inland at the town – at the alleys and courtyards that could only be spotted from the sea. She was used to living near the sea and seeing boats, but being
in
one was a rare occurrence. Would the sailing match tomorrow be any more fun?
‘Two hundred and twenty-five feet long, this fine craft was made from approximately six thousand oak trees – that’s nearly forty hectares of woodland,’ brayed Yellow Trousers, reading authoritatively from his pamphlet as they picked up speed.
Looking out to sea, Verity realized he was talking about the
Storm
. And to be fair, he was right: taking the ferry gave you a very good view of the vessel.
The ferryman did his bit by taking them a little out of his way to see the
Storm
from close to. She was certainly handsome.
‘Her main mast is over three hundred feet tall and her rigging comprises a total of twenty-six miles of cordage,’ Yellow Trousers continued, getting into his stride now. ‘Requiring over forty crew members, she carries a hundred and sixty guns – purely for show now, of course – weighing just over twelve tons in total, and has an astonishing top speed of twenty knots. Note also the fine craftsmanship on the stern lantern – quite masterful. Other features of interest include the ship’s bell, which is said to have been cast in Padua by the famous bellmaker Maria Pianissimo.’
Verity gazed up at the protruding cannon and pictured herself roaming the open seas in search of adventure.
‘Carrying seven anchors, she can store up to six months worth of food …’ continued Yellow Trousers in the background.
Drawing closer, they moved along the ship’s vast hull towards the prow, until the figurehead came into view at last.
‘… binnacle for the compasses … leather buckets of water or sand in case of fire … skylight for the dining room …’
Verity continued with her daydreaming, halfway around the world by now.
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ Yellow Trousers trumpeted, ‘do not neglect to admire the famed figurehead of this grand ship, the
Storm.
’
‘The
Storm
is coming …’ whispered Verity, thinking of her strange encounter with Abednego and wishing desperately she knew why he had given her the red leather-bound book. On the opposite side of the ferry, Grandmother’s head snapped up and her pale blue eyes stared straight into Verity’s. Fear coursed through Verity like a bolt of lightning. Petrified, she switched her gaze to the
Storm
herself.
The florid livery of the
Storm
’s name was right above her now. The ship’s vast figurehead stared out at the open sea. Fierce and wild, with long black hair, she looked even more frightening when you saw that she only hadone eye. Where the other had been was just a gaping socket.
‘The right eye has been missing for a very long time,’ Yellow Trousers was saying, ‘rumoured to have been removed by a drunken crew member as a prank and then confiscated by the captain.’
Leaning over the rail, a swarthy crew member looked down on the ferry passengers. He was dressed flamboyantly in a white shirt, emerald waistcoat and vivid red scarf. His ears were pierced with gold. Catching sight of Verity, he winked. She blushed and looked away as he laughed at her discomfiture.
Chapter Six
Verity and Poppy followed their mother and grandmother past the latticed windows of the townhouses in Niton’s main street. Several hours had passed, and Mrs Gallant had finally reached the end of her shopping list. Verity was now well provided with white cotton vests, hard-wearing skirts and practical jumpers. Poppy was happily swinging a bag that contained a very pretty little cardigan that had not come in Verity’s size.
‘Just time for a pot of tea before we go home,’ Mother announced with a happy sense of accomplishment. She’d forgotten how tiring it was being pregnant.
‘What a good idea,’ agreed Grandmother, patting her daughter-in-law sympathetically with a kid-gloved hand. ‘I’m sure you
in
one was a rare occurrence. Would the sailing match tomorrow be any more fun?
‘Two hundred and twenty-five feet long, this fine craft was made from approximately six thousand oak trees – that’s nearly forty hectares of woodland,’ brayed Yellow Trousers, reading authoritatively from his pamphlet as they picked up speed.
Looking out to sea, Verity realized he was talking about the
Storm
. And to be fair, he was right: taking the ferry gave you a very good view of the vessel.
The ferryman did his bit by taking them a little out of his way to see the
Storm
from close to. She was certainly handsome.
‘Her main mast is over three hundred feet tall and her rigging comprises a total of twenty-six miles of cordage,’ Yellow Trousers continued, getting into his stride now. ‘Requiring over forty crew members, she carries a hundred and sixty guns – purely for show now, of course – weighing just over twelve tons in total, and has an astonishing top speed of twenty knots. Note also the fine craftsmanship on the stern lantern – quite masterful. Other features of interest include the ship’s bell, which is said to have been cast in Padua by the famous bellmaker Maria Pianissimo.’
Verity gazed up at the protruding cannon and pictured herself roaming the open seas in search of adventure.
‘Carrying seven anchors, she can store up to six months worth of food …’ continued Yellow Trousers in the background.
Drawing closer, they moved along the ship’s vast hull towards the prow, until the figurehead came into view at last.
‘… binnacle for the compasses … leather buckets of water or sand in case of fire … skylight for the dining room …’
Verity continued with her daydreaming, halfway around the world by now.
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ Yellow Trousers trumpeted, ‘do not neglect to admire the famed figurehead of this grand ship, the
Storm.
’
‘The
Storm
is coming …’ whispered Verity, thinking of her strange encounter with Abednego and wishing desperately she knew why he had given her the red leather-bound book. On the opposite side of the ferry, Grandmother’s head snapped up and her pale blue eyes stared straight into Verity’s. Fear coursed through Verity like a bolt of lightning. Petrified, she switched her gaze to the
Storm
herself.
The florid livery of the
Storm
’s name was right above her now. The ship’s vast figurehead stared out at the open sea. Fierce and wild, with long black hair, she looked even more frightening when you saw that she only hadone eye. Where the other had been was just a gaping socket.
‘The right eye has been missing for a very long time,’ Yellow Trousers was saying, ‘rumoured to have been removed by a drunken crew member as a prank and then confiscated by the captain.’
Leaning over the rail, a swarthy crew member looked down on the ferry passengers. He was dressed flamboyantly in a white shirt, emerald waistcoat and vivid red scarf. His ears were pierced with gold. Catching sight of Verity, he winked. She blushed and looked away as he laughed at her discomfiture.
Chapter Six
Verity and Poppy followed their mother and grandmother past the latticed windows of the townhouses in Niton’s main street. Several hours had passed, and Mrs Gallant had finally reached the end of her shopping list. Verity was now well provided with white cotton vests, hard-wearing skirts and practical jumpers. Poppy was happily swinging a bag that contained a very pretty little cardigan that had not come in Verity’s size.
‘Just time for a pot of tea before we go home,’ Mother announced with a happy sense of accomplishment. She’d forgotten how tiring it was being pregnant.
‘What a good idea,’ agreed Grandmother, patting her daughter-in-law sympathetically with a kid-gloved hand. ‘I’m sure you
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