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sir john would not have wished it this way, james tells himself. he doesn’t know whether he’s motivated onward or backward by the notion, evident as it is now that sir john was a man of questionable judgment and inaction. still, james is grieved by the loss of him, therefore finds discomfort in contradicting him so.
the apprehension is plain on his face when he calls forth young mutt: he recognizes his capabilities as being superior to his own at a similar age, but were sir john making the call, he’d see him as a child. little more.
‘ seaman mutt, ’ james commands, training his expression into a professional neutrality, although he’s lately been too on edge to fool many of his crew. ‘ collect your overthings and walk with me to terror. ’