Free Bolitho 19 - Beyond the Reef by Alexander Kent

seated spectators, for that was what they had become. Like onlookers at a public hanging. There was no trace of Sir Paul Sillitoe.
    Herrick looked tired, and showed considerable strain. He too must be thinking of tomorrow.
    The Judge Advocate cleared his throat and waited for Hamett-Parker to offer him a curt nod.
    “This court is reassembled. Please call Captain Hector Gossage.” He glanced around at the intent faces as if expecting another interruption. “He was flag captain to the accused at the time of the attack.”
    Herrick turned and looked directly at his sword on the table. It was as if he expected to see it move, or perhaps he already imagined it pointing towards him.
    Gossage’s entrance was almost too pitiful to watch; he seemed to have shrunk from the bluff, competent captain Bolitho had met on several occasions. Now his face was lined, and one cheek was pitted with small splinter scars; one sleeve of his dress coat was empty, pinned up and useless, and he was obviously still in great pain. A chair was brought and Gossage assisted into it by two orderlies who had accompanied him from the hospital here at Haslar Creek.
    Hamett-Parker asked not unkindly, “Are you as comfortable as we can make you, Captain?”
    Gossage stared around as if he had not properly heard. So many senior officers and guests. “I should be standing, sir!”
    Hamett-Parker said quietly, as if daring anyone to so much as cough or move, “You are not on trial here, Captain Gossage. Take your time and speak in your own words. We have studied the Details of Evidence, heard the opinions, for they were little more than that, of many witnesses. But Benbow was the flagship and you were her captain. It is your story we wish to hear.”
    It was then that Gossage seemed to see Herrick opposite him for the first time.
    He began brokenly, “I—I’m not her captain any more. I’ve lost everything!” He tried to move round so that Herrick could see his empty sleeve. “Look what you’ve done to me!”
    Hamett-Parker gestured to the surgeon and snapped, “The court is adjourned until the same time tomorrow.” To the surgeon he added, “Take good care of Captain Gossage.”
    As the little group shuffled toward the rear of the cabin, Hamett-Parker spoke to the Judge Advocate, his tone severe. “That must not occur again in this court, Mr Cotgrave!” But when he glanced round Bolitho saw only triumph in his eyes.
    4
    REVENGE
    THE HOUSE, which was of medium size and owned by the Admiralty, was situated just outside the dockyard gates. It had a permanent staff, but was entirely without any kind of personality; it was merely a place where senior officers and Admiralty officials could stay temporarily while conducting their business with the dockyard or the port admiral.
    It was not yet dawn but already Bolitho could hear the comings and goings of carts and waggons, and during the long night he heard the occasional tramp of feet and the clink of weapons as the press-gangs returned from yet another search of outlying villages for men who were without any official protection.
    The last time, when he had been awakened from a troubled sleep, he had heard a woman’s voice, high-pitched and pleading, although he could not make out the words. She had been calling out long after the gates had clanged shut, her man taken from her side to help fill the depleted ranks in the fleet. Her pleas would fall on deaf ears, especially with the war about to expand still further. Fit men, sometimes any men would suffice. Even those with the written protection, fishermen, sailors of the HEIC, prime hands whom the navy needed more than any, kept out of sight at night when the press were about. It was useless to try and right a wrong if you awoke with a bruised head in some man-of-war already standing out into the Western Approaches.
    Very gently he lifted Catherine’s head from his bare shoulder and eased it on to a pillow. As he did so he felt her long, tumbled hair