If he had given in… He gripped his sword more tightly. He had seen it happen to others, and it had happened to him.

He glanced through the tossed oars and saw the ship. His ship.

The cheering did not stop. All those faces. But this was not the moment. Turn away. Do not look back. How it was. Had to be in the navy, if you wanted to survive. And now emotion was the greatest enemy.

He stepped on to the jetty. Nobody spoke. The boat cast off.

Never look back. But he did, then he raised his hat, not soon enough to shield his eyes from the hard glare. They were smarting anyway. Do not look back. He should have known.

Jago was here. "You decided then, Luke?"

Jago watched him impassively, then thrust out his hand. "Like before, eh, Cap'n?"

Adam nodded to the others. The carriage would be here from Falmouth; the admiral had made the arrangements, barely able to conceal his relief that their brief meeting was over.

He looked again, but the gig was hidden by the jetty wall. Tonight Galbraith would sit in the great cabin and drink alone.

In the same breath, he knew he would not.

He looked at Napier and was moved by his obvious distress.

He gripped his shoulder. "Get some hands to carry our gear, eh?"

He saw Yovell half lift one hand, as he usually did when he wanted to remind him of something.

He shook Napier's shoulder and said, "I had not forgotten."

Had he really expected that the lovely girl called Lowenna would somehow be here to see the ship come to anchor, as she had watched them leave? After all the months, and the news of the battles, had he still believed in miracles?

He realized that Napier was looking at him, and had asked him something. He tried again, but all he could hear were the flag lieutenant's words.

He said quietly, "We must look to a new horizon together." They began to climb the stairs. Jago waited until some seamen ran down to collect the baggage and the captain's sea-chest. Only then did he turn his back on the sea. And the ship.