Island of Whispering Winds by Sylvia Strasser

Author:Sylvia Strasser [Haran, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-3-8387-4133-8
Publisher: Bastei Entertainment
Published: 2015-07-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Cape du Couedic

“I’m not as familiar with the area as Gabriel, dear,” Edgar said, as he pushed through bush, mostly made up of thick eucalypt scrub and smaller herbaceous plants. He was keeping an eye out for something familiar that Carlotta might find useful.

Edgar had taken daily walks since they’d arrived at Cape du Couedic. He thought he needed the exercise to improve his fitness, so that he could keep up with a young wife, but more than that he often needed somewhere to escape her temper. He’d been careful not to go more than a mile or two from the lighthouse, though, in case he got lost.

“Perhaps you should have asked Gabriel for his help,” Edgar said. “It was pure luck that I stumbled upon the arthritis plant.”

Carlotta didn’t want to admit that she’d already asked Gabriel for his help, or that he hadn’t been very receptive. “You might see something else you recognize,” she said lightly, trying to mask the impatience she felt. Edgar was well read and knowledgeable about all sorts of things, but he was annoyingly modest and lacked confidence. More than once she had wondered why he couldn’t be self-possessed and confident about who he was – like Gabriel. Just thinking about how masterful Gabriel was sent a shiver of excitement through her.

“I still remember the very first plant Wanupingu showed me,” Edgar said. He was heading in a direction that he had not taken before, a crude track made by Tamar wallabies, heath goannas and the island’s own kangaroos that were a smaller, darker version of the mainland’s, with thicker fur. The bush and trees were also home to brush-tail possums and southern brown bandicoots, as well as swamp rats and six species of bats. “He told me about a sickness it prevented, describing the symptoms, which were swollen, bleeding gums, loose teeth, soreness and stiffness in the joints and wounds that heal slowly. Do you know what it was?” He stopped and turned to Carlotta when she didn’t immediately answer, unaware that she was barely restraining her volatile temper. She didn’t want a lecture, or a lesson on the benefits of certain plants. She just wanted to find something that would be useful to her in getting rid of that convict woman.

“Scurvy,” Edgar said, but Carlotta ignored him, so he went on. “Sailors on long voyages suffer terribly with scurvy. He showed me the plant near Kalgoolie, but Wanupingu said it could also be found in coastal regions. If the sailors had come ashore and collected the plants, it would have kept them going until they replenished their supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables. The plant has fine, spiky leaves and a small blue flower. It would be amazing if we saw one.”

Carlotta turned her head away and rolled her eyes. “Sì, amazing,” she said sarcastically. She wasn’t the least interested in what Edgar was saying, only in finding something that would be useful to her. “Would it make you sick if you ate too much?” she asked with a spark of hope.

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