Beyond the Reef

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Beyond the Reef Page 35

by Alexander Kent


  His head still echoed to the crash and thunder of battle: men dying, others pleading for death rather than the surgeon’s knife. But all he could think of was Herrick.

  Rathcullen sensed his disappointment. He said in a dispassionate voice, ‘I reminded Rear-Admiral Herrick that I came under your command, sir. I suggested he should hoist his flag over my ship later – it gave me the notion for my ruse.’

  ‘What did he say?’

  Rathcullen glanced grimly at Keen. ‘He said, “I’ll not be blamed twice”, Sir Richard.’

  ‘I see.’

  Keen said, ‘I’d be obliged if you would pass a tow to my ship, Captain, until I can have the steering re-rigged.’

  He looked back only once, and Bolitho half-raised a hand to him.

  ‘Thank you, Val.’

  Ozzard had reappeared with a heavy goblet. Allday took it and held it out to Bolitho. In his fist it looked like a thimble.

  ‘Not all wounds bleed, Sir Richard.’ He watched him put it to his lips. He hesitated. ‘Lady Catherine would tell you. Some people change. It’s not always their fault …’

  Bolitho emptied the glass, and wondered if it had come from the shop in St James’s.

  ‘I thank God you do not, old friend.’

  Jenour saw them walking together, and pausing to talk with some of the seamen. Their world. It had been his; it was his no more. He looked across at the captured frigate, and seemed to hear Bolitho’s voice again. The most coveted gift.

  But Lieutenant, now Acting-Commander, Stephen Jenour, once of Southampton, England, felt that he had just lost everything.

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Version 1.0

  Epub ISBN 9781409062202

  www.randomhouse.co.uk

  Published by Arrow in 2005

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  Copyright © Highseas Authors Ltd 1992

  Alexander Kent has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the author of this work

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

  First published in the United Kingdom in 1992 by William Heinemann

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  The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN 9780099484448

 

 

 


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