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

“I have another letter here,” he said. “I hope this will go part of the way towards earning your forgiveness.”


Jacob furrowed his brow. He got up from the armchair and took the letter from Jasper. The writing on it was childish, much like his own. The ink stamp said ‘England’.


This is Jack. Thank yoo for yor letter. All the way from Austraylya. Mam says hello and says thank yoo for yor letter. Yoo askd how she was feeling. She is feeling better. Anie is ded and Mam says she is with the anjels. But evrywun else is good. I am werking now. I am erning muney. Mam says I am the man of the howse. We miss yoo.


Love Mam and Jack and Bertie and Tomas and Horatio.


Tears spotted the page, blurring some of the words. He held the page away from him, not wanting to stain the page any more than it already had been.


Someone, Jasper, put his arms around Jacob and held him as he sobbed.


“I’m getting your jacket all wet,” sniffed Jacob.


Chapter 47