On
board the ship, the air was thick with tension. The Captain of the
Vessel was swiftly calling orders, which his crew repeated back to
him before calling, “Sir, Yes Sir!”
He
had their attention before the landing party stepped on deck, but
every detail was always double and triple checked before a move was
made.
“Captain
on Board,” was called and acknowledged.
“All
Hands” summoned everyone to gather around although they were
already there, and they echoed back.
“All
hands, Aye,” and then went silent and listening.
Questions
burned in their eyes but they were too well trained to ask them and
he was too focused on what needed done immediately to deal with them.
“This
woman to the Captain's Cabin with a guard.”
“With
a guard, Aye” and so it was understood that while she was to be
given comfort rather than tossed into a damp dark holding brig, she
was not to be trusted.
“Medic.
To me.”
“Medic
reporting, Aye” and a team stepped forward quickly to assess the
situation and transfer Captain Rockwell to their care. The injured
man was lifted to the deck of the ship from the small boat and stood
on his own two feet, but was obviously unable to straighten, or to
stay upright without support from the young man beneath one of his
arms. The medic team lifted the injured man and carried him to a
small cabin. They apologized for causing him pain, but although he
was sweating from it, he made no complaint. The young man with him
followed anxiously on their heels. Before the Dr. could even arrive
to begin his assessment the ship's Captain stepped into the room,
intent on judging for himself if this man was a threat to his ship.
The
fact that there were two captains in the cabin suddenly made it seem
like an even smaller cabin. They locked eyes and they stared at each
other with suspicion that soon turned to the respect of men who took
each others measure and instantly knew they could be friends.
Captain Rockwell started to hold out a hand but nearly doubled over
in pain when he moved his arm away from being pressed tightly to his
stomach. The men who helped support him were quickly waved toward
the row of cots.
The
sailors gently eased him down onto a narrow bed and the Dr. came
hurrying into the room, drying his hands and already glancing around
the room, assessing the patient and his supplies. As he began giving
orders the Captain got a chair for the younger man and set it in a
corner where he would be able to watch his father without being in
the Dr.'s way. Then the Captain slipped from the room to check on the
prisoner.
