Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (110 page)

             
"
Welcome
aboard,
Mister
Digby.
"
Captain
Blackwood
accepted
the
packet.
"
I
know
the
Centurion
well,
a
fine
ship,
though
a
slow
one.
What
news
from
Europe?
We
are
three
months
from
Port
Jackson
and
there
were
rumours
abounding
in
Batavia
that
the
Peace
may
soon
be
at
an
end.
"

             
"
It
was
said
of
her
that
she
sailed
like
a
haystack,
sir,
"
the
lieutenant
replied.
Adding,
"
And
that
was
probably
the
right
of
it,
but
a
good
ship
none
the
less.
We
have
no
clear
news
here
either,
sir,
though
rumour
abounds.
It
is
said
that
Bonaparte
is
planning
an
invasion
and
preparing
shipping
along
the
channel
to
do
it.
"

             
"
So
it
was
said
in
Batavia.
Though
our
Dutch
friends
there
seemed
less
enthused
by
it
than
I
expected.
Pray
go
with
Lieutenant
Rae.
He
will
no
doubt
provide
some
refreshment
for
you
while
I
read
these
despatches.
"

             
The
stay
in
Colombo
proved
exciting
for
the
Midshipmen
and
for
many
of
the
crew
permitted
ashore
or
sent
ashore
on
errands.
Harry
visited
a
temple
with
Kit
and
several
others
and
found
himself
both
profoundly
shocked
and
at
the
same
time
fascinated
by
the
idols
and
the
intricacy
of
the
carvings.
Everywhere
there
were
new
scents,
strong
spices
and
explosions
of
tropical
flowers.
Intense
poverty
rubbed
shoulders
with
incredible
wealth,
the
gulf
all
the
more
obvious
due
to
the
opulence
and
overt
display
by
the
wealthy.
They
learned
too
that
the
Governor
'
s
palace
was
not
as
opulent
as
one
near
the
city
of
Kandi
in
the
South
East
of
the
island
occupied
by
the
former
rulers.

             
"
These
idols
are
disturbing,
"
Harry
said
to
Kit
as
they
surveyed
the
great
layer-cake
construction
of
the
temple.
Each
tier
was
decorated
with
images
of
daemons,
dancing
girls
and
men.
The
entrance
passed
beneath
and
great
central
tower,
layer
on
layer
of
statues
rising
to
a
crenulated
platform.
It
was
flanked
by
wings
each
having
a
smaller
tower
at
its
corners
and
the
interior
was
cool
and
dark
–
and
filled
with
the
scent
of
incense
and
flowers
offered
by
devotees.
Fantastic
animals
supported
cornices
and
niches
held
statues
of
gods,
some
of
whom
seemed,
to
Harry
and
his
friend,
decidedly
unfriendly.
A
constant
tide
of
gaily
attired
locals
offered
gifts
at
these
shrines,
some
lingering
for
lengthy
prayers,
others
simply
making
their
gift
and
moving
on.

             
"
I
say,
"
Kit
interjected.
"
Look
at
that
fellow
–
some
sort
of
priest,
I
think,
by
his
robes
–
he
'
s
gathering
the
garlands
from
those
shrines.
"

             
"
Yes,
"
said
Harry.
"
He
and
others
do
it
regularly,
look
there
is
another.
They
take
them
back
to
the
stallholders
at
the
entrances
to
this
place
and
sell
them
a
second
and
even
third
time
I
think,
"
he
finished
disapprovingly.

             
"
A
good
wheeze
obviously.
"
Kit
laughed.
"
And
the
worshippers
and
the
gods
don
'
t
seem
to
mind.
It
must
turn
a
good
profit
for
them
though.
"

             
"
I
expect
it
does.
"
Harry
frowned.
He
was
still
wondering
at
having
had
to
leave
his
shoes
at
the
entrance
to
the
temple
and
not
at
all
sure
he
would
find
them
there
on
his
return.
"
I
hope
our
shoes
will
be
where
we
left
them
–
those
are
my
best
pair,
I
had
them
made
in
Batavia.
"

             
Kit
laughed.
"
Don
'
t
worry
old
fellow,
the
local
people
don
'
t
seem
to
wear
our
footwear
–
look,
sandals
are
the
thing
here.
"
He
glanced
around
the
enclosure,
"
Come
on,
I
fancy
finding
a
dish
of
tea
and
some
food
other
than
salt
beef.
Shall
we
see
what
'
s
on
offer
near
the
Company
Offices?
"
He
looked
around
and
added,
"
That
goddess
with
the
six
arms
and
forked
tongue
gives
me
the
creeps
and
I
swear
she
'
s
watching
me.
Let
'
s
find
our
way
out
of
here.
"