16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
dable with Stephen – and with these two very
powerful men to lift, hold and restrain, the
medicoes dealt with their patients each in turn.
They were taking a leg off at the hip when
Reade came below: averting his ashy face he
said, 'Sir, I am to carry the Franklin's master
back to the ship with his papers. Have you any
message?'
'None, thank you, Mr Reade. Padeen, clap
on, now.'
'Before I go, sir, shall I get the bosun to unship
the companion?'
Stephen did not hear him through the patient's
long quavering scream, but a moment
later the whole framework overhead was lifted
off and the fetid room was filled with brilliant
light and clean, almost cool sea-air.
From the first Jack Aubrey had disliked all
that he had heard of Dutourd: Stephen de-