“WELL, IT’S TIME for me to be breaking Bobby’s fast, and get him shaved.”
“Would you be so kind, Daniel,” said Jeremiah, “as to present Mr Knopwood with my compliments, and to ask him whether he would have the time to spare me a few words?”
“Mother of God! Have you not enough of your own?”
“I wish to speak with him,” said Jeremiah.
“Then why didn’t you say so?” said Pad.
“He can’t help them binnacles,” said Renter. “Not like you, putting on the Irish to get Knoppy’s red rag out.”
“I’m never getting his red rag out,” said Pad. “Though he’s as fat as a hen in the forehead, still he’s a man’s man; and I wouldn’t flusticate him by being what he thinks I’m not. And if that isn’t Irish, what is?”
Pad ran up the companion ladder. In the dusk of the orlop, the silvery twilight that pricked the eyes showed another day had come. The hues were all that told the hours between the far off bells. Groans of dreams, the coughing and gobbing, brought the deck awake. Lines grew for the latrines, and those who would not wait, did not.
“Teddy-me-Godson. Are you in a bate? Oh, you’ve beshat your hammock, look at you. Come on. Come on. You’ll miss your Tommy ration.” Renter shook him, paused, and pulled the blanket off, hugging it to himself. “Hey, mates! He’s gone to Peg Trantum’s!”
There was a rush for the hammock. The body fell to the deck, and men seized on it, fighting over the carrion. Only the trousers were left, and that only because the irons snagged them.
“Put him back,” said Renter, when there was nothing else to be had. “And cover him in tidy.”
“It’s good,” said Renter, holding the blanket to the light. “In the nick.”
“How may you?” said Jeremiah.
“When mine’s rags? This’ll dry.”
“I’ve got a shoe,” said Eggy Mo.
“One shoe?” said Jeremiah.
“Ay.”
“Does it fit?” said William.
“Nearly,” said Eggy Mo.
“You’re a grand un,” said William.
“Good-day to you, Mr Erbin.”
The chaplain came down the companion ladder, followed by Pad.
“Good-day, Mr Knopwood.”
“And a fine day it is, too,” said the chaplain. “All in all, we have had a fair voyage, since Rio and the Cape. Last night, I took my pipe on deck, and looked up at the sky clifted with stars; and such stars, sir! Though, to see Orion invert brings thoughts of what a mighty feat, with God’s help, His Majesty’s oak and canvas may achieve at the hand of man. But such stars!”
“Ah, there, perforce, you have the advantage of us,” said Jeremiah.
“Forgive me,” said the chaplain. “In the drawing of attention to your situation, I was most remiss.”
“To draw your attention was the burden of my request,” said Jeremiah.
“And what may that be?” said the chaplain.
“The heat in these latitudes,” said Jeremiah. “The heat, sir; the temper and very quiddity of the air; the faecal ejecta; the urinary graveolence; the gynaecian catamenia; our sudorous foedity –”
“He means we stink, sir,” said Pad.
“Can nothing be done that a soul may breathe? Why, but this very morning –”
“Stubble it!” whispered Renter.
“I shall speak with the surgeon,” said the chaplain. “I believe that the burning of sea coals is most efficacious in these matters, and does purify the noxious elements. And, to that end, I bid you once more good-day.”
He went back up the companion ladder, with Pad in attendance.
“Why did you silence me?” Jeremiah said to Renter.
“All on account of you were a-going to blow the gab on Teddy-me-Godson,” said Renter.
“But the man is dead, and requires committal.”
“Not yet, he don’t,” said Renter. “There’s eight days’ victuals to be drawn against his name before he comes so hogo we can’t ride the strength of him.”