Dominoes by Barbara Gaskell Denvil

Author:Barbara Gaskell Denvil [Denvil, Barbara Gaskell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gaskell Publishing
Published: 2018-08-10T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Rounding the high rocky coastline into the straits between Sicily and the toe of Italy, the waves seemed to calm. The wind dropped, and the sky brightened. Instead of billowing out and then slapping back against the mast, now the great white sail hung limp, the ship sailed tranquilly while parting the ocean current in one long sweeping bow-wave, and even the deep water seemed to turn lighter, reflecting the vivid blue sky and its sunny welcome.

Everyone who had been pushed below decks, now stood up, stretched, and smiled. All except Deben and Violet Crinford.

“Where’s that vile boy who pretends to be my grandson?” demanded Mrs Crinford. “Up there helping those pirates. So now he’s a pirate himself, and so I shall tell the Constable when we get back home.”

Nathan shook his head. “That’s not fair, Mrs Crinford,” he complained. “John was helping sail the ship, so he was just helping all of us stay alive, and you too.”

“The storm has gone,” she said, pursing her lips. “Don’t try to pretend he managed that.”

“It’s because we’re out of the main current,” said Alice, looking cross. “John helped sail us out of dangerous waters and into a more sheltered area. That’s not being a pirate.” She crossed her arms and scowled at the older woman. “You’re very unfair, Mrs Crinford. You should be proud of your grandson.”

“She would be,” grinned Alfie, “if it didn’t mean he’d get all the family money and she won’t be due a penny.”

“If she was nicer to him, he might give her some,” said Alice.

“He’s an imposter,” Violet Crinford shouted.

But Nathan turned away from her, looking instead at Deben. “And what about you?” he asked. “You really are an imposter, but you haven’t made friends with Ninester.”

Looking sulky, and still with a sickly green tinge around his mouth, Deben was clearly not feeling good. “Go away,” he grumbled. “When I get my magic back, then you’ll see what I do to that simple-minded Ninester.”

In fact, Ninester was still cuddling the puppy, who was curled tight within his long jacket, frightened eyes peeping out every now and again.

There was a sudden shout from above the deck.

“Here we is, between Calabria and Sicily,” called John’s voice. “Come up, it ain’t so pretty as Lashtang, but it looks awful nice.”

With a thump and a scamper, everyone including Deben, Lob and Violet, hurried up the little steps back into the bright open air. It was a great feeling to arrive at the top of the steps with a sudden burst of sunshine in their faces, taking a huge gulp of warm air into their lungs, and look out onto a calm sea. Yet the coastline was dark and rocky.

“Is that what you call Calabria? Or the other one?” asked Peter.

“No,” said John. “Tis Stromboli. An island, it is, wiv one great volcano in the middle. I reckon tis a lot like Sparkan.”

“Well,” Alfie stared at the dark flat headed mountain, covered in black lava without a single bush or tree, “that’s odd.

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