“Here ye go, Sir,” Symms said, his tone seemingly calm and in control. He carefully passed a glass of fresh water to Sterling, helping him to sit upward enough to handle the glass on his own. Sterling tried to speak, forced his throat to clear and finally thanked the older man, his voice hoarse and hardly working. Stained handkerchief still remained clutched in of of the captain's hands.
“Dr. Reiley is sore angry with the likes of us,” Symms said.
“So I over heard. I have a ship to run. He does not understand what that entails. So, Dr. Reiley can kiss my…” Sterling began.
“The hell I will!” Reiley snorted as he reentered the captain’s quarters. “And, if I recall correctly, twas you yourself that hired me on here as your doctor, for pulling you through part of what ever it is that is ailing you in the first place.”
“Ship’s surgeon, not my personal physician,” Sterling corrected him.
“Well if you aren’t a part of this ship, then don’t know who else would truly qualify. Your doctor, and as such you will be telling me all you can about how you feel and how long this has been going on.” He glared suddenly at the steward. “Seems to me that there are too many locked lipped fellows upon this ship and all being stupid out of blind loyalty. Won’t be me sending you to meet your maker any time soon. Seems you and your “mates” are doing that all well enough on your own.” He reached out and clapped a hand to Sterling’s forehead. “You sound like shite.”
Sterling started slightly at Reiley's bed side manner. “I feel like…”
“Shut up! I should box your ears instead of checking your fever!” the doctor complained