Day Trip

Vickery nodded, smiling. "Pleased to make your acquaintance. And it's perfectly understandable - this place does get a little overwhelming at times."

"Likewise, sir." A bemused smile lifted the corner of his mouth. A little overwhelming. That was putting it lightly. "There is certainly a great deal to take in," Blackwood agreed. Then he looked curiously around the room.

"What manner of place is this?"

The presence of so many officers at once, including his own, had stifled Newbury's inclination to ask any more questions. He stood by the stairs, somewhat bewildered by the sight of so many different officers gathered together in one spot. It almost defied belief.

Jenny descended the stairs and tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me, dear. I'm just trying to get past. I would have slid down the banister but I hated to knock you over."

Slid down...? Newbury stepped quickly aside, not completely successful in his bid to smother a grin. "Never would've took you for a banister-slidin' type," he said.

"That's because we're always on the march. You haven't seen me in a house with a banister." The flash of gold and red caught her eye. "Who's that officer?"

That was true. With a slight shrug, Newbury lowered himself down to sit on the stairs. "New fella here. Heard him say he was Captain Blackwood. From the Second Guards, would you believe." Strange place for a Guards officer, really. "They're plannin' a trip off to see some ship or other, by the sound of it."

"A ship?" Jenny's face darkened. "I haven't been on a ship in years. I wish one could simply take a carriage to England, or travel by balloon or some such."

Pye sat himself beside the table that had all the leaflets, and mulled on the food he'd brought merrily. There were officers, but they were awfully preoccupied, so they wouldn't notice them privates, which was splendid. He glanced at the naval lot curiously. Two tars disappeared, one was still there, looking all stiff and uncomfortable to be looked at by this odd man that seemed to be a lieutenant. There was a redcoat, who wasn't really any he'd seen often, but seemed to know the naval folk so he had to be a marine.

"We could jus' march through as long as there ain't no sea inbetween!"

"But there is a sea between," Jenny protested. Then she frowned, looking doubtful. "Isn't there? Or no. We're in England now, aren't we?"

"Think we are.. I don't know. They've been out further than I... just' been to the river, and across the plains... lots of mud, little of food out there." He nodded knowingly.

"Aye, we's in England," Oxley said in response to the woman's question. "I ain't goin' marchin' anywheres, for anythin', though."

"Nor am I," Jenny said firmly. "Although..." She grinned as a thought developed. "It's been so cold lately. If the river freezes, maybe we could skate there!"

"Think it's a long way from here, though," Oxley said, somewhat doubtfully. "Ain't on a river anyhow, not Pompey. It's on the sea. Near the Isle o' Wight, it is."

"Oh." With that Jenny seemed to lose interest. She flopped on the sofa with a fashion magazine.

There was a crash from the kitchen and a moment later, Chase came barrelling out, wide-eyed. "Fire! Fire in the galley!"

"Chase you idiot!" Mister Evans shouted after him.

Thompson gaped, then swung round to look for a firebucket - one of the Marines' primary roles was firefighting, due to their proximity to the firebuckets when standing sentry outside the Captain's cabin.

He came up short, though and glared at Chase.

"There ain't no bloo - sorry sirs. There ain't no fire," Evans said, poking his head out of the kitchen. "Chase here just ain't worth a thing as a mess cook."

"Hoi!" The Crown's front door heaved inward, as in his exuberance Branning had forgotten it was not meant to be run into. "There's one of them big red carriages out front!"

Then he paused and frowned. "What's burnin'?"

"Brannin'! You's s'posed to open a door 'fore you go through it!" Oxley cried. The sound of the big Private running into it had made him jump.

"It sounds as though our transport has arrived. Gentlemen, if you would embark in an orderly fashion - and there is no need to go trying to break doors down. They do open if you turn the handle," Vickery said, looking around, then looking at Branning as he said the last.

"But...!" Maggie was about to protest when she realized that she must not ever contradict the captain. Instead she tugged at Cotton's arm. "But what about the fire?" she asked in quiet urgency.

"Chase!" Evans shouted, once again back in the kitchen. "Get in here and get this box thing!"

Blackwood lifted an eyebrow at Vickery. "This seems to be a rather lively place," he remarked, watching the big Marine who'd crashed through the door try to set it back on its hinges.

Thompson had crossed to look into the kitchen to see what the cause of the smoky smell was. He came back out and shrugged, overhearing Maggie's question. "Ain't no fire, Miss," he said, touching his hat to her. "Jus' a Tar who's burnt summat toast, by the looks of things. He's a good sailor, but you don't want him anywhere near the galley stove, that one."