Lieutenant Pullings approached him with difficulty, water running down his pale face and greatcoat.
"What's that, Mr Pullings?"
"I don't think we can hold this much longer, sir,"
"I'd say we don't have much choice in the matter, Tom,"
Before the lieutenant could reply, an elephantine wave swept over the side. Jack found himself clinging desperately to the rail, catching a green midshipman as he was thrust past him, and seeing a deeply alarmed looking Pullings bourne on his involuntary journey to the starboard rail. The wave passed, Jack threw the midshipman at the hatchway, shouting a tart explanation why the deck was no place for a boy right now after him. The patched foremast was straining under the infinitesimal press of sail.
"Mr Hollar!" Jack summoned the bosun.
"Sir?"
"Pipe hands aloft if you please. Reef the fore mainsail,"
"Aye, sir,"
"SIIIR!"
Jack sighed inwardly as
another crisis presented itself in all its frightful glory.
"SIIIR!"
Blakeney yelled, practically swimming towards Jack, "Carronade
number seven, sir. It's come loose!"
"Take six men, secure it, quickly now. And my complements to Mr Pullings and will he please come and see me in his cabin when his watch ends,"
"Aye, sir."
Jack dropped into his hammock exhausted, paying no heed to his saturated clothes and sodden hair, and as per usual dropped instantly into a fathomless sleep, reversible only by a change in the wind or a call to Beat to Quarters.
"Sir! Sir!"
"Jack!"
Jack awoke and sat up. He automatically noted the change in the motion of the ship: the storm had all but passed, although Jack was sure it was no more than half an hour since he had fallen asleep. Sephen and Mowett were watching him anxiously.
"Mr Pullings is missing, sir,"
