His Majesty's brig-sloop Teazer eased sheets and came around prettily for the last leg of the short passage from Polperro eastwards to Plymouth Sound. The ship's clerk knocked softly at the captain's cabin door. There was no reply, so from long friendship Nicholas Renzi entered quietly. Commander Thomas Kydd was sitting rigid at the stern windows staring out, his face a bleak mask.

'Tom, dear fellow? I've brought you this,' Renzi said, proffering a glass, 'The natives hereabouts do swear by its power to lay demons and recruit the spirit.'

Kydd accepted the offering but it remained untouched in his hand. 'Fine nor'westerly blow,' Renzi went on brightly, 'We should raise the Sound on this tack, I'd venture.' There was no response from the fine and ambitious sea officer who had made the incredible journey from the fo'c'sle to the quarterdeck and then achieved his own command, now brought so low.

It had all been very sudden. Returning triumphant after a rousing cruise Kydd had decided to first snatch a few moments in Polperro, the home of his newly betrothed, Rosalynd; it was there that he had learned of her tragic death, just days before.

Renzi drew a chair close. There was so little that could be said - grief was such a private thing, but in this Renzi knew guilt. His closest friend had stood alone when he had followed his heart and asked a country lass to be his bride, not Persephone Lockwood, the admiral's daughter. There had never been a formal understanding between Kydd and Miss Lockwood, but society - and Renzi - had been outraged nevertheless.

'You should know this, dear friend, I - I own myself shamed by my actions, you must understand,' Renzi said in a low voice. 'It was unpardonable, not to recognise that it was - that your sentiments sprang from the noblest and purest...'

His words went unheard but he vowed that whatever lay ahead for Kydd he would be there for him. Especially when he tried to re-enter the world that had turned its back on him. But there were more pressing concerns first. 'We dock in so little a time, I have to say - shall you prepare to take the deck again?'

Kydd's face turned slowly. His eyes filled as he tried to say something and his fists clenched.

Renzi knew for the sake of the future that Kydd should be the one to take Teazer to her rest. 'You are the captain still, and duty is a stern mistress. Shall I...?' He let it hang.

As the words penetrated, Kydd went rigid. Then he rose from his chair like an old man and made his way to his inner cabin. He emerged after a few minutes, taking one last, long look through the windows at the receding wake.

'I have th' ship, Mr Standish,' Kydd mumbled to his first lieutenant and stood alone, his face set and pale, staring ahead. Rame Head passed abeam; Teazer hauled her wind for the Sound and home. Hands went to stations for mooring ship and HMS Teazer came gently to single anchor at Barn Pool.

The early autumn sunshine had a fragile, poignant quality as the sloop's gig pulled across the short distance to the dockyard; by Kydd's side was Renzi, with ship's papers. The boat nuzzled into the landing stage and Kydd stepped out, looking lost and bewildered. 'This way, old fellow,' Renzi said, glaring at passers-by who stopped to gape at the subject of the so-recent scandal.

It was not far to the admiral's offices; the flag-lieutenant hurried away to inform the port admiral of their arrival. Lockwood himself came stalking out to the waiting room but halted in surprise at the sight of Kydd's drawn and ashen face. News of the tragedy had apparently not yet arrived.

'I'm astonished you have the temerity to cut short your cruise, Mr Kydd! There are matters, it seems-'

'Sir, I beg t' report m' full success in y'r mission.'

Lockwood blinked.

'Teazer's report,' Renzi said carefully, handing over the details of Kydd's twin victories - success against the notorious Bloody Jacques, the renegade privateer that had terrorised the Devon and Cornish coasts; and the unmasking of Zephaniah Job as the mastermind behind the smuggling ring.

The admiral flicked through the papers. 'I, er, then it would appear I must offer my congratulations, Commander,' he said stiffly, looking up, but Kydd had left.

When the news was broken at Number Eighteen Durnford Street, the residence Kydd and Renzi shared, a pall of silence descended. Shocked, Mrs Bargus the housekeeper cast about for things to do that might in some little way comfort her employer. A cheerful fire was soon ablaze and the cook was set to prepare his favourite braised duck. Becky the maid came in timidly to light the candles but departed quickly, leaving Kydd and Renzi alone.

'If there's anything...' Renzi started hesitantly, but stopped as racking sobs seized his friend.

He waited patiently until they eased. Kydd choked, 'I never reckoned it could hurt s' much!'

'Yes, brother,' Renzi murmured.

'Rosalynd's gone! F'r ever! So innocent an' young, an' she - she never knew-'

'I have to return to the ship, Tom,' Renzi said gently. 'There's things will need...arranging.' Unless someone was there to head off troubles arising from a temporarily captain-less vessel it could quickly spiral into chaos: the ambitious Standish would probably not see it in his best interest to take a firm hand.

'Do remain here, dear chap, and I'll be back when I can.' Renzi found the brandy and placed a glass before Kydd.

It was no easy matter but a flow of fictitious captain's orders relayed from Renzi saw the larboard watch happily stream ashore and a suspicious Standish set to turning up the hands for re-stowing the hold. It was dark before Renzi could finally make his way ashore and he hurried to Durnford St.

Mrs Bargus answered the door, flustered and apprehensive. 'Oh, Mr Renzi! I'm s' glad you're here! I'ts the captain - he's in such a state! All those things he's saying, it's not right, Mr Renzi...'

Kydd was slumped in the same chair in his shirt-sleeves, gazing fixedly into the fire, the brandy bottle nearly empty beside him. He jerked round when Renzi entered. 'Ahoy there, ol' shipmate!' he called bitterly. 'Bring y'r arse t' anchor an' let y'r logic tell me why - why scrovy bastards like Lockwood still strut abou' while my Rosalynd...why she's...' His face crumpled.

Renzi went to him and touched his arm. 'I'm going to the apothecary, my friend; he'll have much more efficacious medicines for your pain.' It was chilling to witness: never in all their years together had he seen Kydd in such a condition - save perhaps in the early days in the old Duke Willliam.

'No!' Kydd's hoarse cry pierced him. 'St - stay wi' me, Nicholas!'

'Of course, brother.' Renzi stoked the fire and drew up his chair companionably, desperately thinking of anything he could say. With a forced laugh he went on, 'You should have no care for Teazer, old fellow, there's half the ship's company rollicking ashore and Kit Standish believing you gravely concerned with the stowage of the hold.'

Kydd took no notice; then he turned to Renzi and said in a hollow voice, 'It's - it's tha' I can't face it, Nicholas! Life wi'out her!' His hands writhed. 'I saw all m' days in the future wi' her, plans an' course all set fair, an' now - there's...no point.'

Carefully Renzi replied, 'Not at all! I see a fine officer who is captain of a ship that needs him, one with the most illustrious of sea careers to come.'

Grabbing his arm, Kydd leered at Renzi. 'Don't y' see, Nicholas,' he slurred, 'It's th' sea right enough - taken m' Rosalynd, as it can't abide a rival!'

'What! Such nonsense!'

Kydd slumped in his chair. 'I knew ye'd not unnerstan' it,' he said almost inaudibly and closed his eyes before Renzi could continue. 'No point,' he mumbled, 'no point a-tall.'

'Look, Tom - I have to slip out for a space,' Renzi said, 'I'll be back directly.'

For a long minute Kydd said nothing, then with his eyes still closed came back with intense weariness, 'As y' have to, m' frien'.'

'Why, Nicholas! What a surprise!' Sensing the gravity of the visit, Cecilia added hastily, 'Do come in. Mrs Mullins is engaged at the moment - the drawing room will be available to us, I believe.'

Renzi followed Kydd's sister into the home of her old friend whom she was visiting. Cecilia turned to face him. 'It's Thomas, isn't it?'

'Yes.' Renzi hesitated. 'I'm truly sorry to have to say that Rosalynd...has been taken from us. She was drowned when a packet boat overset on the way to Plymouth.'

Cecilia gasped. 'No! It can't be! And - and poor Thomas, he - he must be feeling ...'

'I rather believe it is worse than that - his intellects are perturbed, he's not seeing the point of a life without Rosalynd and I fear for his future.'

'Then I must go to him this instant, poor lamb. Pray wait for me, sir, I shall accompany you presently.'

'No! That is to say, it might not be proper, Miss Cecilia. You see, he is at this moment, er, disguised in drink and he-'

'He might be, um, - flustered, Nicholas, but he needs us. I shall go to him,' she said with unanswerable determination.

The night was cool as they hurried through the streets but when they reached Number Eighteen they were met outside by a distraught Mrs Bargus and a wide-eyed Becky clutching at her from behind. 'I didn't know what t' do, honest, Mr Renzi! All of a sudden I hears this great roar fr'm upstairs - fair set m' heart a-flutter, it did! I goes up t' see, an' then down comes th' captain in a pelt an' pushes past me an' out on the street! An' he just in his shirtsleeves an' all!'

It was past enduring: the slamming shock of the news had given way to the spreading desolation of grief and then the firming certainty that he wanted no part of a world that did not include Rosalynd. Whichever way Kydd faced there was pain and mockery, heartbreak and futility. Blind hopelessness had demanded release, and exploded into an overwhelming compulsion to escape the prison of his hurt.

He stumbled on into the night; some instinct had made him snatch up his sea-worn grego as he left, which over his shirtsleeves kept him warm and anonymous. Setting his path away from the sea, his thoughts tumbled on, a tiny thread of reason struggling against the maudlin embrace of the liquor.

Suddenly he had a theory: every mortal had a measure of happiness allotted to them, and his had just run out. So did this mean he should resign himself to drear existence for what remained of his days? Was this really something to do with the fates? Renzi always set his face against fates, something to do with...with 'terminism - deter...something... damn it, who cared about Renzi and his high ideas? Tears stung and no answers came.

A gentleman of age saw him and frostily made much of crossing the street to avoid him. Kydd glared drunkenly at him: how he'd suffered from so-called gentle society! In the hard days as a newly promoted officer from before the mast he had been ignored until he had learned their fancy ways. There was ill-disguised scorn for his origins even in far Nova Scotia - then he had earned their admiration in a social coup when he had unknowingly invited the mistress of Prince Edward to a ball which had been seen as a cunning move for advancement in high society. And here in England they had been ready enough to see him court one of their own but could not accept that his heart was finally taken...by someone else.

Bitterness welled up. Now when he so needed those who cared and understood to rally to his support there was no-one. Not a soul. Cecilia could not be seen with him for the social stigma and Renzi, well he had been so judgemental about Rosalynd in the past... Be damned to it - be damned to all of them! When he had been a common foremast jack it had never been like this - he remembered the comradely understanding, the rough kindnesses...where there were no judgements, and all was plain speaking and square playing. The memories fuzzily flooded his brain, the drink in him only intensifying his loneliness. He yearned to trade in all his hard-won status for the careless warmth of the fo'c'sle. But never again would he-

A sudden thought came - seductive, challenging and glorious! He had lost everything and was alone in the world now and nobody cared - what if he left Commander Thomas Kydd to his misery and became once more just Tom Kydd, carefree mariner, shipping out on a deep-sea voyage to the other side of the world? There were ocean-going merchantmen a-plenty in Plymouth, taking on last stores and cargo who would snap up a prime hand.

Such a voyage would give him time to heal, to find a new self. He gulped at the thought. After these years, would he be able to hand a staysail, tuck a long-splice - stomach the burgoo and hard tack? He knew the answer instantly.

Yes!

He tried to focus on the details, muzzily aware that he was in no fit state to walk the mile or two back to Plymouth. Kydd drew himself up with drunken dignity and hailed an approaching public diligence. The only other occupant stared in astonishment at his worn and tar-smelling grego over peeping lace and breeches and averted his head.

He was deposited outside the King's Arms in Old Town Street, on the heights above Sutton Cove and well clear of the insalubrious sailor's haunts, but this was precisely where he was headed, down the narrow streets and alleys and passageways into the jumble of rickety buildings around the waterfront. He knew that Cockside on the opposite side of the Pool was most favoured by the merchant seamen and therefore he began to make his way there, spurred on by the roars of jollity from a nearby taphouse.

A memory - a reflex from a life long ago came back; he removed one shoe gravely and placed a few coins in before replacing it. This old sailor's trick would ensure that whatever condition he was in later, he would not be a burden on his shipmates in returning to his ship. Whichever this would be...

He lurched upright and continued down the steep and unlit street toward the glittering pool of darkness. What was waiting below? What adventure would follow? Every time he had been to sea it had always been into some wild experience or other. Since he'd left the shore life so long ago and-

A blow to the side of his head sent him staggering, disoriented. He turned - another from behind sent him to his knees. 'Scrag 'im then, mate!' he heard from the darkness. Footpads! He scrabbled for his sword but of course it was not there. Grog-fuddled he was easy meat. A blackjack smacked into his head and sent him sprawling.

Then the two were on him, expertly riffling his pockets, taking his purse, a small ring, the fob watch that Cecilia had proudly given him when he had achieved the quarterdeck - he was helpless while they ransacked his body with savage, invasive hands.

'Dick - I'm 'aving them kicks. Help me get 'em off th' bastard.' They had seen his breeches, the sign of a gentleman, and these were his finest, fit to see an admiral. He struggled but was held while they were viciously stripped off. 'An' the shirt, cully!' He caught one a glancing blow but it was no use, and he lost the lace shirt as well. Before they had robbed him of stockings and shoes too something made them scurry off, leaving him prostrate in the dirty alley, sore and shivering with cold and shame.

Kydd sat up, his head swimming. A bout of heaving seized him and he fell sideways, sliming his undervest. He got to his feet unsteadily, then saw that one of the robbers had thrown aside his own garments to run off in his. A rank pair of trousers and a ragged black waistcoat; this would have to cover him as he made his way back to...to his old life?

No! If there was one thing he was not, it was a craven-hearted lobcock! He would see through what he'd set out to do. With pathetic dignity he hauled on the malodorous trousers and fat-streaked waistcoat, and his old grego which the footpads had disdained. It had seen many a stormy night in the past and no doubt would in whatever lay ahead ...

Kydd set course stubbornly for Cockside. He reached the cobblestones of the quay, the bowsprits of silent ships spearing high above him in the still darkness. On the far wharf others were moored broadside to, with cargo working gear rigged waiting for the next day. A lone shipkeeper wandered morosely about the deck of his vessel.

The sailors' taverns were beacons of light and noise in the night and he made for the nearest. His mouth tasted vile, his head throbbed - but a gage of bowse with the splicings would soon set him to rights. Kydd pushed open the door and a sickly-sweet smell of liquored sawdust and warm humanity hit him immediately. A few faces turned then resumed their conversations. Across the room a serving maid looked at him speculatively and made her way through the tables.

'A hard voyage, sailor?' she said sympathetically. It was not uncommon after a rough voyage and the hard carousing that followed for a sailor to sell his clothes. Kydd's heart warmed to her and he gave a shy smile. 'Ye're welcome here, shipmate,' she continued, 'An' what c'n I find f'r you as will chase away y'r mem'ries, then m' dear?'

Kydd's face clouded. 'Thank 'ee, Miss - but there isn't a med'cine made as will settle that. Er, I have m' hopes of a long voyage t' come, though,' he concluded weakly. His expression eased. 'But a muzzler o' y'r right true sort is wha' I'd take kindly.'

She touched his arm. 'Look, come over an' sit wi' these gennelmen.' She waved a pot toward a cosy group about a table in the corner. 'They's in from the Indies, eleven weeks 'cross the Western Ocean wi' a sprung foremast an' aught t' eat but belaying pin soup an' handspike hash!'

The beer was dark and honest and spread an inebriated glow once more. His new friends had looked at him curiously just once and then, as was the way of the sea, had accepted him for what he was. 'Yez must've had a time of it, Tom, m' skiddy cock. Which hooker?' one asked.

'Save y'r kindness, mates, an' it's something I - I don't wan' t' talk of,' Kydd said gruffly and took refuge in his tankard.

'Right b' us, ain't it?' the oldest in the group said hastily to the others and called for another pint. 'An' if ye're not flush in the fob...' he muttered kindly.

'Ah, "everybody's mess an' no-one's watch"?' Kydd snorted, 'No, cuffin, I has m' cobbs as will pay m' way.'

He fumbled with his shoe while the others looked away politely. He found the coins - in his careless haste he had slipped in three half-guineas and a florin, a princely sum for a seaman. Embarrassed he mumbled something and ordered drinks for each of them.

They had not questioned Kydd's reticence - so many went to sea for a good enough reason - but they willingly told him of their own hard passage. Seeing Kydd relax a little after this they asked him what he himself had in mind for the future and with a swimming head he tried to explain his great need for far voyaging. They nodded: it was the ambition of most seamen when reaching port to spend all their hard-won pay in one glorious spree and when penniless, sign on for another hard voyage.

'Well, matey, we's not f'r south o' the Line, but y' might want t' think about Barbadoes Packet. Sailin' soon f'r Batavia in hardwares. Her mate'll be about lookin' f'r hands tonight I shouldn't wonder.' Kydd tried blearily to take it all in.

'Th' mate?' said another with feeling, 'Ye're forgettin' it's Hellyer, a right bucko as ever I seen! You ship out in that there-'

A splintering crash and female screams slammed into Kydd's conciousness followed by urgent shouts and a strident bellowing from the door. Reeling, he tried to make sense of it as his companions shot to their feet and yelled at him. 'The press! Skin out while y' can, Tom - jowla, jowla matey!' They disappeared hurriedly in to the scrimmage and Kydd clumsily tried to follow but fell headlong. Before he could rise he felt knees in his back and his thumbs secured with rope-yarns, and he was yanked to his feet.

'Got a rough knot 'ere, sir,' the press-gang seaman called, his hand firmly on the scruff of Kydd's neck as he tried to writhe free.

There was a vision of a young lieutenant approaching and Kydd hung his head in stupefied dejection, waiting for recognition. 'Ah, yes. Looks fit enough. Hey, you - which ship? What rate o' seaman?'

Kydd struggled with his befuddled mind. 'Er, there's a mistake,' he mumbled.

'That's "sir" t' you, cully,' the seaman said with a sharp cuff to Kydd's head.

'Um, sir, y' can't take me, I'm...er, that is t' say, I'm...' he trailed off weakly.

'And pray what are you then? A gentleman?' he said sarcastically, eyeing Kydd's appearance. 'Or possibly the captain of your ship, as can't be spared?' The seaman tittered.

Kydd said nothing, overcome with mortification. The lieutenant changed his tone. 'Now there's nothing to be ashamed of! Should you show willing, in the King's service we can make a man of you! Proud to serve! Who knows, there's been those who've been rated full petty officer in just a few years.'

Numb, Kydd was led off with the others by the Impress Service, the regular organisation for supplying the fleet with men. He knew they were going to the receiving ship, an old, no longer fit-for-service hulk moored well out.

There, they were herded down into the darkness of the hold, and the gratings slid into place with a hopeless finality. Two dim lanthorns revealed dirty straw and pitiful bodies, a pail of water in the corner. In the morning he would be cleaned up to go before the Regulating Captain who he recalled was Byam, honourably wounded at the Nile. Without question he would be recognised.

The drink-haze fled, leaving him in full knowledge of the horror of his situation. He would be laughed out of the Navy, even the merchant sailors would chortle with glee at the story of his downfall. To the disgrace of his family wherever he went he would be pointed out as the captain who had been pressed by his own press-gang.

The long night passed in condemnation, recrimination and torturing images of his shocked friends and relations as they heard the news. How could he bear the shame? What excuses could he offer? He lay sleepless on the rank-smelling straw, dreading the day to come.

With first light the guards took up position at the grating. Kydd heard footsteps approaching and saw figures peering down. He shrank away. There were muffled voices then a guard lifted the grating away and swung over a lanthorn. 'Hey! Yair, you wi' the grego!'

Kydd looked up miserably. 'Yes, that's him, the villain,' came a cultured voice. Another loomed next to him.

The ladder was slid down. 'Up 'n' out, matey, an' no tricks!'

Kydd climbed slowly, his misery overflowing. He reached the top and raised his eyes to the waiting group - to be met with the grave face of Nicholas Renzi, who said with a sigh, 'It's him. Tom Brown, gunner's mate. Never to be trusted ashore. I dare to say that Teazer's captain will know what to do with him.' He turned to the lieutenant. 'I do thank you for securing him for us - we'll have him back aboard immediately. I don't believe Captain Byam need be troubled.' Then he ordered the thick-set seaman next to him, 'Hale him into the longboat directly if you please.'

Tobias Stirk grinned mirthlessly and frog-marched Kydd away.