Disclaimers: Although I wish I were the creative genius behind John's and Robert's character, they belong to Julian Fellowes.
Chapter 4: The call of the books
"I am so happy you are going with us!" said a rather joyous Peter to John. He gave him a warm smile and a tap on his back. They had just embarked on the boat that was to take them to South Africa.
"Welcome aboard, Private Bates" he said, imitating Watson. John answered back with a salute before the two of them ended up in laughter.
"What is so funny, Private Lennox and Private Bates?" asked Watson who had just arrived at their level.
"Nothing, sir" said Peter and John in unison.
"Well, I only wanted to welcome you aboard, Private Bates. It wouldn't have been right to let you behind". Watson gave them the salute and left their room. John slowly turned his head towards Peter who couldn't stop himself from laughing anymore.
"Well, I am glad to be here too, Peter.", John said after they calmed down. "You know, I was beginning to lose my mind, not being able to walk properly for a whole week. I cannot imagine what it'd be like to not be able to walk and run freely. I'd prefer to die than relive that again."
"I know what you mean. Once I broke my leg while playing in the fields back at home. I couldn't move for a month! But it's over now, and you've recovered quite rapidly, if you ask me. How many books did you read already? Four?" asked Peter, teasing John.
"What can I say? I love reading, and I was bored to death." John shrugged and pursued putting his clothes away in their tiny cabin.
After their first dinner on board, John said goodbye to Peter and the rest of the recruits who were going to their respective cabin. John was so excited that he couldn't sleep. So he chose to go up on the deck to walk for a bit and take some fresh air. After half an hour, John felt cold. The air had done him some good, but it was time to go back inside.
Leaving the sound of the waves crashing on the hull of the boat behind, John came down the stairs. He didn't recognise the hall he was in. The lights were mostly all gone. Except for a room at the end of the corridor. Walking slowly towards it, he tried to listen carefully. But there was no sound at all. He sneaked a peek inside the room. There was no one inside, the room was empty. It was a well furnished office, with a desk and an antique chair at its center with a big porthole behind. John was amazed by the architecture of the room and all the statues and paintings hanging at the walls.
On the left was a big bookcase with hundreds of beautiful books in it. John caressed the back of a book, admiring the quality. He had never seen books that beautiful before in his life. As he was beginning to take one from the bookcase to get a closer look at it, a voice started him.
"What are you doing here, Private?"
John turned around to discover an officer in uniform. Though he was trying to look intimidating, John could see he was a young man, approximately of the same age as him, who wasn't comfortable in his uniform. He was as tall as John and had curly dark blond hair and kind blue eyes. Seeing that John hadn't responded, the officer straightened up and with a more intimidating voice tried again.
"I said, what are you doing here, Private? Those are my quarters and no one is allowed in except they've been granted permission before."
John finally snapped out of it and came to attention.
"I'm sorry sir, I didn't know where I was…" started a nervous John, but the officer cut him before he could finish.
"What were you doing? Thieving?" he asked.
"No!" exclaimed John. "No, sir. I am not a thief!". At least, not anymore, thought John. "I was just on the deck for fresh air and got lost on my way to bed. I saw a light and walked in here. I swear, I wasn't stealing, sir." John's face reddened and a bead of sweat formed on his forehead. His first day on the boat and he had already managed to get himself in some sort of trouble. What was he thinking, going into a room that wasn't his?
"But I caught you right there, sniffing around my collection of precious books, Private…?" the officer stopped.
"Bates, sir. John Bates," continued John.
"Well, Private Bates, I am Captain Robert Crawley. It is late, I don't want to discuss this right now. I will summon you tomorrow in my office to decide what I will do with you. You can go now," said the young officer.
John made the salute.
"Aye, sir. Good night, sir", John said before leaving the room. He rushed through the corridors, and finally recognised where he was. He needed to go back to his cabin and tell Peter everything that had happened!