Part 14 (1/2)

The wounded w.i.l.l.y MacKay had now appeared on deck, his arm bound. 'Where's Trask?' he called.

Jamie pointed over the side. 'In the firth.'

w.i.l.l.y nodded. 'Good man.' He called out to the men still struggling on the deck. 'Hold hard! Stop fighting, all of ye.'

The Highlanders drew back. The sailors reluctantly lowered their swords. 'Listen men,' he said. w.i.l.l.y hauled himself up the ladder to the p.o.o.p. 'I need sailors. We're sailing to France by the morning tide. Who'll volunteer?'

There was a moment's hesitation on the part of the sailors then, realizing that they had little option, one man after another stepped forward.

w.i.l.l.y nodded, satisfied. 'Good lads,' he said. 'Mind ye, if ye hadna volunteered you'd've had a long cold swim for it.

Right,' he said, 'away wi'ye. Make ready, we sail in an hour.'

The Doctor now appeared: walking over to the rail, he looked down and signalled, then helped Polly and Kirsty up on the deck.

Kirsty ran over to Colin, who was leaning, still a little weak from his wound, against the mast. While Kirsty hugged her father, Polly, much to Ben's embarra.s.sment, flung her arms around the Doctor and Ben.

''Ere,' said Ben, 'leave off, Pol.'

'I won't,' said Polly, kissing him on the cheek. 'We won, we won.'

'For the moment,' said the Doctor.

'What do you mean, Doctor?' said Polly. None of them noticed Jamie standing beside them listening intensely.

'Don't you see, Pol,' said Ben, 'the real job's just starting. We've got to get back to the TARDIS with only a rough idea where it is, and the whole British army out looking for us.'

'What are we going to do then?' said Polly, a little dashed.

'Get ash.o.r.e before they cast anchor, right Doctor?'

The Doctor nodded, then went over to w.i.l.l.y and Colin.

If the others had been looking, they would have seen Jamie turn and disappear over the side of the brig.

w.i.l.l.y, once more the master on his own deck, was preparing the Annabelle Annabelle for her voyage. 'Stand by the capstan,' he called. He pointed to a knot of Highlanders who were watching uncertainly. 'You men help them.' for her voyage. 'Stand by the capstan,' he called. He pointed to a knot of Highlanders who were watching uncertainly. 'You men help them.'

Aided by the Highland prisoners, the crew started raising the anchor slowly.

The Doctor tapped w.i.l.l.y on the shoulder. 'We must return ash.o.r.e now,' he said.

'Do what you will, man,' said w.i.l.l.y impatiently. He turned. 'Stand by the halyards,' he called, then looked up to where the remaining crew were unfurling the large square sails of the brig.

The Doctor went over to where Colin and Kirsty were standing. Beside them, held at swordpoint, Perkins and Grey were sitting on the skylight. The little clerk was looking around anxiously, but Grey, as aloof as ever, seemed unperturbed by the complete change in his fortunes.

The Doctor turned as Colin came over to them. 'What will we do with the prisoners here?' indicating Perkins and the solicitor.

The Doctor looked. 'I think we'll take Solicitor Grey along with us, as a hostage.'

'And Perkins?' said Colin.

Perkins, hearing his name, jumped up. 'Oh, Laird,' he said to Colin, 'may I have converse with you?'

'Ye are,' said Colin.

'I beg of you,' said Perkins, 'do not send me ash.o.r.e with that man.' He pointed to Grey. 'If you go to France, you'll need a secretary. Especially' he drew himself up to his full five foot four inches 'one familiar with the French tongue.'

Colin laughed at the self-important little man. 's.h.i.+fting with the wind now, are ye, ye rogue.' He turned. 'Well Doctor, what do you think?'

'Can any of your people speak French?' said the Doctor.

Colin shook his head. 'But little, I'm afraid,' he said.

'Then use him,' said the Doctor, 'I've no doubt he'll be loyal enough.'

Perkins, immensely relieved, started rubbing his hands.

'Oh sir, I will, I will.'

'Until the wind s.h.i.+fts again,' said the Doctor.

He turned back to Colin. 'We must go.' He looked over at the Highlanders guarding Grey. 'Set him over the side in that boat.'

Grey glared at Perkins, and stood up. The little man turned, raised his stubby fingers, and snapped them in the solicitor's face. 'Mr Grey, sir, I have always wanted to do that. You've no idea the pleasure that gave me.' But the cold glare of Grey's eyes made him back away, as the solicitor was led to the rail and helped over the side into the waiting boat.

With Ben at the oars, the boat sped across the waters to the waiting wharf. As they reached it, they looked back at the dark shape of the brig.

'I can't even see the s.h.i.+p now,' said Polly.

'They're going to signal to us just before they go.' He looked. 'There it is.'

A small pinpoint of light waved briefly across the estuary and then vanished.

'I wish Jamie had said goodbye to us,' said Polly. 'I looked for him, but he disappeared. This is what Kirsty gave me as a parting present.' She held up a small silver thistle brooch. 'I'm really going to miss them,' she said.

'Do you think they'll beat the English blockade?'

The Doctor nodded. 'The fog will help them.' Then he shook his head ruefully. 'More than it'll help us. We've a long, hard journey back to the TARDIS across the Highlands. I don't know how we're ever going to find our way.'

As he spoke, a plaid bundle in the bow of the boat was flung back, and Jamie's face appeared. 'I'll guide you,' he said.