Since she had come on board she realised that quite a number of other people had now arrived.
Sadira was not certain whether they were passengers or seamen getting the ship ready for the voyage.
She, however, could see Britan driving away and she waved rather wistfully after him.
As he did so, she felt that she was losing her last contact with the civilised world she knew.
She opened the porthole wider to let in some fresh air and by standing on tiptoe and poking her head out she had a better view of the quay than she had before.
Now she could just glimpse the gangway that she had aboard on and she recognised that it was to be used only by the passengers.
There was another gangway further along the ship’s side for those working on board.
Time went by and then she was aware that carr
