Remember Me - Lesley Pearse [93]
But Detmer insisted it must be Mary who paid over the money and collected the goods, saying it was much less risky. Maybe concealing the money in clean washing and collecting some more dirty clothes with the sextant and compass tucked inside was a sound idea. But Will didn’t like the way it looked to the others – he was in charge of this escape, not Mary. He was afraid that before long the other men might start thinking it was all her idea.
Will was brooding about this when he went off fishing one afternoon. Only the previous evening he’d wanted all the men to come to their hut and talk about the escape together. Mary would have none of it. She claimed that such a large gathering would be noticed, then they’d be watched more closely. She ruled that they must only ever continue to meet up in threes or fours.
Even James Martin, Will’s closest friend, agreed with Mary. It made Will sick that James would take her part rather than his.
Will was on the cutter, with six other men ordered to help him that day, and about to cast off, when Bennelong came along the wharf. He had his sister and her two children with him, along with Charlotte who often played with them. When Bennelong made signs that he wanted them all to go out on the boat, Will’s first thought was to refuse. He didn’t like having so many people aboard, and anyway he was in no mood for company. But he knew it was a good idea for Charlotte to get used to the boat, and besides, Bennelong might take offence if he refused him, and then withdraw his promise to help in the escape. He really had no choice but to agree.
It was a pleasant day, much cooler than of late, and Will’s bad mood left him once they were out in the bay. When Bennelong excitedly pointed out a quantity of seabirds hovering close to the west side of the bay, Will knew he was saying there was a large shoal of fish there.
Bennelong proved to be right, and it wasn’t long before they pulled in the seine and found it full of fish. It was the best haul they’d had in some weeks.
Will was delighted, he kept thumping Bennelong on the back and telling him what a good fellow he was.
‘Good fellow,’ Bennelong repeated with a wide grin which showed off his perfect teeth. ‘You get good fellow rum?’
‘I’ll drink some with you,’ Will laughed, and made signs to suggest they had a party. With such a good catch he’d be able to keep back a big quantity for himself, and he was in the right mood for getting drunk.
They were sailing back towards the wharf, the bottom of the boat full of wriggling fish, still laughing and congratulating each other on their good fortune, when suddenly a stiff wind came up, catching Will off his guard. The boat gathered speed, heading straight for some rocks, and Will couldn’t go about fast enough. There was a crunch, the hooks holding the sails snapped, tipping the boat up, and all at once water poured in.
If there hadn’t been so many people on the boat, Will could have dealt with it, but two of the convict men, both inexperienced, panicked, and suddenly the boat keeled right over and everyone fell out.
Will’s first thought was for Charlotte as he hit the water, but John, one of the crew, already had her in his arms. She was screaming at the shock, but seemed unhurt. Bennelong’s sister had both her two children too, clinging to her back, and with just a shout to her brother, she began to swim back to the shore with them.
‘I’ll take Charlotte,’ John yelled. ‘You get the men.’
Bennelong stayed long enough to help Will with the other five men, only two of whom could swim, then he too made off for the shore. As Will helped the floundering non-swimmers catch hold of the capsized boat, he swore to himself. He had lost the entire catch, he knew Captain Phillip was going to be very angry, and even worse, it probably meant their hope to escape in the next couple of weeks was scuppered.
As Will stayed with the boat, the other men coughing