Caribbee(90)

The table was cleared and the president called for port. With deliberate emphasis he invited Mr Vice to make the loyal toast, which was given in guarded tones.

Afterwards, when normally the wardroom would relax into comfortable reminiscence, there was only an awkward silence. There were wary looks about the table, one or two comments on the dishes and then nothing.

‘Damn it!’ Griffith burst out. ‘Is no one going to speak?’

Eyes turned to him.

‘Clear the cabin o’ the serving staff!’ he snapped. ‘And send away the sentry.’

This was unprecedented. In effect the first lieutenant was reducing those present to the wardroom officers of Hannibal only.

‘No one to leave! Who’s the officer-of-the-watch?’

‘Mason,’ someone said nervously.

‘Right, we’ll do without him. So we’re all in this together – agreed?’ he snapped.

‘What can you mean by that, sir?’ gasped Jowett, the second lieutenant.

‘What I say, sir,’ Griffith ground out, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial quiet, ‘is this. It can’t go on and, whether we like it or no, we’re the ones to suffer in the end.’

The third, Briggs, had no qualms about an opinion. ‘He’s mad, of course. Anyone who’s passed by the Bedlam hospital knows what to look for.’

‘And what’s that?’ growled Maitland, the sailing master.

‘Does it matter?’ said the Captain of Marines. ‘We all know he’s beyond reaching.’

If the Royal Marines were no longer prepared to stand with their captain, it was a matter of desperate gravity.

‘Here’s my view, and it’s one that I sorrow to hold.’ Griffith regarded them gravely. ‘We have to declare him mad, unfit to command.’

‘And then?’ Jowett gave a dry laugh. ‘I’d not like to be the one who tells him. I have it from my man that Tyrell carries a pair of pocket pistols on him wherever he goes.’

Bowden spoke up quietly: ‘It’s a nice point, though. If we do nothing and there’s a meeting with the enemy, I have m’ doubts the men will fight for him, and we’re a liability in the line-of-battle. If we do take steps we could be each and every one damned for the rest of our careers …’

‘I don’t know why you’re all so gib-faced,’ Griffith said bitterly. ‘It’s down to my account who’s the “leader” in this … rising.’

‘Talking of rising,’ Briggs said strongly, ‘we should bear it in mind that if we do indeed make such a move, the ship’s company will see it in their best interest to drop any ideas they may have for a mutiny, or similar.’

‘That’s a good point. We’re only a couple of dozen against six hundred,’ muttered Maitland, staring into his glass.

‘Against?’ Bowden asked, with irony.

‘We’ve only to hang out a signal to the fleet and—’

‘Don’t be a looby,’ Jowett sneered. ‘They’ll never let us, and they’d have to wait only for nightfall to be off to wherever they’re carrying the ship. Anyone watching won’t have a clue what’s happening, and if it’s night, well …’

‘That’s as may be,’ Griffith said, with finality. ‘I’m to demand that before we leave this cabin we’ve decided on our course.’

‘To take Hannibal from Captain Tyrell or no,’ Bowden said levelly.

‘To prevent a rising of the hands and carrying of the ship over to the enemy.’

‘I say we take it to a vote!’ Briggs put in.

‘Now hold on, young ’un,’ Maitland said in alarm. ‘We’re not ready f’r that, like!’

Bowden tapped twice on the table with a spoon. ‘Let’s not lose sight of our options,’ he said, flashing an apologetic smile at the first lieutenant for his interruption. ‘First we have to be sure things can only be resolved by the captain’s, er, removal. This is a step with no going back. And if we do, then is it to be by main force or another way?’

‘Another way,’ Jowett said forcefully. ‘Simple – the doctor declares the man insane, we put him to bed and all is sweet for us.’

‘It does have the merit of being quick and sure,’ agreed Griffith. ‘Doctor, you’ll do this for us?’

The surgeon shrank from him in fear. ‘I c-can’t!’

‘Why not, pray?’

‘It’s that … Well, I’m not qualified, am I?’

‘Damn it!’ exploded Griffith. ‘If you’re not, who is?’

‘I know why he won’t,’ Jowett said with venom. ‘He’s worried that if he certifies Tyrell mad and Surgeons’ Hall won’t have it, he fears he’s to be cast in damages.’