A thorn in the flesh

Rating: PG for some themes of violence

By Sarah E.

All was quiet within the officer’s wardroom aboard the good ship Monstrous; its usual residents either attending to their duties or otherwise occupying themselves elsewhere. Grateful for the time of quiet, Judith took an opportunity to review her rather extensive range of supplies prior to Monstrous setting sail. As had become an emerging custom over the past week or so, Captain Jones’s officers’ steward and ship’s surgeon could be found in friendly conversation over a good pot of coffee and dish of whatever delicious delicacy had taken Judith’s fancy to create – this day a collection of tiny nougat squares, snowy white within  their wrappings of fine rice-paper being the  treat of choice. Upon learning of one another’s passion for the many benefits to be found in the natural world whether in the kitchen or physician’s armory, these two could be found together at table every afternoon without fail deep in discussion, mutually grateful to have discovered a like mind among such a varied throng of women. Indeed, Judy had proven most helpful in acquiring the majority of herbs, spices and oils fundamental to Dr. Phillips’s traditional preparations for everything from seasickness to childbirth.

More important perhaps than their shared interests was a sincere understanding and acceptance of each other’s unique background– a past, it had transpired, which had led to one certain officer in particular treating them with barely disguised resentment stemming from her opinion (misguided as it was) concerning who and what they were.

From their first days together, Lieutenant Elaine Harvey mingled amongst her colleagues exhibiting a forced sense of toleration missed by no-one – her humour and conversation hollow in its sincerity, her smile never quite reaching those cold and calculating eyes. With poise and elegance, Harvey found it ridiculously easy to insinuate insecurity into the younger lieutenants; never openly mind you, rather through a gesture here, an expression there, a subtle inference given almost as an afterthought; just enough to plant tiny little questions deep within the recesses of one’s confidence. Instantly taking a set against this whitewashed tomb (Judy having seen her kind all too often throughout her life), the officer’s steward could do little to combat the rat amongst the ranks. It would seem the only suitable course of action would be to give Elaine enough rope to hang herself. Any alternative could prove costly. In one short week, Harvey had managed to get under Judy’s skin with more than the occasional comment regarding the steward’s rather colourful past. Captain Jones, it would seem, had erred rather dramatically in appointing steward Elliott. This decision was little short of rash and short-sighted; after all, the woman had been court-martialed for apparently attempting to cause harm to a  commanding officer in His Majesty’s Britannic navy – never mind the fact the captain concerned was hardly worth the title, Foster proving little more than a bully, thug and thief. Nonetheless, Elaine made good use of this fact though Judith would never be caught dead giving  Miss Harvey the satisfaction of seeing the effects this had upon her, channeling her hurt  into her carving knife or mortar and pestle.

Presently entering the wardroom, Lieutenant Harvey, unlike her colleagues, silently demanded due deference from the two staff currently seated at table, ordering Judith provide a pot of coffee plus a bowl of the black sticky rice served as dessert with the midday meal earlier that afternoon, rudely dismissing Dr. Philips in the process. Offering a quick look of reassurance, hera made a hasty exit before any more disdainful comments could be off handedly made in her direction.  Adopting a safe air of professional detachment, Judith set about preparing the lieutenant’s refreshments, acknowledging in the simplest terms any conversation Elaine attempted, full knowing her intentions.

Yet more disturbing than Harvey ’s treatment of the officers steward was that meted out to her personal servant; a beautiful  African girl no older than perhaps sixteen  by the name of Lilly (Immeh being her native  appellation) . Not even offered the luxury of a hammock with the rank and file crew, this frightened  soul was all but forced to find her own place to sleep upon the floor of her mistress’s cabin, a few blankets her only consolation. Additionally (though Judith and her officers attempted to redress this directive) Lilly could not so much as be seen taking her meals even with the common seamen; an upturned wooden crate by the galley stove deemed good enough. Though formally abolished in Britain, the Harvey family did not lack for a solid base of clientele across the seas in the Americas; slavery still very much a part of life in society there. At least Judith could ensure, concealed within the safety of her kitchen that Immeh could at least receive a decent meal, even if not permitted to eat with the women in the common mess (now under Mary’s able management, the ship’s cook Sadie working well with her old division even if still getting over the initial culture shock). Truly horrifying however was a more sinister facet of Elaine’s character. In this short period aboard, Lieutenant Christian had already once come in just in time to stop Harvey from thrashing her servant senseless for some minor infraction or another. Almost incandescent with anger at the scene which greeted her, it was all she could do not to throttle her then and there; corporal punishment (though a fact of naval discipline) disdainful to her under even the most ‘deserving’ of circumstances, let alone upon the occasion on which poor Miss Lilly was suffering. Ordering Harvey to stand down (Quickly requesting Judith accompany the poor girl in haste to the sick birth that her wounds may be tended), Lieutenant Christian herself trembling with rage, let her junior know in no uncertain terms, as first officer, the actions that would and would not be accepted aboard this vessel – the beating of servants most definitely, in her opinion falling into the category of unacceptable. If this were not noisome enough to Miss Harvey, her senior officer took it upon herself from this point onwards to assume responsibility for the discipline of all servants aboard ship with the exception of the captain’s steward. Now roused to fury, Harvey threatened Captain Jones would promptly hear of this idiotic infraction upon her person, adding somewhat dramatically, she would see Christian pay dearly for such demarcation.   How little did she know of the woman to whom her threats were leveled.  In less than two weeks, this officer who would assume power far above her station was exposed for who she truly was. It was all Lieutenant Christian could do to protect where possible and necessary those in her care. Even the compassionate and warm-hearted Judith would find herself sorely tested by this hollow cold beauty parading in an officer’s uniform.

Having now been at sea for several days, Hera and Judith once again sat together over coffee, sharing  and confiding in one another; truly pleased to be serving aboard this most unique of ships; a joy in and of itself save for one thorn of discomfort – Lieutenant Elaine Harvey.