Free The Gathering Storm by Peter Smalley Page A

again:
    'You spoke of what happened in my last command – my
first and last command. Yes, it's true I shot a man dead, that
could not live long and was suffering very bad. I cannot
forget it, and never will.' A breath. 'I had thought to go
into the Company, and make my way there as an officer in
a blameless duty. But I would still be obliged to command
men, and gain their respect, and I am unfitted to it, even
in a merchant ship. You have made me see that.'
    'Will you not sit down, Lieutenant?'
    'Eh? Sit? Why? I have said all there is to say.'
    'In course, in course, but if you will sit down one moment
I think perhaps you will benefit.'
    'Oh, very well.' A sigh, and James pulled the chair to
him and sat down.
    'I know that you have suffered very hard of late, and
I am very sorry for you.' Mappin's voice was lower now.
'I too have lost my only son, two years ago.'
    'You?' Looking at him.
    'Aye. A riding accident. He was five years old. For a
time – many weeks – I was not quite a human being.'
    James nodded, and said nothing.
    'Had it not been for my work, you know, I think I might
have run mad.'
    'Yes. That is how I feel, now. But I have no work, Mr
Mappin.' James looked away, and was about to rise again,
take up his hat and go out, when:
    'There is work for you, very worthwhile work, waiting
to be done.'
    A long moment, and at last James looked him in the
eye.
    'I do not think I am the man you seek, Mr Mappin. Your
world, the world of Sir Robert Greer – a man that in
course you know – is foreign to me, and alien to my nature.
You have done me a service today in showing me that I
do not belong on the deck of a ship, either. I must seek
employment in another field.' Rising, and taking his hat.
'Good day to you.'
    'Wait, wait. Will you wait one minute more?'
    'Well?'
    'There would be no official position, no acknowledgement
of your ... employment.'
    'I don't understand you. I do not wish to take up the
position.'
    'No, no, and nor would you, because it don't exist.'
    'Then what are we talking about?' Shaking his head.
    'Let us say ... an hundred guineas.'
    'I see. You are offering me one hundred a year?'
    'Oh no. No no. One hundred per quarter.'
    'Four hundred a year?' Astonished.
    'Guineas.'
    James, in spite of himself: 'And ... what would be my
duties, exact?'
    'You are interested in the position, then?'
    'You have just said there ain't one, Mr Mappin.'
    'So I did. So I did.' A breath. 'You would be in a ship,
at various times. Not in command. At other times on land,
seeking people out.'
    'Spying?'
    'No no, not that. As you have told me, that is alien to
your nature.'
    'Whom should I be seeking out? And where?'
    'Before we go further, I must know one way or t'other. Are you interested?'
    'I have not said that.' Stiffly.
    'Come come, Lieutenant, the navy is a plain-spoke
service. Give me an answer. Yes, or no?'
    James looked at him, took a deep breath, shrugged –
and nodded.
    'Good. I am glad. Your fluent French will greatly aid us.'
    'How did you know I spoke French, Mr Mappin?' Tilting
his head.
    'It is part of my work to discover such things, Lieutenant.
You spent time in France as a youth, and you are quite
at ease there in polite society. I would not have chose you,
else.'
    James looked at him again, frowned slightly, then again
nodded. 'No – no, I expect you would not.'
    And now Mr Mappin rose, and held out his hand. James
took it.
    'You have made the right decision,' said Mr Mappin
briskly. 'And now you must disappear.'
    'Disappear? I do not—'
    Over him: 'You will say, naturally, that you must tell
your wife of your new situation. We will do that for you.
A message will go to her, at Shaftesbury.'
    'But if I vanish—'
    'And you will say that you must return first to your
hotel, retrieve your things and pay your bill. That is being
done at this moment. And in course there is no need for
you to say anything further to Captain Sprigg. As I said,
he has been told to look elsewhere for a mate.'
    'If I am