CESIOUS
Nine o'clock and all is well!
(pause, and then, more quietly)
If you happen to like this job, which personally I don't.

WATCHET
Cesious!

SOUND: Clattering of a wooden spear against stone

CESIOUS
Captain, sir!

WATCHET
Cesious, what have I told you about editorializing the evening reports?

CESIOUS
Not to do it.

WATCHET
What?

CESIOUS
Not to editorialize, sir!

WATCHET
That's right. Now do it correctly. Or else...

CESIOUS
Or else...what, sir?

WATCHET
I hear the Crystal Swallow is coming into port soon.

CESIOUS
Sir?

WATCHET
A few of the captain's favorite toys have gone missing. Now, wouldn't you expect the ship's master is looking for whoever took them?

CESIOUS
Undoubtedly, sir.

WATCHET
I haven't been aboard the Swallow for some time, but I imagine that if I were to go to the ship's master upon docking, and suggest to him that he search the belongings of a particular seaman...well, the word of the King's Captain of the Guard carries a fair bit of weight.

CESIOUS
I would imagine, sir.

WATCHET
And what does your imagination tell you the punishment would be for such an infraction as stealing from the captain?

CESIOUS
Sir, I'm afraid I don't understand what you're getting at.

WATCHET
At least ten lashes, wouldn't you say?

CESIOUS
You know more about ships than I do, sir, but...

WATCHET
And wouldn't you say that the effect on a seaman would be rather devastating? Especially if he were only, say...fourteen years old?

CESIOUS
Yes, sir. But...

WATCHET
What, soldier?

CESIOUS
But there are no seamen younger than nineteen, sir, except for...
(A long pause)
My...my brother?

WATCHET
There you go. Knew we'd get there in the end.

CESIOUS
But...but sir! Cinnabar would never...

WATCHET
Months at sea can change a lad.

CESIOUS
You...you wouldn't! Sir, please, he's all I have left, you can't...

WATCHET
Then do it right, and let us have no more digressions. Clear, soldier?

SOUND: a wooden spear banging on stone

CESIOUS
Clear, sir!

WATCHET
Carry on, then.

CESIOUS
Nine o'clock and all is well!

WATCHET
Good lad.

SOUND: Footsteps on the parapet, fading away

CESIOUS
Ooh! One of these days, I swear, I...

VOICE
(faintly)
Ship ahoy!

CESIOUS
Where away?

VOICE
(FAINTLY)
Two points east!

CESIOUS
Sound the horns!

SOUND: trumpet fanfare

WATCHET
Soldier! Down to the docks, on the double!

CESIOUS
Yes, sir!