The sick bay

"How can I help?" Raoul asked, wondering which of the two looked worse. "If I did that, could you sit down and drink your coffee like a man of leisure?"

"Thank you, but I can do both. Did Captain Padstowe come below without any incident?" said Stephen, closing his eyes now that most of the mass of people had gone.

"He stayed on deck, but Mr Leat was to bring him below. I am sorry," Raoul smiled. "I was more concerned for you... and for Mr Crozier, naturally."

"Me?" Stephen looked at Raoul, surprised and touched. "I am quite fine, Capitaine."

"You have not been well, and this journey was something you looked forward to, to rest and recover your strength. The troubles in Lisbon and before..." Raoul grimaced and stepped forward to put a hand on Stephen's shoulder. "I am concerned that they do not require too much of you." He cast a fleeting glance at the other patient. There would be other opportunities to talk to the doctor: and anyway, to add his troubles to those already pressing on him would be unkind. Let the Doctor think that he was quite content to travel like this.

Stephen closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I almost feel as though I have been cursed," he whispered in French. "The only comfort I can take is that it was not one of your horses, and it may have happened if we had not been here, in which case it is... It is a good thing that I can do something to help."

"No - it was not one of ours. And even if it had been, it would not have been your fault, or anyone's. You will help Crozier, of course, but leave the rest to his assistants. Take care of yourself first - is that not necessary? More necessary now than before, even."

"If because of my request that animal had been brought on board..." Stephen nodded, and rubbed his eyes. "I will go to bed early - a trepanning is a delicate operation, and my hands still shake sometimes if I am tired-" He looked at des Sablières in embarrassment, and then over at Donald to make sure he could not overhear.

"Of course you must sleep." He smiled. "Shall I tell the Captain that for the sake of Mr Crozier the men must go about their duties on tiptoe? And leave the deck unscoured, the bells unrung, and the orders passed by notes, rather than screams and whistles?"

Stephen managed a smile at that. "For God Almighty they could not manage that, Capitaine."

"They will at least not fire their cannon today." And if he could manage to get Stephen away, he would ensure that he rested - perhaps even had a few moments of peace before rushing back to his patient. "Do you have your instruments? I remember a discussion about what was the best way... I did not listen."

"I have them, in my leather bag, all but saws - which I will not need," said Stephen. "They will need sharpening though."

"There will be someone on the ship who sharpens swords, and knives - will he be able to do it?" Somewhere he had a whetstone, if that would help.

"I am do it, and the armourer can help - he will need to come to help affix the dome."

Raoul nodded. "All will be arranged. You have today, and tonight to rest and prepare. "

"I do, but while Mister Crozier is incapacitated I have to help his patients. And yourself, Capitaine? How are you?"

"You do not - he has assistants who can cope, as they would have to have done if you were not on board," Raoul persisted, knowing the argument of old and knowing he would inevitably lose against a determined Dr Maturin.

"I do, Capitaine. I have a duty as a physician - if I am in a position to help then I must. Hopefully we shall not have many patients at all, especially if no one else is foolish enough to go near that infamous horse."

Raoul was not sure. Like men who wanted to see for themselves the fabled unicorn, every seaman with an ingrowing toenail or an interesting rash would bring themselves to sick bay. He would, he decided, remain here: if no one else would protect the doctor from his own duty, then he would.

Des Sablières was quiet, a look of deep concern on his face. "Do not worry, Capitaine," said Stephen. "I have done this operation a number of times before, always successfully, and with the blessing my primary concern about the movement of the ship will not be an issue. I am sorry that it happened to him; I know that he is your friend."

"I am sure you will do whatever, with God's grace, can be done," said Raoul. "If you are rested and not driven frantic by other demands. And for the sake of Mr Crozier, who was kind to me, and for your sake, who has been more than kind..."

Stephen did not know how to reply, so he smiled and looked away, to Crozier's face. "I am not frantic, not yet. Irritated, certainly..."

"Then I came in time," said Raoul simply, and went to sit down on one of the empty cots, with a smile on his face.

"You did, soul," Stephen said with a faint smile, checking Crozier's breathing again.

After a few minutes' silence, Raoul said: "If we stop off at Figuera de Foz, Mr Leat says he will send a party to find out where the Army is... But even if they are still near there, you will have to stay with your patient."