Prologue On Board an Adria Steamship
PROLOGUE
ON BOARD AN ADRIA STEAMSHIP
The woman on the deck glanced up as a dozen bad-tempered seabirds yelled and hooted.
Fool! You fool. Fool, they cackled, hurtling towards her.
She ducked, raising a hand to ward them off, but it was the wind snatching at her hair not the birds.
She swallowed, tasted the tang of salt on her tongue with a hint of seaweed.
Was she safe? It had been a leap of faith to board this ship in Syracuse and the further she leapt, the further away safety seemed to be.
She gazed at the shifting ocean. This was what she’d wanted, wasn’t it?
The sun began to set and the ship edged towards land. She gripped the railings, leaning over as far as she dared, mesmerised by something moving in the violet water.
She closed her eyes, felt the breeze cooling her burning cheeks.
The seabirds shrieked again. She raised her head, opened her eyes, and straightened up.
How long had she been clutching the railings, listening to the voices in the sea?
Because now, as the sun finally sank into the ocean, the sky was darkening to a deep velvety indigo, with such a sweep of stars that it stole her breath.
And right before her eyes, as the ship slid closer to the island, a glittering scene unfolded as if a curtain really had been raised on a fairy world.
Spellbound by the sight of the waters in the Grand Harbour dancing with the reflected lights from hundreds of illuminated vessels, she hugged herself, then turned to her companion.
‘It’s going to be all right,’ she whispered. ‘I’m going to be all right.’