11 June - Reporting to the Captain

Terry chewed his lip and nodded. "Wasn' Mister Kock's fault. He wuz... wuz pretty green an' looked like his 'ead was bovverin' 'im somefin' 'orrible," he muttered, examining his bare feet.

"I did not say that I blame Mister Kock," Bolitho said, "Obviously the man cannot help it if he is unwell. I am merely trying to find out why no one saw fit to douse the fire before leaving the galley unattended. Mister Kock's health is important, but so is the safety of the ship, and leaving the fire lit is a very serious matter. I am sure you understand that, Button."

Well, of course he did. A wooden ship in the middle of the ocean, on fire? He shivered at the thought of it. "Dunno if they saw it or not," he muttered. "Mister Gallien was carryin' on so about 'is sugar, an' t'other'n was... was lookin' through the stuff in the galley for it, an' then Mister Kock was lookin' green an', an' 'ead-achey."

He glanced up and shrank a little under the Captain's gaze. "Dunno, sir. That's all I seen, 'cause I 'ad Mister Leat's tea done then an' 'ad to get it to 'im afore it got cold, sir."

"I spoke to the surgeons and the cook in sickbay, sir. They admitted to all we have said, though that Irishman Maturin claimed responsibility."

It sounded like that was all Button had to impart, so Bolitho saw no need to keep the boy on the spot if he had nothing more to say.

"Well I appreciate you telling me all of that, Button, so if you have nothing more to share, you may be dismissed."

To Deverel he said, "I thank you for speaking to them, Mister Deverel. So Maturin claims responsibility, then? I trust he means for taking Mister Kock to the sickbay so quickly. Though if he claims responsibility for leaving the fire lit as well, I must wonder about his common sense." Hopefully that was not the case. Maturin had served on ships before, had he not? Surely he should have seen fit to get the fire doused before leaving.

'Dismissed' was officer-speak for 'get out of my sight'. Terry nodded, mumbled, "Aye, aye, sir," and turned to fiddle with the door-knob, turning it the wrong way in his haste to get out of the Cabin. Which meant that the door didn't open.

Poor Button. The lad was so nervous he was having trouble opening the door. Clearing his throat slightly, Bolitho said, "Button, I believe you'll find that turning the knob the opposite way will work better."

"S... sir." Terry gulped, went pink, and twisted the doorknob the other way before he got the door open and could leave the cabin. He only remembered once he was outside that he'd forgotten to salute properly, and went a darker shade of red. At least he'd not dropped his hat this time, he thought, wishing he could disappear and not have to face an officer ever again, ever.