Читать книгу To Slight the Jacket Blue - Bronwyn Sciance - Страница 15

Standing on the sandbar, Bathan handed first Ned and then Sam a single-shot pistol and a curved sword. "Turn around," he ordered, and Ned obeyed, turning his back to his erstwhile friend. "Ten paces, turn, and fire. Ready...now!"

Trembling slightly, Ned began walking with a measured tread. He heard Bathan counting solemnly, his voice like the peal of the ship's bell.

"One...two...three..."

At the tenth step, Ned turned, hesitated, closed his eyes tightly and fired. The sound of a second crack an instant later told him Sam had fired as well. He opened his eyes to see Sam dropping his pistol and going for his sword. He had missed–they had both missed. Breathing a silent sigh of relief, Ned grabbed for his own sword and charged forward.

The clang of steel clashing against steel rang out over the otherwise silent field of battle. Ordinarily the crew would be shouting encouragement to their favorite and heckling the other competitor, but though a third of the crew and half the officers stood on the sandbar with them and the remainder hung over the bulwarks of the Swift Return, they stayed completely silent.

At first Ned wondered at that, but soon he put all thoughts of spectators out of his mind and focused instead on his opponent, or more specifically on his opponent's sword. Don't think of him as Sam, he reminded himself.

Instead, he concentrated on the sword-fighting techniques he had been taught when he had joined His Majesty's Royal Navy. He let Sam fall into a pattern of chops and thrusts, all of which he parried almost casually. Then, as Sam went for an overhand chop, Ned lunged forward under his guard and caught him a glancing blow to his shoulder. His shirt tore, and blood bloomed in the slight scratch.

"First blood! There's an end to it," called Bathan. Ned instantly dropped his sword, taking a step back. Sam looked down at his side, then back up at Ned. Slowly, he also lowered his sword.

The men swarmed forward, bypassing Ned to attempt to succor their captain. Sam waved them off imperiously. "The matter is settled," he announced flatly. "Back to the ship, men. Let's set sail before the tide drops."

The crew cheered and returned to the jolly boat. Ned followed, a little more slowly. Yes, he had won the duel. But how would this change his status on the ship?