Night Race to Kawau by Tessa Duder

Author:Tessa Duder [Duder, Tessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780143776826
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2013-04-08T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

‘Three useless kids’

Actually Sam was beginning to feel just a little bit cocky. They had managed so far, hadn’t they — with the spinnaker, with Dad, avoiding collisions left, right and centre, and the only immediate problem still to be dealt with was the spinnaker pole. She was almost enjoying the feel of the old yacht under her hands. It was the same sensation she had enjoyed this summer when sailing the small dinghy: of being in a boat comfortably balanced against a steady breeze and herself in control. She had never been at the helm of Aratika on the wind for so long or in such fresh conditions, nor indeed ever at night. It wasn’t that Dad hadn’t often asked her to steer, but she had always managed to avoid it — and anyway, that was one of the things her mother normally liked doing.

The Tiri light was beginning to lose its jagged brilliance. Sam looked over her shoulder to the north. Now that they were through the passage, there must be plenty of open sea ahead. There seemed to be as many boats ahead of them as behind. She checked again the danger area back towards the lighthouse. A small cluster of red lights appeared closer and more threatening than all the others. They would probably have to tack again in a few minutes.

As she turned to call down into the cabin, she was startled to see her mother rushing towards the hatch, a book in her hand. What now, thought Sam, her rising spirits sinking without trace. Mrs Starr flung herself up the companion-way and down towards the lee rail. The noise was unmistakable. She was being violently and thoroughly sick.

Sam had forgotten her mother’s tendency to seasickness. Of course, it was always Dad who went below to get cups of tea when they set out on their weekend trips. Mum took a day at least to get her sea legs. No wonder all that lifting and straining below had proved too much. It was a surprise she had lasted that long. Sam watched helplessly.

‘Mum? Are you all right?’ But the spasms continued for what seemed like minutes. That tight feeling, so familiar now, was back like a solid lump in Sam’s stomach. Mum couldn’t get crook as well. She couldn’t.

Slowly, Mrs Starr pulled herself back out of the darkness. In the faint glow of the cabin light, Sam could see the saliva dribbling down her chin, the tears in her eyes, her whole body trembling. She looked awful.

‘Are you all right?’ Sam repeated. It was a silly question, but what else could she say. ‘Answer me. You okay?’ Sam longed to comfort her, to put her arms around her, but she knew that in this wind she couldn’t take her hands off the tiller, even for a moment.

‘I’m … okay. I will be … in a minute. Truly, Sam. I’m usually okay once … once I’ve been sick.’ But another spasm shook her, and over the lee rail she went again.

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