This is the second part of devil and teh deep dark ocean... even more Archietorturing :-(
Please review... thanks
CHAPTER II
A week later…
'Who did this?' asked Captain Keene.
'Midshipman Jack Simpson, sir.' answered Archie.
'Mr. Simpson, hu?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Very well, Simpson will get what he deserves, flogging. You are dismissed.'
'Thank you, sir.' said Archie as he left the room.
And so, Simpson got flogged. Of course he wasn't really pleased with this. As soon as he was a little better he put a knife on Archie's throat and said: 'So, so… You think you'll get over this so easy? I suggest that you think again, I thought I was quite clear with my warning but apparently that wasn't enough for you.'
He held the knife in the nearest burning candle and held it in front of Archies face.
'Oh no, I won't be that mean to put this in your face, but how about your belly?' he said and the hot steel of the knife burnt Archies belly; He screamed of pain and fell onto the ground. He started to shake, harder and harder.
'Great, he's got a fit.' whispered Simpson to himself.
After e while the shaking stopped and Archie lie crying on the ground.
'What was that?' asked Simpson.
'It's nothing, really…' answered Kennedy and he tried to stand up.
'Nothing? You seemed to have a fit or something. You're not crazy… are you?'
'No, of course I'm not!'
'Well then, it's obvious you're hiding something… an illness maybe?'
Archie didn't answer.
'We can settle something. First, you won't tell anyone about my lovely lash and me. Second, you do everything I tell you to do. If I get called to do a dirty job, you'll go in my place. All right? In return I won't tell anyone about your little… problem. Okay?'
Archie sighed and nodded; 'Fine…'
'Good, our agreement will start at nine this evening. I have watch then. good luck.' and he walked away.
Archie couldn't stop the flow of tears that welled up and started to cry again. He touched the wound on his belly, it ached very much, but he didn't dare to go to the doctor. So slowly he stood up and walked to his hammock and tried to sleep a bit, so he would forget the pain of the burned flesh.
A hard hand in his face woke him up abruptly, it was Simpson. 'It's five past nine, you have watch, remember?'
'Damn you!' cursed Archie.
'I wouldn't say such things, we have an agreement. So I suggest you lift up that lazy arse of yours and get on deck!'
He threw him out of his hammock. Archie landed painfully upon his belly and moaned of pain.
'Don't be such a sissy! Get up! Go on! You're already too late!'
Archie crawled up and stumbled towards the stairs.
It was dark, Archie held himself up at the rail of the ship. A lieutenant walked up to him.
'Mr. Kennedy it is, isn't it?'
'Aye aye, sir.' said Archie, as he faked a smile.
'Wasn't Simpson supposed to be on watch?'
'Er, yes, but he felt kind of sick, a cold, he thought;'
'Oh, all right then. Just don't tire yourself too much. A young boy like you needs a lot of sleep. Good night, Mr. Kennedy.' he nodded and went back inside.
The next morning Archie woke up, broken. The wound of the knife was infected, because he hadn't been to the doctor.
'It hurts like hell.' he thought.
But he had to go to the mathematics lessons. He bended a bit forward as he walked. The same lieutenant as last night came to him again.
'Is everything all right?' he asked.
'Aye aye, sir; I'm fine. Thanks.' he faked that smile again.
'if theirs is something wrong, you rapport it to me immediately, is that understood?'
'Aye, sir. But if you don't mind, I'm going to be late for my mathematics lessons.' He said quickly.
'I understand, well, off you go.' Spoke Lieutenant Longley.
Kennedy nodded and stumbled away, as straight as he could, so no one would ask anymore questions.
That night he had to take over Simpson's watch again. The infection of the wound became worse every minute. He was dizzy and could hardly walk.
Suddenly, after a half hour in the cold, he saw a ship. He was the only one on watch on that side of the ship. He tried to call, but his wound hurt too bad. he walked towards the captain's cabin, but fainted on his way.
The next officer who would take over the watch didn't see Archie, but only the French ship.
'That damned Kennedy!' he yelled. 'Ship to starboard, a French ship on starboard! Everyone get up! He's heading straight for us!'
The whole ship woke up and everyone was ready to defend. Longley found Archie, still faint. 'I knew there was something wrong, he opened Archies shirt and saw the suppurating wound. 'My God.' he whispered.
'Styles, Matthews! Get Mr. Kennedy to the sick bay! Quickly now!'
'Aye aye, sir!' They picked Archie up and brought him away from the fuss.
'I bet Simpson's behind this!' muttered Styles.
'Shut your mouth, mate; If Simpson hears this, you'll get in trouble; mark my words.' muttered Matthews back.
'That wound looks pretty bad; but he'll be all right;' spoke the doctor. 'He's got fever, let us hope it won't get any worse. How does he get such a wound anyway?'
'You know the answer yourself, but you can't speak it out loud;' said Styles.
The doctor nodded. 'Whatever happened, I'll look after him. You two should go to the decks and defend your ship!' and he kicked them both out of the sick bay.
'No daddy, don't, don't! Go away! It wasn't my fault! Auw! Don't! No, leave me! You hurt me! Go away! Daddy! I couldn't help it! It wasn't… it wasn't… dad…'
Longley sat next to Archie.
'He's delirious.' told the doctor him.
'Poor boy,' said the lieutenant 'What I can understand of it, he didn't have a nice childhood.'
'One of those lost souls who hope to find their luck at sea.' spoke the doctor.
'Mr.Simpson isn't helping to find it, is he?' whispered Longley.
'Let's not discuss him, we can't blame anyone without prove.'
'You're right.' sighed Longley. 'I just feel pity for the poor kid.'
'We all do, sir.'
They looked upon the hunted face of the feverish boy.
'The fever is getting higher; I don't know if he's going to make it.' said the doctor after a while.
'I hope with all my heart that he does.' Longley answered and with those words he left the room.