Sea Change Read Online Free Page A
Denham cried out.
Denham did not plead for his life, but Charley knew she had no choice, not really.
"That baby needs its father more than you need a doctor, Captain Denham. Mrs. Denham, remember what I said--plenty of beef broth, have the cook kill one of those chickens and make a rich soup for you, stay in your bunk and rest. Your milk will be in in a day or two. In the meantime, let the baby nurse as he will and it will help you recover."
She turned back to her captor, who was standing silent during this speech, radiating tension.
"Very well, pirate, I will come with you."
"How accommodating you are, Doctor."
Charley said nothing to this but buttoned her coat and brushed her short hair off her forehead.
"Take care of yourself, Mrs. Denham, Captain Denham. Thank you for all you have done for me."
"We will name him Charles!" Charley heard Mrs. Denham call out as the pirate took her by the upper arm to haul her from the cabin.
The cabin doors were smashed in, but Charley saw no injured crew, and when she was pushed up the ladder ahead of the pirate captain, she blinked in the bright sunlight. The Lady Jane was alone in the vast and empty sea, save for the vessel nearby, the one distinguished by the black flag flying over it.
The pirate took her arm again, Charley tried to shake him off, but she might as well have tried to shake the mainmast.
"I said I will come with you, you do not need to manhandle me."
He did not reply, and did not let go as he looked at a sailor standing at the rail.
"Did you find it?"
"Aye, Cap'n. We cleaned out the sick bay to the bulkheads."
"My belongings!"
"Are all aboard my ship now, Doctor, which is where you are going."
He pulled her forward and Charley stumbled along with him to the rail. Charley did not know what her fate would be aboard the pirate's vessel, but she knew one other thing after listening to the men talk. Her captors were Americans.
Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
The mask obscured his vision, but Captain David Fletcher of the privateer Fancy knew better than to rip it off. He was already in danger of losing his bond to the United States if word of this escapade leaked out. Posing as pirates instead of legitimate privateers, taking a civilian prisoner--it was not how he wanted to deal with this situation, but he needed medicine and a doctor. He had anticipated the former would be on a merchant ship, but the latter was a stroke of pure luck and an opportunity he could not pass up.
He was having second thoughts about this surgeon, however.
Dr. Alcott was a weedy stripling who did not look old enough to run a razor over his face. He seemed competent with that screaming harpy--and that was a scene David would be reliving in his nightmares!--but was he competent to deal with life aboard the Fancy ?
More importantly, and more urgently, could he heal Henry?
He looked over at his prisoner, who was making his way in a lubberly fashion down to the waiting boat. Likely this was the man's first sea voyage, and David felt his doubts blossom anew. An experienced sea surgeon was one thing, but some youngster more used to delivering babies and aiding old ladies in stimulating their digestion--
It was too late now, he thought as they rowed over in silence and boarded his vessel. He was stuck with what he had, and David had to believe that whatever assistance Dr. Alcott could offer would be better for Henry than David's own lack of skills.
"It was a good haul, Captain. Plucking this one like a fat goose right out of the convoy, slipping by those frigates as neat as you please..."
David turned to Mr. Bryant, who was acting as mate while Henry was laid up.
"We need to get under weigh before the convoy discovers one of its geese has wandered away. This doctor will tend to Henry, and I want everyone aboard to give him whatever assistance he requires."
Bryant's weather-beaten face told David that everyone on the Fancy knew healing Henry was a long shot, but David refused to give in
Denham did not plead for his life, but Charley knew she had no choice, not really.
"That baby needs its father more than you need a doctor, Captain Denham. Mrs. Denham, remember what I said--plenty of beef broth, have the cook kill one of those chickens and make a rich soup for you, stay in your bunk and rest. Your milk will be in in a day or two. In the meantime, let the baby nurse as he will and it will help you recover."
She turned back to her captor, who was standing silent during this speech, radiating tension.
"Very well, pirate, I will come with you."
"How accommodating you are, Doctor."
Charley said nothing to this but buttoned her coat and brushed her short hair off her forehead.
"Take care of yourself, Mrs. Denham, Captain Denham. Thank you for all you have done for me."
"We will name him Charles!" Charley heard Mrs. Denham call out as the pirate took her by the upper arm to haul her from the cabin.
The cabin doors were smashed in, but Charley saw no injured crew, and when she was pushed up the ladder ahead of the pirate captain, she blinked in the bright sunlight. The Lady Jane was alone in the vast and empty sea, save for the vessel nearby, the one distinguished by the black flag flying over it.
The pirate took her arm again, Charley tried to shake him off, but she might as well have tried to shake the mainmast.
"I said I will come with you, you do not need to manhandle me."
He did not reply, and did not let go as he looked at a sailor standing at the rail.
"Did you find it?"
"Aye, Cap'n. We cleaned out the sick bay to the bulkheads."
"My belongings!"
"Are all aboard my ship now, Doctor, which is where you are going."
He pulled her forward and Charley stumbled along with him to the rail. Charley did not know what her fate would be aboard the pirate's vessel, but she knew one other thing after listening to the men talk. Her captors were Americans.
Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
The mask obscured his vision, but Captain David Fletcher of the privateer Fancy knew better than to rip it off. He was already in danger of losing his bond to the United States if word of this escapade leaked out. Posing as pirates instead of legitimate privateers, taking a civilian prisoner--it was not how he wanted to deal with this situation, but he needed medicine and a doctor. He had anticipated the former would be on a merchant ship, but the latter was a stroke of pure luck and an opportunity he could not pass up.
He was having second thoughts about this surgeon, however.
Dr. Alcott was a weedy stripling who did not look old enough to run a razor over his face. He seemed competent with that screaming harpy--and that was a scene David would be reliving in his nightmares!--but was he competent to deal with life aboard the Fancy ?
More importantly, and more urgently, could he heal Henry?
He looked over at his prisoner, who was making his way in a lubberly fashion down to the waiting boat. Likely this was the man's first sea voyage, and David felt his doubts blossom anew. An experienced sea surgeon was one thing, but some youngster more used to delivering babies and aiding old ladies in stimulating their digestion--
It was too late now, he thought as they rowed over in silence and boarded his vessel. He was stuck with what he had, and David had to believe that whatever assistance Dr. Alcott could offer would be better for Henry than David's own lack of skills.
"It was a good haul, Captain. Plucking this one like a fat goose right out of the convoy, slipping by those frigates as neat as you please..."
David turned to Mr. Bryant, who was acting as mate while Henry was laid up.
"We need to get under weigh before the convoy discovers one of its geese has wandered away. This doctor will tend to Henry, and I want everyone aboard to give him whatever assistance he requires."
Bryant's weather-beaten face told David that everyone on the Fancy knew healing Henry was a long shot, but David refused to give in
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