Tongues of Serpents Page 0,14

but said thoughtfully, "The Blue Mountains? Why, I suppose you can fly all over them, can't you?"

"We have flown all over them," Temeraire said, rather despondently, "and there is nothing but kangaroo, and those rabbits that have no ears, which are too small to be worth eating."

"I would have been glad of a wombat or a dozen often enough, myself," MacArthur said, "but it is true we do not have proper game in this country, I am sorry to say I know from experience: too lean by half; you cannot keep up to fighting-weight on it, and there is not enough grazing yet for cattle. We have not found a way through the mountains, you know," he added. "We are quite hemmed in."

"It is a pity no-one has tried keeping elephants," Temeraire said.

"Ha ha, keeping elephants, very good," MacArthur said, as if this were some sort of a joke. "Do elephants make good eating?"

"Excellently good," Temeraire said. "I have not had an elephant since we were in Africa: I do not think I have tasted anything quite so good as a properly cooked elephant; outside of China, that is," he added loyally, "where I do not think they can raise them. But it seems as though this would be perfectly good country for them: it is certainly as hot as ever it was in Africa, where they raised them. Anyway we will need more food for the hatchlings, soon."

"Well, I have brought sheep, but I did not much think of bringing over elephants," MacArthur said, looking at the three eggs with an altered expression. "How much would a dragon eat, do you suppose, in the way of cattle?"

"Maximus will eat two cows when he can get them, in a day," Temeraire said, "but I do not think that is very healthy; I would not eat more than one, unless of course I have been fighting, or flying far; or if I were very particularly hungry."

"Two cows a day, and soon to be five of you?" MacArthur said. "The Lord safe preserve us."

"If this has brought you to a better understanding of the necessity of addressing the situation, sir," Laurence said, rather pointedly Temeraire thought, "I must be grateful for your visit; we have had very little cooperation heretofore in making our arrangements from Major Johnston."

MacArthur put down his chocolate-cup. "I was speaking last night, I think," he said, "of what a man can make of himself, in this country; it is a subject dear to my heart, and I hope I did not ramble on it too long. It is a hard thing, you will understand, Mr. Laurence, to see a country like this: begging for hands, for the plowshare and the till, and no-one to work it but an army of the worst slackabouts born of woman lying about, complaining if they are given less than their day's half-gallon of rum, and they would take it at ten in the morning, if they could get it.

"In the Corps, we may not be very pretty, but we know how to work; I believe the Aerial Corps, too, might be given such a character by some," MacArthur went on. "And we know how to make men work. Whatever has been built in this country, we ha'e built it, and to have a - perhaps I had better hold my tongue; I think you have been shipmates with Governor Bligh?"

"I would not say we were shipmates," Temeraire put in; he did not care to be saddled with such a relationship. "He came aboard our ship, but no-one much wanted him; only one must be polite."

Laurence looked a bit rueful, and MacArthur, smiling, said, "Well, I won't say anything against the gentleman, only perhaps he was no too fond of our ways. The which," he added, "certainly can be improved upon, Mr. Laurence, I do not deny it; but no man likes to be corrected by come-lately."

"When come-lately is sent by the King," Laurence said, "one may dislike, and yet endure."

"Very good sense; but good sense has limits, sir, limits," MacArthur said, "where it comes up hard against honor: some things a man of courage cannot bear, and damn the consequences."

Laurence did not say anything; Laurence was quite silent. After a moment, MacArthur added, "I do not mean to make you excuses: I have sent my eldest on to England, though I could spare him ill, and he must make my case to their Lordships. But I will tell you, I do not