Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World Page #5

Thank you, sir.

Killick! Killick there!

What do you have for us tonight?

- Which it's soused hog's face.

- Eh?

- Which it is soused hog's face!

- My favourite. My favourite.

And when they run,

the Surprise will blow her to kingdom come!

One more week of this and

they'd give it up for a cup of water.

I can't make it rain.

I can harness the wind,

but I ain't its goddamn creator.

I have never known such a run of bad luck.

"And they said unto him

'For what caused the evil?"'

Where'd that come from?

It's from the Bible, that. That is

from the Bible. The story of the Jonah.

They found out on their ship

that one of their men - this Jonah cove -

he'd offended God

and was the cause of all their bad luck.

Evil comes... from him

who evil thinks and evil is.

- No, no. Joe knows a thing or two about evil.

From personal experience. Right, Joe?

It's like Killick says. Morning of the battle,

he doesn't have the guts to beat to quarters.

Then his entire gun crew's killed.

Soon as he went up the mizzen, Will falls.

And whose watch was it

when we lost our wind?

You there! Stand fast!

Master-at-arms, take that man below

and clap him in irons.

Mr Pullings, defaulters at eight bells.

Aye, sir.

Bring Hollom down to my cabin.

A man pushed past you,

yet you said nothing. Why?

I intended to, sir, but the right words didn't...

The right words?

He was deliberately insubordinate.

Ive tried to get to know the men, sir,

and be friendly,

but they've taken a set against me.

Always whispering when I go past

and giving me looks.

Ill set that to rights.

Ill be much tougher on them.

You don't make friends

with the foremast jacks, lad.

They'll despise you in the end,

think you weak.

- Nor do you need to be a tyrant.

- No, sir.

Im very sorry, sir.

- You're, what? 26, 27?

- Im 30 next Friday, sir.

You've failed to pass for lieutenant twice.

I know you have, but you're not a bad sailor.

You can't spend your life a midshipman.

No, sir. I will try much harder, sir.

Look, Hollom, it's leadership they want.

Strength.

Now, you find that within yourself,

and you will earn their respect.

Without respect,

true discipline goes by the board.

Yes, sir. Um...

Strength, respect... and discipline, sir.

Well... it's an unfortunate business, Hollom.

Damned unfortunate.

- That'll be all.

- Yes, sir.

- I am not a flogging captain.

- Hollom is a scapegoat

for all the bad luck,

real or imagined, on this voyage.

Mr Lamb? If you please.

They're exhausted.

These men are exhausted.

You've pushed them too hard.

Stephen, I invite you

to this cabin as my friend.

Not to criticise nor to comment

on my command.

Well, shall I leave you until

you're in a more harmonious frame of mind?

- What would you have me do?

- Tip the ship's grog over the side.

- Stop their grog?

- Nagle was drunk when he insulted Hollom.

Stop 200 years of privilege and tradition.

Id rather have them three sheets to the wind

than face a mutiny.

Im rather understanding of mutinies.

Men pressed from their homes, confined

for months aboard a wooden prison...

I respect your right to disagree with me,

but I can only afford one rebel on this ship.

I hate it when you talk of the service

in this way. It makes me so very low.

You think I want to flog Nagle?

A man who hacked the ropes

that sent his mate to his death?

Under my orders?

Do you not see? The only things that keep

this wooden world together are hard work...

Jack, the man failed to salute.

There's hierarchies even in nature.

- There is no disdain in nature. There is no...

- Men must be governed!

Often not wisely, but governed nonetheless.

That's the excuse of every tyrant in history,

from Nero to Bonaparte.

I, for one, am opposed to authority.

It is an egg of misery and oppression.

You've come to the wrong shop

for anarchy, brother.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine.

Ten.

Eleven.

Twelve.

Cut him down.

Shh. Not so loud.

Oh, put that dirk down, Boyle.

- You OK, Mr Hollom?

- He's not ill, just dodging work as usual.

- Shut up!

- You shut up.

- Just leave him be.

- Have some water.

- Oh, thank you.

Sir. Sir, it's Mr Hollom.

There's nothing physically wrong with him.

He thinks he's been cursed.

Sailors can abide a great deal,

but not a Jonah.

My God. You believe it too.

Not everything is in your books, Stephen.

It's him, innit?

The Jonah.

He's causing it.

He's callin' it up, don't you see?

Every time he's on watch, that ship appears.

You wait and see.

Any time tonight,

that ghost ship's gonna turn up.

And it's gonna take us all with it,

straight down to the hot place.

Mr Hollom.

You gave me such a start.

Are you feeling better now?

Yes. Much better, thank you.

The captain thinks

we'll get our wind tomorrow.

Im sure of it.

You've always been very kind to me.

Goodbye, Blakeney.

The simple truth is, not all of us become

the men we once hoped we might be.

But we are all God's creatures.

If there are those among us

who thought ill of Mr Hollom,

or spoke ill of him,

or failed him in respect of fellowship...

then we ask for your forgiveness, Lord.

And we ask for his.

God be praised. Mr Mowett?

Avast there!

- Doctor, have you seen the bird?

- What sort of bird?

Some sort of albatross. Either that, or

he's a prodigious great mew. There it goes.

There he is. My bird, my bird. Damn!

- It's circling, lads!

Doctor?

My God! Doctor! Doctor!

Im so sorry, man.

The bird dropped low. I didn't see you.

- Calamy, get Higgins.

- Im fine, Jack.

The bullet took in a piece of shirt with it.

Unless it's removed,

it's gonna suppurate and fester.

Are you equal to the task?

Well, Ill need to read up on the doctor's

books, like. Study some pictures he has.

Study some pictures?

It's just to get my bearings, that's all.

Well, it'd be a lot easier if I were on dry land.

You know, you wouldn't have the...

Ill manage. You'll see.

Sail on the horizon, sir. Running west.

We're not sure, but we think it's her, sir.

Better get...

Goodbye, sir.

No mistakin' it. She's the Frenchie.

Shall we beat to quarters, sir?

Tell me this wasn't on my account.

No, not at all.

I just needed to stretch my legs.

Gently there.

Briskly now. Secure this line.

Royal Marines posted every 20 yards, sir.

- All set, Higgins?

- Yes, sir.

No.

I do this with my own hand.

If everything is under control,

Ill just be outside.

A spare pair of steady hands

wouldn't go amiss.

That is, if, of course, you have

the constitution for this kind of thing.

My dear doctor, I have been amongst

and around wounds all my life.

Well, good, then.

Put your hand on my belly,

pressing firmly when I give the word.

Higgins, the catling, if you please.

Padeen, please.

The sounder, Mr Higgins.

Swab.

All right.

Mr Higgins, you'll have to raise the rib.

Take a good grip... with the square retractor.

Right in.

And lift up.

Lift up.

Swab, Jack. I can't see.

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