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Allison; Taking Control Chapter 79
A decision had to be made and his subordinates were still waiting for it. Fortunately for Allison , his reprieve would come from an unexpected source.“Mollusk is signaling, sir!” Peter Fortescue called out. “A single red lantern amidships! She intends to alter course to larboard!”Allison squinted his eyes as he focused on the light which Fortescue had just described. It remained in place for a short amount of time before he started to see it move, demonstratively from side to side.“Second signal... ’All clear’ or ’All is well’?” the midshipman said, stating the signal’s literal translation aloud while sounding confused.Allison however saw a very clear meaning in the two signals which had just been sent one after the other. He smiled broadly and with a “Hah!” of recognition, slapped his thigh. Suggs had apparently seen everything they did over the past several minutes and was now giving Allison the confirmation he sought, almost as though reading his mind. The intended message b
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 80
Allison had to agree and, admittedly, he had virtually no other explanation for the privateer’s reasoning at the time. Then again, this man had outwitted many an adversary in the past. Knowing that, Allison was getting the uneasy feeling LaTour knew something in this instance that neither he nor any of his officers possibly could. But he couldn’t give up the chase on a mere feeling or hunch no matter what its basis; not when the Articles of War and every regulation he could call to mind dictated otherwise. No – he must pursue the enemy if at all possible or else later devise a substantial explanation for Sir Roger. He must do so even if it meant chasing a larger ship without the assistance of Mollusk. In the current conflict, more than one officer had been brought up on charges of failing in his duty to pursue the enemy or making proper preparations to fight. The unique circumstances of his present mission notwithstanding, Allison still could not be remiss in this case and allow an
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 81
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
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 82
“It is a marker of some kind, sir,” Bannon said. “There must be something all the way out here that’s proven to be a hazard.”Allison put his glass to his eye and trained it on the float to inspect it more closely. It appeared ordinary enough... except for one important detail. Being this close, Allison could see that the wood of which it was built was completely unweathered and looked as if it was newly milled. This float had not been here long. Then he also noticed there were no chains or cables attached to indicate that it was held fast or moored in place to mark anything of importance.Suddenly, as if he had been struck by lightning, Allison froze in place, the hand in which he held the spyglass now hanging down limply to his side. An awful surge of fright shot through his gut, sickening him, as everything suddenly became clear. His heart was pounding in his throat. He couldn’t believe he had let this happen.That... wretched frog-eating son of a whore! Damn him to bloody hell!
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 83
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
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 84
Fortescue took another long breath through his nose as he had done before. He retrieved his hat and did his best to stand up straight. “I understand, sir,” he replied, nodding forcefully.“Very well, do as you are told and we’ll hear no more of this, then. I want you to go topside and assist Mr. Caldwell in obtaining an estimated position and determining the best course to take us into English Harbor Dockyard by tomorrow evening. Am I understood?”“Yes sir!” the midshipman replied with a renewal of purpose. He stepped toward the midships ladder, but stopped when Allison clamped him on the shoulder.“Peter.”“Sir?”“Remember, stand tall!”Fortescue touched his hat in salute and went up to the main deck as he was told. Allison watched him go, hoping that the activity he had assigned him would occupy his mind and help displace any thoughts of what had recently happened. When Fortescue disappeared above deck, Allison walked into the officers’ quarters.James lay in his hammock, slung
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 85
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
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 86
“To begin with, it’s quite clear Mr. Blevins is greatly unnerved by the probable danger in which the members of his family might find themselves. He cited not only their connection to Richard Thorpe but also their mutual involvement in British politics as reasons that agents of the enemy might develop an interest in them.”“A logical premise,” Allison commented, “but it seems like too much of a generalization. One might say something similar of a great many prominent families with members who occupy high posts in government. While they might not have a familial connection to Thorpe, it stands to reason a good many of them could have met or even befriended him.”“Yes, that’s true,” Caldwell answered, “but what you say was also acknowledged as a reason Thorpe’s dead body may have been left here on Antigua. If he was indeed as recognizable as his notoriety in political circles and his many visits to other colonies could have made him, word of his death might spread more quickly. As we a
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