The sailing master accordingly walked to the helm and relayed the order in a low voice. The crew was being quiet enough that the steering cables could be heard shifting the rudder. In fact, there was little else audible aboard ship for a long time afterward as they moved through the swirling fog. Random gusts of wind moving through the sheets and rigging as well as the ever-present creaking of timbers were the only noises that occurred with regularity. From time to time a splashing of wavelets might be noticed as the sea’s surface was cut by the hull’s forward surge. Once or twice an errant cough from one of the hands clearing his throat broke the silence, drawing a threatening look from Bosun Tallow.Now it was a waiting game and a test of nerves. Although his subordinates became increasingly convinced that LaTour had simply eluded them in the fog, Allison was not ready to just turn away and move off. He felt the man’s presence out there, no matter how much cloudy vapor might be obs

Caldwell again acknowledged the instructions before asking, “Any word on Kelvin yet?”Allison shook his head. “No, but I plan on going below now. I’ll talk to Deakins and find out.”Caldwell saluted and then moved away to put his captain’s orders into effect.On his way to the forward ladder leading below, Allison happened upon Tallow directing the patching of the sails.“Our sheets, Mr. Tallow?”“Still usable sir,” the big man answered. “Two clean holes, one through each. We could use ’em as-is, but I think we can patch ‘em up alright. It’s new canvas, so I think our stitching will hold wi’out having any tearing. We had some rigging shot away too. We’re workin’ on puttin’ more together.”“Well done,” Allison told him. The Bosun saluted as the Captain went below.When he descended the ladder, something of a commotion was still coming from back aft where the doctor worked. Allison could see a man he was stitching up lying upon the table writhing in pain from a lower leg wound. One

Below, Allison held the door open for Caldwell to enter his cabin before shutting it behind them. He then walked slowly over to his desk and laid the book and his hat upon it before going to the stern windows and peeking out over the high edge. The First Lieutenant stood with his hat tucked under one arm and the other folded behind him as he waited for his captain to begin the discussion. Allison kept his back turned at first, still looking out the windows as he spoke.“I’m no stranger to anything that we’ve just seen or done out there,” he began. “I’ve heard those very words spoken many times before, but believe me, nothing can truly prepare you for the day you yourself must speak them over the bodies of men who have died under your command.”“I can only imagine, sir,” Caldwell said sympathetically.“One might say that those men who were sent to their rest beneath the waves were fully aware of the dangers that accompany life at sea, particularly while serving in the Royal Navy,” Al

Caldwell grimaced. “Dear God, that’s positively horrid to imagine! Sacrificing his own people while trying to take the life of another so as to keep up appearances – it’s unconscionably barbaric if true!”“Do try to remember, Mr. Caldwell, we do not know beyond all doubt that it is true,” Allison cautioned him, “though it’s clear we must now be even more cautious where our own mission is concerned.”Allison slid his chair back and stood up. He then began to pace around the cabin once more.“You’ll decode any further encrypted messages we receive, of course, but we’ll have to consider carefully who the sender might be in addition to what information it gives us. Moreover, any further dealings with Mr. Gambles must of necessity be brief and sparing of information or else cease altogether until we can confirm or disprove our suspicions.“He may be there waiting for us when we arrive at English Harbor,” Caldwell observed. “At the very least he’s sure to know when we arrive.”“Yes, it’s

Semple abruptly slammed his fist down on the desk, nearly upsetting the pots of ink and drying sand which he looked to have been using before the conversation began. He then stood up with frightening alacrity, shoving his chair backward as he did so. The captain stepped once again to the windows and resumed his former position, looking out with his hands behind his back, though they were now clenched far more tightly, as his whitening knuckles suggested.Allison didn’t know what to say or do at that point, though he decided that just remaining quiet was probably in his best interest. Sir Roger was incensed, and had obvious reason to be so, but there was far more than his subordinates’ failures, self-reproach, or disdain for men of lower birth to account for it. It was clear to Allison that this man had come here with another burden weighing upon his mind. Recent events had only just added to the disquiet it was already causing him. What has him so distraught? Is it something he’ll e