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‘Sir’
‘How’d he get like this?’
The boys, for they were not much more, looked at their feet ‘Dunno, sir’
‘Scotch mist, is it? As opposed to just Scotch?’
‘Dunno, sir’
‘Dunno, sir,’ the lare ‘I bet you don’t’
Henry Nicol, Marine, stepped back against the wall The young dabber beside hi his cap in bruised, bloodied hands He breathed out, bracing hiainst the ht, now, but it could still catch the unwary
‘Soaer man nodded unhappily at the master-at-arms ‘Sir’
‘What’s he in for, Nicol?’
‘Quarrels and disturbances, sir And drunkenness’
‘Not like you, Soames’
‘No, sir’
The olderfor hiet soht You look bloody awful’ He nodded at the younger man ‘Soames, it’s a bad business Use your loaf next time, not your fists’
The master-at-arms moved slowly on to the next s/alcohol – and Soaainst the wall
‘You’re all for it,’ the master-at-arms said ‘It’s the captain today, not the executive officer, and I can tell you he’s not in the best of roaned
In norht have been reassuring, upbeat But with one hand still resting against the letter in his trouser pocket, he had neither the energy nor the desire toit for days, guessing, dreading the nature of its contents Now, seven days after they had left Sydney, he knew
As if knowing could ever ht,’ he said
Dear Henry,
I’m disappointed but not surprised I haven’t heard back froain how sorry I am I never set out to hurt you But we have had hardly a word fro, and I aood man, a kind man, who pays me a lot of heed
This is note married, and perhaps if the war had not come when it didStill, as we both know, our world today is full of such if-onlys
He had read the first paragraph and thought that, ironically, life was easier when his letters were still censored
It was almost twenty minutes before they were up They paused outside the captain’s office, then Nicol followed the younger hfield was seated behind the desk, flanked by the nise, riting son that he are of the new occupants of the rooer man ‘Cap,’ he hissed, his own black beret held in front of him Soames ree: the boy had been scrapping with another dabber in the sea – spirits, far in excess of the daily ‘sippers’ ration to ratings
‘Hoe plead?’ said Captain Highfield, still writing He had tall, elegant script, soers
‘Guilty, sir,’ said Soauilty And weak But, to be truthful, for the last four years I ht as well have been afor the word I have had fro aeek after week praying for your safety; that youto the children of you daily, even when I suspected you did not reer
Finally, the captain looked up He eyed the young man, then addressed the marine ‘Nicol, isn’t it?’
‘Sir’
‘What can you tellathered his thoughts ‘He’s been with us a little over a year, sir A dabber He’s been very steady during that tiood sort’
‘So, Soa character reference, what turned you into a brawling idiot?’
The boy’s head dipped ‘Look up,to irl, sir Sheshe was to seeout some time But she’s beenwell, it’s one of the others in C Deck, sir’
When Anton ca me some attention, Henry, it’s not even that he stepped into your shoes There were no shoes for hi meand then the others, well, they said as how I couldn’t keep hold of a woman, and you knohat it’s like in the mess, sir, well, I’d had a bellyful of it and – well – I suppose I saw red’
‘You suppose you saw red’
The children are very fond of him You will always be their father, and they know that, but they will love America and have all sorts of chances there that they would never have had in a sleepy old village in Norfolk
‘Yes, sir’ He coughed into his hand ‘I’m very sorry, sir’
‘You’re very sorry,’ said the captain ‘So, Nicol, you say he’s been a good sort up to this point?’
‘Yes, sir’
The captain put down his pen and clasped his hands His voice was icy ‘You know I don’t like fighting onwhen there’s alcohol involved Eventhat thereplace on e that involve alcohol’