Page 33 of Unlikely Heroes
Not a minute too soon it was dark and done. The ships broke off, the Combined Fleet leaving behind theSan Rafaeland theFirmeas British prizes, and trying to escape toward the Cape, as near as Calder’s fleet could make out in the gathering murk.
The confusion in the smoke and fog was so great that the big guns kept firing for another hour. “Should we take a cease-fire signal through the fleet?” Avon asked.
“Not unless Admiral Calder insists,” Able said. “I personally don’t have a death wish.”
He couldn’t help smiling at Avon’s obvious disappointment.Was I ever that young, Euclid?he asked his brain. The answer was an undignified guffaw.
It was quickly obvious that theMaltaandWindsor Castlewere among the badly damaged. TheMercurybobbed nearPrince of Wales, watching for signals. One came as darkness neared:Report now.
“Affirm, Avon,” he said. “Tots, take us close toPrince of Wales. Smitty, come with me.”
Prince of Waleslooked like all ships of the line after a battle. Able noted spars gone, the rigging torn. He looked closer, eyes wide. The rudder was sheared off. Carpenters were already busy jury-rigging some sort of replacement.
“All we got is a rip in the jibsail,” Smitty said.
“We were moving fast,” Able replied. “Doing what Calder wanted.”
What Admiral Calder wanted now – and he minced no words – was someone who could speak Spanish. “They claim not to understand us. TakeMercuryin close and for the Lord’s sake, wear your hanger.”
“Sir, I have an acting surgeon on board. Should I take him?” Able asked.
“How old is he?” Calder asked, enjoying the moment, despite his obvious cares.
“Fourteen, sir.”
“Why not? Aye, take him.” Calder’s look softened. “Your Rats did well today.”
“Will we engage tomorrow?”
“Of course,” Calder said, but he spoke too quickly. “Why wouldn’t we?”
“Message for theFirme,sir?”
“Tell the blinking captain to surrender his sword to you. Tell him a boarding party of Marines will be there soon. Tell him to…to do whatever they demand, whether he understands them or not.”
That made perfectly no sense, but Able knew the feeling of utter exhaustion, the moment an action ended. He saluted and returned to theMercurywith Smitty. Grateful Meridee had insisted he take the blamed thing along, he buckled on his sword belt and hooked on the cutlass.
Smitty had alerted Davey, who waited on deck with his medical kit slung over his shoulder. “You’ll see more than you want to, but they need our help,” Able said. “Come with us, Smitty. Angus, take the wheel.”
Davey nodded. “I’ll make you proud, Captain Six.”
“You already do.”
No one aboard theFirmechallenged theMercuryas the nimble yacht came alongside the battered Spanish ship of the line, riddled from stem to stern with shot, masts gone. Announcing himself, and perhaps more valuable, announcing he had medical help with him, Able called for the Spanish deckhand to throw out a rope ladder. From a yacht to a ship of the line was a long climb.
The deck was disaster. In the tangle of ropes, sailcloth, body parts and splintered wood, a Spaniard in a familiar-looking surgeon’s apron knelt by a writhing man. His hand firm on Davey’s shoulder, Able threaded their way between the ruins of men and ship. He spoke in rapid Spanish and the surgeon listened with relief. In no time at all, Davey knelt beside his own patient.
In the near darkness, Able turned to see an officer holding out his sword. “I am Rafael de Villavicencio, commanding theFirme, asu servicio,” the Spanish captain said, his eyes lowered by the humiliation of surrender.
Able took the sword with a bow of his own, acknowledging this courtesy of war for the first time, wondering at the events in his life that had taken him to this point. He handed the sword to Smitty and stepped close to the defeated captain. They chatted in Spanish until the man relaxed and lost the humiliation in his eyes. “I did my best,” he said finally, still unwilling to maintain eye contact.
“I know you did,” Able replied. He looked over his shoulder to see Royal Marines clambering over what remained of the railing. “Let me interpret for you here until everyone understands what is going on.”
“I would greatly appreciate it,capitan.”
They had been standing in twilight that gradually faded to black. The lieutenant of Marines brought over a torch and changed Able’s life.
“Lieutenant, may I introduce…”
