Fic: The baboon incident or the zoological trials of Archie Kennedy, part one.
So this is the result of the inspiration of anteros_lmc in her post of the midshipmen in their berth and of the comments thereafter.Archie draws first good then bad then redeeming cards in the course of his luck on a days duty in harbour.
See after part 2 goes up ( tomorrow I hope) for end of sotry notes as to the historical elements in the undoubtedly silly tale.
Author: Nodbear
Genre: Humour,silliness
Pairing: just quiet background H/A affection -nothing graphic
word length:circa 1500 in part 1
Summary:Archie rescues some baboons,and by extension his captain...
------------------------------------------------
In retrospect,there was a certain inevitability about the baboon incident.Archie knew it - after all Horatio got a fine horse when he got a dung cart so it stood to reason that was how the die was cast.
That Horatio would get sent the invitation to represent the younger officers at the reception and buffet given by the aldermen while he had to journals and logs to update and midshipmen to instruct and then take a cage of baboons from the Indy to the Inn where the agent for Atkins' menagerie was to meet them.
Even as he sighed his best theatrical sigh ( A sigh which still managed to furrow Horatio’s perfect forehead even after all this time he was pleased to note. It rendered him all the more desirable when perplexed )Archie actually thought it a good exchange this time An hour and a half of mind numbing speeches and then two hours of maintaining small talk with the mayor and corporation in this sweltering summer day and in full dress uniform as against going coatless the better to cart baboons about and then the detour to the bookshop and the glass of cold beer at the George afterwards …
So he was smiling in anticipation as he followed Horatio up into the harbour glare and the no less exacting forensic gaze of Sir Edward whose eyes swept them both and who then nodded at whatever privately satisfied him.
“Call away my gig Mr Hornblower ! and Mr Kennedy -“
Archie peered up against the sun which was rendering the captain’s expression still more enigmatic than usual “Aye , sir ?”
“You will find some receipts and other matters in a bundle on my desk addressed to Miller the prize agent at the Crown and Anchor Please see to it they are delivered. As you will recall, the place is opposite the booksellers and around the corner from the George
Archie’s salute was exemplary and, quite equal to his commander’s skill, he too gave nothing away. As he climbed to the quarterdeck and watched the elegant pale blue painted gig skim across the harbour he allowed the full grin to leap out.
Occasionally he wished the captain’s legendary skill in the reading of midshipmen’s minds would drop in proportion when one gained acting lieutenant. Perhaps it was a secret adjunct of passing the lieutenants exam, he pondered as he saluted Mr Bracegirdle; the latter, who had observed the departure scene ‘answered’ genially,“ I rather think that it is not that captains then lose that skill, Mr Kennedy but that Lieutenants -er- acquire it”. Archie felt the point quite well enough proved.
A while later he found himself supervising the two cages of baboons being loaded on to the flat luggage cart at the quayside and pushed along by Oldroyd and a smaller handcart which was to bring the two frightened looking marmosets who shied at every noise the lively baboon family emitted The latter cage was in the care of John Sennett, who had a cover over the cage to give the nervous creatures a little protection from noise and flurry.
Sennett was a tall man whose sister was a barmaid at the George and was pleased with some hours of leave . Archie walked with him,listening to his accounts of the admiralty big names whom Alice had spotted in the Inn’s livery yard and parlour. The sun was strong but a light breeze was getting up. .Ahead of them Oldroyd was chatting to the baboons in a manner that would have earned him the sharpness of Styles wit. However Styles was back in the ship and not a witness and Archie rather liked the patches of innocence that still seemed to stick to the young seaman despite all he had now seen.
Much about the world felt right at that moment - again Archie was later to think that in retrospect that was precisely when he should have known that disaster was about to strike.
Out of the corner of his eye he had seen a pretty girl standing with her maid and a footman outside her carriage , evidently loading parcels. On a lead was a beautifully groomed spaniel pup- maybe about 9 or 10 monhts old Archie judged Unfortunately a butchers guard dog chose that moment to escape his chain and came roaring down the hill chased by his master’s apprentice holding a chain. The renegade hound saw the spaniel and made as if for a direct amorous assault but the spaniel leapt into the carriage , upsetting parcels as she did so and distracting footman and maid.
The large dog came to an abrupt halt , thereby knocking over two ladies on the pavement one of whom immediately brandished her sunshade and started shouting at the apprentice .Unconsciously trying to stay her tirade he stepped backwards without heed and toppled into the road so that the rider coming in the opposite direction in the narrow street could not avoid the cart and knocked it over despite Oldroyd’s valiant attempts to keep it upright.
The cages burst open and five baboons shot out and were instantly up across the upturned cart and the carriage and onto the window sills and eaves of the shop nearby. This sent the sunshade lady into having hysterics and Archie wondered even as he tried with the help of his men to create some semblance of order.
Rather later than had been the intention Archie left the papers with the agent Miller and came out into the sunny day from the inn, his shoulders drooping as indeed he felt tiredness in his back and calves .He had overseen the recapture of three of the baboons but then the others were so far skilfully avoiding capture .he had put the little marmosets in the shade and had asked the innkeeper for water for the animals - which when upon uncovering the cage found but one marmoset within. Damn! he had already sent Sennett back to the ship to spare a couple of hands to assist in the recapture but he and able seaman Sennett knew the small cart hadn’t been disturbed therefore - there was a second marmoset which was unaccountably missing.
Or rather was now becoming only too accountable. Archie realised, interpreting again the short moment in which he had seen Henry Hart and Will Kempthorne whispering together earlier that day - both midshipmen were known for their sense of adventure and also for affectionate and caring youngsters . And known animal lovers- they and Cadogan too Ah well- he would have to go back and find the marmoset and get matters sorted out.
Archie was tired and only too well aware that he would have to forgo his book search and his cold beer .What is more, he was covered in dust and the remains of a birds nest in the gutter he had cornered one baboon in. He stared around him not recognising anyone he knew - If Horatio dared to come back tonight and relate how there were there were almond ices at the aldermen’s reception party…he would…he would
Suddenly a very lively and pleasant voice addressed and greeted him by name :
Mr Kennedy, good day to you , …but you are injured ,sir !”
Archie looked up feeling better already but only too aware of the likely picture he presented.
“Lady Pellew “ he said, ,you must excuse me - we have had an accident here and of creaturely nature. He squared his shoulders and bowed as elegantly as a handsome young man handicapped by stray bits of birds nest can hope to achieve.
“Baboons by hazard ?”
( So the insight into minds was passed on in matrimony too? said Archie’s mischievous inner voice as he nodded ) Indeed ma’am five of them ...
See after part 2 goes up ( tomorrow I hope) for end of sotry notes as to the historical elements in the undoubtedly silly tale.
Author: Nodbear
Genre: Humour,silliness
Pairing: just quiet background H/A affection -nothing graphic
word length:circa 1500 in part 1
Summary:Archie rescues some baboons,and by extension his captain...
------------------------------------------------
In retrospect,there was a certain inevitability about the baboon incident.Archie knew it - after all Horatio got a fine horse when he got a dung cart so it stood to reason that was how the die was cast.
That Horatio would get sent the invitation to represent the younger officers at the reception and buffet given by the aldermen while he had to journals and logs to update and midshipmen to instruct and then take a cage of baboons from the Indy to the Inn where the agent for Atkins' menagerie was to meet them.
Even as he sighed his best theatrical sigh ( A sigh which still managed to furrow Horatio’s perfect forehead even after all this time he was pleased to note. It rendered him all the more desirable when perplexed )Archie actually thought it a good exchange this time An hour and a half of mind numbing speeches and then two hours of maintaining small talk with the mayor and corporation in this sweltering summer day and in full dress uniform as against going coatless the better to cart baboons about and then the detour to the bookshop and the glass of cold beer at the George afterwards …
So he was smiling in anticipation as he followed Horatio up into the harbour glare and the no less exacting forensic gaze of Sir Edward whose eyes swept them both and who then nodded at whatever privately satisfied him.
“Call away my gig Mr Hornblower ! and Mr Kennedy -“
Archie peered up against the sun which was rendering the captain’s expression still more enigmatic than usual “Aye , sir ?”
“You will find some receipts and other matters in a bundle on my desk addressed to Miller the prize agent at the Crown and Anchor Please see to it they are delivered. As you will recall, the place is opposite the booksellers and around the corner from the George
Archie’s salute was exemplary and, quite equal to his commander’s skill, he too gave nothing away. As he climbed to the quarterdeck and watched the elegant pale blue painted gig skim across the harbour he allowed the full grin to leap out.
Occasionally he wished the captain’s legendary skill in the reading of midshipmen’s minds would drop in proportion when one gained acting lieutenant. Perhaps it was a secret adjunct of passing the lieutenants exam, he pondered as he saluted Mr Bracegirdle; the latter, who had observed the departure scene ‘answered’ genially,“ I rather think that it is not that captains then lose that skill, Mr Kennedy but that Lieutenants -er- acquire it”. Archie felt the point quite well enough proved.
A while later he found himself supervising the two cages of baboons being loaded on to the flat luggage cart at the quayside and pushed along by Oldroyd and a smaller handcart which was to bring the two frightened looking marmosets who shied at every noise the lively baboon family emitted The latter cage was in the care of John Sennett, who had a cover over the cage to give the nervous creatures a little protection from noise and flurry.
Sennett was a tall man whose sister was a barmaid at the George and was pleased with some hours of leave . Archie walked with him,listening to his accounts of the admiralty big names whom Alice had spotted in the Inn’s livery yard and parlour. The sun was strong but a light breeze was getting up. .Ahead of them Oldroyd was chatting to the baboons in a manner that would have earned him the sharpness of Styles wit. However Styles was back in the ship and not a witness and Archie rather liked the patches of innocence that still seemed to stick to the young seaman despite all he had now seen.
Much about the world felt right at that moment - again Archie was later to think that in retrospect that was precisely when he should have known that disaster was about to strike.
Out of the corner of his eye he had seen a pretty girl standing with her maid and a footman outside her carriage , evidently loading parcels. On a lead was a beautifully groomed spaniel pup- maybe about 9 or 10 monhts old Archie judged Unfortunately a butchers guard dog chose that moment to escape his chain and came roaring down the hill chased by his master’s apprentice holding a chain. The renegade hound saw the spaniel and made as if for a direct amorous assault but the spaniel leapt into the carriage , upsetting parcels as she did so and distracting footman and maid.
The large dog came to an abrupt halt , thereby knocking over two ladies on the pavement one of whom immediately brandished her sunshade and started shouting at the apprentice .Unconsciously trying to stay her tirade he stepped backwards without heed and toppled into the road so that the rider coming in the opposite direction in the narrow street could not avoid the cart and knocked it over despite Oldroyd’s valiant attempts to keep it upright.
The cages burst open and five baboons shot out and were instantly up across the upturned cart and the carriage and onto the window sills and eaves of the shop nearby. This sent the sunshade lady into having hysterics and Archie wondered even as he tried with the help of his men to create some semblance of order.
Rather later than had been the intention Archie left the papers with the agent Miller and came out into the sunny day from the inn, his shoulders drooping as indeed he felt tiredness in his back and calves .He had overseen the recapture of three of the baboons but then the others were so far skilfully avoiding capture .he had put the little marmosets in the shade and had asked the innkeeper for water for the animals - which when upon uncovering the cage found but one marmoset within. Damn! he had already sent Sennett back to the ship to spare a couple of hands to assist in the recapture but he and able seaman Sennett knew the small cart hadn’t been disturbed therefore - there was a second marmoset which was unaccountably missing.
Or rather was now becoming only too accountable. Archie realised, interpreting again the short moment in which he had seen Henry Hart and Will Kempthorne whispering together earlier that day - both midshipmen were known for their sense of adventure and also for affectionate and caring youngsters . And known animal lovers- they and Cadogan too Ah well- he would have to go back and find the marmoset and get matters sorted out.
Archie was tired and only too well aware that he would have to forgo his book search and his cold beer .What is more, he was covered in dust and the remains of a birds nest in the gutter he had cornered one baboon in. He stared around him not recognising anyone he knew - If Horatio dared to come back tonight and relate how there were there were almond ices at the aldermen’s reception party…he would…he would
Suddenly a very lively and pleasant voice addressed and greeted him by name :
Mr Kennedy, good day to you , …but you are injured ,sir !”
Archie looked up feeling better already but only too aware of the likely picture he presented.
“Lady Pellew “ he said, ,you must excuse me - we have had an accident here and of creaturely nature. He squared his shoulders and bowed as elegantly as a handsome young man handicapped by stray bits of birds nest can hope to achieve.
“Baboons by hazard ?”
( So the insight into minds was passed on in matrimony too? said Archie’s mischievous inner voice as he nodded ) Indeed ma’am five of them ...