Wild Geese by Caroline Pignat

Author:Caroline Pignat
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside
Published: 2011-07-10T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY

I rise with the sun, eager to start my search for Annie, anxious to get out from under the stuffy boat, where five of us huddled to keep dry last night. My back cracks like kindling as I stand and stretch, taking in the landscape. Other than trees and water, there isn’t much to see down at the river’s edge, but a quick climb up the path by the locks brings me atop the arched bridge.

So this is Bytown.

The canal continues from under the bridge, splitting the town in two. Buildings of all sizes cluster on either side of the canal banks like women at the market. Further ahead, the canal loops into a small bay edged by warehouses, mills, and moored barges and boats. The banter of workmen unloading barrels and bags drifts to me on a hops and barley breeze. A brewery, no doubt, which doesn’t surprise me, given the number of taverns lining the canal.

Bytown is much bigger than I expected, at least a hundred Killanamores. Finding someone in Bytown is going to be difficult—good news when it comes to hiding from Henry Lynch, for I’ve no doubt he’s out there on the hunt, too. Still, it’s bad news when it comes to my search for Annie. I glance at both halves of the town, unsure of where to start.

Great stone buildings stand on the right at the upper end of the bridge. They’re much bigger than any of our cottages in Killanamore, though not as grand as the Big House. Men in suits and black bowler hats travel the planked walkways. At first, I think they’re landlords, but there are so many. Surely they can’t all be landlords.

It’s as though the bridge spans two different towns, for down to the left end of the bridge is surely a working man’s world. Farmers’ wagons travel the muddy roads that crisscross lower town like a dirt tartan. Two men tie their horses’ reins to the hitching post and, brushing the dust from their breeches, head into the harness maker’s shop. I can’t read the lettered names over the windows, but even I know a blacksmith from a baker. I’ve only to look at the picture on the sign hanging out front. Grocers, hotels, chemists, saloons, furriers, saddlers, and that’s just on this corner of town. Squealing draws my eyes to the muddy ditch where two muck-splattered boys grapple with a slippery pig rooting in the street’s garbage. Their antics remind me of Mick and Jack, making me smile, making me wince. Will I ever see Jack and Mick again?

“Kit!” Billy calls from the other side of the bridge. His eyes are sparkling with excitement as he crosses to meet me, dodging the wagons and carriages. “Isn’t Bytown brilliant?” he asks, breathless. “Wait until you see! I spent the night just wandering up and down the roads. B’jaysus, there’s a lot of them. But you’ve got to see this first! Come on!”

Grabbing my wrist, he pulls me to the right, to the upper part of town.

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