the one consolation which temeraire had promised himself , rankin 's certain neglect , which should also ensure his absence , did not materialize : instead rankin was forever coming , and so temeraire had to endure not only caesar , but rankin also , and hear his irritating voice all the day , reading out from this absurd book full of nonsense about how one ought to never ask questions of one 's captain , and spend all one 's time practicing formation-maneuvers .