Sacred Hunger - Barry Unsworth [52]
‘Yes, sir.’
‘What took place?’
‘It was early today, the wind was just comin’ round fair an’ we was swayin’ up the gallants. We had to look alive, every man of us, to get the benefit – them was your orders, sir. It seemed to me that the men were not puttin’ their backs into it, so I started ’em up a bit in the normal way an’ he turned sharp round on me.’
‘You are saying you gave them a stroke of the rattan to smarten them up?’
‘Yes, that’s right, sir.’
‘One stroke, or more than one?’
‘One here, one there.’
Thurso observed with rising malignity that the fellow was permitting himself a slight smile. ‘And the same to each man?’
‘I don’t well remember, sir.’
Thurso looked closely into the boatswain’s face. The dark eyes were unabashed, alight with an energy of their own. ‘You don’t remember?’ he said. ‘Can you not count? You had better learn. He saw it was you and he raised his hand?’
‘Aye,’ the boatswain said, with a sort of bitter pride, ‘he knew it was me right enough.’
Thurso considered for some moments longer. The man Wilson would have to be punished, so much was certain. A day in irons would meet the case. But was it enough? He thought again of the sign he had been given in the night, in the worst of the gale, those glimmers of crimson among the scudding clouds. And now these contrary winds and calms. Eight days out and they were not yet clear of the Dungarvon high land. A square-rigged ship in narrow waters … With unlucky weather they could be caught in this channel as long again, or longer. Something was clogging, preventing …
‘Have the man brought up on deck and put in irons,’ he said. ‘I will make an example of him.’
‘Aye-aye, sir. Thank you, sir.’
‘Damn you, I don’t want your thanks.’ Thurso turned his eyes on the boatswain and saw the man’s head retract slightly and the dark eyes open wider. ‘Hark to me, Haines,’ he said. ‘Do not try to come too near me or you will get scorched. You take that tack and you will find your mistake soon enough. And you had better learn to count. Driving the men is one thing, but I don’t want bad blood on the ship, more than I can help. Now get off my deck and go about your work.’
Billy Blair, hauling on the larboard tackle to set up the stays, saw the raw-boned Yorkshireman Wilson brought up on deck and the heavy leg irons fastened on him. ‘Christ save us,’ he said. ‘We are not oot o’ Georgy’s Channel yet an’ they are startin’ already. What has that poor lad done?’
Sullivan’s dazed and beautiful eyes regarded him through the mesh of the rat-lines. ‘What has he done?’ he said. ‘He has committed the wrong-doin’ of bein’ aboard of this ship.’
‘Ye daft twist,’ Billy said irritably. ‘How could he have knowed it when he stepped aboard?’
‘Anyone who knows anythin’ about the law knows that ignorance is no excuse. We got a flogger for a bosun an’ a hound for a mate an’ a divil for a skipper an’ a year o’ hell to look forward to an’ you ask me what the lad has done.’
‘Yor argument doesna’ hold water,’ Billy said, after some moments of reflection. ‘They canna put a lad in irons only for existin’.’
‘Can they not?’ Sullivan said. ‘Holy Mary, I wish it was dinner-time. Me hands is all comin’ to pieces with these ropes, bein’ out of the way of it these days. Well, ’tis me own fault, sure enough, I should have minded me own business, I should niver have taken your part.’
‘I wish you’d give over on that tack,’ Billy said.
Libby was passing by them, his arms full of chafing gear. ‘I heard you’re goin’ to get a nice new suit o’ clothes,’ he said to Sullivan and gave a yellow-toothed grin that was too prolonged for friendliness.
‘I don’t know what you are talkin’ about,’ Sullivan said.
‘Shag off, blob-eye,’ Billy said pugnaciously. Neither of them trusted Libby, who was rumoured to be on close terms with Haines.
‘Prick-ears.’ Libby was searching for further insults when the second mate came up to them.
‘I don’t want to hear so much talking,’ Simmonds said. ‘You – Libby – get aft with that gear. There is a man in irons already, do you want to keep him company?’
‘Thank you