Chapter 24
Alf clung to the end board of the top bunk. He no longer heard the ship’s bells above the hammer of the sea. The growl of his stomach told him they had gone long past dinner hour. In the bunk opposite, Annie lay pressed against Mary. Had she slept? How could she, with Mary writhing like an eel on the bed beside her? Maybe he should fetch one of the other women. No, it’d be hours before anyone was well enough to stir. Look how sick Bridie was. She’d scarcely moved since crawling into the bunk beneath. Though every so often a sob told him her rest wasn’t easy.
Alf saw Mary’s jerk of pain, her fingernails biting into Annie’s arm. After what seemed like an age, she relaxed, panting.
One, two, three … Alf resumed his steady count.
He couldn’t give an exact number, but the pains s
