her?
‘Do
you
?’ I asked.
Sophie shook her head. ‘I do not know him,’ she whispered. ‘But then, I know few of my mother’s acquaintance. She believes it is safer that way …’
‘In this case,’ I observed, ‘it almost certainly is. He is someone to be feared. And you must remember, do not let him know you can see me …’
‘I’ll try,’ whispered Sophie.
At that point, Jenny Blade swung about and looked towards her daughter. My heart leapt into my mouth. Sophie could see and hear me. Did that mean her mother could as well? Had she heard our whispered conversation? My fear was, however, short-lived. There was no start of surprise in Jenny Blade’s eyes, nor any indication that she had noticed a strange winged figure standing by her daughter.
‘Sophie,’ she said. ‘Something in me has relented. We will bring these wretched men aboard. They look to be in need of sustenance. Go to the galley and tell the cook to find some beef and biscuit and fresh water.’
‘Of course, Mama,’ said Sophie, and with a small parting smile at me, she hurried away. I moved to the rail and saw that the jolly-boat now was drawing close to the shadow of the ship and that men on the
Medusa
were preparing to throw it ropes.
Not long thereafter, the men on the jolly-boat were one by one allowed to climb on board.
CHAPTER 6
ONE THAT HATH BEEN STUNNED
That evening, Jenny Blade, her lieutenant, whose name I had discovered was Abel Griff, and Sophie entertained Mr Wicker, Captain Lightower and Dr Hatch to dinner in the wardroom. I sat in there as well, squeezed on a bench that ran along the outer bulkhead.
I had to admire Sophie’s presence of mind and discipline. She gave no indication at any time of my being in the cabin; her eyes never strayed my way.
Mr Wicker, on the other hand, would often glance in my direction and give me a small secret smile or even a little wink sometimes. He seemed to enjoy not only the fact of my discomfit, but also that he possessed a secret knowledge of my presence none of the others were aware of.
As I sat watching the party eat and drink, I was reminded of the other ways my transformation had taken me away from all that was human. In addition to my invisibility and my wings, I was no longer oppressed by the tropic sun, and I no longer felt hot or cold. Now I realised that not only had I flown beyond the bounds of earth, I had flown beyondhunger and thirst; I had no need or desire for food or drink.
It was clear that my companions, recently on the jolly-boat, had no such qualms. All made the most of the plates and dishes laid before them, and Dr Hatch so often replenished his glass another bottle of brandy was called for.
When their plates were taken away, Captain Lightower stood and raised his glass to toast his rescuers.
‘I thank you, madam,’ he said. ‘This salvation was as timely as it was unexpected. I am afraid my men were at their extremity and another day or so in an open boat and we would certainly have lost more than we did. Your very good health, madam, and our heartfelt thanks! I serve the king and I am sure he would second this toast.’
Jenny Blade lifted her glass in acknowledgement and replied, smiling, ‘It is good to know King George might see some virtue in me yet. I’m not at all sure he always has.’
‘God save the king!’ exclaimed Dr Hatch, although I thought not so much out of loyalty as out of the opportunity to re-charge his glass.
‘But, Captain,’ continued Jenny Blade, ‘am I to understand, from what you have said, that some of your men were lost from the boat?’
‘Alas, yes,’ said the captain. ‘My bosun’s mate lost his footing and fell overboard, and not long after that Dr Hatch’s little loblolly boy did the same.’
‘You have been fortunate then,’ said Jenny Blade, ‘to have lost so few.’
I quickly glanced at Sophie to see how she was taking the news of my drowning. Once again, I was amazed ather composure. She made no
‘Do
you
?’ I asked.
Sophie shook her head. ‘I do not know him,’ she whispered. ‘But then, I know few of my mother’s acquaintance. She believes it is safer that way …’
‘In this case,’ I observed, ‘it almost certainly is. He is someone to be feared. And you must remember, do not let him know you can see me …’
‘I’ll try,’ whispered Sophie.
At that point, Jenny Blade swung about and looked towards her daughter. My heart leapt into my mouth. Sophie could see and hear me. Did that mean her mother could as well? Had she heard our whispered conversation? My fear was, however, short-lived. There was no start of surprise in Jenny Blade’s eyes, nor any indication that she had noticed a strange winged figure standing by her daughter.
‘Sophie,’ she said. ‘Something in me has relented. We will bring these wretched men aboard. They look to be in need of sustenance. Go to the galley and tell the cook to find some beef and biscuit and fresh water.’
‘Of course, Mama,’ said Sophie, and with a small parting smile at me, she hurried away. I moved to the rail and saw that the jolly-boat now was drawing close to the shadow of the ship and that men on the
Medusa
were preparing to throw it ropes.
Not long thereafter, the men on the jolly-boat were one by one allowed to climb on board.
CHAPTER 6
ONE THAT HATH BEEN STUNNED
That evening, Jenny Blade, her lieutenant, whose name I had discovered was Abel Griff, and Sophie entertained Mr Wicker, Captain Lightower and Dr Hatch to dinner in the wardroom. I sat in there as well, squeezed on a bench that ran along the outer bulkhead.
I had to admire Sophie’s presence of mind and discipline. She gave no indication at any time of my being in the cabin; her eyes never strayed my way.
Mr Wicker, on the other hand, would often glance in my direction and give me a small secret smile or even a little wink sometimes. He seemed to enjoy not only the fact of my discomfit, but also that he possessed a secret knowledge of my presence none of the others were aware of.
As I sat watching the party eat and drink, I was reminded of the other ways my transformation had taken me away from all that was human. In addition to my invisibility and my wings, I was no longer oppressed by the tropic sun, and I no longer felt hot or cold. Now I realised that not only had I flown beyond the bounds of earth, I had flown beyondhunger and thirst; I had no need or desire for food or drink.
It was clear that my companions, recently on the jolly-boat, had no such qualms. All made the most of the plates and dishes laid before them, and Dr Hatch so often replenished his glass another bottle of brandy was called for.
When their plates were taken away, Captain Lightower stood and raised his glass to toast his rescuers.
‘I thank you, madam,’ he said. ‘This salvation was as timely as it was unexpected. I am afraid my men were at their extremity and another day or so in an open boat and we would certainly have lost more than we did. Your very good health, madam, and our heartfelt thanks! I serve the king and I am sure he would second this toast.’
Jenny Blade lifted her glass in acknowledgement and replied, smiling, ‘It is good to know King George might see some virtue in me yet. I’m not at all sure he always has.’
‘God save the king!’ exclaimed Dr Hatch, although I thought not so much out of loyalty as out of the opportunity to re-charge his glass.
‘But, Captain,’ continued Jenny Blade, ‘am I to understand, from what you have said, that some of your men were lost from the boat?’
‘Alas, yes,’ said the captain. ‘My bosun’s mate lost his footing and fell overboard, and not long after that Dr Hatch’s little loblolly boy did the same.’
‘You have been fortunate then,’ said Jenny Blade, ‘to have lost so few.’
I quickly glanced at Sophie to see how she was taking the news of my drowning. Once again, I was amazed ather composure. She made no
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