Sarah Thornhill by Kate Grenville Read Free Book Online

the others walked up to the house the two of us hung back. We’d walked up that track together a hundred times but I’d never had to think before how you walked beside someone. How much space did you leave between you? Did you touch them as you walked, did your hand brush against theirs as it swung backwards and forwards, and how did you breathe?
    Pa stoked up the fire in the parlour and splashed out his best madeira into the good glasses. His hand shaking, he was that pleased to see Will back. Anne brought in cake but Pa said, none of that stuff, Anne, these fellers need some of that meat from last night. Pickle with it and plenty on the plate, mind!
    I made sure I ended up next to Jack on the sofa. Took a leaf out of Sophia’s book, working it that way as we come into the room, but making it look like chance.
    Pa wanted to know everything. How many storms and how many skins, was the first mate any good and did they give you enough victuals. Couldn’t get enough of their tales of hardship, sitting in his cosy parlour with his rich acres round him.
    An ember flew from the grate and I put out my foot to snuff it. New boots from Abercrombie’s, buttons up the side, made my feet very small. Took my time with the ember and when I sat back I saw Jack was smiling to himself.
    They’d had a dangerous time of it. Not enough seals, so they had to stay too long, past the good season, and the storms caught up with them. Went way down south, some island too far and too cold for anyone to live on. Took the risk rather than come home with the boat half empty.
    Hard to find as a damn flea, Will said. Wasn’t it Jack?
    But Jack was smiling at the fire, and I was the only one who knew why he wasn’t listening, because my hip was jammed up tight against his and where we touched something was running from his body into mine and from mine into his.
    Wake up, Jack! Will said. Good living sending you to sleep!
    So you find it? Bub said. Or what?
    Found it right enough, Jack said. And these fellers on it, been there three years. Left behind to get the seals, some bugger of a captain forgot to come back for them.
    Three years, I said. They’d be dead!
    Well and they near was, Jack said. Ever think what a seal might taste like, Sarah Thornhill?
    His face very close, I could see how the hairs of his beard sprang away from his red lips.
    What does it, Jack, I said. Taste like.
    He was watching my mouth, my eyes. His were flecked, green and brown. The eyelashes very black.
    Bloody awful! Will shouted from across the room. Rank like fish, that right Jack?
    So these fellers, Pa said. No boat to get away?
    That’s right, Mr Thornhill, Jack said. No boat, so it was make one or stop there till they died. A few trees on this place, but no saw with them, only an axe.
    What, cut the tree down, chip it away to a plank! I said. One plank out of a whole tree!
    You’re a quick study, Sarah Thornhill, Jack said. That’s it. One tree, one plank.
    God in heaven save us, Pa said.
    How many they done when you got there, I said. How far off a boat?
    Eight done, Jack said. Long ways off a boat. By God they was pleased to see us.
    Kissed us, Will said. Bloody kissed us!
    Pooh! Bub said. What, on the mouth?
    Get away with you, lad, Pa said. They never.
    Reckon you’d find it in yourself, Sarah Thornhill, Jack asked me under everyone laughing. Set in to cut that first tree?
    I would, I said. Got a stubborn streak, Jack, and not as dainty as you might think. What I want, I don’t stop till I got it.

J ACK ALWAYS sang for his supper when he was with us. Carried in wood for the parlour till the box was full, always the one to tend the fire till it blazed up bright. Got out the yard broom, had the verandah and the front steps swept before anyone was up.
    That first morning he was back I woke up early. Lay for a moment, then I remembered. Jack’s home! Got dressed and went downstairs where Mrs Devlin was in the kitchen,