He heard Poland snap, "A good man aloft, Mr Williams, if you please! "

Allday could almost feel pity for the first lieutenant, and hid a grin as he replied, "Already done, sir. I sent a master's mate to the foremast when the watch came aft."

Poland strode away from him and glared when he saw the viceadmiral's coxswain loitering.

"Only the Afterguard and my officers-" He shut his mouth and moved instead to the compass.

Allday stamped down the companion ladder and allowed the smells and sounds of the ship to greet him. Tar, paint, cordage and the sea. He heard the bark of orders, the squeal of braces and halliards through their blocks, the thud of dozens of bare feet as the men threw themselves against the tug of rudder and wind and the ship began to change tack.

At the door of the great cabin a Royal Marine sentry stood near a wildly spiralling lantern, his scarlet coat angled more steeply as the helm went hard over.

Allday gave him a nod as he thrust open the screen door. He rarely abused his privileges, but it made him proud to know he was able to come and go as he pleased. Something else to gall Captain Poland, he thought with a grim chuckle. He nearly collided with Ozzard, Bolitho's small, mole-like servant, as he scuttled away with some shirts to wash.

"How is he?"

Ozzard glanced aft. Beyond the sleeping quarters and Poland 's swaying cot the cabin was almost in darkness again, but for a single lantern.

He murmured, "Not moved." Then he was gone. Loyal, secretive, always there when he was needed. Allday believed Ozzard was still brooding about the October day when their old Hyperion had given up her last fight and gone down. Only Allday himself knew that it had been Ozzard's intention to stay and go with her to the seabed, with all the dead and some of the dying still on board. Another mystery. He wondered if Bolitho knew or guessed what had almost happened. To speculate why, was beyond him.