“She won’t die, you know.” Cloud’s fingers gripped the boy’s shoulders tightly. “She won’t.” He said the words so firmly he found himself believing them. “Let’s go. I have something to tell you. It’s the reason I know she won’t give up.”
Peach nodded and followed Cloud out of the cabin. He stole one last look at Peters working diligently at sewing Alexis’s wound; then he shut the door. When they reached the deck, their pale faces unwittingly confirmed the crewmen’s worst thoughts.
Cloud spoke to ease their fears. “She’s still alive,” he told them. “Peters is stitching her now. Mr. Jordan, can I talk to you?” When Jordan joined him Cloud asked Peach to wait for him on the far side of the deck.
“How is she really?” asked Jordan when they were alone.
“It’s not good. Peters says she’s lost a lot of blood. She should have told you she was hurt.”
Jordan sighed. “She would never have gone below during the battle. Redland suspected she was injured and was told to keep quiet. I can only guess why she waited so long. The last thing she did was make me promise that we would still go after Travers. She wanted to be certain that would be taken care of before she—before she went below.”
“Jesus. ” All color drained from Cloud’s face as he listened to Jordan. Would Alexis not fight as hard if she thought her men would carry out her vow?
Jordan was about to comment on the unspoken thought when a voice above them arrested their attention.
“It’s theRaleigh!” Randall called down. “She’s heading for us! Off the starboard bow!”
“Damn! What next?” Jordan muttered as he raced for the starboard rail.
He lifted the scope and examined the ship, still a small blur in the distance. He did not doubt the authority of the voice above him. Randall not only had an uncanny ability for recognizing the enemy, he was also the only man ever to guess Alex Danty was a woman before the unveiling. Jordan passed the instrument to Cloud.
“Randall’s right,” said Cloud.
“We’ll have to fight.” Jordan grimaced.
“No.” Cloud’s objection burst forth before he realized he had no right to voice one. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jordan. But we can’t fight. The ship can stand it and if we repeated our earlier strategy we might even win, but the captain won’t be able to survive the shock of a battle. We’ve got to find another way. Outrun her if we have to.”
“That frigate? This ship has suffered some damage. We’re not at top speed. We’re still fast but—”
“But nothing. Something can be done.”
“I can’t.”
“I can.”
Jordan laughed admiringly. “A ship has never been so easily taken over before! Men! Follow Captain Cloud’s orders! He says we can avoid a battle and by God, I think he’s right!”
There were no objections to the sudden change in command. Cloud threw a grateful look at Jordan. “See to Alex. Stay with her until we’re safe.”
“You’ll need someone to relay orders,” he objected.
“I’ll use Peach,” replied Cloud. “Go to her. And Mr. Jordan, if she comes around, take back your promise.” He smiled. “And tell her I love her.”
“Tell her yourself. She’ll be around to listen.”
Cloud nodded and took his place at the wheel. He called to Peach. “Station yourself partway down the deck. Listen to every order I give and repeat it at the top of your lungs. Can you do that?”
“Aye, Captain,” he answered. He started forward but paused in midstride. He turned back to Cloud. “I didn’t mean what I said before. About it being your fault.”
“Yes, you did. You didn’t say anything I wasn’t thinking. It’s not important now.”
Peach had no reply. He went to his station and braced himself against the rail as the ship turned sharply under Cloud’s skilled hands.
When the ship lurched Jordan found himself flung against the wall in the companionway. He could hear Peters cursing inside Alexis’s cabin and he hurried along to ease the man’s anger.
“What the hell’s going on up there?” Peters demanded after Jordan entered.
“It’s theRaleigh.She’s coming after us,” he explained. He examined Alexis, who for all appearances, might have only been sleeping. “How is she?”
