Comments | mandc_read: HD - Chapter Eight

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HD - Chapter Eight - Jack and Stephen

Feb 24, 2012 18:07

…from an outward turn on the mountain road which gave them a clear view of the port and both harbours, it was clear to Stephen's searching telescope that Ringle was not there, snug against the mole. Nor was she in the offing: he barely had the heart to search the horizon for the larger, more conspicuous sails of *Surprise*, yet he did so for a full ( Read more... )

hd: ch 8, stephen, hundred days, jack

Comments 4

Climbing Eminences esteven February 24 2012, 17:08:36 UTC

'Could I climb on to some eminence and wave, let us say a handkerchief, when we are nearer, to show our peaceable intent?'
'By all means, if you can find a suitable eminence and remain firmly attached to it in spite of all this heinous pitching.'
(…)
'I shall stand in the prow, watching with my pocket-glass, and when we are close enough, I shall make antic gestures.'

Antic gestures?

Return to Surprise esteven February 24 2012, 17:09:13 UTC

'Why, sir, and here you are!' cried Reade, heaving him in-board. 'How very happy I am to see you, and how happy the Commodore will be. He has been fairly eating his heart out in Mahon. Good-bye, sir,' - this to Abdul Reis - 'and many, many thanks to you and your beautiful galley.'

But out in the fairway there rode *Surprise*, apparently as trim as ever she had been, with her captain in a boat under her newly-painted bows telling his joiner just where to place the last rectangles of gold leaf on her upper forefoot.

I guess Jack, who looked twenty years older and quite thin, has already envisaged Stephen lost in the desert. He is so very glad to have his PF and Dr Jacob home aboard Surprise again.

Stephen and Killick esteven February 24 2012, 17:09:46 UTC

,,,and that the grey, bowed figure that approached, touched his hat, and said, 'I give you joy of your return, sir,' remained unrecognized until he spoke.
'Killick,' he cried, detaching himself from Mona and shaking his hand, 'I hope I see you well?'
'I ain't complaining, sir; and you look tolerable spry, if I may take the liberty. Which I have laid out your decent clothes in the bed-place.'
'Must I change?'
'You would never wish to bring discredit on the barky, with all that filth.' Killick pointed to some odd patches of rifle-oil here and there. 'The Admiral is dining aboard.'
Stephen bowed to the inevitable

Awwwwwww. Stephen has given up protesting to Killick

Lord Barmouth esteven February 24 2012, 17:10:30 UTC

'Lord Barmouth, sir?'
'Why, yes: he has superseded Lord Keith, and it is to him that you will have to address your report.'
'Lord Barmouth,' cried Stephen, startled out of his usual equanimity. 'Oh yes. I remember Lady Keith telling Captain Aubrey that her husband did not wish for a long tenure, but that they should retire to a house near the Governor's cottage until the weather in England grew more tolerable. But I had not expected it so soon. Nor had I expected Lord Barmouth.'
'You are displeased, Dr Maturin?' asked the Admiral, smiling.
'I beg pardon, sir,' said Stephen. 'I have not the slightest right to an opinion on the matter: but I did know that Lord and Lady Keith had a long-standing friendship for Captain Aubrey, and I had hoped that the Admiral would do everything possible and impossible to reinforce his scattered squadron, to make the capture of the Arzila galley more probable.'I like how Stephen wants to do everything in his power not only to have Jack continue as commodore, but also that his PF is able to capture the ( ... )