THE WITCH IN THE WILDERNESS

BOOK 1

THE WITCH IN THE WILDERNESS.

CHAPTER 1

TOMMY PICKED HIS BOOKMARK AND PLACED IT ON THE PAGE, HE CLOSED THE BOOK AND LOOKED AT THE COVER, THE WONDERS OF NATURE. WOW HE THOUGHT, IF ONLY, HE PLACED THE BOOK ON THE SHELF,AND WENT OVER TO HIS BEDROOM WINDOW AND TRAINED HIS BINOCULARS FAR OUT TO SEA, THATS WHERE I WANT TO BE, OUT THERE, OVER THE HORIZON. I MIGHT FIND AN ISLAND LIKE THE ONE IN MY BOOK, THERE MIGHT BE NATIVES, PERHAPS THEY MIGHT THINK IM A GOD. I MIGHT EVEN MARRY A NATIVE GIRL AND BECOME KING, I THINK I WOULD CALL THE ISLAND, SAINT THOMAS ISLAND AND

THOMAS, THOMAS

HE PUT DOWN HIS BINOCULARS AND WENT TO THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, WHAT MOTHER,

I HAVE BEEN CALLING YOU FOR AGES, YOU BEEN DAYDREAMING AGAIN, THEM BOOKS FILL YOUR HEAD WITH DOPEY DREAMS THEY DO, NOW GIVE ME A HAND WITH PUTTING THE WASHING OUT.

IT DOESNT HURT TO DREAM SIGHED TOMMY.

DREAM, DREAM THATS ALL YOU DO YOU IDLE SCALLYWAG. NOW GET DOWN HERE AND GIVE ME A HAND, THE SOONER YOU GET BACK TO WORK THE BETTER.

ID BE AT WORK NOW IF I COULD GET SOME COAL.

COAL COAL COAL SNARLED MOTHER, WHY COULDNT YOU BE LIKE THE OTHER FISHERMEN AND BUY A SAILING BOAT, BUT NO TOMMY SMARTPANTS BUYS AND OLD RUSTBUCKET OF A STEAMBOAT.

IF ONLY WE HAD A COAL MINE RIGHT HERE IN HASTING SAID TOMMY, I BET THEY WOULDNT GO ON STRIKE HERE. A COALMINE, HERE UNDER MY HOUSE, YOU CAN FORGET THAT, ALL THAT BANGING ABOUT UNDER MY HOUSE, WE,D NEVER GET ANY SLEEP, AND ALL THAT DUST, AND WHAT ABOUT MY WASHING, NO WAY.

TOMMY WANTED TO SAY THAT HE BOUGHT THE BOAT SO THAT ONE DAY HE COULD GO FAR FAR AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK, BUT HE THOUGHT BETTER OF IT.

ITS NOT MY FAULT IF THERES A MINERS STRIKE IS IT AND WITHOUT COAL I CANT RUN MY BOAT CAN I.

YES IT IS SAID MOTHER, YOU SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A SAILBOAT, THATS A PROPER FISHING BOAT. FROM WHAT I HEAR WHAT WITH THOSE MINERS RIOTS DOWN IN WALES YOU WONT BE GETTING ANY COAL ANYTIME SOON, NOW HELP ME PUT THIS WASHING ON THE LINE.

THOMAS PICKED UP A SHIRT FROM THE WASHING BASKET AND TRIED TO THINK OF SOMETHING HE COULD TO SAY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY, MOTHER WAS RIGHT, IT WOULD BE A LONG TIME BEFORE HE COULD WORK AGAIN.

SHE WAS RIGHT, EVEN THE RAILWAY TRAINS HAD STOPPED RUNNING AND IF THEY COULDNT GET COAL NOBODY COULD.

FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE HE NOTICED SEAGULLS DIGGING ABOUT IN THE VEGETABLE PATCH.

OH NO HE THOUGHT, BUT MOTHER HAD SPOTTED THEM TOO.

YOU BEEN BURYING THOSE BLOOMING FISH HEADS IN THE GARDEN AGAIN HAVENT YOU, SHE SCREAMED. WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU, THEY STINK AND THOSE DARN THINGS DIG UP ALL MY GARDEN, EAT EM AND SIT ON MY WASHING LINE AND POOP EVERWHERE. USELESS YOU ARE, USELESS.

TOMMY SHOOD THE BIRDS AWAY, BUT THEY MAKE THE VEGETABLES GROW MUCH BIGGER HE STUTTERED, TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE HE FELT IT HAD STARTED RAINING., OH MY HE THOUGHT, NOW SHE WILL GO BONKERS.

BIGGER, BIGGER SHE SHOUTED, YOUD BE BETTER OFF KEEPING THOSE FISH HEADS FOR SOUP, COS THATS ALL WE WILL HAVE TO EAT SOON, FISH HEAD SOUP AND THATS IT.

BRING IN THAT WASHING BEFORE IT GETS SOAKED OR THE SEAGULLS DECORATE IT.

IF WE HAD HUNG IT OUT WHEN I FIRST CALLED YOU IT WOULD BE DRY BY NOW, BUT OH NO, OH I GIVE UP ON YOU I REALLY DO.

TOMMY PICKED UP THE WASHING BASKET AND QUICKLY WALKED UP THE GARDEN PATH TO AVOID THE ICY STARE OF MOTHER. HE PUSHED OPEN THE BACK DOOR, SLAMMED THE BASKET ON THE TABLE AND RUN UP TO HIS BEDROOM.

HE SAT ON HIS BED, SIGHED AND SLOWLY OPENED HIS BEDSIDE CABINET, HE TOOK OUT AN ENVELOPE BEARING THE WORDS, THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM HAGEN.

ALTHOUGH HIS FATHER HAD DIED THE PREVIOUS YEAR TOMMY READ IT OVER AND OVER, IT WAS LIKE HEARING HIS VOICE AGAIN. HE FELT ALONE IN THIS WORLD, HE NEVER KNEW HIS REAL MOTHER AND HIS FATHER REMARRIED WHEN HE WAS VERY YOUNG.

TO MY SON THOMAS I LEAVE £300 AND A HALF SHARE OF NUMBER 5 DINAPORE STREET HASTINGS. TO MY WIFE AGNES I LEAVE £300 AND THE OTHER HALF OF NUMBER 5 DINAPORE STREET HASTINGS AND THE REMAINDER OF MY POSSESIONS.

AGNES, WHAT A STUPID NAME HE THOUGHT AND SMILED,

TOMMY TOOK GREAT DELIGHT IN CALLING HER MOTHER BECAUSE HE KNEW SHE HATED IT AND HIM AND HE COULDNT SAY HER NAME WITHOUT SMIRKING.

BUT IT WAS THE LAST LINES OF THE WILL THAT LEFT HIM COLD. I LEAVE THE HOUSE TO THEM BOTH WITH THE PROVISO THAT IT CANNOT BE SOLD WHILST THEY ARE BOTH ALIVE, HE ALWAYS TOOK A BREATH AT THAT LINE, IM STUCK WITH HER FOR LIFE.

TOMMY PICKED UP HIS COAT AND HURRIED DOWNSTAIRS, HE DIDNT BOTHER SAYING ANYTHING, SLAMMED THE DOOR AND MADE HIS WAY DOWN THE WINDING STREETS TO THE SEAFRONT, AS HE CAME TO THE CAKESHOP HE POPPED HIS HEAD INTO THE DOOR, ANY STALE ONES YET KATHY, NOT YET CALL IN YOUR WAY BACK, SHOULD BE SOME BEFORE WE CLOSE.

THIS IS WHAT ITS COME TO HE THOUGHT, STALE CAKES AND MOTHER. HE KICKED A STONE INTO THE KERB AND PUT UP HIS COLLAR AGAINST THE COLD WIND, OH WELL HE THOUGHT, SOON BE SPRING.

AS HE PASSED HIS LOCAL PUB THE LANDLORD SAID HEY TOMMY, FIDDLERS BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU, FIDDLER, SAID TOMMY, WHATS HE WANT, YOU BETTER ASK HIM THAT, DONT INVOLVE ME, YOU POPPING IN FOR A PINT LATER. MIGHT DO HE REPLIED MIGHT DO, IF I HAVE TIME.

TOMMY SMILED TO HIMSELF TIME, THATS ALL I HAVE GOT.

AS HE WALKED PAST THE PIER HE SAW THE FISHING BOATS WERE LANDING WITH THEIR CATCH,

HEY TOMMY, ANY LUCK FINDING COAL YET MATE

NO, NOTHING ANYWHERE HE REPLIED SHOUTING INTO THE WIND., I WAS THINKING OF TAKING THE BOAT DOWN TO SHOREHAM HARBOUR, I GOT JUST ENOUGHT COAL FOR THAT, THEY HAVE A BIG GASWORKS THERE, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPARE ME SOME, BUT ITS A GAMBLE IF THEY HAVENT GOT A BIT SPARE I WONT HAVE ENOUGH TO GET BACK.

ID BETTER JUST WAIT, SEE WHAT HAPPENS, THIS STRIKE CANT GO ON FOREVER CAN IT.

JUST THEN HE SAW HIS MATE JOEY LANDING, HEY JOEY, DO ME A FAVOUR MATE, TAKE ME OUT TO MY BOAT BEFORE YOU ANCHOR UP.

TOMMY CLIMBED ABOARD HE FELT ALIVE AGAIN WITH THE SEASPRAY IN HIS FACE AND SAW HIS STEAMBOAT BOBBING IN THE ROUGH SEA, JOEY HANDED TOMMY A BUCKET, HERE MATE, SOME FISH HEADS FOR YOUR GARDEN. THANKS, THAT WILL PLEASE MOTHER.

LOOK TOMMY, I KNOW YOUR DOWN ON YOUR LUCK, MY PARTNER HAS GONE AND BROKEN HIS LEG, GOING TO BE OFF A FEW WEEKS, FANCY HELPING ME ABOARD, ITS ONLY BAITING THE FISH HOOKS, THE PAYS NOT MUCH BUT, OH JOEY THAT WOULD BE GREAT, IT WILL CERTAINLY HELP ME OUT.

AS THEY PULLED ALONGSIDE HIS BOAT TOMMY JUMPED ON THE DECK LADDER, CAN YOU GIVE ME TEN MINUTES JOEY,

HE CLIMBED ABOARD AND OPENED HIS WHEELHOUSE DOOR, BY NOW THE RAIN WAS TEEMING DOWN, HE GRABBED THE WHEEL, ONE DAY I WILL GO TO A FARAWAY PLACE WHERE THE SUN SHINES FOREVER, NATIVE GIRLS DANCING ON SANDY BEACHES AND PALM TREES , I WILL SPEND MY LIFE IN PARADISE.

TOMMY, TOMMY, WAKE UP MATE, I WANT TO GET ASHORE THIS STORMS REALLY BLOWING UP NOW. SORRY JOE, I WAS MILES AWAY, AS THEY SAILED BACK TO SHORE JOEY SAID YOU FANCY THAT JOB THEN, START TOMORROW, YES THAT WILL BE REALLY HELPFULL AND KEEP MOTHER OFF MY BACK. TOMMY JUMPED OFF THE BOAT, SEE YOU HERE AT 6 A.M. MATE, DONT BE LATE.

HE HURRIED ALONG THE PROMENADE AND SOUGHT REFUGE FRON THE RAIN IN THE FIRST PUBLIC HOUSE HE CAME UPON, INSIDE THE DOOR HE CHECKED HIS POCKET FOR SOME LOOSE CHANGE, JUST ENOUGH FOR HALF PINT HE THOUGHT, AS HE APPROACHED THE BAR THE BARMAN SAID HEY TOMMY, THAT FIDDLERS BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU, WHAT YOU DONE THEN, NOTHING SAID TOMMY, DONT EVEN KNOW HIM, I KNOW OF HIM, ISNT HE SOME SORT OF GANGSTER, CANT THINK WHAT HE WANTS WITH ME. THE BARMAN PUT DOWN A PINT, BUT I ONLY WANTED HALF, YEA I KNOW YOU DID HE SAID WITH A SMILE, DRINK UP IF FIDDLER WANTS TO SEE YOU YOUR GOING TO NEED IT.

TOMMY DRANK UP AND LEFT THE PUB, WRACKING HIS BRAINS WHY, I HAVE DONE NOTHING, AS HE WAS PASSING THE CAKE SHOP KATHY CALLED OUT TO HIM, HEY TOMMY, I SAVED YOU SOME CAKES, OH SORRY HE MUMBLED I CANT TODAY I MEAN, NO BUTS, I KNOW TIMES ARE HARD, YOU PAY ME WHEN YOU CAN,

TOMMY OPENED THE DOOR TO HIS COTTAGE, IT LOOKED LIKE MOTHER HAD GONE TO BED, TOMMY SHOUTED UP THE STAIRS, I HAVE GOT YOU SOME PRESENTS, CREAM BUNS AND A BUCKET OF FISH HEADS, HE COULD HARDLY CONTAIN HIMSELF. MOTHER CAME RUSHING DOWNSTAIRS, WHAT YOU BEEN UP TOO THOMAS, THAT VILLIAN FIDDLERS BEEN ROUND HERE LOOKING FOR YOU, WHAT YOU BEEN DOING.

NOTHING TOMMY MUMBLED. WELL HES COMING BACK TOMORROW AND WANTS TO SEE YOU.

TOMMY BRUSHED PAST HER AND WENT TO HIS BEDROOM

THERE WAS A LETTER ON HIS BED THAT MOTHER HAD PUT THERE, IT WAS FROM THE BANK, WELL I MIGHT AS WELL OPEN IT HE THOUGHT, THINGS CANT GET ANY WORSE,

HE READ IT SLOWLY AGAIN AND AGAIN, YOU HAVE MISSED PAYMENTS, IF YOU DONT PAY THE ARREARS WE WILL SIEZE THE BOAT SECURED AGAINST YOUR LOAN AND SELL IT AT AUCTION, WE REQUIRE FULL FUNDS BY THE 16TH OF APRIL, 1912

TOMMY HARDLY SLEPT THAT NIGHT AT ARRIVED AT JOEYS BOAT HALF ASLEEP, IT WAS THE HARDEST DAYS WORK HE HAD DONE IN HIS LIFE BUT IT TOOK HIS MIND OF HIS TROUBLES.

WALKING HOME HE WENT INTO THE CAKE SHOP, HE PLACED A PENNY ON THE COUNTER, TOMMY, YOU NEEDANT HAVE DONE THAT, BUT THANKYOU. HE SMILED AT HER FOR A MOMENT, AND LEFT SAYING NOTHING.

WHEN HE GOT HOME HE READ THE LETTER AGAIN, APRIL THE 16TH, WELL IT MUST BE ALMOST THAT NOW, MOTHER HE SHOUTED, WHATS THE DATE TODAY,

DATE, DATE, YOU DONT KNOW THE DATE, STUPID BOY ITS THE 12TH OF APRIL. DONT FORGET YOUR FRIEND FIDDLERS COMING TO SEE YOU SHE ADDED AS IF TO RUB SALT IN THE WOUNDS.

TOMMY GULPED, BUT HE KNEW HE HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG,

IT WASNT LONG BEFORE HE HEARD A KNOCK AT THE FRONT DOOR, IT WAS A VERY HARD IMPATIENT KNOCKING, MOTHER RUSHED TO THE DOOR AND AS SHE OPENED IT SHE SAW FIDDLER STANDING THERE TOWERING ABOVE HER. COME IN SIR AND MOVED ASIDE TO LET HIM IN.

AHH ITS THE ELUSIVE THOMAS AT LAST SAID FIDDLER.

PLEASED TO MEET YOU I AM IM SURE SAID TOMMY IN ALMOST A WHISPER. FIDDLER SAT DOWN IN TOMMYS FAVOURITE CHAIR, ANY CHANCE OF A DRINK , WE GOT NOTHING IN, IM SORRY SAID MOTHER. ONLY JOKING WITH YOU, I HEARD THOMAS WAS HAVING HARD TIMES SO I BROUGHT A BOTTLE OF RUM, BE A DEAR AND FETCH SOME GLASSES.

TOMMY HAD BEEN ASKING ABOUT FIDDLER AROUND TOWN SINCE HE HEARD HE WAS LOOKING FOR HIM, TURNS OUT HE IS A LOAN SHARK, MIXED UP IN ALL MANNER OF CRIMES. WHAT IF HES HEARD ABOUT MY LOAN AT THE BANK, NO I WILL NEVER GET A LOAN OF HIM, PERHAPS HE WANTS ME TO DO SOMETHING SHADY, PERHAPS HE

FIDDLER SAW THE DRINKS ARRIVE, THANKYOU MY DEAR, IM SURE YOU HAVE WORK TO DO WHILE ME AND THOMAS HAVE A WORD. MOTHER LEFT THE ROOM, BUT STOOD BEHIND THE DOOR LISTENING.

I WILL COME STRAIGHT TO THE POINT, I HAVE A PROPOSITION TO PUT TO YOU, WHICH I KNOW YOU WILL WANT TO DO, HE SAID BANGING HIS FIST INTO HIS HAND.

UM TELL ME MORE CROAKED TOMMY, WELL NOW, AS YOU KNOW I BUY ALL THE PRODUCE FROM ALL THE FARMS IN THE COUNTY, MEAT, CHEESE BACON FLOUR, YOU NAME IT I BUY IT, EVEN ALL THE FISH ON MARKET DAYS, I BUY 2ND HAND GOODS, IN FACT IF IT CAN BE SOLD I BUY IT AND SELL IT AT THE MARKETS IN BRIGHTON,

THATS WHERE YOU COME IN. YOU HAVE THE ONLY BOAT IN HASTINGS OR ANYWHERE NEAR THAT IS BIG ENOUGH THAT CAN DO THIS FOR ME, HOW ON EARTH CAN I HELP SAID TOMMY,

WELL I KNOW YOU HAVE A STEAM BOAT, BUT I CANT DO ANYTHING, I HAVE NO COAL SAID TOMMY, AH THATS WHERE I COME IN, I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE COAL, FILL YOUR BUNKER AND DEPOSIT ENOUGH AT YOUR BEACH SHED AT THE END OF THE JOB TO LAST YOU A MONTH.

YOU GOT COAL, DONT MAKE ME LAUGH, EVEN THE TRAINS HAVENT GOT ANY, YOU UNDERESTIMATE ME SAID FIDDLER, IF I WANT IT I GET IT.

IF I MAY ASK A FAVOUR SAID TOMMY, I ALSO NEED A LITTLE ADVANCE, OR I CANT DO IT, I HAVE SOME DEBTS TO CLEAR, OH I KNOW SAID FIDDLER, THATS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, CANT LOSE YOUR BOAT CAN WE. I NEED ALL THIS PRODUCE IN BRIGHTON BY TOMORROW EVENING FOR THE MARKETS NEXT DAY, IF I DONT IT, ALL GOES OFF AND I CANT SELL IT, YOU WOULDNT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN WOULD YOU.

WELL THAT DOESNT GIVE ME MUCH TIME DOES IT, I HAVE TO LOAD ALL THE COAL THAT TAKES TIME AND.

LET ME STOP YOU THERE, YOUR BOAT IS BEING LOADED NOW, AS WE SPEAK. BUT HOW DID YOU KNOW I WOULD AGREE

EVERYBODY DOES SAID FIDDLER, EVERYBODY, SEE YOU AT THE PIER IN THE MORNING TO GET HER LOADED.

FIDDLER GOT UP TO LEAVE, GOODNIGHT MOTHER HE SMIRKED AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR.

CHAPTER 2

WHAT YOU GOT YOURSELF INTO NOW, THAT FIDDLERS A NASTY PIECE OF WORK, SOME SAY HE WAS INVOLVED IN THAT BANK ROBBERY A FEW WEEKS AGO IN SEAFORD, THIS WILL ALL END IN TEARS SAID MOTHER YOU MARK MY WORDS.

TOMMY BRUSHED PAST HER WITHOUT SAYING A WORD, HE WAS JUST OPENING HIS BEDROOM DOOR WHEN HE REMEMBERED, I BETTER TELL JOEY I CANT MAKE IT TOMORROW, HE RAN DOWNSTAIRS PAST MOTHER, GOT TO GO, WONT BE LONG.

IT WAS POURING WITH RAIN AND TOMMY THOUGHT TO HIMSELF, IN THIS WEATHER I THINK A NICE EASY TRIP TO BRIGHTON MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA.

HE WAS PANTING WHEN HE KNOCKED ON JOEYS DOOR, THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON, IT TOOK AGES, BUT FINALLY JOEY OPENED HIS BEDROOM WINDOW AND LOOKED DOWN ON TOMMY STANDINGTHERE SOAKED THROUGH. WHATS UP MATE, SOMETHING WRONG, LET ME IN SAID TOMMY, ITS URGENT. JOEY OPENED THE DOOR IN HIS PYJAMAS, COME IN, I GET YOU A TOWEL, TOMMY FOLLOWED HIM INTO THE KITCHEN AND SAT DOWN AT THE TABLE, LOOK IM SORRY MATE, SOMETHINGS COME UP AND I WONT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.

WHAT, JOEY STUTTERED, I CANT GO OUT ON MY OWN, I THOUGHT OF THAT SAID TOMMY, YOU COULD HELP ME TOMORROW INSTEAD. DOING WHAT SAID JOEY RUBBING HIS EYES.

I HAVE GOT A NICE EASY JOB ON, A TRIP TO BRIGHTON, I HAVE SOME COAL NOW, AND I WILL BE BACK AT WORK THIS WEEK SO I CAN MAKE IT REALLY WORTH YOUR WHILE.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HELP ME KEEP THE BOILERS GOING, NICE LITTLE SIGHT SEEING TOUR IF YOU LIKE.

YOU WANT A CUP OF TEA TOMMY, TELL ME MORE, WHEN DID ALL THIS HAPPEN AND WHO YOU DOING IT FOR, NOT LIKE ANY JOB I HEARD A FISHERMAN DO BEFORE. LOOK SAID TOMMY, ID BETTER COME STRAIGHT TO THE POINT, ALL I HAVE TO DO IS TAKE A LOAD OF MARKET PRODUCE, TOOLS AND MACHINERY TO BRIGHTON MARKETS, THATS ALL, THEY CANT GET THE STUFF THERE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO TRAINS AND IF IT DOESNT GET TO MARKET IN TIME IT WILL ALL PERISH AND BE SPOILED, SO THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE IT ON MY BOAT.

THAT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHO DID, WELL SAID TOMMY, UM, FIDDLER DID, BUT ITS NOTHING SHADY ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS, TAKE ALL HIS STOLEN GOODS I BET SAID JOEY, NO WAY AM I GETTING INVOLVED. BUT YOU MUST, I CANT DO IT ON MY OWN I NEED TO KEEP THOSE BOILERS STOKED WITH ALL THAT WEIGHT, PLEASE JOEY, I PROMISE ITS ALL ABOVE BOARD, I COULD LOSE MY BOAT IF I DONT DO IT, IN FACT I COULD LOSE A LOT MORE.

LIKE YOUR KNEECAPS SNEERED JOEY, YOUR STUPID HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM.

PLEASE MATE, ITS A NICE DAY OUT, GIVE YOU A BREAK FROM FISHING AND I HEARD ITS GOING TO BE A NICE SUNNY DAY TOMORROW. WE SHOULD GET THERE BY MIDDAY, HAVE A FEW HOURS IN TOWN, HAVE A FEW BEERS, COME ON, PLEASE.

OH ALRIGHT, ON CONDITION, YOU DONT TELL FIDDLER MY NAME, I DONT TALK TO HIM, KEEP HIM AWAY FROM THE BOILER ROOM AND.

OK, I GET IT SAID TOMMY, MEET ME AT MINE ABOUT 6AM, WE CAN GET SOME MEAT PIES AT KATHYS FOR THE JOURNEY, IT WILL BE FUN MATE.

AS HE WALKED TO THE DOOR JOEY WAS RIGHT BEHIND HIM,

HE TURNED AND SHOOK HIS HAND, THANKS MATE, YOU WONT REGRET THIS. JOEY CLOSED THE DOOR WITH THE REMARK, ID BETTER NOT.

THE RAIN HAD STOPPED AS TOMMY WALKED HOME, AS HE PASSED THE CAKE SHOP HE THOUGHT I WILL ASK HER OUT WHEN I GET BACK,

LIFE IS GOING TO BE MUCH BETTER FROM NOW ON, HIS BOAT WILL CATCH LOTS OF FISH, HE WOULD BUY A LITTLE HOUSE WHERE THEY COULD BOTH LIVE, OR MAYBE JUST RENT ONE, BECAUSE ONE DAY THEY WOULD GO FAR AWAY OVER THE HORIZON WHERE THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES. MOTHER CAN KEEP THE HOUSE, I WONT NEED IT, ME AND KATHY WILL BE FAR AWAY FOREVER.

AS HE OPENED THE DOOR MOTHER CAME RUSHING OVER TO HIM, I HAVE HAD A WONDERFULL IDEA, YOUR AUNT JOY LIVES IN BRIGHTON, YOU CAN DROP ME OFF WHEN WE GET TO BRIGHTON I COULD GO VISIT HER, SHES GOT A SON YOUR AGE, WE COULD ALL MEET UP, HAVE SOME FISH AND CHIPS AND I HEARD THEY HAVE A THEATRE ON THE END OF THE PIER, OH ITS GOING TO BE A LOVELY DAY OUT,

YOU CANT COME, SAID TOMMY, ITS A BUSINESS TRIP, GOING THERE AND COMING BACK. DONT BE SILLY SAID MOTHER, IVE MADE LOTS OF SANDWICHES AND ON THE WAY I WILL BUY A FEW ALES FOR THE JOURNEY, MY TREAT.

MM, WELL I BETTER GET TO BED, I HAVE TO BE UP EARLY AT 8 OCLOCK SAID TOMMY, GOODNIGHT.

AS HE LAY IN BED HE THOUGHT, I WILL CREEP OUT AT 5 IN THE MORNING, HE SMILED, SILLY OLD BAT.

AS THE DAWN CHORUS BEGAN TOMMY SLIPPED OUT OF BED AS QUIETLY AS HE COULD, HE CREPT DOWNSTAIRS AND THOUGHT BETTER OF MAKING A CUP OF TEA, I WILL GO STRAIGHT OUT, THAT WILL BE BEST. GOOD MORNING THOMAS, ARE WE ALL READY TO GO, MOTHER WAS IN HER SUNDAY BEST, SHE PICKED A HAMPER UP FROM THE TABLE AND SAID COME ON THOMAS, WE DONT WANT TO BE LATE.

PERHAPS I CAN LOSE HER IN TOWN, I KNOW I WILL SEND HER TO GET PIES AND RUN, SHE DOESNT KNOW WHERE WE ARE MEETING.

AS THEY WERE LEAVING JOEY APPEARED AT THE GATE, OOH YOU TAKING YOUR FRIEND, THAT BE NICE, COME ON.

JOEY AND TOMMY HURRIED AHEAD LEAVING MOTHER BEHIND, BUT SHE SOON CAUGHT UP, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU, I FOUND A BOTTLE OF PORT, WE CAN HAVE THAT WITH OUR FISH AND CHIPS ON THE PIER.

WHATS ALL THIS ABOUT, WHY YOU BRINGING HER AND FISH N CHIPS ON THE PIER, YOU DIDNT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. WELL IT DID SAY IT WOULD BE A NICE DAY OUT DIDNT I SAID TOMMY SHEEPISHLY, LETS JUST ENJOY IT, ANYWAY I HAVE A PLAN.

WHEN WE GET NEAR KATHYS CAKE SHOP ASK HER TO GET YOU A PIE, SHES ALWAYS BUSY AT THIS TIME WITH WORKERS WANTING HOT PIES, SHE GOES IN, WE RUN, OK.

OH WELL ITS GOING TO BE A NICE SUNNY DAY SAID JOEY, ITS A GOOD START.

TOMMY NUDGED JOEY, QUICK THE SHOP IS JUST OVER THERE, TELL HER YOU WANT A PIE FOR THE TRIP, YOU MISSED BREAKFAST AND YOUR STARVING.

MOTHER MUST HAVE OVERHEARD BECAUSE AS THEY NEARED THE SHOP MOTHER SAID OH AND ANOTHER THING THOMAS, I WAS UP HALF THE NIGHT BAKING THIS FOR YOU TWO, A NICE STEAK AND KIDNEY PIE.

THANKS A LOT SAID TOMMY, HE LOOKED AT JOEY AS IF TO SAY, I HATE HER.

AS THEY APPROACHED THE PIER TOMMY SAW HIS BOAT TIED UP AND THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A DOZEN MEN LOADING ALL MANNER OF GOODS, POTATOES, WHOLE SIDES OF BEEF BACON, BOXES OF TOMATOES, LARGE CHEESES,

BUT THE BIGGEST SURPISE WAS YET TO COME, CHAINED TO THE STERN WAS A BARGE CONTAINING ALL MANNER OF GOODS, FARM EQUIPMENT, TOOLS AND EVEN MORE FOOD. WHATS ALL THIS HE SHOUTED AT FIDDLER, YOU DIDNT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, BUT I DID SAID FIDDLER, I ASKED YOU TO TAKE MY GOODS TO THE BRIGHTON MARKET, THESE ARE MY GOODS, BUT THERES PLENTY OF ROOM ON MY BOAT SAID THOMAS.

WE HAVENT FINISHED LOADING YET, OH AND I FORGOT TO MENTION, WE HAVE ANOTHER PICK UP IN NEWHAVEN, MORE GOODS TO MARKET I PRESUME SAID TOMMY, YES REPLIED FIDDLER, I HAVE CONTRACTED YOU TO GET ALL MY THINGS TO BRIGHTON HAVENT I, SO DONT GIVE ME ANY PROBLEMS, YOU WONT GIVE ME ANY PROBLEMS WILL YOU HE SNEERED.

YOU SAID PRODUCE, WHAT WITH ALL THIS OTHER STUFF REMARKED TOMMY, FIDDLER LOOKED AT ALL THE MACHINERY, OH THAT, WELL IF PEOPLE DONT PAY THEIR DEBTS I TAKE AWAY STUFF, YOU GOT A NICE BOAT HERE TOMMY, BE A SHAME TO LOSE IT.

JOEY LOOKED AT TOMMY AND SHOOK HIS HEAD, I BETTER GET THE BOILER STARTED SHALL I.

MOTHER STOOD ON THE DECK AS THE BOAT LEFT THE PIER, OH THIS IS SO EXCITING SHE SAID, IVE NEVER BEEN ON A BOAT BEFORE, TOMMY WAS IN THE WHEELHOUSE, IT SHOULD BE AN EASY RUN JOEY, IF WE MAKE GOOD TIME THIS WILL BE OVER IN A FEW HOURS, KEEP THAT BOILER STOKED UP MATE, WE ARE PULLING A LOT OF WEIGHT, BUT THIS OLD TUB CAN DO IT.

JOEY LEFT THE WHEELHOUSE JUST AS FIDDLER APPEARED, KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR NEWHAVEN HARBOUR WONT YOU, WE ARE MEETING THEM NEAR THE END, WONT TAKE A MINUTE AND WE WILL SOON BE ON OUR WAY.

TOMMY WAS FEELING A BIT BETTER NOW. THE SUN WAS SHINING, THEY WERE MAKING GOOD TIME AND FIDDLER WASNT THAT BAD WAS HE, IT WAS NICE TO BE BACK ON HIS BOAT, HE HAD ENOUGH COAL TO FISH FOR MONTHS AND THEY MIGHT EVEN MAKE IT BACK IN TIME TO GET SOME CAKES FROM KATHYS, NOT STALE ONES THIS TIME.

HE IMAGINED KATHY BY HIS SIDE AS THEY SAILED INTO THE HORIZON, JUST THE TWO OF THEM, WITH THE WHOLE WORLD TO EXPLORE.

HE HADNT YET MADE UP HIS MIND, SHOULD HE TURN LEFT INTO THE MEDITERRAIN OR RIGHT INTO THE ATLANTIC, OH WELL HE THOUGHT, ILL LET KATHY DECIDE, I DONT CARE REALLY, AS LONG AS ITS SUNNY.

WERE MAKING GOOD TIME TOMMY, YOUR DOING WELL ON THE STOKING MATE, MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE YOU ON FULL TIME WHEN WE GET BACK, OH NO SAID JOEY I LOVE FISHINGTO MUCH AND THIS IS A HOT AND SWEATY JOB, NO WAY. ALRIGHT BOYS, FIDDLER WALKED INTO THE CABIN, KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR NEWHAVEN WONT YOU, THEY ARE WAITING ON THE BREAKWATER JUST OUTSIDE THE HARBOUR.

NEVER BEEN THERE MYSELF SAID TOMMY, WOULDNT RECOGNISE IT REALLY, YOU WILL HAVE TO TELL ME, WHAT KIND OF SAILOR ARE YOU SCOFFED FIDDLER, WE HAVENT GONE TEN MILES FROM HOME AND YOUR LOST, HE STARTED LAUGHING, ITS COMING UP, JUST OVER THERE LOOK. TOMMY STEERED TOWARDS THE BREAKWATER HE SAW TWO MEN WAVING, THATS THEM SAID FIDDLER NOW EASE IN BY THAT LADDER THERE, TOMMY REDUCED SPEED AND SLOWLY HE EDGE THE BOAT TOWARDS THE LADDER, MAKING IT SAFELY HE GULPED, HE HAD NEVER PARKED HIS BOAT BEFORE.

FIDDLER CLIMBED UP THE LADDER TO GREET HIS TWO FRIENDS, MOTHER WAVED, SHE THOUGHT SHE SHOULD, OH ISNT THIS EXCITING, NEXT STOP BRIGHTON, CANT WAIT TO SEE JOY MAYBE SHE MIGHT WANT TO COME BACK FOR A WHILE, THE TIMES WE HAD WHEN FATHER WAS ALIVE, ITS BEEN AGES, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO CATCH UP ON, TOMMY WASNT REALLY LISTENING, HE WAS LOOKING UP TO THE BREAKWATER, FIDDLER WAS PUTTING A WAD OF BANKNOTES IN HIS POCKET AND NODDING TO ONE OF THE MEN, THE OTHER ONE JUST STOOD THERE, IT WAS LIKE HE DIDNT EVEN KNOW FIDDLER. THEY CLIMBED DOWN THE LADDER TO THE BOAT AND WENT STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE GALLEY WITHOUT SAYING A WORD. HADNT WE BETTER GET GOING SAID JOEY, THE SOONER THIS IS OVER THE BETTER, I DONT LIKE THE LOOK OF THEM TWO AT ALL. TOMMY STEERED AWAY FROM THE HARBOUR AND JOEY BEGAN STOKING THE BOILERS AGAIN, IT WAS A FEW MINUTES BEFORE FIDDLER REAPPEARED, GOT A SLIGHT CHANGE OF PLAN HE SAID. IT SEEMS MY FRIEND HAS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY FOR A WHILE, THERES A SHIP LEAVING SOUTHAMPTON TOMORROW FOR AMERICA, IF WE GET A MOVE ON AND UNLOAD EVERYTHING BY 110CLOCK THAT GIVES US PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THERE. SOUTHAMPTON, SOUTHAMPTON, I WOULDNT KNOW WHERE THAT WAS IF YOU PAID ME, WELL I AM SAID FIDDLER ARENT I, RELAX, ITS EASY, JUST LEAVE BRIGHTON, STICK CLOSE TO THE COAST AND JUST DRIVE THIS THING FORWARD TILL I SAY STOP.

WHO IS HE ANYWAY, YOU DONT NEED TO KNOW THAT, JUST GET HIM THERE ON TIME AND THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BONUS IN IT FOR YOU SAID FIDDLER.

YOU CAN STILL DROP ME OFF IN BRIGHTON CANT YOU SAID MOTHER, I HAVE BEEN SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. OF COURSE WE CAN SAID FIDDLER PATTING HER CHEEK, FANCY MAKING US ALL A CUP OF TEA. WHY DIDNT YOU SAY SOMETHING SAID JOEY AS FIDDLER FOLLOWED MOTHER TO THE GALLEY. WHAT COULD I SAY, WE ARE STUCK WITH THIS TILL WE GET BACK HOME, WHENEVER THAT WILL BE BLURTED TOMMY.

THANKS MATE, I BETTER STOKE UP THOSE BOILERS THEN.

TOMMY WAS KEEPING CLOSE TO THE COASTLINE AS FIDDLER HAD SAID WHEN ONE OF THE MEN THEY HAD PICKED UP KNOCKED ON THE CABIN DOOR,.

WE WILL MAKE IT IN TIME WONT WE, TO SOUTHAMPTON THAT IS, ONLY ITS IMPERATIVE THAT I CATCH TITANIC BEFORE SHE SAILS, IF FIDDLER SAYS SO I GUESS WE MUST SAID TOMMY, THANKYOU REPLIED THE MAN AND LEFT WITHOUT SAYING ANOTHER WORD. MOTHER APPEREARED WITH A TRAY OF TEAS, HERE YA GO THOMAS, A NICE CUP OF ROSY LEA, JOEY WANT ONE, JOEY APPEARED HIS FACE BLACK WITH COAL DUST, HOPE YOU ARE GOINGTO HAVE A WASH BEFORE YOU GET OFF IN BRIGHTON, OH, YOU WONT BE WILL YOU, DONT FORGET ME ON THE WAY BACK, DONT WANT TO BE WAITING ON THE END OF THE PIER FOR DAYS DO I. OF COURSE THEY WONT, WILL YOU BOYS, SAID FIDDLER CANT KEEP A LOVELY YOUNG LADY WAITING CAN WE.

ITS GETTING A BIT FOGGY OUT THERE SAID TOMMY, I CAN HARDLY SEE THE BEACH NOW, WELL GET CLOSER TO THE SHORE THEN, I CANT FIDDLER, I DONT KNOW THESE SHORES AT ALL, WE MIGHT GO AGROUND ON A SANDBANK, HAVENT YOU GOT CHARTS OR MAPS SAID FIDDLER, WELL I HAVE SAID TOMMY, IF YOU WANT TO GO FISHING IN HASTINGS OR EASTBOURNE. JUST GET A BIT CLOSER IT WILL BE ALRIGHT TRUST ME. TOMMY EDGED THE BOAT CLOSER TO SHORE, BUT THE FOG WAS BECOMING THICKER, ITS TOO DANGEROUS, I CANT.

LOOK I WAS RIGHT ON COURSE BEFORE THE FOG CAME DOWN, I SLOW DOWN, EVERYBODY KEEP A LOOKOUT.

AS EVERYONE STARED INTO THE MIST TOMMY WAS ALONE IN THE CABIN, WHAT IF I DONT MAKE IT TO BRIGHTON ON TIME, ALL THAT PRODUCE GOING TO WASTE FIDDLER WILL LOSE A FORTUNE, WHAT IF I DONT GET TO SOUTHAMPTON THAT MAN WILL KILL ME.

FIDDLER WILL KILL ME TOO SNARLED JOEY AS HE WALKED INTO THE WHEELHOUSE,. YOU SURE WE HAVENT PASSED BRIGHTON YET SHOUTED FIDDLER,

FIDDLER LOOKED AT THE SMALL ROWING BOAT AT THE STERN, HE CALLED HIS TWO PASSENGERS OVER TO HIM, FIDDLER WAS SHOUTING, I CANT TAKE THE CHANCE HE CRIED, LAUNCH THAT BOAT NOW.

THE TWO MEN RELEASED THE BOAT AND STARTED TO GET IT OVER THE SIDE, BUT THEY WERE STRUGGLING, OH COME HERE SNARLED FIDDLER, AND WITH A MIGHTY PUSH THE BOAT SLID DOWN OVER THE RAILINGS INTO THE SEA. NOW GET ABOARD AND GET HIM ASHORE, I DONT CARE WHAT IT TAKES, YOU MUST GET HIM TO SOUTHAMPTON BEFORE NOON TOMORROW WHEN TITANIC SAILS, GET THE FASTEST COACH YOU CAN, OFFER HIM A BONUS, BUT GET HIM THERE, AND STAY WITH HIM TILL HE BOARDS, ILL SEE YOU BACK AT HOME. FIDDLER SHOUTED INTO THE MIST, OVER THERE, THAT WAY, IT CANT BE FAR, BUT THE ROWING BOAT WAS ALREADY OUT OF SIGHT.

THE SKIES GOT GREYER, SOON IT STARTED TO RAIN HEAVILLY, THE WAVES GOT BIGGER AND SOON THE BOAT WAS HURLTED AROUNDTHE SEA LIKE A TOY, JOEY SHOUTED TO TOMMY, STOP THE ENGINES MATE WE CANT FIGHT THIS SEA, JUST LET HER GO WHERE SHE WILL.

LOOK OUT, THERES ANOTHER BOAT SHOUTED JOEY, BUT IT WAS TO LATE, THEY COLLIDED AND TOMMY SAW FIDDLER KNOCKED OVERBOARD, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING ANYBODY COULD DO, IT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO KEEP BALANCE, EVERYBODY HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE.

IT WAS HOURS BEFORE THE STORMED CALMED, MOTHER EMERGED FROM THE GALLEY HOLDING HER HEAD, WHERES FIDDLER. HE WENT OVERBOARD HOURS AGO, HE HAD NO CHANCE. OH THATS A SHAME SAID MOTHER, I WAS BEGINING TO LIKE HIM, SHALL I MAKE A CUP OF TEA TO CHEER US ALL UP.

WHERE DO YOU THINK WE ARE MATE SAID JOEY, DONT KNOW, HAVENT A CLUE SAID TOMMY, WELL TO BE HONEST WE COULD BE ANYWHERE BY NOW, WE HAVE BEEN DRIFTING FOR HOURS.

WE COULD BE OFF THE COAST OF FRANCE, SPAIN, IRELAND, WE MIGHT EVEN BUMP INTO THE ISLE OF WIGHT,

I THINK ITS ALL BE BEST IF WE GET SOME SLEEP, BUNKS ARE DOWNSTAIRS IN THE GALLEY, JOEY AND I WILL KEEP WATCH IN TURNS.

IT WAS IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING WHEN JOEY FELT THE WAVES INCREASING, WAKE UP TOMMY WAKE UP, SOON THE BOAT WAS TOSSED AROUND THE SEA LIKE A CORK IN A WHIRLPOOL GOING HEADLONG INTO THE STORM.

LETS GET BELOW DECK, BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES, BE MUCH SAFER DOWN THERE MATE.

SLOWLY THEY INCHED SOAKED TO THE SKIN, BATTERED BY THE WAVES TO THE DOOR THAT LED DOWN TO THE GALLEY,

IT WAS FREEZING, BUT TOMMY OPENED THE FAN FROM THE ENGINE, SHOULD STILL BE A BIT OF WARMTH IN THE OLD GAL HE SAID, SOON A WELCOME HEAT FILLED THE GALLEY, JUST HOLD ONTO ANYTHING YOU CAN EVERYONE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A ROUGH RIDE,

CHAPTER 3

I THINK IM GOING TO BE SICK SAID MOTHER AS SHE CLUNG GRIMLY TO THE SIDES OF A THE BUNK, OH IM NEVER, EVER COMING ON ANOTHER TRIP WITH YOU THOMAS, NOR ME SAID JOEY, HAVE A NICE DAY OUT HE SAYS, WE,LL HAVE A FEW BEERS, BUT ITS NOT MY FAULT IS IT SAID TOMMY, I DIDNT DO ANYTHING,

HE LOOKED OUT THE PORTHOLE, ALTHOUGH THE WAVES WERE EASING IT WAS STILL RAINING SO HARD , AND WHATS IT WITH THOSE TWO PASSENGERS, THEY HAVENT SAID A WORD TO ANYONE SINCE THEY CAME ON BOARD, OH THEY LEFT BEFORE THE STORM, SAID JOEY, FIDDLER WAS GOING MAD, HE MADE THEM, LUCKY THEM, AT LEAST THEY ARE ASHORE, NOT STUCK OUT HERE.

I DONT CARE AND I DONT WANT TO KNOW, ALL I WANT TO DO IS GET BACK HOME AND FORGET THIS EVER HAPPENED SAID TOMMY, THE SOONER THE BETTER.

TOMMY MADE HIS WAY BACK UP TO THE WHEELHOUSE, HE WANTED TO BE ALONE, HE SAT IN HIS SEAT IGNORING THE WILDLY SPINNING SHIPS WHEEL, IT WILL TAKE US WHERE IT WILL HE THOUGHT, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

HOURS PAST AND THE BOAT WANDERED, SPEEDING AT WILL THROUGH THE CRASHING WAVES AND THE POURING RAIN.

HE FELL ASLEEP, HE DREAMT OF KATHY, IF ONLY HE HAD A SAILBOAT, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

MIND YOU, IF WE CAN MAKE IT HOME, I WILL HAVE ENOUGH COAL TO WORK FOR AGES, FIDDLER CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT NOT MAKING IT TO MARKET, NOT NOW THAT HES GONE, NOT THAT I WAS SCARED OF HIM ANYWAY. NO, LIFE COULD ONLY GET BETTER NOW, IM SURE WE SHALL ALL HAVE A GOOD LAUGH ABOUT THIS ONE DAY. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS GET BACK HOME. AND IT CANT BE THAT FAR CAN IT.

JOEY WOKE WITH A START, THE SENSELESS CRASHING OF THE WAVES HAD STOPPED, THE FOG HAD CLEARED AND THE SUN WAS SHINING. MAYBE IT WAS ALL A DREAM HE THOUGHT, BUT IN A MOMENT HE REALISED IT WASNT.

WAKE UP HE SHOUTED, SHAKING MOTHER, WAKE UP, TOMMY, TOMMY LOOK.

HE RAN UP TO THE WHEELHOUSE, TOMMY WAS STILL ASLEEP, WAKE UP MATE, I THINK WE ARE SAVED LOOK.

IT WAS THE BRIGHTEST DAY EVER WITH NOT A CLOUD IN SIGHT,

WITHIN MOMENTS EVERYBODY WAS ON DECK, LOOK SAID MOTHER, BIRDS, THERE NOT SEA BIRDS, LAND MUST BE CLOSE NOW, THEY ALL LOOKED IN EVERY DIRECTION BUT LAND WAS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN. DESPITE THEIR JOY OF THE STORM ENDING THEY WERE STILL DRIFTING AIMLESSLY.

TOMMY THOUGHT OF STOKING THE BOILER AND GETTING UNDERWAY, BUT WHAT WAS THE POINT, THEY WERE A DOT IN THE OCEAN, WITH NOWHERE TO GO.

IM STARVING SAID MOTHER, ANYBODY FANCY A GOOD OLD FRYUP.

WITH WHAT SAID TOMMY, I MIGHT HAVE A FEW BITS OF STALE BREAD IN THE GALLEY, IF THAT. BUT WE GOT A BOAT LOAD BACK THERESAID MOTHER POINTING TO THE BARGE. THEY WALKED TOWARDS THE BARGE, 2 THICK CHAINS ATTACHED IT TO THE BOAT, BUT IT WAS A FEW YARDS AWAY. BLIMEY I FORGOT ALL ABOUT THAT, AT LEAST WE WONT STARVE, DONT LOOK LIKE WE LOST MUCH IN THE STORM EITHER SAID TOMMY, WHAT DO YOU RECKON JOEY, WELL SOMEBODY HAS TO DIVE IN AND CLIMB ABOARD DONT THEY AND I GUESS IT HAS TO BE ME SEEING AS YOU CANT SWIM.SAID JOEY, WITHOUT A THOUGHT HE JUMPED INTO THE SEA AND SWAM OVER TO THE BARGE, THEY ALL LOOKED AS HE CLIMBED ABOARD, WHAT DO YOU FANCY THEN, WE GOT EGGS BACON, HAM, TOMATOES MUSHEROOMS, CHUCK US OVER A FEW OF EACH SAID TOMMY, NOT THE EGGS THOUGH. THROW ME THAT ROPE, I WILL PUT A LOAD IN A BOX, JUST PULL IT OVER.

TOMMY CARRIED THE BOX DOWN TO THE GALLEY, THERE YOU GO MOTHER, GET STUCK INTO THAT LOT

THAT WILL BE BREAKFASTS ALL ROUND MOTHER, THANKYOU.

JOEY WAS SOAKED THROUGH, DONT SUPPOSE YOU HAVE ANY TOWELS ABOARD THIS OLD TUB DO YOU, TOMMY NODDED HIS HEAD, OH WELL I THINK I WILL JUST LIE IN THE SUN, SOON DRY OFF IN THIS HEAT. THATS IT SAID TOMMY, THE HEAT, ITS NEVER THIS HOT IN ENGLAND IN MARCH, WE MUST BE MUCH FURTHER SOUTH, PROBABLY SPAIN OR FRANCE, MAYBE EVEN AFRICA, IN FACT, JOEY STOPPED HIM, IN OTHER WORDS YOU DONT KNOW DO YOU.

THOMAS, JOEY, BREAKFAST IS READY, SORRY BUT WE HAVE NO KNIFES OR FORKS, HAVE TO USE YOUR FINGERS IM AFRAID.

THEY SAT IN THE GALLEY WITH THE PLATES ON THEIR LAPS,

YOU SEE ANYTHING YET, NOTHING SAID JOEY, JUST SEA, LOTS OF SEA, BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE BIRDS, THERE WAS ONLY A FEW OF THEM, SO THEY WERENT MIGRATING, THEY MUST LIVE CLOSE. YEA BUT CLOSE TO A BIRD CAN BE A HUNDRED MILES SAID TOMMY, BUT I AGREE WE CANT BE FAR FROM LAND NOW, CAN WE.

ENJOY YOUR BREAKFAST BOYS, OH IT WAS LOVELY SAID JOEY, I NOTICE WE GOT SOME PORK AND POTATOES WELL EVERYTHING BACK THERE, NICE ROAST TONIGHT EH MOTHER.

MOTHER PICKED UP THE PLATES AND BEGAN TO GO DOWN INTO THE GALLEY. WAIT SAID TOMMY, WHAT DID THOSE TWO TELL YOU, I NOTICED YOU TALKING TO THEM WHEN THEY FIRST CAME ABOARD. OH THEM, WELL IT TURNS OUT THEIR NOT FIDDLERS FRIENDS AT ALL, THAT TITANIC BLOKE INVENTED SOMETHING AND HE HAD TO GET TO AMERICA TO FILE A PATENT FOR IT WHATEVER THAT IS, TURNS OUT FIDDLER HEARD ABOUT IT AND GOT HIM A TICKET ON TITANIC IT COST HIM A FORTUNE AND FIDDLER MADE HIM SIGN OVER HALF THE RIGHTS TO HIM, HE HAD NO CHOICE IF HE DIDNT GET THERE SOON THE AMERICANS WOULD HAVE AND HE WOULD HAVE LOST EVERYTHING, FIDDLER HAD HIM OVER A BARREL.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER BLOKE SAID TOMMY, OH I DO FEEL SORRY FOR HIM, HE OWED FIDDLER MONEY, COULDNT PAY IT BACK SO FIDDLER MADE HIM GO ON THAT BANK ROBBERY IN SEAFORD AND HE WOULD WRITE OFF THE DEBT, POOR BLOKE.

OH WELL WE ARE ALL RID OF THEM ALL, ALL THE BETTER I SAY

MIGRANTS THEN, MUST HAVE BEEN, WHAT SAID JOEY, THEM BIRDS, WE BEEN DRIFTING ALL DAY, STILL NO LAND IN SITE. WHERE DOYOU RECKON WE ARE, TOMMY SHOOK HIS HEAD, MAYBE WE SHOULD RUN A SWEEPSTAKE ON IT, ID CHOOSE FRANCE, NO IT HAS TO BE SPAIN, SAID TOMMY, FEEL THE HEAT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I FANCY NOW MATE, A NICE BEER, THERES CRATES OF THEM BACK ON THAT BARGE, SIT ON THE DECK IN THE SUN, JUST RELAXING, WATCHING THE WORLD GO BY. YOU HAVE TO ADMIT, THIS SURE BEATS ALL THAT RAIN BACK HOME.

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA MATE, GO ON THEN, ID GO GET THEM, BUT I, ITS OK TOMMY, ILL POP OVER.

JOEY DIVED OVERBOARD AND CLIMBED ONTO THE BARGE, HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE BOXES OF BEER STACKED AT THE BACK, BUT HE HAS TO MOVE OTHER THINGS TO GET TO THEM. CLIMBING OVER SACKS OF POTATOES HE STANDS ON SIDES OF BEEF AND REACHES OVER TO GRAB A BOX, THEN HE HEARS A MUFFLED MOAN, LOOKING OVER HE SEES A LEG STICKING OUT, HE CLAMBERED OVER CASES OF TOMATOES AND EGGS TO FIND FIDDLER, WEDGED BETWEEN THE HULL AND SACKS OF FLOUR, GET ME OUT OF HERE, CROAKED FIDDLER, NOW.

WE THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD, I BET YOU DID, I HEARD THE LAUGHTER FROM THE BOAT AS YOU ATE MY FOOD THIS MORNING. SORRY I DIDNT MEAN ANYTHING SAID JOEY, I MEAN, STOP YOUR SNIVELLING, AND GET ME BACK ON THE BOAT. JOEY SHOUTED TOMMY, TOMMY, GET THAT LONG POLE, I NEED A HAND, QUICK.

TOMMY CAME OUT OF THE WHEELHOSE TO SEE FIDDLER WITH HIS ARM AROUND JOEY, OH MY GOD, HES ALIVE.

JOEY HELPED FIDDLER TO THE END OF THE BARGE, TOMMY PUT THAT POLE DOWN IN THE WATER, DOWN THERE BETWEEN THE CHAINS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO JUMP IN, GRAB THE POLE AND THEN WE CAN GET YOU ABOARD THE BOAT,

JOEY DIDNT GIVE FIDDLER A CHOICE, HE JUMPED HOLDING FIDDLER , HE GRABBED THE POLE WITH FIDDLER SPLASHING AROUND AND HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE, GRAB THE POLE SHOUTED TOMMY, I WILL LEAD YOU ROUND TO THE LADDER.

AS HE CLIMBED ABOARD HE LOOKED TOMMY IN THE EYES, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU, THEN IM GOING TO KILL YOU AGAIN SCREAMED FIDDLER.

TOMMY WALKED INTO THE WHEELHOUSE AND SHUT THE DOOR, BUT FIDDLER WAS RIGHT BEHIND HIM, HE KICKED OPEN THE DOOR AND GRABBED TOMMY, ALL MY PRODUCE IS GOING TO WASTE, YOU OWE ME FOR IT, ALL OF IT.

I WILL HAVE YOUR HOUSE, YOUR BOAT, I WILL TAKE EVERYTHING YOU OWN, I WILL RUIN YOU.

WELL ACTUALLY, SAID TOMMY, ALL I HAVE IS THE BOAT YOUR STANDING ON AND THE BANK WILL PROBABLY REPOSSES THAT, YOU ONLY PAID THE LAST TWO MONTHS ARREARS, I STILL OWE THEM MONEY AND THE HOUSE IS IN MOTHERS NAME TOO, IT CANT BE SOLD TILL ONE OF US DIES. WELL I CAN SOON SEE TO THAT SAID FIDDLER.

LOOK, ITS GETTING DARK SAID TOMMY, WE CANT DO A THING, WERE ARE JUST DRIFTING ON THE TIDE TILL WE FIND LAND. START THAT BLOOMING ENGINE AND GET ME HOME BEFORE I DO SOMETHING TO YOU, YOU WOULDNT LIKE THAT I PROMISE YOU.

NO POINT DOING A THING TILL WE FIND LAND, WE HAVE NO COMPASS NO MAPS NOTHING, FOR ALL I KNOW WE COULD BE DRIFTING BACK HOME, GET SOME SLEEP, IN THE MORNING , WHO KNOWS LAND COULD BE JUST OVER THERE. FIDDLER LOOKED TOMMY IN THE EYE, I WILL KILL YOU, YOU KNOW THAT.

TOMMY TOOK A DEEP BREATH AS FIDDLER LEFT THE WHEELHOUSE, HE THOUGHT IT BEST IF HE SLEPT HERE TONIGHT, WELL OUT OF FIDDLERS WAY.

MOTHER WAS BUSY IN THE KITCHEN, SHE OPENED THE OVEN DOOR AND PULLED OUT A LEG OF ROAST PORK, OOH THIS SMELLS SO NICE, THE ROAST POTATOES WERE ALMOST READY, OH DAMN SHE THOUGHT, I SHOULD HAVE ASKED JOEY TO BRING OVER SOME APPLES, APPLE SAUCE WOULD BE SO PERFECT, FIDDLER SUPRISED HER, STANDING RIGHT BEHIND HER, OH MY GOD ITS A GHOST, STAY AWAY FROM ME GET OUT. FIDDLER HELD HER ARMS, I AINT NO GHOST, BET YOU WISH I WAS DONT YOU.

NO CRIED MOTHER, I NEVER WISHED ANYTHING OF THE SORT DID I. HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO SURVIVE, WE ALL THOUGHT YOU WERE SWEPT OVERBOARD, WELL I WAS WASNT I SAID FIDDLER, SWEPT OVER INTO THAT BARGE, KNOCKED CLEAN OUT I WAS, STUCK BETWEEN THE BOXES, I COULDNT MOVE, THERE WAS A BOTTLE OF WHISKY, I HAD NO WATER SO I DRANK THAT, PUT ME RIGHT TO SLEEP IT DID. OH YOU POOR THING SAID MOTHER, LOOK I WILL MAKE YOU A NICE CUP OF TEA, FANCY A BIT OF ROAST DINNER.

FIDDLER TOOK THE CUP OF TEA, HE CALMED DOWN AS MOTHER PUT A PLATE IN FRONT OF HIM, I BET YOUR STARVING, SHE PILED UP HIS PLATE, GET THAT DOWN YOU, YOU WILL SOON FEEL BETTER.

JOEY CAME INTO THE GALLEY, WOW THAT SMELLS GOOD, MOTHER MOTIONED HIM TO A SEAT.

AS THEY ALL SAT DOWN MOTHER SAID ID BETTER TAKE A PLATE UP TO THOMAS, I EXPECT HE IS OVERJOYED AT SEEING YOU AGAIN MR FIDDLER, HE JUST WANTS TO BE ON HIS OWN FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

TOMMY FINISHED HIS DINNER AND SETTLED BACK ON HIS CHAIR, THINK I WILL STAY HERE TONIGHT, THE STARS WERE SHINING ON THE CALMEST SEA HE HAD EVER SEEN, THIS ISNT SO BAD HE THOUGHT, ONCE WE FIND LAND WE WILL BE OKAY.

ITS ONLY BEEN TWO DAYS, WE CANT BE THAT FAR FROM HOME, ANYWAY, I HAVE NOTHING AT ALL AT HOME, APART FROM KATHY AND I HAVENT EVEN GOT HER.

HE HAD LOVED KATHY SINCE THEY WERE AT SCHOOL BUT HAD NEVER PLUCKED UP THE COURAGE TO ASK HER OUT.

MY LIFE WILL CHANGE SO MUCH WHEN I GET HOME, I HAVE COAL NOW, I CAN FISH AND WITH THIS BOAT I CAN GET OUT TO THE AREAS THE OTHER BOATS CANT, I WILL MAKE MY FORTUNE, THEN WE WILL SAIL AWAY INTO THE SUNSET.

HE WASNT WORRIED ABOUT FIDDLER ANY MORE, IF HE WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT BY NOW, HE WALKED TO THE BACK OF THE BOAT, THE BARGE WAS FULL, NEARLY EVERYTHING FIDDLER HAD LOADED WAS INTACT, HE HASNT LOST ANYTHING, THERES MARKETS WE CAN STILL GET TOO, NO, EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT, WE CAN STILL MAKE IT.

ONCE HES OFF MY BACK LIFE WILL BE GOOD, I DOUBT IF HE WILL EVER BOTHER ME AGAIN. TOMMY WAS JUST NODDING OFF TO SLEEP WHEN JOEY APPEARED ON DECK, HE OPENED THE WHEELHOUSE DOOR AND SAT ON THE SEAT NEXT TO TOMMY, YOU OK MATE, YEA SAID TOMMY, IM SORRY, I REALLY AM, I DIDNT KNOW AL THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

OH ITS ALRIGHT, THE FISHINGS NOT SO GOOD THIS TIME OF YEAR ANYWAY, I WOULDNT HAVE CAUGHT MUCH, BIT OF AN ADVENTURE THIS REALLY, BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE WE LAND, WOULDNT IT BE FUNNY IF WE WERE JUST OFF THE COAST OF BRIGHTON A COUPLE OF HOURS FROM HOME.

TOO HOT FOR THAT JOEY, WHATS ALL THIS WITH YOUR MUM AND THAT FIDDLER SAID JOEY, WHEN I CAME UP THEY WERE STILL TALKING AND LAUGHING, WHAT SAID TOMMY MOTHER AND FIDDLER, THE MIND BOGGLES.

LOOK AT THAT SUNSET SAID TOMMY, CAN YOU IMAGINE FISHING HERE, NO WIND, NO RAIN, IT WOULD BE SO PERFECT IF ONLY WE HAD A HOME TO GO TO, YES SAID JOEY, BEATS ALL THAT COLD BACK HOME.

I WAS THINKING SAID TOMMY, IF WE FIND LAND AND ITS OK TO STAY THERE, WHAT DO YOU RECKON,

WE COULD STAY HERE, AFTER ALL ITS SO MUCH BETTER THAN HOME, WE GOT NOTHING TO GO BACK FOR REALLY.

YOU COULD WORK THE BOAT WITH ME, I DOUBT THEY GOT COAL STRIKES OUT HERE.

I COULD GO BACK AND GET KATHY, IT WOULD BE GREAT.

KATHY JOEY SPLUTTERED, YOU AND KATHY, YOU NEVER TOLD ME. I HAVENT TOLD HER EITHER SAID TOMMY, BUT IM SURE SHE KNOWS.

ID BETTER GET SOME SLEEP MATE, BY THE WAY ITS A NICE BOAT,

JOEY LEFT THE WHEELHOUSE AND WENT BELOW DECK LEAVING TOMMY WITH HIS THOUGHTS, TOMMY SAT BACK IN HIS CHAIR, HE THOUGHT ABOUT HIS HOUSE ON THE BEACH, KATHY WAVING HIM OFF WHEN HE WENT FISHING.

THE BOAT DRIFTED ENDLESSLY INTO THE UNKNOWN.

TOMMY FELL ASLEEP, HE DREANT OF HIS NEW LIFE,

SUDDENLY THE BOAT STOPPED, JOEY WAS AWOKEN BY THE SUDDEN JOLT THAT SHOOK HIS BUNK. HE GOT OUT OF BED AND WENT ON THE DECK. HE LOOKED OUT SEE ROCKS, JAGGED SHARP ROCKS EVERYWHERE, TOMMY HE SHOUTED, GET UP, LOOK.

TOMMY JOINED HIM ON DECK, OH MY GOD, STOKE UP THE BOILER, WE HAVE GOT TO REVERSE, GET US OUT OF HERE, NOW.

JOEY SHOVELED COAL INTO THE FURNACE AS QUICK AS HE COULD, SLOWLY THE BOILER GOT HEATED, THE SUN WAS COMING UP, TOMMY COULD SEE OTHER BOATS AND SHIPS WITH RAGGED SAILS ADRIFT ON THE ROCKS. JOEY COME ON MATE GET THAT ENGINE GOING, ITS A MINEFIELD OUT HERE.

SLOWLY AS THE SUN ROSE SHIPS APPEARED, ALL AGROUND ALL WRECKED, DOZENS OF THEM, BY NOW EVERYONE WAS ON DECK, I SEE LAND SAID FIDDLER, JOEY SHOUTED TO TOMMY, SHES READY TO GO, TOMMY TOOK CONTROL OF THE WHEEL, HE BACKED UP SLOWLY AND STOPPED THE ENGINES.

AHEAD OF THEM WAS LAND, BUT EVERYWHERE THERE WERE ROCKS, WE CANT LAND HERE, NO WAY.

TOMMY EASED THE BOAT BACK OUT TO SEA, AHEAD OF THEM WAS THE MOST WONDERFULL SIGHT AN ISLAND JUST LIKE TOMMY HAD IMAGINED ALL HIS LIFE.

FIDDLER GRABBED TOMMY BY HIS NECK, THIS DONT LOOK LIKE BRIGHTON DOES IT, WHERE THE HELL ARE WE.

JOEY, STOKE UP THOSE ENGINES, WE HAVE TO FIND A PLACE TO LAND.

THEY WENT JUST OFF THE COAST AROUND THE ISLAND, BUT EVERYWHERE THERE WHERE JAGGED ROCKS AND SHIPWRECKS, IT WAS NOT UNTILL THEY HAD ALMOST ROUNDED THE ISLAND THAT MOTHER SHOUTED, LOOK, OVER THERE, THERES A BREAK IN THE ROCKS. TOMMY LOOKED, THERE WAS, BUT IT WAS A VERY SMALL GAP.

KEEP THOSE BOILERS FIRED UP JOEY, TOMMY SLOWLY INCHED THE BOAT FORWARD, BUT THE WAVES KEPT PUSHING HIM BACK.

I CANT GET IN, THOSE WAVES ARE TOO STRONG, REV HER UP A BIT MORE MATE SAID JOEY, GO ON, YOU CAN DO IT.

TOMMY PUSHED THE BOAT AS FAR AS HE COULD, NO GOOD SAID TOMMY, THE TIDE IS TOO STRONG,

FIDDLER SHOUTED, GET US ASHORE YOU IDIOT

TOMMY BATTLED AGAINST THE STRONG CURRENT BUT IT WAS HOPELESS,

HE SLOWLY REVERSED THE ENGINES AND WENT BACK OUT TO SEA, I HAVE AN IDEA SAID JOEY, BACK UP A BIT MORE, I WILL STOKE UP THE BOILER TILL SHES READY TO BLOW THEN WE JUST RACE IN, IT MIGHT WORK.

JOEY SHOVELED COAL INTO THE BOILER LIKE HIS LIFE DEPENDENED ON IT, HE FINALLY SHOUTED TO TOMMY, LET HER GO, LET HER GO, TOMMY PUSHED THE LEVER AND THE BOAT RACED FORWARD, BUT AS SOON AS THEY HIT THE WAVES THE BOAT SLOWED, WE CANT MAKE IT, THE TIDE IS TOO STRONG, BUT SUDDENLY THE BOAT CAUGHT A BREAK IN THE WAVES AND THE BOAT SURGED FORWARD. TOWARDS THE ISLAND, TOMMY EASED OF THE LEVER AND BROUGHT THE BOAT TO LAND ON A SANDY BEACH, , THE HULL DEEPLY INBEDDED IN THE SAND.

TOMMY CAME OUT OF THE WHEELHOUSE AND LOOKED AT THE ISLAND, HIS FIRST THOUGHT WAS, WE WILL NEVER GET OFF OF THIS ISLAND,

HE WENT TO THE SIDE OF THE BOAT AND CLIMBED DOWN THE LADDER, HE WALKED UP THE BEACH AND LOOKED OUT TO SEA, ALL HE COULD SEE WERE CRASHING WAVES SHIPWRECKS AND JAGGED ROCKS, WHERE THE HELL ARE WE HE THOUGHT.

TOMMY LOOKED BACK AT THE SHIPWRECKS, HE TRIED COUNTING THEM, BUT THERE WERE TOO MANY, WHAT THE HELL WENT ON HERE HE THOUGHT.

WE GOING TO STAND HERE ALL DAY SHOUTED FIDDLER CLIMBING DOWN THE LADDER, COME ON. HE HELPED MOTHER DOWN. HE COULD SOON BE YOUR STEPDAD THE WAY THOSE TWO ARE GETTING ON MATE. TOMMY GULPED, YOU MUST BE JOKING, ID RATHER STAY HERE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

COME ON, COME ON SHOUTED MOTHER

AS THEY ALL WALKED ALONG THE SAND JOEY SAID IT COULD BE WORSE, I MEAN LOOK AT IT, ITS PARADISE. BUT ITS NOT BLOOMING BRIGHTON IS IT SNARLED FIDDLER. YOU TWO HAVE COST ME A LOT OF MONEY, NOW I DONT KNOW HOW YOUR GOING TO PAY ME BACK, BUT YOU WILL, FOR EVERY DAY I AM ON THIS ISLAND YOU WILL PAY, TILL I GET HOME

MOTHER POKED FIDDLER IN THE CHEST, HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO MY BOY LIKE THAT, WE ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR LOVE OF MONEY, THEY HAVENT DONE ANYTHING WRONG, YOU HAVE, YOUR A GREEDY SELFISH BULLY, LEAVE HIM ALONE.

FIDDLER WAS SPEECHLESS, BUT SHE TOOK HIS HAND AND SAID TO HIM, LETS HAVE NO MORE OF THIS NONSENCE,

WELL WHAT DO WE DO NOW SAID JOEY, THE SUNS GOING DOWN QUICK, I RECKON WE SHOULD ALL SPEND THE NIGHT ON THE BOAT AND EXPLORE IN THE MORNING,

I SAW A CAVE OVER WHERE WE LANDED, IT WILL BE DRY, THE BOAT COULD BREAK UP WITH THOSE WAVES, I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT, TOMMY SAID CALL THE OTHERS, ITS ONLY OVER THERE.

AS JOEY WALKED WITH TOMMY TOWARDS THE CAVE HE SAID, WERE IN TROUBLE ARENT WE MATE, WE SURE ARE JOEY, THOSE WAVES, NEVER SEEN NOTHING LIKE IT, THAT BOAT WILL NEVER GET OFF THIS ISLAND LET ALONE MAKE THE JOURNEY BACK. BUT THERE MUST BE OTHER BOATS HERE, PERHAPS THERE A HARBOUR SOMEWHERE, WHERE THEY CAN GET BEYOND THE BREAKERS. I DOUBT IT SAID TOMMY, WE MUST HAVE BEEN ROUND MOST OF THE ISLAND, BUT I SAW A BAY, BEYOND WHERE WE TURNED BACK. YOUR BOATS A TOUGH ONE TOMMY, IF WE DUG IT OUT OF THE SAND AND CHECKED HER OVER, IT CANT BE THAT BAD, I DIDNT SEE ANY DAMAGE, IM SURE IT LOOKS FAR WORSE THAN IT IS, LETS HAVE A LOOK IN THE MORNING SHALL WE.

LETS TAKE A WANDER UP THAT HILL JOEY, I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING.

THERE WAS A PATH LEADING TO THE TOP AS THEY WALKED UP JOEY SAID WHAT YOU LOOKING FOR. I DONT KNOW, BUT WHAT WE SEE WILL TELL US.

JOEY LOOKED OUT OVER THE SHORE, NOTHING BUT SHIPWRECKS AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE. JUST AS I THOUGHT, NOT A LIGHT ANYWHERE, THIS PLACE IS DESERTED, LOOK, NOTHING, NO NOISE NO LIGHTS, NOTHING.

AS THEY ENTERED THE CAVE FIDDLER WAS LIGHTING A FIRE, WELL AT LEAST ITS WARM AND DRY, LETS GET SOME SLEEP. WE CAN HAVE A LOOK AROUND IN THE MORNING, BUT I HAVE A REAL BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS PLACE.

CHAPTER 4

FIDDLER WOKE EARLY AND DECIDED TO TAKE A WALK, COMING OUT OF THE CAVE HE NOTICED A BOX OF TOMATOES SMASHED AGAINST THE ROCKS, HE RUN OUT TO FIND SEVERAL MORE WASHED UP ON THE SAND. OH MY GOD HE THOUGHT, HE STARTED RUNNING TOWARDS THE BOAT, AND COULD SEE THE BARGE HAD LEANED ON THE SHORE.

THANKFULLY THAT LOOKED LIKE ALL HE HAD LOST.

OH IM GOING TO KILL THEM TWO, HE RAN QUICKLY BACK TO THE CAVE, WAKE UP YOU PAIR OF IDIOTS, WAKE UP,

TOMMY WIPED HIS EYES, WHATS UP NOW, WHATS UP, WHATS UP, MY MONEY IS FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER THATS WHAT, GET OUT THERE AND SAVE IT, BOTH OF YOU NOW.

WAKE UP JOEY, HIS LORDSHIPS IN A PICKLE AGAIN, THEY WALKED OUT THE CAVE AND SAW THE TOMATOES AND IT WAS NOW JOINED BY POTATOES AND LETTUCE, BETTER GET A MOVE ON MATE, WE DONT WANT TO LOSE THE BEER DO WE.

WELL COME ON FIDDLER, GIVE US A HAND.

IT TOOK MOST OF THE MORNING TO UNLOAD THE BARGE AND GET EVERYTHING INTO THE CAVE AND OUT OF THE SUN.

FIDDLER WAS SWEATING AND PUFFING, OH COME ON FIDDLER, BIT OF HARD WORKS GOOD FOR YOU,

LETS GO AND UNCHAIN THE BARGE TOMMY, MIGHT HAVE BEEN ALL THE WEIGHT THAT HELD US BACK, TOMMY LOOKED AT HIM, THATS IT, WHY DIDNT I THINK OF THAT, THE BARGE MUST WEIGH A TON, NO WONDER MY BOAT COULDNT GET THROUGH THOSE WAVES.

FIDDLER PERKED UP ON HEARING THIS, YOU MEAN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET OFF THIS ISLAND AFTER ALL. COULD BE SAID TOMMY, COULD BE.

JUST THEN MOTHER APPEARED WALKING TOWARDS THEM, MORNING SHE SAID, IVE BEEN EXPLORING, NOT MUCH TO SEE THOUGH.

THERES A FEW HOUSES UP THERE BUT NOBODYS AT HOME, MUST BE MARKET DAY OR SOMETHING.

ITS SO SILENT ISNT IT, ALMOST GHOSTLY, AS THE HOUSES CAME INTO VIEW TOMMY NOTICED A HANDCART FULL OF MILK CHURNS, HE OPENED ONE AND STAGGERED BACK, OH MY GOD, I CAN SMELL THAT FROM HERE SAID JOEY, PUT THAT LID BACK ON PLEASE.

THE PAINT WAS PEELING AND THE WINDOWS WERE FULL OF DUST AND COBWEBS, FIDDLER OPENED A DOOR AND SHOUTED HELLO, HELLO, ANYBODY HOME, THEY ALL WAITED BEHIND HIM, OH JUST GO IN SHOUTED MOTHER, WE CANT STAND OUTSIDE HERE ALL DAY.

LOOK AT THE STATE OF THIS PLACE, DONT LOOK LIKE ITS BEEN CLEANED FOR YEARS,

EVERY OTHER HOUSE WAS THE SAME, LETS GO UP THAT ROAD SAID JOEY, MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE MORE FROM UP THERE, MOTHER WAS WALKING BEHIND WITH FIDDLER, COME ON,ITS NOT THAT FAR IS IT.

ONCE THEY ALL GOT TO THE TOP OF THE HILL AHEAD OF THEM LAY PARADISE.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT, TREES AND FLOWERS, EVERY COLOUR OF THE RAINBOW WAS BEFORE THEM, BIRDS OF PARADISE FLEW EVERYWHERE, OH ITS JUST LIKE I IMAGINED SAID TOMMY.

THIS IS ALL VERY WELL SAID FIDDLER BUT WHEN ARE WE LEAVING, WE CANT STAY HERE, WELL I CANT, I HAVE A BUSINESS TO RUN, PEOPLE TO SEE, I CANT BE LIVING DOWN IN THEM HOUSES, WOULDNT BE SEEN DEAD IN EM.

DONT THINK YOU HAVE A CHOICE MATE, ITS GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST A DAY TO DIG THE BOAT OUT, WHO KNOWS HOW LONG TO FIND A WAY OUT BEYOND THE ROCKS, THATS IF WE CAN SAID TOMMY, WE COULD BE STUCK HERE FOREVER. FIDDLER WALKED OFF IN A HUFF, IM RUINED, RUINED, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU TWO,

WE HAVE GOT TO GET ORGANISED SAID JOEY, HAVE A PLAN WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. LIKE WHAT. WELL FIRST WE HAVE TO GET ALL THAT FOOD UP HERE SAFE, GOD KNOWS WHAT ANIMALS WANDER DOWN THERE WITH THE SMELL OF ALL THAT MEAT. RIGHT, WE CAN DO THAT THIS AFTERNOON SAID TOMMY, WHAT THEN, THE BOAT I SUPPOSE, SORT THAT OUT.

LETS GET BACK TO THE HOUSES, HAVE A CUPPA AND START MOVING STUFF, THAT FIDDLER CAN HELP US TOO, HE NEEDS US NOW. YEA, I CAN JUST SEE HIM DOING THAT SAID TOMMY.

THERES LOTS OF PATHS HERE ISNT THERE, NOT MANY ROADS AT ALL, WELL I SUPPOSE THEY MUST MOVE STUFF AROUND ON DONKEYS OR SOMETHING, WHO, SAID JOEY, THERES NOBODY HERE, I WAS LOOKING EVERYWHERE FROM THAT HILLTOP, WERE ALONE BELIEVE ME.

BUT THERE MUST BE PEOPLE HERE, THOSE HOUSES, THE MILK CHURNS, THAT HANDBARROW, SOMEBODY MUST HAVE BEEN HERE, WELL YOU TRY AND FIND THEM, BECAUSE I CANT. OH DONT BE STUPID SAID TOMMY, THERE WAS PEOPLE HERE, WE HAVE ONLY BEEN UP A COUPLE OF HILLS, I THINK IF WE WALKED A BIT FURTHER INTO THE ISLAND THERE WILL BE LOADS OF PEOPLE I BET, LIKE MOTHER SAID, ITS PROBABLY MARKET DAY AND THEY ARE ALL OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND.

JOEY SAID LOOK AT THOSE HOUSES, THEY HAVENT BEEN LIVED IN FOR YEARS, WELL MAYBE THIS IS AN AREA NOBODY LIVES IN ANY MORE,

NO CROPS, NO ANIMALS NOTHING JOEY SAID, TOMMY YOUR DREAMING, WE ARE ALONE HERE I PROMISE YOU.

OH WELL NO POINT JUST HANGING ABOUT UP HERE, LETS GET BACK, GET A CUPPA AND START MOVING THE FOOD.

MOTHER WAS TRYING HER BEST TO CLEAN THE KITCHEN BUT IT WAS HOPELESS WITHOUT A GOOD LICK OF PAINT AND NEW FURNITURE, ANY CHANCE OF A CUPPA MOTHER. WELL ITS FUNNY YOU SAY THAT, I FOUND A KETTLE, BUT THERE IS NO TEA, NO SUGAR, YOUVE SEEN THE MILK OUTSIDE, BUT GUESS WHAT, THERE IS NO WATER, I CANT FIND A TAP ANYWHERE.

WELL THERE MUST BE A WELL OUT THE BACK. WHATS THE GOOD OF THAT IF WE HAVENT GOT ANY TEA SUGAR OR MILK, BIT STUPID IF YOU ASK ME.

I WOULDNT WORRY ABOUT THE WATER SAID JOEY, NO THERES BOUND TO BE PLENTY OF WELLS AROUND, ITS FOOD, ALL THAT FOOD THAT WAS ON THE BARGE WILL GO BAD WITHIN A WEEK, MAYBE TWO.

WHATS ALL THIS RUBBISH ABOUT SHOUTED FIDDLER, I WANT TO BE OFF THIS ISLAND TODAY, DIG THAT BLOOMING BOAT OUT AND LETS BE ON OUR WAY.

TOMMY AND JOEY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND WALKED OUT SLAMMING THE DOOR. PERHAPS ITS NOT AS EASY AS THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO BOATS THOSE BOYS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.SAID MOTHER, ITS ALL VERY WELL FOR YOU TO SAY THAT BUT IF I DONT GET BACK HOME I WILL LOSE EVERYTHING, LOOK GO AND GIVE THE BOYS A HAND SAID MOTHER, THE SOONER WE GET THINGS SORTED OUT HERE THE SOONER WE CAN GET AWAY.

DOWN AT THE CAVE TOMMY SAID THE STUFF THATS ONLY GOING TO LAST A COUPLE OF DAYS LETS TAKE SOME OF THAT, NO POINT CARTING IT ALL UP THERE ONLY TO THROW IT AWAY, KEEP ALL THE STUFF THAT WE CAN STORE, WERE GOING TO NEED IT.

WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH IT ALL THEN. WELL JUST THROW IT IN THE SEA, LET THE FISHES AND CRABS HAVE IT.

JOEY LOOKED AT THE PILE TO BE CARRIED UP TO THE HOUSE, NOT MUCH THERE IS THERE MATE, MIND YOU WE GOT LOADS OF BEER.

FIDDLER ARRIVED TO SEE BOXES OF HIS PRODUCE FLOATING IN THE SEA, HE WAS RAGING, I AM RUINED, RUINED THANKS TO YOU TO, WHEN WE GET HOME I AM GOING TO.

DO NOTHING SAID TOMMY, YOUR STUCK HERE UNLESS I TAKE YOU HOME, REMEMBER THAT.

THERES SOME TOOLS BACK HERE AND SHOVELS PICK AXES AND STUFF, NOT MUCH ELSE WE CAN USE THOUGH, GET WHAT YOU THINK WE NEED, LEAVE THE REST SAID TOMMY, FIDDLER WATCHED AS THE BARGE WAS STRIPPED OF ALL HIS STOCK, HE WAS SEETHING, DONT THINK IM HELPING YOU UP THE HOUSE WITH THAT LOT, AND HE STORMED OFF.

TOMMY LOOKED AT ALL THE SHIPWRECKS,

I CANT BELIEVE IT HE SAID, ITS LIKE SOMEBODY PICKED THEM UP AND HAS JUST THROWN THEM ON THE ROCKS, IVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT SAID JOEY, YOUR BOAT ISNT WOOD IS IT, AND ITS THE ONLY BOAT THAT MADE IT TO THE SHORE, MAYBE IT MIGHT BE THE FIRST ONE TO GET US OFF OF IT.

JOEY LOOKED AT THE PILE OF FOOD TOOLS AND GOODS SALVAGED FROM THE BARGE, HOW ON EARTH ARE WE GOING TO GET THAT LOT UP TO THE HOUSE.

AHH, WELL I HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT, REMEMBER WHEN WE GOT HERE, THAT OLD HANDCART AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, IF WE TAKE ALL THE MILK CHURNS OFF WE COULD USE THAT, BE EASY.

STRANGE ISNT IT SAID JOEY, YOUD THINK YOUD SEE AT LEAST A DOG OR A CAT, THOSE HOUSES DONT LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN LIVED IN FOR YEARS, YOU SEE ALL THEM COBWEBS, OH WELL WE CANT DO ANYTHING BUT JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS, LETS GET THIS LOT UP THE HOUSE AND SORT OUT A PLAN OF ESCAPE.

IT WAS A LONG HOT DAY, BUT FINALLY EVERYTHING WAS UP AT THE HOUSE. THEY WENT IN AND SAT DOWN, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP FIDDLER, REALLY NICE OF YOU. DONT MENTION IT SAID FIDDLER,

ME AND FIDDLER HAD A NOSE AROUND THE HOUSES WHILE YOU BOYS WERE GONE, SEE IF WE COULD FIND ANYTHING WE COULD USE, FIDDLER FOUND THIS OLD GOLD WATCH, HE WANTS TO KEEP IT, JUST SO HE CAN TELL US THE TIME. THATS KIND OF HIM SAID JOEY, DID YOU FIND ANYTHING, NO, JUST SOME COOKING STUFF AND THIS OLD BOOK, THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A NICE READ FOR ONE OF YOU TO WHILE AWAY THE EVENINGS.

RIGHT, WHAT FOOD HAVE WE GOT THEN, MOTHER LOOKED A THE PILE IN THE HANDCART, ERM, HOW ABOUT BANGERS AND MASH TONIGHT THEN. THEY ALL NODDED.

LETS HAVE A LOOK AT THIS BOOK THEN, WHATS IT ABOUT.

MOTHER HANDED THE BOOK TO JOEY, I DUNNO, I READ THE FIRST BIT, LOOKS LIKE A HISTORY BOOK TO ME.

TOMMY WENT OUT OF THE ROOM AND INTO THE STREET, THERE WAS NOT A SOUND FROM ANYWHERE, HE LOOKED DOWN INTO THE BAY AT THE SHIPWRECKS, SOMETHING MIGHTY BAD WENT ON HERE HE THOUGHT, TOMORROW WE MUST EXPLORE THIS ISLAND, FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO, WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 2 WEEKS SUPPLIES AT MOST.

HE GRABBED A BOTTLE OF RUM FROM THE HANDCART AND CALLED JOEY, HEY LOOK OVER THERE, THERE WAS A TABLE AND CHAIRS UNDER SOME TREES, BE A NICE EVENING, WHY DONT WE SIT OVER THER, HAVE DINNER, A FEW DRINKS AND SORT OUT WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT CAN WE DO SAID JOEY, HERE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BOOK, ITS HANDWRITTEN, LIKE A DIARY OF SOME SORT.

TOMMY FLICKED THROUGH SOME PAGES, ITS OLD HE SAID. NOT LIKE ANY BOOK I HAVE SEEN BEFORE.

POUR ME A DRINK MATE, LETS HAVE A LOOK.

OH MY GOD, TOMMY DROPPED HIS DRINK, AND CLOSED THE BOOK.

WE ARE IN TROUBLE HE SAID, BIG TROUBLE,

TOMMY SAT DOWN WITH THE BOOK AND WAS SILENT,ITS A SHIPS LOG, BUT MORE THAT, ITS A DIARY, A STORY, TOMMY FLICKED PAST THE PAGES THAT RECORDED THE SHIPS VOYAGE, THERE BEGAN THE STORY THAT WOULD STUN THEM ALL..

MY NAME IS JAMES WATKINS, CAPTAIN OF HER MAJESTIES SHIP HMS VALIANT, A PRISON SHIP BOUND FOR AUSTRALIA. MY CARGO WAS THOSE UNFORTUNATE TO BE EXILED FOR LIFE TO THE PRISON COLONY. WE LEFT PORTSMOUTH ON JUNE THE FIRST 1845, IT WAS A FINE VOYAGE UNTILL WE ENCOUNTERED FOG, THEN GALES, THE WEATHER WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE, WE WERE LEFT COASTING ON A WILD SEA .

BUT OUT OF NOWHERE AN ISLAND APPEARED BEFORE US, THE SIGHT WAS SOMETHING I I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN MY LIFE. BEFORE US WERE SHIPS, DOZENS OF SHIPS, IT WAS AS IF SOME MIGHTY FORCE HAD TOSSED THEM WITH ABANDON. WRECKED UPON THE ROCKS, TRY AS WE COULD WE COULDNT LAND, EVERY ATTEMPT MET WITH FAILURE.

STRANDED IN THIS COLD DARK NIGHT A FIGURE APPEARED ON THE SHORE SOON MANY MEN CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, LANTERNS SHONE, IT WAS AS IF TO GUIDE US IN, I ORDERED THE CREW TO SAIL INTO THE LIGHTS, BUT WITHIN MOMENTS WE WERE AGROUND, THE ROCKS TORE INTO OUR HULL, IT SOON BECAME CLEAR THAT WE HAD TO ABANDON SHIP.

BOATS CAME TO MEET US TO TAKE US ASHORE. UNSHACKLE THE PRISONERS WAS MY FIRST COMMAND, WE WERE IN FEAR OF SINKING, AS THE BOATS REACHED THE SHIP AND MEN CLIMBED ABOARD IT SOON BECAME CLEAR THAT WE WERE NOT BEING SAVED, BUT ENSLAVED.

THOSE FIT ENOUGH TO WALK WERE HEARDED ONTO BOATS, THOSE THAT WERE NOT, WERE THROWN OVERBOARD..

AS I SAT IN THAT TINY BOAT I LOOKED BACK AS MY SHIP DISSAPEARED BENEATH THE WAVES.

I WAS HERDED ALONG WITH THE PRISONERS INTO A GROUP ON THE SHORE.

OBEY ME OR DIE WAS THE MOST CHILLING WORDS I HAVE HEARD IN MY LIFE, I FELT AS ONE WITH THOSE SAVED FROM THE SHIP, I WAS AS MUCH A PRISONER AS THEY WERE.

SHE STOOD BEFORE US LIKE A GODDESS, BUT ALL I COULD SEE WAS MISERY HAD CLAIMED US,

SHE TURNED AND WALKED AWAY, WITH HER MEN FOLLOWING HER.

WE WERE LEFT ALONE ON THAT BEACH WITH NOTHING BUT THE CLOTHES WE STOOD IN, SEVERAL MEN TRIED TO ESCAPE BUT SOON REALISED THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO.

AS CAPTAIN I TRIED TO GET ORDER, BUT IT WAS HOPELESS,

OUT OF 134 PRISONERS I COULD COUNT 38 LEFT ALIVE.

IT WAS DARK AND COLD AND STRANDED ON THIS BEACH I COULD DO NOTHING.

I WAS ALONE, THE PRISONERS HAD LONG GONE, WHY I DONT KNOW, WHERE COULD THEY GO.

IN THE MORNING I WALKED ALONG THE SHORE TO FIND SOME COTTAGES, I WAS SEEKING HELP, BUT AS SOON AS THEY SAW ME THEY WENT INSIDE .I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL OF THE PRISONERS, AT FIRST THEY TRIED TO HIDE BUT SOON REALISED THAT IT WAS HOPELESS. WE HAD TO FIND FOOD AND SHELTER, BUT NO MATTER WHERE WE WENT ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED THE MOMENT WE CAME IN SIGHT.

FOR DAYS WE WONDERED OVER THE ISLAND TRYING TO FIND SHELTER AND FOOD,

BY NOW THOSE PRISONERS THAT STAYED WITH ME TO LEAD THEM NUMBERED ONLY 4, THE REST WERE LEFT TO THERE OWN MISERY.

WE BUILT A CAMP ON THE FORESHORE AT THE NORTH OF THE ISLAND, WE HAD WATER FROM A STREAM THAT RUN INTO A RIVER, FRUIT FROM THE TREES AND WHATEVER FISH WE COULD CATCH.

WE LIVED LIKE THIS FOR MONTHS, ONE DAY A FISHERMAN WAS WALKING ALONG THE SHORE, WITH A ROD AND HIS CATCH FIXED TO A POLE ON HIS SHOULDER, HE LOOKED SUPRISED TO SEE US, I THINK HE WAS FRIGHTENED, BUT WE WERE MORE SCARED OF HIM, WHAT IF HE WAS ONE OF THOSE THAT LURED US TO THIS ISLAND.

AS I WALKED OVER TO HIM THE ISLAND BECAME COLD, FREEZING COLD, A WHITE ICY MIST CAME TUMBLING DOWN THE HILLS FORCING US ALL TO RUN TO THE SHORE, RUN I SHOUTED, RUN INTO THE SEA, THE MIST HOVERED OVER OUR HEADS AND STOPPED, BUT IT WAS SOME TIME BEFORE WE WALKED BACK ONTO THE SAND, SHES DONE IT , THE FISHERMAN LOOKED OPEN MOUTHED AT THE MIST, SHES DONE IT, SHE SAID SHE WOULD,

AS WE ALL SAT BACK ON THE SAND HE EXPLAINED THAT THE ISLANDERS HAD VOWED TO KILL THE WITCH,

BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET NEAR HER, SO WE ALL DESTROYED ALL THE PLANTS SHE USED TO MAKE HER SPELLS, HE TOLD ME YOURS WAS THE LAST SHIP SHE MANAGED TO WRECK, MANY MORE HAVE PASSED BUT SHE IS HELPLESS WITHOUT HER SPELLS TO LURE THEM TO THE ISLAND.

BUT WHAT HAS SHE DONE I ASKED, SHE HAS SENT THEM ALL TO HELL HE SAID, INTO NOWHERE, SHE SAID SHE WOULD.

WE ARE THE LUCKY ONES, THE MIST NEVER CAUGHT US,

WE ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONES LEFT NOW.

THE ISLAND WAS SILENT BAR THE SOUND OF THE WAVES.

THE FISHERMAN EXPLAINED THE POWER THE WITCH HAD ON THE ISLAND, THE TIDES WERE SO STRONG NOBODY COULD EVER LEAVE, TO PROVE HER POINT SHE KEPT ALL HER GOLD AND JEWELS THAT SHE PLUNDERED IN A LARGE GLASS CASE ON THE MAIN MARKETPLACE KNOWING THAT IT WAS STUPID STEALING A SINGLE PIECE BECAUSE IT WAS WORTHLESS TO THEM.

FIDDLERS EARS CAUGHT THIS, GOLD JEWELS, WHERE, OH SHUT UP SAID JOEY, GO ON TOMMY READ THE REST.

IT SAYS HERE THAT, WELL BASICALLY EVEYONE ON THE ISLAND JUST DISSAPPEARED, SO DID THE GOLD AND JEWELS.

WELL THAT EXPLAINS A LOT SAID JOEY, NOBODY IS HERE, NOBODY. I HAVENT FINISHED YET SAID TOMMY, THERES LOADS MORE.

JOEY PEERED OVER TOMMYS SHOULDER AS HE READ MORE, AFTER A FEW DAYS WE REALISED THAT ONLY THOSE THAT WERE IN THE SEA AT THE TIME SURVIVED THE MIST, A FEW FISHERMEN ON THE SHORES AND SOME THAT WERE SEARCHING THE SHIPWRECKS FOR ANYTHING THEY COULD FIND.

EVERYBODY JUST VANISHED, BUT IT WAS STRANGE, IT DIDNT EFFECT ANIMALS ON THE ISLAND, AND SOME THINGS LIKE THE CASE OF GOLD AND JEWELS WERE STILL THERE ON THE HARBOUR, JUST LIKE BEFORE, YOU COULD FEEL THE CASE, BUT IT WASNT THERE.

THE FISHERMAN EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE ISLAND WAS UNHINHABITED UNTILL WITCH WAS SHIPWRECKED, HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CREW, JUST A YOUNG BOY.

WITCH TRIED EVERYTHING TO ESCAPE THE ISLAND BUT NO SPELL ON EARTH COULD GET ANYTHING PAST THOSE WAVES, THE CURRENTS JUST THREW US BACK TO SHORE.

WE HAD NOTHING, NO FOOD NOTHING.

WITCH CAST A SPELL WHICH MADE THE ISLAND INVISIBLE, SHE MADE US LURE SHIPS IN DISTRESS TO THE ROCKS, THERE WAS ONLY A FEW OF US, BUT IT WAS EASY, ONCE THE ROCKS HAD CLAIMED THEM WE JUST STORMED ABOARD AND TOOK CHARGE, WE LOOTED EVERYTHING, WITCH MADE SURE SHE GOT THE VALUABLES OF THOSE DEAD AND ALIVE, SHE LEFT US TO GET ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP US TO SURVIVE. ALL THE FOOD, DRINK AND SOMETIMES LIVESTOCK, WITHIN A FEW MONTHS WE LIVED LIKE KINGS, ANY SURVIVERS WERE SLAVES.

THEY BUILT HOUSES, WORKED THE FARMS, BUT AS THE SLAVES GREW IN NUMBERS THE TROUBLE STARTED, MANY TRIED TO KILL WITCH, BUT SHE HAS A FORTRESS ON THE CLIFF TOPS, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET NEAR HER, THOSE CAUGHT WERE SIMPLY THROWN OFF THE CLIFFS.

MANY TRIED TO STEAL THE FORTUNE IN HER CASE ON THE HARBOUR BUT SHE JUST LAUGHED IF ANYTHING WENT MISSING, SHE ORDERED HER THUGS TO SEARCH THE HOUSES TILL SHE FOUND THEM, BUT FOR EVERY ONE SHE KILLED, MORE WERE CAST UPON THE ROCKS OR BECAME HER SLAVES.

AS THE YEARS PASSED MANY BECAME RESIGNED TO THEIR FATE, BUT A FEW FORMED A SECRET ARMY, NOT TO KILL WITCH, THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT TO FIND A WAY TO STOP HER, BUT WHATEVER WAS TRIED FAILED, A FEW MONTHS AGO SOMEBODY THOUGHT THE ONLY WAY TO STOP HER WAS TO DESTROY ALL THE PLANTS AND POTIONS SHE GREW TO CAST HER SPELLS, THATS WHEN WE STARTED SEARCHING THE HILLS, WE HAD MEN SECRETLY WATCHING HER TO SEE WHERE THESE WERE PLANTED, WE SOON KNEW WHERE EVERYTHING WAS, BUT AFTER WE DESTROYED A FEW FIELDS SHE GOT HER MEN TO WATCH THEM DAY AND NIGHT.

BUT WE ORGANISED OURSELVES, ONE NIGHT WE PLANNED TO RAID THEM ALL AND DESTROY EVERYTHING, BUT THERE WAS A TRAITOR IN OUR GROUP, AS SOON AS WE TURNED UP WE KNEW IT WAS A TRAP, BUT WE ALL CHARGED FORWARD AND POURED BOILING TAR ALL OVER HER SACRED PLANTS.

SOME ESCAPED, BUT MANY WERE KILLED.

THAT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO, WITCH VOWED TO SEND US ALL TO HELL, I SUPPOSE SHE FOUND A FEW PLANTS TO MAKE THIS SPELL, AND NOW SHE HAS.

CAPTAIN JAMES WATKINS WROTE THAT THERE WERE ONLY 8 SURVIVERS OF WITCHES CURSE, WE SENT A PARTY INTO THE HILLS EVERYDAY KILLING ANY PLANTS THAT GREW AGAIN,

AFTER A FEW DAYS THE MIST WENT, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN WITCH WOULD APPEAR, PEOPLE WOULD GO MISSING, SOMETIMES LIGHTS WOULD APPEAR AT NIGHT LURING SHIPS ONTO THE ROCKS, THE ONLY THING STOPPING HER WAS HER PLANTS AND POTIONS, OH SHE WAS STILL POWERFUL, BUT AS LONG AS WE KEPT HER PLANTS UNDER OUR CONTROL SHE WAS IN THE WILDERNESS, TO WHOMEVER FIND THIS, FIND THE PLANTS AND DESTROY THEM OR SHE WILL REIGN AGAIN.