Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World Page #4

Be as satiric as you like. Viewing the world

through a microscope is your prerogative.

This is a ship of war. I will grind whatever

grist the mill requires to fulfil my duty.

Whatever the cost?

Whatever the cost.

To follow orders with no regard for cost.

Can you really claim there's

nothing personal in this call to duty?

Orders are subject

to the requirement of the service.

My orders were to follow him as far as Brazil.

I exceeded my orders a long time ago.

Got it.

The wind's backing, sir.

Sir, we just can't hold

this westerly course any longer.

If we can't sail through the damn wind, Tom,

we'll bloody well sail around it. Due south.

How far south, sir?

As far as is necessary, Mr Pullings.

- Aye, sir.

- Lively!

- Due south, please, Mr Bonden.

- Due south, sir.

Heave! Steady!

Ahh...

Hurray!

Clearly something nautical and fascinating

just happened. I am at a loss.

We have made our turn northward.

We are headed back toward the sun.

- To the sun.

- To the sun!

Oh, and by way of anticipation of this event,

I have asked Killick

to prepare something special.

- Killick! Killick there...

- Im already here, ain't I?

Gentlemen, I give you...

our destination.

- It's the Galpagos Islands!

- The Galpagos Islands!

Our whaling fleet is there.

And their cargo would put a pretty penny

into old Bones-aparte's invasion purse.

That's where the Acheron will be.

Sure as there's carts to horses.

So, Mr Pullings, if you'll permit me...

a slice of Albemarle.

And for you, Doctor, Redondo Rock.

Perfect.

And the Acheron... for me.

Safe and sound at home again

Let the waters roar, Jack

Long we tossed on the rolling main

Now we're safe ashore, Jack

Don't forget your old shipmates

Folly-rolly-rolly-rolly-rye-o!

We have worked the selfsame gun

Quarterdeck division

Sponger I, and loader you

Through the whole commission

Long we tossed on the rolling main

Now we're safe ashore, Jack

Don't forget your old shipmates

Folly-rolly-rolly-rolly-rye-o!

Las Encantadas.

The Enchanted Isles. They're said

to be full of strange and wonderful beasts.

When we get there,

we'll have to stop for food and water.

I promise you, during that time -

several days at least -

you can wander at will, collecting bugs

and beetles to your heart's content.

You'll be the first naturalist

to set foot on the islands, Ill wager.

Well, I would like that of all things.

- Is it an insect?

- Yes.

Doesn't look like one.

I mean, it looks like a stick.

Yes, that's the whole point.

It's disguised itself in order to survive.

See, there's a spider

that's disguised itself as an ant.

And here's an insect that's taken on the shape

of a thorn to save itself from the birds.

Did God make them change?

Does God make them change?

Yes, certainly.

But do they also change themselves?

Now that is a question, isn't it?

Sir! Sir, we've raised the Galpagos!

Im coming!

- Look. Beyond the rock.

- Oh, yes, I see.

What is it? Curious, eh?

Some type of gull?

- There's an ugly devil.

- Disgusting! It's got warts all over it.

Ugly devils, aren't they?

I can't see any women.

Just ducks and lizards.

What, no women? It ain't natural.

How extraordinary.

What is, sir?

Those birds. They're a species of cormorant,

but they are flightless.

Do you see their underdeveloped wings?

By all that's holy,

I think that's unknown to science.

The dragons don't seem to bother them.

No. They're a type of iguana, I should think.

Therefore, they're vegetarian.

- Will you catch one?

- A pair of them, I should think.

Then you can present

one of their offspring to the king.

- Look. There's one going for a swim.

- Iguanas don't swim.

These ones do.

Well, Ill be damned.

Two new species in as many minutes.

That's remarkable.

All hands about ship! Off tacks and sheets!

Prepare the mainsail to haul!

- Aubrey.

- Hogg. Master of the Albatross.

God bless you, Captain.

God bless you all.

- Mr Calamy, food and water for these men.

- Aye, sir.

- Mr Howard, stand your men down.

- Royal Marines, trail arms!

We was coming back for fresh lines

no more than a week ago.

Hid in that inlet yonder. Burnt our bloody

ship to the waterline. F***ing pirates!

Crew prisoner, captain dead.

She were a big black three-master.

Break your heart, it would.

12,000 sterling of the finest grade oil they

took. We been out more than two years, see.

And her course?

Maybe a point south of west,

following the rest of the fleet.

Mr Pullings, enter these men's names

into the ship's books.

Mr Allen, set a course. West by south.

All hands, make sail!

Sir, should we not take on fresh provisions?

Mr Mowett, there's not a moment to lose.

- Jack, have you forgotten your promise?

- Subject to the requirements of the service.

I cannot delay for the sake

of an iguana or a giant peccary.

Fascinating, no doubt,

but of no immediate application.

There is, I think, an opportunity here

to serve both our purposes.

As I understand it, this is a long, thin island.

You need to sail around it.

I could walk across it.

I have known you to spend hours

staring into a deserted bird's nest.

I could walk briskly, pausing only

for important measurements.

Making discoveries that could advance

our knowledge of natural history.

If wind and tide had been against us,

I should have said yes.

They're not. Im obliged to say no.

Oh, I see.

So after all this time in your service,

I must simply content myself

to form part of this belligerent expedition,

hurry past wonders, bent on destruction.

I say nothing of the corruption of power...

- You forget yourself, Doctor.

- No, Jack, no.

You've forgotten yourself. For my part,

I look upon a promise as binding.

The promise was conditional.

I command a king's ship, not a private yacht!

We do not have time for

your damned hobbies, sir!

All right. All right.

Get those fish below.

Sluice down this deck.

Davies, don't leave them there.

Get them below.

Mr Blakeney.

Sir, I found a curious beetle

walking along the deck.

I think it's a Galpagos beetle.

Im sure of it.

Were you to walk all day on the island,

you might never come across it.

Yes, that is more than likely sure.

You can have it, sir.

Mr Blakeney.

- Thank you.

- Sir.

Last gun fired, sir.

- Timing?

- Two minutes and one second, sir.

Lads, that's not good enough.

We need to fire two broadsides to her one.

- Want to see a guillotine in Piccadilly?

- No!

- Do you want to call Napoleon your king?

- No!

- Want your children to sing The Marseillaise?

- No!

Mr Mowett, Mr Pullings, starboard battery!

Jump to it, lads. Cadence and rhythm.

- Mark your targets!

- Come on, lads, faster now!

Come on, swab it!

Heave!

- Report, Mr Mowett.

- Third and fourth divisions ready.

Right. Starboard battery, fire!

One minute and ten seconds!

Huzzah!

Well done, lads.

Extra grog for all of you.

Huzzah!

Gangway for the captain, lads.

Marked improvement, Mr Calamy. Well done.

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