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GLOSSARY
After this, the gun crews exercised more care. Gun twelve hung for almost a full minute before going off with a muffled ‘thump’, and gun thirteen had to be wormed out and reloaded when it didn’t go off at all after three minutes’ careful waiting. Still, by the time all of the guns had been exercised (except for those still in the hold), the crews were regaining their rhythm, and at least some of them had first hand experience with a hang- or mis-fire. Philip stood them down from quarters and handed them over to the gunner, whose watch it was, and retreated to the windward side of the quarterdeck. Through the skylight, he watched a crew of seamen, under the direction of the carpenter, reassembling his cabins.
“Sir?”
Philip looked up. Mister Foster stood at the edge of the windward quarterdeck; Philip waved him over. “Mister Foster,” he said, “how do you do?”
“I don’t complain, sir,” said the surgeon, then, “I have taken a look at the men and I believe you are mistaken. Malingering, you may trust me on it. All of the men are receiving their antiscorbutics in their grog, of course, so scurvy is impossible.”
“Hmm,” said Philip. “Well, thank you, Mister Foster.”
The surgeon left, and Philip turned away to pace the windward side of the quarterdeck and consider. Not for the first time, he regretted the absence of Doctor M’Mullen.
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GLOSSARY
Monday, October 24, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Truth and Beauty 14-1
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The radio operator set her controls and spoke into the microphone, trying several settings before looking up at her skipper. “Nothing, sir.”
Jack took another sip of his coffee to give himself time to consider. The sublieutenant, he noticed, was looking sullen. Well, Jack thought, if the damn’ fool had been doing his job, I wouldn’t have to. “Try for Taconite,” he said aloud.
“Nothing, sir,” said the radio operator, after two minutes of twiddling her knobs and careful listening.
Jack moved over to the radar station. Several vessels now showed in red: last known position, current location unknown. Scattered white blips indicated unclassified returns, probably the current locations of some of the lost vessels. “Zoom out,” he asked the operator.
The operator complied, and Jack studied the screen. “Two vessels are missing,” he said at last.
“They come and go,” said the operator. If you wait a few minutes they’ll reappear.”
“Mister Greenstreet, perhaps we should increase our distance.”
“Yes, sir. I don’t think we’ve received orders to that effect.
“I am issuing the orders, sublieutenant. You may enter that in the log. I want us at least two clicks from the nearest known or suspected vessel.”
“Yes, sir,” said Mister Greenstreet, saluting and making as if to leave the bridge.
“Where are you going?”
“The chartroom, sir.”
Jack stared. After two false starts to his premier, he turned his back on the man and addressed the helmsman instead. “Take us down and away,” he said, “and reduce speed by one knot.”
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Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Truth and Beauty 13-10
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“Have we heard anything from Vindictive since the order for loose formation,” he asked, taking a sip of coffee to show that his question was routine.
“No, sir,” said the radioman, sounding slightly resentful. “I would have passed that along as soon as it came in.”
“She’s said nothing to anyone,” Jack asked.
“Oh,” said the woman, thinking for a moment. “Shortly after eight bells I heard her talking to two of the merchantmen, Keystone, sir, and Elephant and Castle, but nothing since then.”
“What did she say,” Jack asked.
“She ordered them to specific stations. Shall I get you the specifics from the log?”
Jack shook his head. “Have we heard anything form anyone else since then?”
The sailor shook her head. “It’s been quiet for at least two bells, sir.” She thought for a moment. “There was some chatter at the fore end of the convoy, but it was pretty garbled, and I couldn’t make anything of it.”
Jack considered. A particularly heavy lurch on Roth’s part caused him to stagger. “Mister Greenstreet, perhaps lifelines are in order,” he said, then, to the radioman, “see if you can raise Vindictive.”
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Truth and Beauty 13-10
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“Have we heard anything from Vindictive since the order for loose formation,” he asked, taking a sip of coffee to show that his question was routine.
“No, sir,” said the radioman, sounding slightly resentful. “I would have passed that along as soon as it came in.”
“She’s said nothing to anyone,” Jack asked.
“Oh,” said the woman, thinking for a moment. “Shortly after eight bells I heard her talking to two of the merchantmen, Keystone, sir, and Elephant and Castle, but nothing since then.”
“What did she say,” Jack asked.
“She ordered them to specific stations. Shall I get you the specifics from the log?”
Jack shook his head. “Have we heard anything form anyone else since then?”
The sailor shook her head. “It’s been quiet for at least two bells, sir.” She thought for a moment. “There was some chatter at the fore end of the convoy, but it was pretty garbled, and I couldn’t make anything of it.”
Jack considered. A particularly heavy lurch on Roth’s part caused him to stagger. “Mister Greenstreet, perhaps lifelines are in order,” he said, then, to the radioman, “see if you can raise Vindictive.”
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Truth and Beauty 13-10
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“Have we heard anything from Vindictive since the order for loose formation,” he asked, taking a sip of coffee to show that his question was routine.
“No, sir,” said the radioman, sounding slightly resentful. “I would have passed that along as soon as it came in.”
“She’s said nothing to anyone,” Jack asked.
“Oh,” said the woman, thinking for a moment. “Shortly after eight bells I heard her talking to two of the merchantmen, Keystone, sir, and Elephant and Castle, but nothing since then.”
“What did she say,” Jack asked.
“She ordered them to specific stations. Shall I get you the specifics from the log?”
Jack shook his head. “Have we heard anything from anyone else since then?”
The sailor shook her head. “It’s been quiet for at least two bells, sir.” She thought for a moment. “There was some chatter at the fore end of the convoy, but it was pretty garbled, and I couldn’t make anything of it.”
Jack considered. A particularly heavy lurch on Roth’s part caused him to stagger. “Mister Greenstreet, perhaps lifelines are in order,” he said, then, to the radioman, “see if you can raise Vindictive.”
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