Rebecca and the Queen of Nations by Deborah Burnside

Author:Deborah Burnside [Burnside, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781742539447
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2013-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

8

Setting Things Straight

The Queen of Nations had passed the Canary Islands and the coaling station for steamers at St Vincent, and was heading for the Equator.

‘Why do they say “crossed the line”, Becky? Will we see the line in the water? Will it hurt?’ asked James.

Becky laughed.

They were on deck with baby Robert and Martha. Mrs Walker was lying down below, and Mr Walker was helping to butcher a sheep with Patrick.

A month at sea, and the constant movement, cramped conditions, rations and rules had become tiresome.

Even so, Becky loved almost every minute of it, especially now the trunk had come up and she had a selection of Alice’s things to wear. Although the weather was so warm you hardly needed clothes at all. A tarpaulin shaded the deck, and all of the hatches were open.

Becky smiled as she thought of the brooms she’d seen for sale back on Clarenden Dock, for it turned out that the t’ween deck could be as dirty as a factory row cottage. She’d be glad to forget the smell, too, when they arrived in New Zealand.

Thunder boomed in the sky above, and with it the breeze picked up and the Queen surged forward.

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