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bearing sincere but mild regrets.  Nitidus will fret if he is left alone, you
see, so Warren thinks it much better if he does not leave him, was all the
explanation he offered, made to Gardner very cheerfully; he seemed unconscious
of the deep solecism he was committing.
Laurence privately winced at the startled and somewhat offended looks this
procured, not merely from
Lord Gardner but from the other captains and the flag-lieutenant as well,
though he could not help but feel relieved. Still the dinner began awkwardly,
and continued so.
The admiral was clearly oppressed by thoughts of his work, and there were long
periods between his remarks. The table would have been a silent and heavy one,
save that Chenery was in his usual form, high-spirited and quick to make
conversation, and he spoke freely in complete disregard of the naval
convention that reserved the right of starting conversation to Lord Gardner.
When addressed directly, the naval officers would pause very pointedly before
responding to him, as briefly as possible, before dropping the subject.
Laurence was at first agonized on his behalf, and then began to grow angry. It
must have been clear to even the most sensitive temper that Chenery was
speaking in ignorance; his chosen subjects were innocuous, and to sit in
sullen and reproachful silence seemed to Laurence a far greater piece of
rudeness.
Chenery could not help but notice the cold response; as yet he was only
beginning to look puzzled, not offended, but that would hardly last. When he
gamely tried once more, this time Laurence deliberately volunteered a reply.
The two of them carried the discussion along between them for several minutes,
and then Gardner, his attention drawn from his brown study, glanced up and
contributed a remark. The conversation was thus blessed, and the other
officers joined in at last; Laurence made a great effort, and kept the topic
running throughout the rest of the meal.
What ought to have been a pleasure thus became a chore, and he was very glad
when the port was taken off the table, and they were invited to step up on
deck for cigars and coffee. Taking his cup, he went to stand by the larboard
taffrail to better see the floating platform: Temeraire was sleeping quietly
with the sun beating on his scales, one foreleg dangling over the side into
the water, and Nitidus and Dulcia were resting against him.
Bedford came to stand and look with him, in what Laurence took as
companionable silence; after a moment Bedford said,  I suppose he is a
valuable animal and we must be glad to have him, but it is appalling you
should be chained to such a life, and in such company.
Laurence could not immediately command the power of speech in response to this
remark so full of sincere pity; half a dozen answers all crowded to his lips.
He drew a breath that shook in his throat and said in a low, savage voice,
 Sir, you will not speak to me in such terms, either of Temeraire or of my
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sty's%20Dragon.html colleagues; I wonder that you could imagine such an
address acceptable.
Bedford stepped back from his vehemence. Laurence turned away and left his
coffee cup clattering upon the steward s tray.  Sir, I think we must be
leaving, he said to Gardner, keeping his voice even.  As this is Temeraire s
first flight along this course, best were we to return before sunset.
 Of course, Gardner said, offering a hand.  Godspeed, Captain; I hope we will
see you again shortly.
Despite this excuse, Laurence did not find himself back at the covert until
shortly after nightfall. Having seen Temeraire snatch several large tunnys
Page 129
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from the water, Nitidus and Dulcia expressed the inclination to try fishing
themselves, and Temeraire was perfectly happy to continue demonstrating. The
younger crewmen were not entirely prepared for the experience of being on
board while their dragon hunted; but after the first plummeting drop had
accustomed them to the experience, the startled yells vanished, and they
rapidly came to view the process as a game.
Laurence found that his black mood could not survive their enthusiasm: the
boys cheered wildly each time Temeraire rose up with yet another tunny
wriggling in his claws, and several of them even sought permission to climb
below, the better to be splashed as Temeraire made his catch.
Thoroughly glutted and flying somewhat more slowly back towards the coast,
Temeraire hummed in happiness and contentment, turned his head around to look
at Laurence with bright-eyed gratitude, and said,  Has this not been a
pleasant day? It has been a long time since we have had such splendid flying,
and Laurence found that he had no anger left to conceal in making his reply.
The lamps throughout the covert were just coming alight, like great fireflies
against the darkness of the scattered trees, the ground crews moving among
them with their torches even as Temeraire made his descent. Most of the
younger officers were still soaking wet and beginning to shiver as they
climbed down from Temeraire s warm bulk; Laurence dismissed them to their rest
and stood watch with
Temeraire himself while the ground crew finished unharnessing him. Hollin
looked at him a little reproachfully as the men brought down the neck and
shoulder harnesses, encrusted with fish scales, bones, and entrails, and
already beginning to stink.
Temeraire was too pleased and well-fed for Laurence to feel apologetic; he
only said cheerfully,  I am afraid we have made some heavy work for you, Mr.
Hollin, but at least he will not need feeding tonight.
 Aye, sir, Hollin said gloomily, and marshaled his men to the task.
The harness removed and his hide washed down by the crew, who by this time had
formed the technique
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sty's%20Dragon.html of passing buckets along rather like a fire brigade to
clean him after his meals, Temeraire yawned enormously, belched, and sprawled
out upon the ground with so self-satisfied an expression that
Laurence laughed at him.  I must go and deliver these dispatches, he said.
 Will you sleep, or shall we read this evening?
 Forgive me, Laurence, I think I am too sleepy, Temeraire said, yawning
again.  Laplace is difficult to follow even when I am quite awake, and I do
not want to risk misunderstanding.
As Laurence had enough difficulty for his own part merely in pronouncing the
French of Laplace s treatise on celestial mechanics well enough for Temeraire
to comprehend, without making any effort to himself grasp the principles he
was reading aloud, he was perfectly willing to believe this.  Very well, my
dear; I will see you in the morning, then, he said, and stood stroking [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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