essayel | Word count day 11 (Reply)

And another

“I too was once part of your glorious institution,” the surgeon said the word with great relish, “but I too fell foul of the authorities, for losing the life of a man rather than, as in your case, Kit, a mere boat. That I had a drink or two taken was seen as the reason for his demise, though a far better and soberer doctor than I would have been hard pressed to save him. So – they consigned me to Gehenna.”
“Gehenna? I wouldn’t have described the Africa as Gehenna,” Kit said. Saunders had mentioned the wreck so he was half expecting a reference to the cities of the plains. Gehenna had thrown him.
“Hah! No! You’re right. The Africa is an abode of angels. I was referring to the Army!” Saunders rolled his eyes and took a drink to wash away the memory. “No wonder I ran away to sea. Come, Kit, you must have a drink with me to celebrate our disgrace and our subsequent escape from tedious respectability.”
Kit eyed the bottle, containing God knew what, then smiled and took it. “Tedious respectability,” he said and made quite a creditable mime of taking a sip until O’Neill slapped him hard on the back. Kit choked down a mouthful and coughed.
“Well done Lieutenant Penrose, sir,” Saunders crowed. “We’ll make a pirate of you yet.”
“If I live!” Kit said. “Trying to drum up trade, sir? That’s truly awful.”
“Isn’t it though?” O’Neill said taking the bottle. “Now you hit me while I take a swig.”