Marvin laughed again. “The will of God, sir, is sometimes pretty strong.”
“Marvin, does your generation use that term—God?”
“Not often, sir, but when we need it, we need it rather tremendously.”
The old sailor lifted his eyes as if, struggling in the water, he had caught sight of a green branch floating.
“Marvin, I have loved the sea. I’d give all I have if I could hope for one glimpse of blue water after this thing in my chest stops beating. But it won’t be. I’ve faced it. It will be midnight in mid-ocean.”
“My lord, such expressions as midnight don’t mean much. The energy of radium is not visible, but oppose a bit of dust, and the night is filled with stars. It may also be filled with love divine, all love excelling.”
“What form of affection is that?”
“The inscrutable form. It let your grandson drown and Henry Moseley perish at Suvla Bay. God, how I wish I had brains enough to continue that man’s work!”
Lord Fortinbras looked at him steadily, and then changed the subject.
“How much does your father expect to make?”