HMS Temaraire. Rather than detail HMS Temaraire in the usual way, here’s an extract from an early draft of the book. In this version, Josh and Ses were on a tour of Pompey, shortly after his arrival from Bermuda.

She turned and led the way back along the lane and through the archway, all the way back to Park Road. Across the street was the sports complex I had seen while searching for my run-route.

“That is HMS Temaraire,” she said, gesturing at the large building on the other side of the playing fields, “the Fleet Recreation Centre. You will be meeting Master Takano in there, a few days from now and after you’re done, if you’re still able to walk and hold a glass that is, you can have a drink in the bar at the back. There,” pointing, “the Sportsman’s Arms. The entrance to the center, by the way, is off Burnaby Road, up that way and turn left.”

“It’s just as well,” I said, “that I’ve joined the Navy. I should be able to clear up a spot of confusion. That is not a ship. Calling a building one of Her Majesty’s ships is silly. Ships are the largest man-made movable objects, so move they must.”

“It’s you who is being silly,” she said. “Don’t you know that the HMS stands for Her Majesty’s Service? And anyhow, what about the old boats in the Naval Yard museums then? They certainly don’t move anywhere.”

Opting for offense instead of qualification I said, “What did you mean, if you can still walk or hold a glass?”

“Master Takano. Oh you naughty boy, you don’t remember do you – he’s your combat instructor.”

“I knew that. I’m just not sure why I would be maimed. Surely his purpose is to teach me to fight in such a way that I end up able to fight someone else.”

She laughed, “You’ll see what I mean, he has a certain reputation.”