[Written] And the good south wind still blew behind

[abidinglaw]

I find that I am forgetting more and more of the old songs.

[He is forgetting more than that, in fact. In truth he doesn't know how long he has been here. Each day he forgets a little more. He is sure that if he puts his mind to it, he'll have to count the time in years.]

And it is true that no-one I knew from home would have accused me of wasting my time unduly with such things then, but I am certain I need not go into detail with any of you about the ways in which Luceti seeks to change a man.

Yet, change us it does. We would do well to take measures to ensure that these changes are for the better. There must be some among you who can speak on this matter.

And others still who know of a new song or two.

-James Norrington.

Comments

[ written ]

[greenjacketed]

[ a correction in two simple words: ] One year.

[ written ]

[abidinglaw]

Perhaps, but my point remains.

[ written ]

[greenjacketed]

...Could be long gone from this place before then. Might not matter at all.

[ written ] SHARPE WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR NECK OH NOOOOOOOOOOOo

[abidinglaw]

And I suppose that such things cease to be important so long as you are not present to observe them.

i dislike you greatly.

[greenjacketed]

No. It -- [ bloody damn well blast it ] -- ceases to be important once you forget it has ever happened. You need not be a scholarly genius to suss out that much.

[abidinglaw]

In which case it ceases to be important to you. A luxury which should not be extended to those who remain.

[Or to those who have no-where to return to.]

[greenjacketed]

Yes. Me. Since it is me you are accusing in the first place. Everyone else's business is their own. Although -- this place is not as terrible as they say it is.

[ and yet a million times worse. ]

[abidinglaw]

[Norrington would pursue what is fast amounting to an interrogation if he had any confidence that it might make the slightest difference. For now it is enough to have augmented his opinion of Richard Sharpe with the notion that he is a selfish brigand with no sense of why he fights, nor who he fights for. In short, he is dangerous.]

Oh? Is it not?

[greenjacketed]

[ you're not wrong, james norrington. you're not right either, but you're still not wrong. ]

Food. Supplies. Roofs. Ample time to march and battle. No pay stoppages in their points, no matter how daft the points are. And when compared to home, their sieges are pra--[ practically ] -- as good as civilized.

[abidinglaw]

We are made to march and battle in a war that is not ours, for a victories that we do not feel. We are dependent on our gracious hosts for the food and supplies that you value so. And what if we should lose their favor? Could we cause them to keep our shelves stocked if they decided not to do so? Could we prevent them from setting the metal men upon us?

No. We are birds in a cage, and it is neither good nor civilized.

[greenjacketed]

Britain's army or the Malnosso's -- same beast, really. You have as good as described the life of any private back home. [ what was it harper had said? ] Freedom to starve is no freedom at all.

[abidinglaw]

Freedom is not freedom if it is dictated by the whims of any third party.

[Of course it was the Malnosso who granted the people of Luceti their freedoms, and not the Third Party at all, but Norrington derived little joy from the choices that this world presented. If his options were limited to dying a final death at the hands of the cultists or living merely for so long as it suited the Malnosso, he might as well be locked in a cell.

In fact, it would be reasonable to argue that he had indeed locked himself in a cell, but at least it was a cell of his choosing in a house which had not been constructed by their wardens. And outside of the village, he contributed little to their schemes.]

[greenjacketed]

[ freedom from dictation? oh, look. another concept richard sharpe is hard pressed to afford. ]

So says the Admiral, whose job it is to dictate to others on his own damned whims.

[ why, yes. a year in luceti has changed him. it's allowed him to grow just that touch more rebellions, or else it allows him to voice that rebellion more easily than he ever had before. ]

[abidinglaw]

I do say that. I did. Do you take delight in underscoring the obvious?

[greenjacketed]

Someone has to, when other men are too busy nattering on about impossibilities.

[abidinglaw]

No, they do not. And incidentally, I would rather natter about impossibilities than dismiss possibilities out of hand. Deny yourself the former and you will certainly accomplish the latter.

[greenjacketed]

And I would rather not have a Navy Admiral decide for me what I will or will not accomplish.