Miss Anna's Frigate

by Jens Kuhn

  Baker laughed as well. “Alright, commander, you have seen through the plot. Yes, the ambassador does ask a slight favor in return...”

  Kuhlin raised an eyebrow.

  “...He...well, he feels a little...well...left behind as far as intelligence is concerned.”

  “He does?”

  “Er...yes. Your country being, well, in a state of...um...,” his voice trailed off.

  “Uncertainty?” Kuhlin offered.

  “Yes, perhaps?”

  “My dear captain, I am afraid I cannot help you much at all. I am quite at a loss myself and I am not even trying to get involved...as an officer I guess I must be loyal to whomever is in charge...so to speak..”

  “Oh.” Baker considered this. “So you do not at all have any idea about how this...situation might develop?”

  “No, sir, actually not.” Kuhlin hesitated for a moment. “However, there might be someone else you could talk to...”

  “Ah, and who might that be?” the Baker asked, intrigued.

  Kuhlin suddenly was unsure if this was a good idea. He liked Baker, in a way, and he appreciated the prize money – indeed needed it quite desperately to get through the rest of the winter without having to cut down on things, like the maid or the coffee. But he didn’t want to put Anna at risk either. Then he made a decision.

  “Alright, sir...this is how we must do this. I will have to ask...this person first. You might want to stay in town for the night, perhaps?”

  Baker nodded. “I was planning on doing this anyway.”

  “Well then, tell me where you will be staying and I...or...well...someone will contact you.”

  Baker rose and offered his hand. “That would be perfect. Thank you kindly, sir.”

  Anna, Karin and Eric were sitting in the dining room at Beckens inn when Kuhlin arrived. Eric, who was sitting with his back to the wall saw him first and called him to their table. Kuhlin sat down heavily, still wearing his greatcoat.

  “What brings you here?” Anna asked.

  Kuhlin frowned. “Captain Baker, from the English frigate,” he replied.

  “Oh. What does he want?”

  “Give me my prize money, for one,” Kuhlin explained. “And bargain for information.”

  “Anna raised an eyebrow. “Information? What kind of information?”

  “Intelligence, I guess. About the political situation...the well...what is to happen with the king...”

  “Nothing is going to happen to the king,” Anna said quietly.

  They all looked at her questioningly. Anna blushed. “He is the king after all. He must be protected.”

  Eric af Klint sighed. “Look, Anna...”

  She put her hand on his and squeezed it lightly. “Don’t, Eric”, she said softly. “Let’s hear what the commander has to say.”

  Kuhlin coughed. “Well, Baker asked me for...well my opinion on the situation. But I...”

  “You don’t have any opinion,” Anna chuckled.

  “Right. I don’t think officers should be involved in politics I am a sailor, not...well.”

  “And you told the captain that much?”

  “Yes, but then I came to think of you.”

  “And thought I might be willing to help the captain out?” She shook her head. “Why on earth should I do that?”

  Commander Kuhlin blushed.

  Bosun Tapper woke to complete darkness. He put his hand to his aching head instinctively, feeling the dried blood in his hair. He swore silently. How stupid was this then, he thought. After decades of service in the navy he had let himself be drawn into some completely insane clandestine operation, something he had no expertise in whatsoever. And what had been the result? Misery. That's what it was.

  He tried to move his legs, finding them restrained by some sort of rope. At least it was rope, he thought, rope he knew something about. But he still couldn’t move his legs. His arms were free though, which was odd. Why would one only tie the legs of a man? Surely he must be able to free himself eventually? He felt the rope with his hands for the knot. Surely there must be a knot?

  There wasn’t. Instead there was a splice...two splices..and a padlock. Tapper groaned. What a devious contraption. Sure, he might be able to work the splice free, if he had some sort of pointed tool, but not with his fingers alone. He felt for his knife, but of course it was gone. Sighing, he leaned back against the wall and tried to think.

  And he thought of Karin. Her slender body, her delicious smell and the steamy heat of the sauna. Closing his eyes he tried to push away the thought. If he couldn’t concentrate he might very well never get out of here alive and see her again. He would then never be able to touch her soft skin or kiss her moist lips and... Tapper groaned again. Pulling himself together he tried to move along the wall, feeling for anything that could be helpful, as a clue or as a device to escape.

  It was tedious work. He could only move by dragging his body along the wall, using his tied legs and arms in some sort of crab-wise movement. He didn’t dare move away from it as he didn’t have any idea how big the room was or what was in it. Hugging the wall felt safest. The wall itself felt cold, almost moist. It also felt rugged, like raw stones or perhaps brick. An underground room then, some sort of cellar or basement, Tapper thought. He might still be in the same building, the shop, but of course he couldn’t be sure. Having no idea as of how long he had been unconscious, he might have been moved elsewhere.

  Tapper’s hands started to get sore from the uneven surface of the wall. Cursing, he continued. At last he found something that felt different. Wood. A door frame? Tapper hauled himself up against the cold stones, moving his hands along the wood. Yes, there was a door. He put his back against it, pushing. The door creaked, but did not move. Groaning, he examined it further. The hinges were on the outside and there was no handle. Or was there? What was this? A cabin hook? Yes, indeed. Tapper felt a sudden sting of elation. If he could work free this thing he might use its point to work free that splice.

  Chapter 13 – Preparations

  Captain Baker was just about to go to bed when a messenger knocked at the door, informing him there was a lady visitor for him. Baker, intrigued, put his uniform coat back on and followed the messenger downstairs. The lady, having requested privacy, had been ushered into the drawing room.

  Anna stood with her back towards the door when Baker entered. Turning around slowly she smiled and said: “Well, captain, do you remember me at all?”

  Baker did of course remember her perfectly well. He almost blushed as he realized that she wore exactly the same dress as when he first had seen her at the theater. The cleavage was exactly as revealing, too. Baker forced his gaze to lift to her smiling eyes.

  “Oh, I do indeed, miss...”

  “Anna.”

  “Of course, yes ...um... I am delighted, naturally...,” his voice trailed off.

  Anna laughed. “You have no idea why I am here, do you? She glided towards him and put one of her hands on his arm. “Will you perhaps order some tea for us? Then I will tell you.”

  Baker, feeling slightly dazed, cleared his throat and walked towards the door. Anna, a cunning smirk on her face turned back to the sofa and sat down, dress rustling. She actually had missed this quite a lot. Being with Eric had pushed it away for a while, she even had thought she might be able to settle down with him on his estate. But these last days had stirred her up again and she now knew that she was too much an adventuress to ever be locked up in a cage by one single man – even if it was by her own choice and even if she loved that man.

  She looked at the British captain coming back through the door, feeling the air of confidence around him, the power of command, the sheer masculinity. But also the insecurity of being alone with her in that room and the fact that he so clearly was attracted to her – all that made her body tingle with excitement.

  “Please sit down with me, captain,” she said, patting the spot next to her on the sofa.

  Baker hesitated only for a second
, then sat down stiffly, turning his upper body towards her. He coughed. “Um... I think the tea will be here in a minute, miss Anna...”

  “I’m in no hurry, dear captain,” Anna replied calmly, looking straight into his eyes.

  “Right. Well, do you care to tell me then, why you are here?”

  Anna smiled at him. “I think we will wait for the tea first. We would not want to be disturbed, I think.”

  “Oh?” Baker’s eyes went wide.

  Anna chuckled, opening her mouth to say something when the door opened and a maid appeared.

  The tea served at last, cups in their hands and having taken their first sips, Anna spoke again.

  “So, my dear captain, you have been visiting an old friend of mine this afternoon...”

  “Oh. Yes, commander Kuhlin...” Baker hesitated.

  “And you were told he needed to talk to someone who might be able to help you?”

  Baker’s face flushed red. “Um... miss I am sorry, but this business...”

  Anna put her hand softly on his arm. “This someone is me, captain.”

  Baker almost dropped his teacup. His mouth fell open and he gaped at her for a while. Finally pulling himself together he coughed.

  “You are the one who...?”

  “I have certain dealings with people who work in intelligence, captain.”

  Baker considered this. “Well, I am sorry, miss. I had no idea.”

  Anna looked into his eyes and smiled, seeing the change. There was still desire in those eyes and admiration, but now there was more. Perhaps respect. Or amazement.

  “Captain, pray tell me what you want to know.”

  “Well, it’s really the ambassador who wants to know, miss. But of course I want, too, you see I have this ship at Dalarö, frozen in the ice and more or less unable to leave.”

  Anna nodded patiently.

  “Yes, and we, that is the ambassador of course, and me. We don’t know a thing about what is going on in this country and who will be in charge in a few weeks.”

  Anna sighed. “My dear captain...I fully understand your situation. However, the problem is, nobody knows very much right now. There are lots of rumors. There are people who talk about revolution. And there are, apparently, rebel troops on their way to Stockholm.

  Baker stiffened. “That rumor is true then?”

  “It is definitely true,” Anna confirmed.

  “So there will be a civil war?”

  “Perhaps. It all depends on the king.”

  Baker looked at her questioningly. “And what is the king going to do?”

  Anna chuckled. “No-one really knows.”

  “He doesn’t tell?”

  “Oh he does. But he tells different things to different people. And the people who tell these things to other people, like me or you, do not necessarily tell us the same thing the king told them.”

  Baker raised an eyebrow. “I am not entirely sure if I follow you...”

  Anna laughed. “I’m sorry, captain. The clandestine world is not alway easy to understand. Subterfuge and deception are a natural part of it. Many people in this line of work do habitually not tell the truth or only parts of it.”

  “I see. So you claim there are no sources entirely to be trusted?”

  Anna smiled. “Exactly. One of my closest contacts, for example, he might as well be loyal to the king or a rebel. You won’t be able to tell until the last minute.”

  Baker looked increasingly puzzled. Anna, seeing that, squeezed his arm lightly. “Do you not find me helpful, dear captain?”

  Baker wondered if her hand had been on his arm during the whole conversation. It probably had. Suddenly it felt hot on his sleeve.

  “Captain?”

  Baker pulled himself together. “Sorry, miss.”

  “Can I ask you a favor?”

  “Of course,” Baker replied instinctively.

  “Will you take me to Dalarö and show me your ship?”

  Baker blushed deeply, his mouth agape in astonishment.

  Bosun Tapper swore. This hook wasn’t nearly as pointed enough as he had wished. In fact it almost wasn’t any help at all. He had worked hard for at least half an hour but only managed to free a few strands of the splice. This would take all day – or night for that matter, and his fingers were already sore and tired. He sighed and stopped working for a while. Surely they would not just leave him down here to rot. Perhaps it would be better to rest and save his strength until they came back for him.

  Tapper thought about Karin again. She must be terribly worried by now. Hopefully, she would have gone for help. Perhaps talked to Anna or Kuhlin. They might already be out looking for him. But of course, how were they supposed to find him here? As far as they were concerned he could be absolutely anywhere.

  Then his body tensed. There was a noise. Could it be a rat? Something was shuffling outside the door. Tapper pressed himself against the wall close to the door. It was a pity it opened outwards, he thought. Clasping the hook in his hand he waited. There was a rustle as someone moved the bolt on the outside of the door. Creaking as the heavy door swung outwards. Tapper closed his eyes in order not to be blinded by the light from the lantern he expected his visitor to carry, then opened them slowly again.

  He saw the back of a man in a gray greatcoat, holding a lit lantern in his left hand and a pistol in his right. The man was peering into the room, looking for him against the far wall. The man grunted, then said: “I know you are here, bosun, don’t play games.”

  Tapper had been prepared to haul himself up and throw his body against the man, hoping to bring down the lantern in the process. In darkness, he thought he might have had a chance. But something made him change his mind. What had the man just said?

  “Why did you call me bosun?” he said softly.

  The man startled and turned around, pistol at the ready. When he saw Tapper still on the floor he relaxed.

  “Because that’s what you are, Mr. Tapper, are you not?”

  “Who are you?” Tapper asked. “You are not one of the men who put me in here.”

  The man laughed. “No, I’m not. I am the man who might get you out of here, if you will be so kind as to co-operate.”

  “Co-operate about what?” Tapper asked carefully.

  “Let’s get you out of here and I’ll tell you.”

  The man put his pistol into the pocket of his coat and produced a knife, cut the rope around Tapper’s legs, then offered the bosun his hand. Tapper took it and rose carefully. He groaned. “I do feel a bit stiff,” he said.

  Captain Baker hadn’t been this nervous for a long time. He was riding his horse slowly through the glittering winter landscape, ever so often casting a glance at the woman on the horse alongside. Anna wore a hooded fur cape that covered her completely as well as half of the tiny Nordic horse. Only her face was visible, deliciously flushed with red from the cold air stinging her skin. A slight smile played around her mouth as she was well aware of the captain’s glances.

  Baker wondered why he had agreed to her request to visit his ship. It probably wasn’t a good idea at all. A warship, frozen in the ice, with no proper heating definitely wasn’t the right place for a woman to be. And Dalarö was far enough from Stockholm to render it impossible to return home the same day. But of course, that was probably why he had agreed to this in the first place. He would have to let her stay on the ship over night, and that thought intrigued him. It held possibilities indeed.

  Anna, on the other hand, or horse, was having almost the same thought. For her, the British captain held possibilities in several ways. He was a handsome, dashing man for one, but most of all he had a powerful warship under his command. A warship, furthermore, belonging to a powerful country, a country which not only ruled the oceans of the world, but also was a bitter enemy of France. As was the king of Sweden. Seeing the captain glance at her again, she smiled.

  They arrived at Dalarö shortly after sunset, riding their horses all the way onto the ice to the f
rigate. Lieutenant Reeman, who was officer of the deck, greeted them with a puzzled expression on his face.

  “Welcome back, sir. Um...and...”

  “Thank you, Mr. Reeman. Now, as you can see we have a visitor tonight, Miss Anna Wetterstrand. Pray send word to the galley to prepare a suitable supper in, say, one hour?”

  “Aye aye, sir.” Reeman disappeared. Baker offered Anna his arm. “I think, it being all dark, we will make the tour of the ship tomorrow morning? And now proceed directly into the great cabin?”

  “Of course, you are the captain,” Anna smiled.

  It wasn’t exactly warm in the great cabin. Extending over the complete width of the ship it was by far the biggest room aboard. Its backside was covered by big windows which, had it not been dark, would have presented a spectacular view over the snowy islands surrounding the anchorage. Along the windows stretched a cushioned bench which after the long ride on horseback seemed utterly inviting.

  There was even a table and a couple of chairs as well as a desk. Against the forward bulkhead, on either side, were two small cabins, separated by walls of canvas covered wooden frames.

  “The one on the port side is my sleeping cabin,” Baker explained. “Which I, of course, will vacate for you to use.”

  Anna smiled at him, her hand squeezing his arm slightly. “Thank you, captain.”

  “Um, yes, on the other side is the chart room, where, well, the nautical charts are kept.”

  Anna nodded.

  “Well now, miss, would you like to sit with me on the bench there and we will have some wine?”

  “Oh, yes please.” Anna beamed. She took off her cape, putting it on the bench and sat down next to it. Immediately she felt chilly.

  “It’s quite cold in here, don’t you think?” she asked.

  Captain Baker nodded. “Yes, I am sorry about that. But it is not easy to warm up a wooden ship. We have the braziers of course, but the cabin is big and the hull...well the walls are not very thick.” He hesitated. “Perhaps I should not have brought you here. It is really not a place for a woman.”