[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
sty's%20Dragon.html urgency of the situation; then with a final dubious
glance, he went down the gangplank and joined Riley.
Admiral Croft was waiting for them impatiently; he had evidently heard
something of the fuss. He was a tall man and a striking one, the more so for a
raking scar across his face and the false hand which was attached to the stump
of his left arm, its iron fingers operated by springs and catches. He had lost
the limb shortly before his promotion to flag rank, and since had put on a
great deal of weight; he did not rise when they came into his stateroom, but
only scowled a little and waved them to chairs. Very well, Laurence, explain
yourself; I suppose this has something to do with the feral you have down
there?
Sir, that is Temeraire; he is not feral, Laurence said. We took a French
ship, the
Amitié, three weeks ago yesterday; we found his egg in their hold. Our surgeon
had some knowledge of dragonkind; he warned us that it would hatch shortly,
and so we were able to arrange that is to say, I harnessed him.
Croft sat up abruptly and squinted at Laurence, then at Riley, only then
taking notice of the change in uniform. What, yourself? And so you Good
Lord, why didn t you put one of your midshipmen to the thing? he demanded.
This is taking duty a little far, Laurence; a fine thing when a naval officer
chooses to jump ship for the Corps.
Sir, my officers and I drew lots, Laurence said, suppressing a flare of
indignation; he had not desired to be lauded for his sacrifice, but it was a
little much to be upbraided for it. I hope no one would ever question my
devotion to the service; I felt it only fair to them that I should share the
risk, and in the event, though I did not draw the lot, there was no avoiding
it; he took a liking to me, and we could not risk him refusing the harness
from another hand.
Oh, hell, Croft said, and relapsed into his chair with a sullen expression,
tapping the fingers of his right hand against the metal palm of the left, a
nervous gesture, and sat silently except for the small clinking noise which
his fingernails made upon the iron. The minutes dragged, while Laurence
alternated between imagining a thousand disasters which Temeraire might
precipitate in his absence, and worrying what Croft might do with the
Reliant and Riley.
At last Croft started, as if waking up, and waved his good hand. Well, there
must be some sort of bounty; they can hardly give less for a harnessed
creature than a feral one, after all, he said. The
French frigate, a man-of-war, I suppose, no merchantman? Well, she looks
likely enough, I am sure she will be brought into the service, he added, good
humor apparently restored, and Laurence realized with mingled relief and
irritation that the man had only been calculating his admiral s share in his
head.
Indeed, sir, she is a very trim craft; thirty-six guns, he said politely,
keeping several other things which he might have said to himself; he would
never have to report to this man again, but Riley s future still hung in the
balance.
Hm. You have done as you ought, Laurence, I am sure; though it is a pity to
lose you. I suppose you shall like to be an aviator, Croft said, in tones
that made it quite plain he supposed no such thing. We
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Novik,%20Naomi%20-%20Temeraire%2001%20-%20His%20Maje
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sty's%20Dragon.html (29 of 215)22-12-2006 15:57:34
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Novik,%20Naomi%20-%20Temeraire%2001%20-%20His%20Maje
sty's%20Dragon.html have no division of the Corps locally, though; even the
dispatch-carrier only comes through once a week. You will have to take him to
Gibraltar, I imagine.
Yes, sir, though the trip must wait until he has more growth; he can stay
aloft for an hour or so without much trouble, but I do not like to risk him on
a long flight just yet, Laurence said firmly. And in the meantime, he must
be fed; we have only managed to get by so long with fishing, but of course he
cannot hunt here.
Well, Laurence, that is no lookout of the Navy s, I am sure, Croft said, but
before Laurence could be really taken aback by this petty remark, the man
seemed to realize how ill it sounded, and amended his words. However, I will
speak to the governor; I am sure we can arrange something. Now then, the
Reliant, and of course the
Amitié, we must take some thought for them.
I should like to point out that Mr. Riley has been in command of the
Reliant since the harnessing, and that he has handled her exceptionally well,
bringing her safely to port through a two-days gale,
Laurence said. He fought very bravely in the action which won us the prize,
as well.
Oh, I am sure, I am sure, Croft said, turning his finger in circles again.
Who do you have in the
Amitié
?
My first lieutenant, Gibbs, Laurence said.
Yes, of course, Croft said. Well, it is a bit much of you to hope to make
both your first and second lieutenants post in such a way, Laurence, you must
see that. There are not so many fine frigates out there.
Laurence had great difficulty in keeping his countenance; the man was clearly
looking for some excuse to give himself a plum to deal out to one of his own
favorites. Sir, he said, icily, I do not quite take your meaning; I hope
you are not suggesting that I had myself put in harness in order to open a
vacancy.
I assure you my only motive was to secure to England a very valuable dragon,
and I would hope that their Lordships will see it in such a way.
It was as close as he would come to harping on his own sacrifice, and a good
deal closer than he would have preferred to come, without Riley s welfare at
stake. But it had its effect; Croft seemed struck by the reminder, and the
mention of the Admiralty; at least he hemmed and hawed and retreated, and
dismissed them without saying anything final about removing Riley from
command.
Sir, I am deeply indebted to you, Riley said, as they walked together back
towards the ship. I only hope you will not have caused difficulties for
yourself by pressing the matter so; I suppose he must have a great deal of
influence.
Laurence at the moment had little room for any emotion but relief, for they
had come to their own dock,
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Novik,%20Naomi%20-%20Temeraire%2001%20-%20His%20Maje
sty's%20Dragon.html (30 of 215)22-12-2006 15:57:34
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Novik,%20Naomi%20-%20Temeraire%2001%20-%20His%20Maje
sty's%20Dragon.html and Temeraire was still sitting on the deck of the ship;
although that looked more like an abattoir at the moment, and the area around
his chops more red than black. The crowd of spectators had entirely dispersed.
If there is any blessing to the whole business, Tom, it is that I no longer
need to give much thought to influence; I do not suppose it can make any
Page 25
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
difference to an aviator, he answered. Pray have no concern for me. Should
you mind if we were to walk a little faster? I think he has finished eating. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
sty's%20Dragon.html urgency of the situation; then with a final dubious
glance, he went down the gangplank and joined Riley.
Admiral Croft was waiting for them impatiently; he had evidently heard
something of the fuss. He was a tall man and a striking one, the more so for a
raking scar across his face and the false hand which was attached to the stump
of his left arm, its iron fingers operated by springs and catches. He had lost
the limb shortly before his promotion to flag rank, and since had put on a
great deal of weight; he did not rise when they came into his stateroom, but
only scowled a little and waved them to chairs. Very well, Laurence, explain
yourself; I suppose this has something to do with the feral you have down
there?
Sir, that is Temeraire; he is not feral, Laurence said. We took a French
ship, the
Amitié, three weeks ago yesterday; we found his egg in their hold. Our surgeon
had some knowledge of dragonkind; he warned us that it would hatch shortly,
and so we were able to arrange that is to say, I harnessed him.
Croft sat up abruptly and squinted at Laurence, then at Riley, only then
taking notice of the change in uniform. What, yourself? And so you Good
Lord, why didn t you put one of your midshipmen to the thing? he demanded.
This is taking duty a little far, Laurence; a fine thing when a naval officer
chooses to jump ship for the Corps.
Sir, my officers and I drew lots, Laurence said, suppressing a flare of
indignation; he had not desired to be lauded for his sacrifice, but it was a
little much to be upbraided for it. I hope no one would ever question my
devotion to the service; I felt it only fair to them that I should share the
risk, and in the event, though I did not draw the lot, there was no avoiding
it; he took a liking to me, and we could not risk him refusing the harness
from another hand.
Oh, hell, Croft said, and relapsed into his chair with a sullen expression,
tapping the fingers of his right hand against the metal palm of the left, a
nervous gesture, and sat silently except for the small clinking noise which
his fingernails made upon the iron. The minutes dragged, while Laurence
alternated between imagining a thousand disasters which Temeraire might
precipitate in his absence, and worrying what Croft might do with the
Reliant and Riley.
At last Croft started, as if waking up, and waved his good hand. Well, there
must be some sort of bounty; they can hardly give less for a harnessed
creature than a feral one, after all, he said. The
French frigate, a man-of-war, I suppose, no merchantman? Well, she looks
likely enough, I am sure she will be brought into the service, he added, good
humor apparently restored, and Laurence realized with mingled relief and
irritation that the man had only been calculating his admiral s share in his
head.
Indeed, sir, she is a very trim craft; thirty-six guns, he said politely,
keeping several other things which he might have said to himself; he would
never have to report to this man again, but Riley s future still hung in the
balance.
Hm. You have done as you ought, Laurence, I am sure; though it is a pity to
lose you. I suppose you shall like to be an aviator, Croft said, in tones
that made it quite plain he supposed no such thing. We
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Novik,%20Naomi%20-%20Temeraire%2001%20-%20His%20Maje
Page 24
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
sty's%20Dragon.html (29 of 215)22-12-2006 15:57:34
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Novik,%20Naomi%20-%20Temeraire%2001%20-%20His%20Maje
sty's%20Dragon.html have no division of the Corps locally, though; even the
dispatch-carrier only comes through once a week. You will have to take him to
Gibraltar, I imagine.
Yes, sir, though the trip must wait until he has more growth; he can stay
aloft for an hour or so without much trouble, but I do not like to risk him on
a long flight just yet, Laurence said firmly. And in the meantime, he must
be fed; we have only managed to get by so long with fishing, but of course he
cannot hunt here.
Well, Laurence, that is no lookout of the Navy s, I am sure, Croft said, but
before Laurence could be really taken aback by this petty remark, the man
seemed to realize how ill it sounded, and amended his words. However, I will
speak to the governor; I am sure we can arrange something. Now then, the
Reliant, and of course the
Amitié, we must take some thought for them.
I should like to point out that Mr. Riley has been in command of the
Reliant since the harnessing, and that he has handled her exceptionally well,
bringing her safely to port through a two-days gale,
Laurence said. He fought very bravely in the action which won us the prize,
as well.
Oh, I am sure, I am sure, Croft said, turning his finger in circles again.
Who do you have in the
Amitié
?
My first lieutenant, Gibbs, Laurence said.
Yes, of course, Croft said. Well, it is a bit much of you to hope to make
both your first and second lieutenants post in such a way, Laurence, you must
see that. There are not so many fine frigates out there.
Laurence had great difficulty in keeping his countenance; the man was clearly
looking for some excuse to give himself a plum to deal out to one of his own
favorites. Sir, he said, icily, I do not quite take your meaning; I hope
you are not suggesting that I had myself put in harness in order to open a
vacancy.
I assure you my only motive was to secure to England a very valuable dragon,
and I would hope that their Lordships will see it in such a way.
It was as close as he would come to harping on his own sacrifice, and a good
deal closer than he would have preferred to come, without Riley s welfare at
stake. But it had its effect; Croft seemed struck by the reminder, and the
mention of the Admiralty; at least he hemmed and hawed and retreated, and
dismissed them without saying anything final about removing Riley from
command.
Sir, I am deeply indebted to you, Riley said, as they walked together back
towards the ship. I only hope you will not have caused difficulties for
yourself by pressing the matter so; I suppose he must have a great deal of
influence.
Laurence at the moment had little room for any emotion but relief, for they
had come to their own dock,
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Novik,%20Naomi%20-%20Temeraire%2001%20-%20His%20Maje
sty's%20Dragon.html (30 of 215)22-12-2006 15:57:34
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Novik,%20Naomi%20-%20Temeraire%2001%20-%20His%20Maje
sty's%20Dragon.html and Temeraire was still sitting on the deck of the ship;
although that looked more like an abattoir at the moment, and the area around
his chops more red than black. The crowd of spectators had entirely dispersed.
If there is any blessing to the whole business, Tom, it is that I no longer
need to give much thought to influence; I do not suppose it can make any
Page 25
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
difference to an aviator, he answered. Pray have no concern for me. Should
you mind if we were to walk a little faster? I think he has finished eating. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]