H. M. S. Ulysses Read Online Free

sulph., penicillin and all the latest antibiotics. Can’t pronounce half of them. Thinks he’s dying.’
    â€˜A grievous loss,’ the Surgeon-Commander murmured. He shook his head. ‘What Commander Dodson sees in him I don’t know . . . What’s the latest from hospital?’
    The expression drained out of Johnson’s face.
    â€˜They’re just off the blower, sir,’ he said woodenly. ‘Five minutes ago. Ordinary Seaman Ralston died at three o’clock.’
    Brooks nodded heavily. Sending that broken boy to hospital had only been a gesture anyway. Just for a moment he felt tired, beaten. ‘Old Socrates’ they called him, and he was beginning to feel his age these days—and a bit more besides. Maybe a good night’s sleep would help, but he doubted it. He sighed.
    â€˜Don’t feel too good about all this, Johnson, do you?’
    â€˜Eighteen, sir. Exactly eighteen.’ Johnson’s voice was low, bitter. ‘I’ve just been talking to Burgess—that’s him in the next bed. Says Ralston steps out across the bathroom coaming, a towel over his arm. A mob rushes past, then this bloody great ape of a bootneck comes tearing up and bashes him over the skull with his rifle. Never knew what hit him, sir—and he never knew why.’
    Brooks smiled faintly.
    â€˜That’s what they call—ah—seditious talk, Johnson,’ he said mildy.
    â€˜Sorry, sir. Suppose I shouldn’t—it’s just that I—’
    â€˜Never mind, Johnson. I asked for it. Can’t stop anyone from thinking. Only, don’t think out loud. It’s—it’s prejudicial to naval discipline . . . I think your friend Riley wants you. Better get him a dictionary.’
    He turned and pushed his way through the surgery curtains. A dark head—all that could be seen behind the dentist’s chair— twisted round. Johnny Nicholls, Acting Surgeon Lieutenant, rose quickly to his feet, a pile of report cards dangling from his left hand.
    â€˜Hallo, sir. Have a pew.’
    Brooks grinned.
    â€˜An excellent thing, Lieutenant Nicholls, truly gratifying, to meet these days a junior officer who knows his place. Thank you, thank you.’
    He climbed into the chair and sank back with a groan, fiddling with the neck-rest.
    â€˜If you’ll just adjust the foot-rest, my boy . . . so. Ah—thank you.’ He leaned back luxuriously, eyes closed, head far back on the rest, and groaned again. ‘I’m an old man, Johnny, my boy, just an ancient has-been.’
    â€˜Nonsense, sir,’ Nicholls said briskly. ‘Just a slight malaise. Now, if you’ll let me prescribe a suitable tonic . . . ’
    He turned to a cupboard, fished out two toothglasses and a dark-green, ribbed bottle marked ‘Poison’. He filled the glasses and handed one to Brooks. ‘My personal recommendation. Good health, sir!’
    Brooks looked at the amber liquid, then at Nicholls.
    â€˜Heathenish practice they taught you at these Scottish Universities, my boy . . . Admirable fellers, some of these old heathens. What is it this time, Johnny?’
    â€˜First-class stuff,’ Nicholls grinned. ‘Produce of the Island of Coll.’
    The old surgeon looked at him suspiciously.
    â€˜Didn’t know they had any distilleries up there.’
    â€˜They haven’t. I only said it was made in Coll . . . How did things go up top, sir?’
    â€˜Bloody awful. His nibs threatened to string us all from the yardarm. Took a special dislike to me—said I was to be booted off the ship instanter. Meant it, too.’
    â€˜You!’ Nicholls’s brown eyes, deep-sunk just now and red-rimmed from sleeplessness, opened wide. ‘You’re joking, sir, of course.’
    â€˜I’m not. But it’s all right—I’m not going. Old Giles, the skipper and Turner—the crazy idiots—virtually told Starr that if I