MAES 32: Cast Adrift
AN: If anyone in the series deserves an Evil Laugh and a beard to stroke while plotting his nefarious schemes, it’s Andrew Wray.
‘…and I shall have to ask you to find some plausible manner of putting him out of the way, without compromising my position here.’
‘I see,’ said Wray. He considered for a while and then observed ‘That can be arranged. If nothing else offers before, the Dey of Mascara will certainly deal with the situation. Indeed,’ he added after a moment’s reflection, ‘I believe the Dey can be used to the greatest advantage. He can be used to kill two birds with one stone, as we say.’
-Treason’s Harbor, pg. 68, Norton Press paperback
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Wray did not attempt to correct fortune, however: some question of irregularity at cards had at one time attached to his name, and no man in Wray’s position could afford a second accusation.
-Treason’s Harbor, pg. 277, Norton Press paperback
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‘How I hope she reached him in time. With any luck he should be able to snap up the big Frenchman. There was something very dirty about that affair, you know, Billy. We sailed straight into a trap.
-The Far Side of the World, pg. 25, Norton Press paperback
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And to crown all, in their short acquaintance Stephen had not perceived that Wray did in fact possess a malignant, revengeful mind. He hated Jack Aubrey for that distant quarrel and he had done him all the harm he could in the Admiralty. He did not hate Stephen except as Jack’s friend and as an agent who had undone many of his French colleagues, but if he could bring the occasion about he would certainly deliver him up to the other side.
-The Reverse of the Medal, pg. 57-58, Norton Press paperback
Cast Adrift
It would not happen again, Wray vowed as he sat at the council table. They would not escape him again. Damn them both, Aubrey and Maturin! Damn Aubrey for making it impossible to win at cards, and damn Maturin for duping his allies and causing them such trouble.
If only Aubrey had not caught him cheating, his finances would be much better off. He had been fleecing men for years without ever being suspected, and then of all men he had played with it was that oaf Aubrey who had not only called him on it, but had made the accusation in public! Even if it was now assumed that an explanation had been given privately, suspicion would always be there. To be prudent, he had been forced to cease his dishonest practices at the card table, and had suffered greatly for it.
As for Maturin, it irked him greatly that the admiralty should have such a man in their service and not informed him of it. True, he was a relative newcomer, and Maturin was a highly valuable agent, but to think that such an able man would work for free, that his name would not be on the lists for payment was inconceivable! He himself demanded as much as he could for his own services, and would demand yet more as his position in the admiralty was elevated still further.
If only the Dey had not failed to kill them both! He had felt certain that the Surprise would be blown out of the water in that setup, and Aubrey and Maturin both fixed for good. Perhaps he should have given more credence to the reports of Aubrey’s nautical skill, his reputation as an experienced fighting captain, and his nearly unholy good luck, Wray reflected as he sat gloomily at the table, only half paying attention to the proceedings. And then of course, Maturin had been aboard: no intelligence agent lasted long without developing an ability to smell a trap.
He turned his attention back to the meeting. For some time now, the gentlemen present had been discussing the case of an American frigate, the Norfolk, which was being sent to attack whalers. They were all agreed that the frigate should be stopped, if possible, but there were very few ships that could be certain to defeat her, and none of those could be spared. They were now discussing sending a ship of roughly equal strength, perhaps under the command of a particularly experienced captain, to help even the odds.
Inspiration struck Wray in a flash. Adopting an eager expression he said, “Why, then, you should certainly send Aubrey, and his current frigate - what is her name? - Ah, yes, the Surprise. Yes, Aubrey is the very man for the job, gentlemen. His skill is undeniable, he has served long with that particular ship and most of her crew, he has a reputation for snatching victory in circumstances where the odds are against him, and it seems to me he deserves something of a plum for his recent service against that troublesome Dey. I doubt he would refuse such a command, either, since you will recall he was bilked of the Blackwater at the last moment.” Wray tried not to smile at that last: it had been through his own efforts that Aubrey lost out on that one.
The other gentlemen present debated the suggestion back and forth, but their comments were generally favorable to the suggestion. Admiral Ives said that he would make the offer to Aubrey at their next meeting, and that if he accepted, they should set out straight away.
Wray sat in satisfaction for the remainder of the meeting. This could very well be the answer to all his problems: the Norfolk would almost certainly destroy the Surprise, and even if Aubrey’s infernal luck held true and they survived, he would be away for a very long time, and so would Doctor Maturin. An able intelligence agent he may be, but there was little he could do on the other side of the globe. By the time both men returned, if they ever did, it would be to find the state of affairs in England drastically altered.
He was more pleased still when it was suggested that a parcel of mutineers from the Defender be given to Aubrey for the voyage. The man who put forth that satisfying proposal claimed Aubrey’s superb captaincy was just what the mutineers needed to reform. This pleased Wray: he quite liked the idea of Aubrey being killed by mutineers aboard his own ship, which would also put him out of the way for good.
He left the meeting in high good humor. The night was beautiful, his enemies would soon be put out of action, hopefully for good, and the young waiter from the house where he had talked with Doctor Maturin some time before had agreed to a rendezvous at a discreet hotel.
Yes, he thought spitefully as he headed to his tryst. I shall cast you both adrift, and I defy even your superior luck, my dear Aubrey, to bring you safe back to your home port.