Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
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
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 87
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
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 88
“Sit,” was the curt, emotionless order he finally gave, accompanied by a point of his right hand. Without turning around, he had indicated a plain, straight-backed wooden chair positioned directly in front of the desk, presumably placed there specifically for this discussion. Allison sat down wordlessly, waiting for his commodore to begin the conversation, but still Sir Roger didn’t speak, turn or move from where he stood. Allison could only assume the purpose of this peculiar behavior was to make him feel uncomfortable; but given the dangers he’d recently faced and the confidence he had in his decisions up to that point, he was determined not to let that happen. Another long pause ensued before Sir Roger deigned to speak further.“Explain to me if you would,” he began at length, “how two British warships managed to allow a band of French raiders to slip into port and steal a merchantman from right beneath their very noses.”Semple’s tone was distinctly subdued and yet something in
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 89
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
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 90
“Well, that will do for now, Mr. Allison ,” Semple told him. “As I said, I will send for you and Mr. Suggs when the occasion calls for it.” He made a dismissive motion with his hand before resting the elbow of that same arm on the desk and grasping his chin with his fingers in an aspect of thought.Allison stood up from his seat, replaced his tricorne and saluted.“Yes sir. Good day, Sir Roger,” he said before turning to stride out of the cabin.“And Allison ...” Semple called after him.Allison stopped and turned. “Sir?”“Don’t ever let that Frog bastard get the better of you again. We’ve already brooked enough embarrassment and disappointment in this war.”Allison saluted and wordlessly took his leave, silently refusing to grace his commander’s final stabbing words with any kind of response.Back aboard his own pinnace several minutes later, Allison marveled at how Sir Roger’s abrasive nature refused to be entirely subordinated to reason. He decided in the end that he would be a
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 91
Allison allowed his bent leg to drop from the wall. The sole of his shoe swung down to scrape the ground in the manner of a frustrated child. It was likely Suggs already knew the answer and it shouldn’t even be necessary to broach that subject again. He had ample time during their layover in the dockyard to tell him everything he and Caldwell had discussed on their way back to the island. His arms remained crossed as he leaned against the wall while looking upward thoughtfully at the darkened outlines of the hillocks and headlands that cradled the harbor.“Yes, it’s the concerns about Gambles again,” he admitted with a sigh. “Everything is circumstantial, it’s true, but I’ve said it before, a man in his position stands to do a colossal amount of harm if he is in fact compromised. His wealth and influence give him a very long reach which means that our being here essentially puts us on his very doorstep – and yet we haven’t heard a thing from him. Indeed, it makes any precaution of li
Latest Chapter
- Allison; Taking Control Chapter 112
- Allison; Taking Control Chapter 111
- Allison; Taking Control Chapter 110
- Allison; Taking Control Chapter 109
- Allison; Taking Control Chapter 108
- Allison; Taking Control Chapter 107
- Allison; Taking Control Chapter 106
- Allison; Taking Control Chapter 105
- Allison; Taking Control Chapter 104