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route to promotion.”

“Oh, good, sir. The mater wrote me onlyyesterday enquiring how soon I would be captain of my own ship. I am writingback now to explain that it takes a number of years, even in wartime. I cannotpossibly be given even the smallest boat until I am a lieutenant, and that willnot be this year.”

Or next, Simon suspected, unless…

“There is word down the line of smallgunboats and torpedo boats in the offing, Mr Higgins. A crew of three or four,perhaps, for the torpedo boats. Coastal Motor Boats, I believe they are callingthem. A young lieutenant, even a sub, could make a name for himself with one ofthose.”

“The mater would be terribly delighted wasI to be given a command, even a little one. She was so pleased when I was givenmy Mention, sir, told me I should give you her thanks. I thought it might beundisciplined if I did, sir, so I did not.”

“It’s not entirely usual, Mr Higgins. Notan offence, though. Express my good wishes to her in your letter, if you would beso good.”

“Oh, she would be delighted by that, sir.She has told me how lucky I was to end up under your command and how kind ofyou to take me with you to your next ship.”

If only the poor boy knew the reality,that he had been dumped on Simon and left with him as result of pressure fromon high.

“I have no doubt that you will make a fineofficer and a credit to me, Mr Higgins. Persevere with your navigation – you willhave to find your own way if ever you end up in a boat of your own.”

Higgins beamed, delighted that the captainhe worshipped should say such kind things to him. He would work his veryhardest to justify his faith in him.

Simon retreated to his cabin, calling forCanning, his first lieutenant.

“Zeebrugge again, Canning. Sail on thismorning’s tide for Dunkerque, a high speed run and a few manoeuvres while weare at it – just basic stuff, line astern to abreast then to echelon, presentingthe broadsides to either quarter, sort of thing. You can deal with that – good experiencefor you. I have recommended you for command, by the way.”

Canning made his thanks, having thoughtthat his previous captain’s personal report on him would doom him for years.

“What did he have against you,Canning?”

“Well, in fact, sir, it was more a privatesort of thing… Not really a Service matter.”

“Oh, good! That will make it far more interesting!”

Canning surrendered and told all.

“Very well, sir. It was a matter of ayoung lady in Dover – no, that’s wrong, definitely not a lady! Not a whore assuch, sir, far from it, she never took money though she had no objection to theodd expensive little present - every week, that was. I knew her first and wehad a bit of a thing going for a few weeks. It tailed off, as these things do, sir,and she met up with the captain. Might be she dropped me in his favour, infact, he being able to afford more expensive presents. All done in good humour,staying friends, you might say, until she fell out with the captain. Why andhow, I do not know, but it was in company and she tore him off a strip andended up by saying that he need not act so self-satisfied, he was not half sogood in bed as Brian Canning!”

“Whoops! How soon after that did he filehis court martial papers for insubordination?”

“Within the day, sir. I informed my Friendof the details and he spoke to the lawyer from the Attorney General’s departmentand the Court never heard anything in public – to avoid scandal – and dismissedthe charges against me. It did look as if it was going to end my career, sir,then they sent me here as an effective promotion.”

“Quite right, too, Canning. An abuse ofthe Service, trying to court-martial you. Funny, though!”

“After the event perhaps, sir. YoungMcCracken should make lieutenant very soon, sir. An able lad. It will allow usto promote young Waller as well.”

“Agreed. I shall put their papers throughto the Commodore later in the week. I intend to recommend Higgins for one ofthese little torpedo craft that are coming into service. He might do well inone of them. He won’t make the grade in anything else.”

“Hardly wise, I would have thought, sir.Not the most able of young men… In fact, damned near the least able I have evercome across.”

“I know. His parentage is the problem,Canning. Let me explain…”

A couple of minutes and Canning sat back, amusedand horror-stricken simultaneously.

“One of Dirty Bertie’s bastards! Supposed tobe a number of them about, sir. Got to do something for him… A small boat goingout in hunt of big game along the coast gives him the chance to make a name forhimself without demanding a lot by way of ability. Gets him off our backs aswell, sir.”

“Exactly, Canning. I suspect it will gethim off everybody’s back in short order. He will take the craziest risks fornot realising what they are. There’s a chance he will get away with it – I hopeso, I have a slight liking for the lad. If he succeeds, then he becomes theAdmiralty’s problem – they will have to work out what to do with him next. Ifhe fails, then he is nobody’s problem; chances are there won’t even be a bodyto bury.”

“Highly satisfactory, sir. Young Waller isup for his certificate, by the way. Be useful to have him as a watchkeeper.”

“That’s quick – mind you, he has beenyachting since he was ten, crewing that is, so he probably knew all he needed beforehe joined up. Get it written up and I will present it to him.”

Canning produced the document, typed up bya seaman writer on the depot ship, looking very official. Simon signed it and calledfor Waller.

The boy ran from the wardroom, a matter ofa very few yards.

“Found this piece of paper lying about mydesk, Waller. It belongs to you.”

A few seconds to take in what it actuallywas followed by a pleased grin.

“That makes me a watchkeeping officer,does it

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