TROOP SHIP 1939
“It’s
no worse than when we went fishing that time,” Albie said, holding Bert’s belt
as the troopship lurched into another trough.
“I were sick then too, remember?” Bert said, heaving up more
of his breakfast.
Albie parked his whey-faced friend under a companionway and
left him there while he walked the deck. The dark grey waves lifted and fell
all the way to a horizon almost as grey, needles of spray lacerated his cheeks,
and the deck was slimy with spume and vomit, but Albie pulled in deep lungfuls
of the salty wind and laughed with sheer exhilaration.
.................................................................................
I believe this is the first time I've posted an extract from a book, but the mind of a writer is a strange land, and Ted Strutz's photo of a modern ferry took me to a scene from Helter-Skelter - a novel I am hoping to get published. I had to cut the little scene severely to fit, but I hope it shows how much Albie loves the wild tooth and claw of Nature.
