Sue said: ‘Where is Mummy going?’
Sal said: ‘New South Wales, in Australia.’
‘Is it far?’
Kit knew the answer to this. He collected such facts. ‘It’s ten thousand miles,’ he said, proud of his knowledge. But Sue looked puzzled, as if she couldn’t understand what ten thousand miles was. He added: ‘It takes half a year for the ship to get there.’
‘Half a year!’ She understood that, and she began to cry. ‘But when will she come back?’
Sal said: ‘It will be a long time. Fourteen years.’
Kit said to Sue: ‘You and me will be grown up by then.’
Sal said: ‘Kit, let me answer the questions, please.’
‘Sorry.’
‘In a minute we’re going to the riverside to wave goodbye. She will go in a barge to Combe, then board a big ship for the long journey. Now, the sheriff has said that we can’t hug or kiss her. In fact, we mustn’t try to touch her.’
Sue sobbed: ‘It’s not fair!’
‘It certainly is not. But we’ll get into big trouble if we try to break the rules. Do you understand?’
‘Yes,’ said Sue.
‘Kit?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then we can go.’
They put on their coats.
Kit knew what was happening but did not really understand it. No one he knew thought that Joanie was a criminal. How could the judge have done such a wicked thing?
There was a crowd at the riverside. Kingsbridge people had been transported before, but they had been thieves and murderers. Joanie was a woman and a mother. He sensed the rage in the people who stood around him in their threadbare coats and old hats, huddled together in a light rain, resentful but helpless.
Joanie appeared, escorted by Sheriff Doye, and a muted rumble of hostility arose from those waiting. Kit saw that Joanie’s ankles were hobbled by a chain, which made her walk with unnaturally small steps. Sue saw the same thing, and cried: ‘Why are her feet chained up?’
Kit said: ‘To stop her running away.’
Sue burst into tears.
Sal said angrily: ‘Kit, I told you to let me answer the questions. You upset her.’
‘Sorry.’ I was only telling the truth, he thought, but his mother was not in a mood to be argued with.
Someone started clapping, and others joined in. Joanie seemed suddenly to notice the crowd, and her posture changed. She could not alter her peculiar walk, but she straightened her back and held her head high, and looked from side to side, nodding to people she knew. Kit thought vaguely that this was better for Sue. The worst thing must be to see her mother looking abject.
The applause grew as Joanie approached the barge.
Kit took Sue’s hand, to comfort her. His mother took the other hand, probably to restrain her if she tried to run to Joanie.
Joanie crossed the gangplank and stepped onto the deck of the barge.
Sue screamed, and Sal swiftly picked her up. Sue’s arms and legs thrashed, but Sal held her tightly.
A bargee untied the ropes and pushed off from the quay. The current gently eased the barge downstream, strong but unhurried.
