CHAPTER 2

The morning's sunlight shone bright through the partially open window of Hornblower's room – it served its purpose well, but still was a chiefly comfortless and cheerless space, and the mood within highly influenced by the current condition of its constant occupant. Archie had opened the window by a few degrees to allow some of the sea air outside to permeate throughout the stale room in the hope that it might in some way stimulate Horatio's apparently dormant senses and coax him from unconsciousness, but so far the cheery ambience of the dawn outside was still yet to be reflected in any welcome improvement in the young man's condition.

The door to the room creaked slightly with age as it was opened with great caution. Archie stirred as booted feet marched heavily across the crumbling wooden floor to come to a halt at the foot of Hornblower's bed. Somehow, despite the events of the previous day, acting Lefttennant Kennedy had yet again managed to fall into a broken and uneasy sleep, but only after sitting up most of the night keeping constant vigil should his friend awake again. He turned in his chair and as its hard wood cut painfully into his side, making his ribs throb in protest, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Captain Pellew!" He exclaimed in surprise as the figure standing before him cleared into view. He struggled to stand to attention in his groggy state, ashamed that he should be caught napping in the presence of his commanding officer.

"At your ease man, at your ease." Pellew raised a hand in protest and Archie relaxed. "God man you look exhausted." The Captain observed with a frown as he eyed the man now standing before him.

"Sorry sir."

"Yes well…" Pellew faltered as he gave his young officer one last, long look. He couldn't help but admire the courage Kennedy was exhibiting in regard to the current situation that had struck a raw nerve with them all. Quickly changing the topic he turned to look at Horatio.

"How is he?" He asked, his own voice shaking slightly with suppressed grief and the emotional strain that the last few weeks had placed on him.

"It's hard to tell sir." Kennedy responded, "I think he may be a little better though."

He smiled hopefully.

"His fever's still quite high, but somehow he managed to split his stitches yesterday, and the doctor, when he was called for, was reassured enough that it should subside in a day or two."

"Yes I heard about that." Pellew tone was grave and painful. "A grave business." He concluded.

His face was contorted with worry, his eyes deeply disturbed. Although no longer a young man, he was certainly not old, and having served for most of his life in His Majesty's Royal Navy he was still considerably fit – yet even now he could not disguise how tired he was, and the obvious toll that the past few weeks had taken on him, and it was evident to Archie that, like himself, the Captain had not been sleeping properly since Horatio had first been shot.

"He… he still hasn't woken up yet sir."

"Yes well, he's been through quite an ordeal, his body has been crippled by his misfortune but he's survived longer than I've seen men survive such an injury before. He's going to need time to recover his strength before he can be declared fit for duty again."

"Pardon me for asking sir, but you are confident of Mr Hornblower's recovery then?"

"I'm sure Mr Hornblower will surprise us all yet with his remarkable resilience." Pellew replied with passion – remembering the trials overcome by his young officer in the past – but if he was honest more hopeful than assured of his eventual recovery. "I won't deny Kennedy, by rights that bullet should have killed him… when I first saw him there, well…"

"You saved his life sir." Archie ventured to comment.

"Yes, well, an act of inconsequence for all the times he's risked his own to save mine… and those of my men…"

Suddenly Horatio flinched and a pained groan escaped him. Pellew turned abruptly, Archie remained where he was – he knew by now that it meant nothing.

"Come on lad, stay with us." Pellew's voice was unusually paternal when he spoke. Archie looked at him – they all knew how he felt about the young Hornblower. For the past few weeks he had watched over his Acting Lefttennant as a father might well a son. He took the young man's hand in his own, leaning over him.

"So many men's prayers are riding on your recovery." From his new position he could see for himself just how pale Hornblower looked, his skin tinged with grey. He could see the sweat on his brow, his dark curls plastered to his forehead with fever, and he reached out protectively to touch the clammy surface of his skin with the cool flesh of the back of his hand before he could stop himself.

"He can't hear you sir." Archie explained.

The Captain looked up. "How long has he been like this?" He asked.

"A couple of hours. I thought it might be a sign of him waking at first sir but… well…"

"Any sign of life can only be a good sign Mr Kennedy," Pellew said before rising, his spirits much lifted after beholding even this small sign of life in the young man. "At least it shows he's still fighting for us." Both men stood in silence for a moment before the Captain added quietly, "he's a good man Kennedy, take care of him."

"Yes sir."

Pellew turned to leave but stopped abruptly just outside the door before turning back into the room. "Oh and Kennedy, if he wakes, don't tell him I was here." His voice was rough again now – dictating his position of seniority – yet still not so authoritative, and yet Archie could tell that this was an order not a request.

"Of course not sir."

"Very good," Pellew nodded his farewell, a small smile spreading across his face before quickly dissolving again along with the Captain as the door closed behind him.

Archie had spent most of his adult life at sea in the very literal sense of the word, and over the years –although still young – he had come to accept that the price of adventure was often at the cost of life itself. But here on land, turning to look at the motionless figure of his brave friend he suddenly felt totally adrift in this unexpectedly unfamiliar territory he now found himself in.

"My dear friend." He whispered.