Sea Change Read Online Free Page B

to his fears. As long as he believed his brother could be cured--the alternative was not to be contemplated.
    In the meantime, the doctor was watching the Lady Jane as it raised sail.
    "Goodbye, Ryan! Don't forget the liniment!" Dr. Alcott yelled through cupped hands. The Fancy's crew was watching their unexpected prisoner, waiting to take direction from the captain on how to deal with the man.
    David sighed, scratched his hot forehead through the mask, and went over to get the doctor. There was nothing to be served by putting this off.
    "I brought you here for a purpose, Doctor..."
    "Well, of course you did!" Alcott snapped at him. "I cannot imagine you randomly kidnap surgeons off of ships. What is it you need? And who are you, anyway?"
    Fletcher ignored the last and said, "Come with me."
    Alcott followed docilely enough, stepping carefully around the pilfered goods waiting to be placed in the hold by the crew. When they got to the lower deck, and out of sight of the retreating Lady Jane , David removed his mask. In the lantern light Dr. Alcott glanced at him, then stopped and took a longer look, his gray eyes widening.
    "If you are thinking you will memorize my features to testify against me, think again," David said harshly.
    Alcott started, as if in a daze, and said, "No...that was not what I was thinking at all. Who are you?"
    "I am Captain David Fletcher. Follow me."
    "I demand to know what your intentions are, Captain Fletcher! Where are my instruments and the medicine chest? Why have you taken me off my ship? Where are my belongings?"
    David's temper was already on its last nerve, and this arrogant, high-voiced sawbones had just stomped on that nerve. He grabbed him by his neckcloth and slammed him up against a bulkhead, gripping him so tightly the doctor's feet weren't touching the deck.
    "You listen to me, you little runt!" he said through his teeth. "I give the orders and make the demands! You're going into that cabin and you're going to fix Henry! Because if you don't, I will dangle you over the side and feed you to the sharks from the feet up. Understand?"
    The man's face was turning an alarming shade of purple, but he jerked his head in a nod, and David lowered him until he stood on the deck again.
    "All you need to know for now, Doctor, is that your life depends on your medical skills."
    He knocked at Henry's door, and it was opened a moment later by Lewis, David's steward, who'd been tending to Henry since his injury.
    "Is he awake?" David asked softly.
    "Come in, brother," said a weak voice from the cabin. "I am awake."
    David crowded into the narrow cabin, Alcott behind him. Henry Fletcher lay in bed with his injured left arm propped up on a cushion beside him. The hand was loosely wrapped with bloody bandages, and Alcott pushed past David into the small space.
    "Get me more light in here, a basin of hot water, and my satchel," Alcott snapped out, leaning over Henry and looking at the bloody limb.
    Lewis looked at David, who nodded and said, "Whatever Dr. Alcott needs, you give him."
    Alcott looked back over his narrow shoulder.
    "What Dr. Alcott needs is more light, more room, and less rocking of the ship!"
    "I can give you more light, this is all the room in this cabin, and a ship at sea rocks, Doctor," David said, his temper rising again at being ordered about by this green Englishman, but he reined himself in. The man was a doctor, or so he said, and knew what he needed. Lewis returned at that moment with Dr. Alcott's satchel and another sailor brought in a pair of lanterns. Alcott directed the placement of the light, and, straightening, turned to David.
    "Go now, Captain. I need to examine my patient."
    David was reluctant to leave Henry, and started to argue.
    "Captain, you brought me here for a purpose," Alcott interrupted him. "Leave me to do my task."
    His demeanor softened slightly as he looked over his shoulder at Henry, then turned back to David.
    "He is your brother? I can see the resemblance. I