Truth and Beauty 2-5

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“My name is Russ,” said Stephen.

“Jevons, this is Russ, who I so rudely bowled over twice today. Russ, Jevons and I went to the academy together, and he was just telling us that he has been superseded. Hopefully they will give you something real this time.”

Stephen and Jevons exchanged pleasantries and Jevons continued, “yes, superseded and assigned to the Fury, the orders came through just after you left. It’s only a jobbing post until the end of session - Fury’s captain is an MP - but I’m free of the transport board. Why anyone would want to be appointed to a transport is beyond me.”

The two cosmonauts shook their heads in bewilderment. Stephen did the same, though in bewilderment of a different sort.

“Wiltshire might do it, he never did know his ass from his elbow,” said Jack, then after a barely-decent pause he said,” but I have been promoted, too, into the Wrath, ha ha ha. Perhaps we can go cruising together!”

“Fantastic!” said Jevons, peering through the smokey gloom, and the gloom of his earlier visit to the Goat and Compasses, at Jack’s epaulettes. “Bartender, Bartender, there, a bottle of whiskey and three glasses! You’ll join us, Russ, yes? Three glasses! What sort of brig is she?”

“She must be a Vengeance class, probably one of the later ones, maybe a type three? I only just go word an hour or so ago.”

“The Toledo class are all named for cities, and the Churchills after politicos,” said Jevons, filling their glasses. “Russ,” he passed a glass to Stephen, “Jack,” he passed another to Jack. “To the swabs!”

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Truth and Beauty 2-4

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With one yank Jack pulled the man up to a standing position. “Let me help you- oops,” he bent over to pick up the man’s bags and stumbled, falling down onto the platform. “Ha ha,” he said,” now I am on the ground and you are standing! We could be a circus act! But come,” he said, standing up again, “twice I have knocked you over now, may I buy you a drink, or something to eat?”

Stephen took his time gathering his parcels. Pride has its places, he eventually told himself, but perhaps this is not one of them. “I have rather a full schedule this evening,” he heard himself say, “but perhaps I have a few minutes.”

“Excellent!” said Jack. “My inn is just around the corner.”

At Jack’s inn they checked Stephen’s parcels. “Congratulations on your promotion, Lieutenant,” said the porter, a retired navy man who recognized Jack’s new epaulettes at once. “The swabs look good on you. But there’s a gentleman been asking for you, sir, another lieutenant. He said he’d wait in the bar. And this express came for you.”

“Excellent!” said Jack, taking the envelope, which could only contain his orders, and discharging a silver coin into the porter’s hand. “We are bound for the bar ourselves, bound for the bar to wet the swabs. Come, sir,” he said to Stephen, “right this way.”

In the bar they immediately ran into Jevons. “Jack!” said Jevons, “I’ve been trying to call you. Did you get my texts? I’ve been superseded, moved over to the Fury, who needs a jobbing captain.”

“Have you, by God!” said Jack, pulling out a chair at a free table. “Well that puts you back in the Navy. Jevons, this is - I’m afraid I don’t know your name, sir,” he said to Stephen.

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