‘Probably they would have a man there to keep an eye on things, taking supplies of charcoal and the like ready for the winter.’
I saw Barak looking across at me. ‘Thank you, Llewellyn,’ I said.
‘Thinking of leaving the law for the iron trade, sir?’ Carswell called after me as I went to sit next to Barak. The light was fading fast, and an extraordinary number of moths had appeared, grey-white shapes wheeling and circling in the dusk.
BARAK LOOKED AT me shrewdly. ‘What were you muttering to Llewellyn about? Wouldn’t be anything to do with Ellen, would it?’
‘Let’s concentrate on Hugh Curteys for now,’ I answered snappishly.
‘You’ve found where Rolfswood is, haven’t you? You’re going to go there and nose around if you get the chance.’
‘I’ll have to see.’
‘I think you should leave well alone.’
‘I know what you think!’ I burst out with sudden anger. ‘I’ll do what I think best!’
There was another raucous laugh from Sulyard. ‘Lovers’ tiff!’ he called out, staring at Barak and me. He was very drunk, gobbling and tumbling his words, his face alight with malice.
‘Shut your face, or I’ll shut it for you.’ Barak half-rose, his look threatening.
Sulyard pointed at me. ‘Hunchbacks bring bad luck, everyone knows that! Though we’re probably fucked already, with a dozy old captain and a tippling whiffler to fight under.’
I looked round the circle of faces; a swirl of smoke made my eyes sting. The men looked away uncomfortably. Sulyard rose unsteadily to his feet and pointed at me.
‘Don’t you give me the evil eye! You – ’
‘Stop it!’ Everyone turned at the shout. Pygeon had followed me and stood some feet off. ‘Stop it, you fool! We’re all in this together! You’re not in the village any more. You can’t steal game and ducks from poor folk as you like, spend your days telling people to call you master!’
Sulyard roared, ‘I’ll have your balls!’ Pygeon stood uncertainly as Sulyard, shaking off the restraining hand of another soldier, reached for his knife.
Then a tall, white-coated figure appeared and hit Sulyard a mighty smack across the face. He staggered, rallied, and reached for his knife again.
Leacon faced him. ‘Strike me, you foul-mouthed rogue, and it’s mutiny!’ he shouted, then added more softly, ‘but I’ll deal with you man to man if that’s what you want.’
Sulyard, a trickle of blood dripping from a cut, let his arms fall to his sides. He stood swaying, like a puppet with the strings cut. ‘I meant no mutiny,’ he said. He swayed again, then yelled out, ‘I want only to live! To live!’
‘Then stay sober and work with your fellows. That’s a soldier’s best chance of surviving.’
‘Coward!’ someone shouted from the dark. Sulyard turned to the voice, hesitated, then stumbled off into the dark. Leacon turned back to his men. ‘He’ll probably fall over soon. Someone go and find him in a while, dump him in his tent. He can apologize to Master Shardlake in front of you all tomorrow morning.’ He turned away. I followed, catching him up.
‘Thank you for that, George. But no public apology, please. He would not mean it and I would not wish to leave the company on such a note.’
Leacon nodded. ‘Very well. But there should be some restitution.’
‘Such things have happened to me before. They will again.’ I hesitated, then added, ‘He is frightened of what may come.’
Leacon looked at me. ‘I know. As we near Portsmouth a lot of them are becoming apprehensive. But what I said was true: if it comes to battle, discipline and working together are everyone’s best chance of survival. Though it is a matter of chance and chaos in the end.’ He was silent a moment, then said, ‘This afternoon, those drums made me want to scream.’ He paused again. ‘Master Shardlake, after what I said at Godalming, do you – do you truly think me fit to lead? I will have to, Sir Franklin will be no use. He is good for pulling the men into line – last night a bunch of them got to drinking and rowdiness, and a few words from him shut them up. But you have seen him – he is too old to lead men into battle.’
‘I told you last night, you are as fine a leader as any they could have.’
‘Thank you,’ he answered quietly. ‘I feared you thought otherwise.’
‘No. On my soul.’
‘Pray for us, after we part.’
‘Right readily. Though it is long since I felt God listens to my prayers.’