The sick bay

"I do not know yet," Stephen said turning around. "If he does not wake up on his own in a short amount of time I will trepan him - if he survives that, he will almost certainly recover. For the trepanning I will need a steady deck beneath us, if not solid land. What is the weather to be like today and tomorrow?"

"Much the same as this, sir," Leat replied, taken somewhat aback. "Steady airs, clearish sky. I doesn't look to worsen by the glass."

Trepanning? So soon? Leat had not been witness to Maturin's amazing operation, yet he had learnt enough about it from the crew of the Polycrest, and it was not a story one could easily forget.

"Is there any chance of doing this operation on dry land? I do not need a hospital - a solid rock would be fine."

"It's difficult around here, sir," Leat said dubiously. "I suppose if it's really necessary we might possibly call in at Figuera de Foz and put you ashore there for a couple of hours. That is if wind and tide run in our favour."

"When will we reach Figuera de Foz?"

[Bolitho comes from here]

Bolitho descended belowdecks and made his way to the sickbay. Entering the room, he saw Dr. Maturin standing beside the prone form of Crozier. Leat was there as well.

"Dr. Maturin, Mr. Yates informed me of what happened," he said as he approached, "How is he?"

Stephen turned to Bolitho. "He has a depressed fracture to the skull - that means that the bone is pressing against his brain, and he is possibly bleeding internally. He will wake up when this pressure is relieved - in the name of accuracy there is the smallest possibility that he will wake up without medical aid - but in reality, I have no choice but to trepan; that is, to cut into the skull and relieve the pressure. If he survives, he will probably recover."

"Cut into the skull? My goodness..." Bolitho blinked in surprise. "That sounds to be a very delicate surgery. Is it possible for you to perform such a thing aboard ship?"

Then, worried he may have insulted Maturin, he added, "I do not doubt your skills, doctor, for I am certain they are of the very highest order. I merely wondered if that would be the best way for you to do this surgery."

"It is an entirely justified concern, Captain; it is a very delicate operation. I will need a steady deck beneath us at the least, but solid ground would be far better."

"I had thought as much," Bolitho nodded.

He wanted to ensure that Maturin would have the best possible conditions in which to perform his surgery, but he was not entirely certain when and where they could land.

"If land would best, then we shall make every effort to get there." He paused for a moment to think, then said, "I believe the most logical stop would be at Figuera de Foz. We should arrive there in a day or so."

I hope Dr. Crozier will be alright until then, he added to himself.

[OOC: Correct me please if necessary. I have no idea where Figuera de Foz is in relation to the ship, nor do I have any idea how long it would take the Terpsy to get there.]

"Lieutenant Leat said the same. Thank you, Captain - I would feel far more confident knowing that there is no danger of a sudden pitch or roll."

Bolitho glanced at Leat.

"I should have known you would have already given the doctor sound advice," he said, with a nod. Then he turned back to Maturin.

"You're welcome, doctor. I will feel better myself to know that Dr. Crozier will be receiving the best treatment possible."

[Sorry, but it's dinner time for me, so hopefully I'll see you all tomorrow!]

Stephen bowed his head at the compliment. "There are several things I will need for the operation, Captain, whether on land or sea. There is to be no unnecessary noise or disturbance, and I shall require a silver three shilling piece and the services of the armourer."

That was all very reasonable, considering the circumstances. Bolitho could see no reason why he would not be able to do just as Maturin requested.

"Consider all of that done, doctor," he said.

"Thank you, Captain, and please to tell me as soon as you know if it will be possible to make a landing; if not, I will operate in the morning. It is too late now - I must have the best light."

By now, Bridgens had returned with the empty water basin, and he juggled it awkwardly as he knuckled his forehead to the officers present before setting it down on the table. He glanced at his surgeon's ghastly pale face but kept a respectful silence.

They come from the hold.

Slowly, Thompson and de Guarde approached the sickbay. The Marine looked a little hesitant at first and hung back a bit before gaining the courage to move forward.

"'Scuse me, sir," he said nervously. "How's he doin'?"

Captain Bolitho and Lieutenant Leat left, hopefully to consult on the probabilty of a landing, but as soon as they had left Thompson appeared in the doorway.

"There is no change," said Stephen, wearily rubbing at his eyes. A pleasant journey, on which he could recover from his own injuries. His head throbbed in sympathy.

"Oh." He deflated a little. "It weren't my fault, was it? I mean, when I checked to see if he was bleedin'? I tried to be careful, sir, honest I did."

"Sir, do you have a moment of time? " De Guarde piped in, standing at Thompson's side, a slight bit out of breath. "Are you still tendin' ter t' doctor? If 'um you busy ...well, if ye'um not, could you see ter t' marine. He's t' one with t' wrecked ankle, n' he sat on it while helping t' doctor!"

"S' what he was suppose ter ask next." He looked at George then back at Maturin worriedly.

"No, Thompson; we had to move him in any case. As far as I can tell, it was that damn horse's fault. What precisely happened? What was he doing down with the horses in the first place?"

Stephen looked at the boy who spoke, and glared icily at him - it was he who had laughed when he first came aboard the Terpsichore. "Are you gravely injured, Thompson?"

"He were in the spirit room, sir," Bridgens spoke up, immediately looking embarrassed for the interruption. "Beggin' yer pardon, sir."

"I said he was busy, mate," Thompson said, looking at de Guarde and shrugging. He looked back at the doctor.

"Well, sir, Math... de Guarde here, was muckin' out the horses, an' Mister Crozier come down for some reason, an' I think he thought the horse was goin' to bite him or summat - de Guarde, I mean, sir - an' moved forward to get him out of the way. An' the horse just reared up an' kicked him, like. So I jumped up to pull him out of the way, and then de Guarde says I need to keep his head out of the dirt, an' to send for you, sir, bein' a proper doctor an' all. An' Billy Barrow an' Private Bakewell heard the ruckuss an' came to see what'd happened, so Bakewell went to find Mister M'Clure - the surgeon's mate, that is, sir, an' I think Barrow come to find you." He paused for breath. "An' I sprained me ankle the other day, loadin' ship. Was carryin' a sack of flour to the breadroom and the lantern went out when I was on the ladder, at the same time as Terpsy snubbed to the cable. Sent me flyin', sir. I was da.... very lucky, I didn't break me neck, sir."

"Indeed," Stephen said succinctly. "I should have Mister Crozier moved into his cabin... If there is a conversation to continue, we shall do it outside the sickbay - you both smell of horse excrement, and I will not have a miasma near my patient. I suppose I do as well," he said, looking down at his breeches, probably beyond all saving between Padstowe and Crozier. "Boy, do not stand there gawping - make yourself useful and find me some pantaloons. Thompson, outside, if you please."

"He wouldn't be standin' now would he..if he were gravely injured.." The boy muttered under his breath faced with the icy glare. He did not wait a moment to return it, along then with a sly smirk. This doctor was the one who fell and swam. What a clumsy creature. It was only the thought of Thompson that had him then hold his tongue and look away. No time for this. No time!

He then listened on as Thompson spoke, and then again as the doctor did. He did back up, but watched the doctor and wondered a moment whom he had addressed as boy. It was not a long while till he decided that it was not him.