Twenty-two-year-old Jacob Tomkins is sentenced to seven years’ labour in the fledgling colony of Sydney Town, Australia. The voyage across the sea is arduous. He is travelling with mean, street-hardened criminals, some of whom would like to use him for their pleasure. Fortunately he meets Peter, who takes Jacob under his wing. Together they find moments of pleasure amid the drudgery of the voyage. They share their hopes and dreams, and finally declare their love for each other upon the eve of their arrival in Sydney Town -- a place where the currency is rum, distilled and controlled by the powerful military. But what will happen once they disembark? The chances of remaining together are slim. A lot can happen in seven years, especially when Jacob’s new master takes a liking to him. Is their love strong enough to survive the ravages of time? Can they survive the rigors of their sentences?

Across the Sea

Jacob was disgusted they’d all have to bathe in the same water. “We’re going next,” he said.


Yet the washing couldn’t get rid of the stink of vinegar. It would take a day or two to dissipate. Nevertheless, Jacob felt cleaner than he’d felt since he could remember, and was comforted by the fact if he did have lice, they were now floating in the bathwater with ever growing numbers of their dead kin.


After being bathed, two more civilians entered carrying bowls of water. They set up the bowls on a large wooden table and then set about giving each of the freshly bathed convicts a haircut and shave. It didn’t take long for the floorboards to be carpeted in hair. Following this final step in their transformation back to humanity, each man was handed a set of clean clothes, including shoes and socks. After dressing they were marched en masse to a barracks situated behind the main building.


Chapter 14