Toward the Sun

The tap of a musket on deck returned Young from his musings and brought him back on board where he was about to inspect the contingent thirty two marines serving on board the Icarus. Officially Captain Wallace was the ranking marine officer on board, and in charge of the inspection but he was in his cabin, currently beyond coherent thought. That was the reason he was on board in the first place for frigates normally did not rate a full captain of Marines but no larger ship wanted him on board. Wallace had been well on his way to drinking himself to death on shore at Gibraltar when the Port Admiral had practically forced him on the Icarus. So Lieutenant Young was forced to assume most of Wallace’s duties, but he was more than happy for the experience and equally glad the ship had left Sydney two days ago. Now the Icarus was sailing to Singapore where the ship’s captain, John Fisher, was to report to the Commodore in charge of the squadron stationed there. Young was excited, for frigates were always in demand regardless of the station and he was looking forward to months sailing the local islands and taking in the sights.