Leaving Terpsy.

"Been here two years, ever since I met my Lena here," he answered sullenly. He held his arms out to her, and her marine guard allowed her to join him on the ground. She sat beside Perry who wrapped his arms around her shoulders and spoke soothingly to her in Portuguese. "I work for her pappa, wine merchant in Gaia. Take my boat up and down the river for the wine. Is that a Frenchy?"

Two years in Portugal. Wherever Perry had been before, he had certainly learned the seaman's trade. There were few other reasonable explanations for how he had come to the country. Kinsella glanced at Thompson meaningfully. "I don't see how our passengers are any of your concern, Mister Perry. I also don't quite understand how an American should come to be in Portugal in the first place. May we press for an explanation?"

He hesitated, trying to decide whether it was better to give an answer or refuse. In the end, he countered, "Don't see how that's your concern. I don't owe you an explanation, but I will, seein' as how I'm so agreeable like. I come on a brig outta Nixonton, th' Argonaut, and met this lass here and I stayed. Got married. Work for her pa, like I said."

"I see." And Kinsella did. He looked over at Chase and the others, nodding slightly. "I appreciate you being agreeable, Mister Perry. Forgive me if I don't give your story credit. The likelihood of an American seaman simply staying here because of marriage is low. I'm sure you can understand my being suspicious. Unfortunately..."

And he nodded again at the boat crew, who had casually spread out to encircle the group.

Thompson stepped back, giving a bit of room between himself and Perry, and kept his eyes on Kinsella.

He held his wife closer, protectively, as they both looked at the men encircling them. A note of desperation rose in his voice.

"Look, I don't know what you want of me! You want the boat? Take the boat, take the wine! What's my marriage got anything to do with you? My sister's brother-in-law was first mate, he let me stay! Do you think I'm not married? Ask her pa! What's it to you?"

They did move around to have the man discouraged from thinking he could up and run. Not that he would, if he were a smart man. Preddie was more interested in the boat though. Wine, the man said. A fine sort too. It wasn't as good as rum could be or some of the other spirits but there it was in the boat. He nudged his friend with a silent nod in the direction of the vessel. With the damned luck all the wine would be taken by the officers!

Perry noticed the seaman eyeing the casks. "Aye, let's open a cask in friendship, eh? Friendship between Yanks and Brits, and Portuguese too. No harm ever came with drinkin' a'tween friends. And then you can borrow the boat and go where you needs to go. You going upriver? I can go upriver, and take these casks back to the cave!"

If only Kinsella and those Marines weren't there. They could have a drink. No drink ever harmed a man much. It was only officers and them lobsters working in their name, that ever held such a high standard. And to think that the officers got drunk themselves!

Preddie looked to nod subtly at the suggestion. No sort of friendship interested him on that matter, just the cask of some quality for a change. "Why don't we take him on t' offer." He murmured to the fellow at his side, quietly enough that Kinsella wouldn't hear. "He looks like a good sort of fellow. Had our boat safe, if nothin' else."

"Aye, that's right!" Perry said, nodding hopefully at the young midshipman. "Better to share it with you British than to waste it on them yonder French in Porto!" Perhaps he should not have said that.

".. You isn't thinkin' on selling it to the French?" That had Preddie's look harden. Nobody wanted a Frog being watered. Not unless it was showering him with musket balls and flame.

"Well..." The man sitting on the ground fidgeted. "Might as well deprive them of as much money as we can, eh? Charge 'em double and all. Sides, it's her pa's business, he been in business for years, and the wine always goes from Gaia to Porto, to Leixões. And on the way, if Frogs are willing to part with their money, who are we to stop 'em, eh?"

Neither Preddie, nor Butcher nor possibly many of the other sailors looked convinced. And more turned back to think of the chase which was ironically done By their Tar of the same name. The man was a suspicious character. He'd helped them then ran. He said he were an American but his story was just not something that held water. He was as eager to help himself to French money as he was to the British. What else he was eager to sell himself for? If he was a 'run' sailor or a spy, they'd be doing the worst at setting him free. Lady or no lady.

Butcher did look at the girl with a thought of his own lass back possibly never to be seen again for, but no matter the sentimentalities. For neither of the cases. Was fair for them Tars!

"Not buyin' that. " Preddie muttered under his breath. "He's one sneaky bugger." He added.

"Well I ain't the one at war, am I?" Perry countered, reading the seamen's expressions rather than hearing their mutterings. "I still gotta do business. The sooner you lot get the Frogs out, the sooner I can get back to selling wine to the rest of the world."

"You'm the one in the middle o' two opposin' armies, though," Thompson muttered, keeping an eye on the man while watching Mister Kinsella out of the corner of his eye. "Anyhow, I bet you'm British really. An' a sailor an' all - else how'd you know about boats?"

The man scowled and made a motion to rise.

Thompson shook his head warningly. "Not a good idea, mate," he said.

Preddie nodded, just barely hearing the marine's mutterings. For a lobster he was speaking smartly enough. "Can't give anytin' ter t' Frogs, else yer helping them." Butcher to his side agreed with a nod and added a simple: "Wouldn't want us to think you's helpin' t' Frogs though, would ya?"

And they would have hoped both that he attempted to flee. It would be stupid, but only for the man.

His wife squeaked at the marine's menacing move and Perry squeezed her shoulders. "Course I'm a sailor. Are you deaf? I just said, didn't I? Came on a brig outta the Pasquotank! You think only the British know about boats? Not that one, he don't!" He grimaced at Spencer. To Preddie, he answered, "More like helping you do your job, if you'd get on with it, by making them Frenchies drunk and all. Why ain't you got rid of them yet?"

Preddie glared at their captive sailor, his hands balling up into fists. "Shut it!" The general mood of the men seemed to have gotten more hostile at Perry's words. The man wasn't the only one of the mind a good pummeling would do the man as good as any medicine then.

The midshipman barked at the men to be silent, but Perry could see and feel their displeasure. He shrank visibly and whispered a soothing word or two to his frightened wife. "Look, maybe I didn't oughta say that, but then you fellas didn't oughta chased and grabbed at us and accuse us of things when we ain't done nothin' wrong, except maybe to help you lot. I'm a peaceful man - we're peaceful folk here, and we just keep workin' as best we can in troubled times, eh? Now I wish y'all the best o' luck, but I'd thank you kindly if you'd let us go on our way now. Please."

With the boat crew sufficiently quiet, at least for the moment, Kinsella shook his head. "I'm afraid not. You've admitted to being a sailor, which makes you of great value. You will be accompanying us up-river, and then back to our ship."

Chase grinned. Now this was more like it.

"But... back to your ship?" The poor man looked completely dismayed. "Why?"

That brought light to a few faces. For the moment they were quiet, but their expressions spoke enough. And a whispered: "There ye have it. if 'es a spy, his days are numbered." Between Preddie and Butcher.

"N' if not, he's best of ter see himself real useful. "Preddie returned in low murmur, both standing ready to block a way, if their captive decided he'd had enough.

"I believe you are a deserter," Kinsella replied. "From the Navy. As such, we are more than entitled to return you to service."

There were grins and slow nods from various men around the circle. Some of them had been pressed men themselves. Chase watched Perry intently, half-hoping he would try to force his way past the encircling boat crew. Best of luck to him if he did!