Beyond the Sunset (14 page)

Zachary woke very early the next morning and managed to get out of the cabin without waking Leo, who was a sound sleeper. When he went to the ship’s rail, he saw a low-lying mass ahead of them, looking like a dark smear on the horizon.

‘That’s Rottnest Island at last,’ a voice said and he turned to see the doctor standing nearby.

‘Oh, yes. It was mentioned in the
Clara
’s
Weekly Journal
a few weeks ago.’ He frowned, trying to remember what had been said.

‘Rottnest is a penal station for the blackfellows,’ the doctor went on. ‘They will keep stealing sheep and spearing cattle.’

It looked a bleak place to Zachary, low-lying scrubby land, and he couldn’t help feeling sorry for anyone imprisoned there. One of the more sympathetic passengers had told him the natives didn’t have the same ideas about ownership of livestock and couldn’t really understand the legal niceties which decreed they should be banished to Rottnest merely for taking food. If that was true, it seemed rather unfair, like asking him to obey orders given in a foreign language he didn’t understand a word of.

They stood at the rail for a few more moments then he said, ‘I can’t believe the journey’s over at last.’

‘Not quite. We have to wait for a pilot to take us in. Even then, we’ll have another wait before we can disembark by small boat, because the ship won’t be tying up at a wharf. The water isn’t deep enough. They really ought to do something about improving Fremantle harbour.’

‘I shall just be glad to get back on dry land, however we reach it.’

‘You’ll feel strange at first, as if the ground is still moving beneath you like the deck does.’ The doctor hesitated then said, ‘The Captain has asked me to sound you out about doing us a favour.’

‘Oh?’

‘I know you have urgent business here, but could you stay behind till we see whether anyone comes to meet Leo? We’re worried about what’s going to happen to him. He may have been raised a gentleman, but he’s slow-witted and not at all fit to fend for himself. If I’d realised what he was like, I’d never have allowed him on board unaccompanied.’

‘And if no one does come to meet him?’

‘We’ll have no choice but to report his presence to the Governor, who may decide he’ll be safer locked away for his own protection.’

‘He’d hate that. He loves being out of doors.’

‘He’d hate to be beaten and bullied too, not to mention having his money and possessions stolen and going hungry. You know as well as I do that there are some people who prey on those weaker than themselves.’ He waited, head cocked on one side.

‘Oh, very well. I’ll stay behind – for a day or two only. I can’t spare any more time than that.’

‘Thank you. As a partial recompense, the Captain said he would help you find out about getting a passage back to England. He’ll be able to discover that much more easily than you would. As he told you before, you may have to go to Albany, on the south coast, if no ships are due to call at Fremantle. Mail ships call there every month or two and even though they don’t go to England, you could take passage on one to Point de Galle in Ceylon. You’d easily find a suitable ship there and go back to England via Suez and Gibraltar. Galle is a coaling station for the Bombay, Singapore and China trade, and is a very busy port.’

‘It hadn’t even occurred to me that it’d be so difficult to get back to England – nor to the lawyer who sent me.’

‘Yes. People joke about the ends of the earth, but I think the Swan River Colony really is one of the most isolated outposts Britain has. The other Australian colonies are much busier places. I’d not want to settle here.’

Nothing happened for a week or two and Zachary’s wages were delivered by one of the shopmen on his way home. Hallie was just beginning to hope that Harry had tired of tormenting her when she met him in the park one Sunday. She’d cut through it on her way to visit a friend, as she often did.

She looked round in fear but he’d chosen his moment well and there was no one else in sight.

He grasped her arm so that she couldn’t get away, his fingers digging in so hard that it hurt.

‘It wasn’t very friendly of you to avoid me, Hallie.’

‘I’d gone out to the back. You came earlier that week.’

‘Does that mean you’re going to be more friendly in future?’

She couldn’t think what to answer.

‘I want a kiss next time . . . and after that, we’ll see what happens.’

She wanted to say no, but she didn’t dare. He was hurting her and smiling at her and she felt like a rabbit in a trap.

With a laugh he let go of her and took his hat off, bowing slightly. ‘Nice to have met you again, Miss Carr.’

As he walked away, she saw two women staring at them and could tell that they thought she’d been meeting him secretly. She wanted to shout that she hadn’t, that she hated him, but she didn’t dare do that, either. All she could do was hurry home, forgetting her errands, to her mother’s surprise.

Zachary watched the other cabin passengers disembark in small groups, some of the women making a fuss about the difficulties of getting down into the boat that would take them to shore. He felt impatient to get started on his mission, but one look at Leo, standing beside him staring across the water to the town of Fremantle with that slightly vacant stare, and he knew he couldn’t leave the poor lad on his own. He might look big and strong, but he was too gentle for his own good, and even cringed away from the children on the ship, some of whom had tried to torment him until the ship’s doctor had put a stop to it.

By the following morning Zachary was feeling impatient. What would he do if no one came to collect Leo? Take him along in the hunt for the sisters? It wouldn’t be right to use their money for that. If he did, he’d have to pay it back – and with what?

A short time later a small boat came out to the ship and a man yelled up, ‘My name’s Sayrson. I’m looking for Leopold Hutton.’

‘He’s here,’ one of the officers called back.

‘Is he ready to leave?’

‘No. He needs to get his things together and the Captain wants to see anyone asking for him.’

‘I’d better come on board, then.’

Zachary had been listening to this and studying the burly man. For some reason, he took an instant dislike to the newcomer, who heaved himself on to the deck grumbling audibly. The man might be well dressed but he looked brutal. There was no other word to describe his expression.

Leo, who had moved to the rail at the sound of his own name, took one look at Sayrson and moved closer to Zachary.

‘This is Leo,’ the officer said.

‘Ah.’ Sayrson studied him, nodding. ‘You look a strong young chap. Your father has asked me to look after you and find you a job.’

‘My father’s dead.’

‘Your
step
father, then.’ Sayrson ran his eyes up and down Leo, as if he were a horse he was thinking of buying, and his smile became positively gloating as he stepped forward. ‘He says you’re a good worker.’

Leo backed away from him. ‘I don’t like you. I’m not going with you.’

Sayrson’s smile vanished and he said in a harsh voice, ‘You’ll do as you’re told, young man. Now, jump to it. Go and fetch your bags.’

‘Where will you be taking him?’ Zachary asked.

‘What’s that to do with you?’

‘I’ve grown fond of him on the voyage. I’m concerned for his welfare.’

‘Well, you don’t need to be. I feed my workers well.’

‘What sort of work will he be doing?’

‘Physical work. What else is he capable of?’

Zachary could find no answer to that. ‘So you’re a relative?’

‘Not me. Do I look the sort who’d breed an idiot? But I know his stepfather and have agreed to take charge of the lad this end. Better he stays with me than goes in there.’ He pointed to a large building constructed of limestone blocks that looked well on its way to being finished.

Zachary looked at it in puzzlement.

Sayrson laughed uproariously. ‘It’s the new Lunatic Asylum. Now, this is my authorisation.’ He held out a letter.

The officer standing beside Zachary took it and read it quickly, then handed it back. ‘Very well, sir. I’ll inform the Captain and have Leo’s trunk fetched.’

‘I’m not going with him.’ Leo tried to back away, but could move no further.

‘You’ve no choice, lad,’ the officer said. ‘Ah, Captain. This is Mr Sayrson, who’s come for Leo. Mr Carr is a bit concerned.’

The Captain read the letter and turned to Zachary. ‘This gentleman has the authority.’

‘Leo can come with me instead. I’ll look after him.’

Sayrson laughed. ‘Why should I let him go with you when I’ve work for him? Besides, his stepfather gave him into my care, not yours. I’ve given him my word and I intend to keep it. Now, I’ve put up with your interference for long enough. Mind your own business, young man.’

Zachary could only watch helplessly as a strong sailor was recruited to help force Leo down to the boat, which rocked so wildly because of his struggles that Sayrson cuffed him about the ears. Although Leo was just as big as he was, he cringed back and sat hunched up, looking as if he was crying. He was like an overgrown child, really, and as helpless as a child when it came to managing his life. How could the mother Leo spoke of with such love have allowed this to be arranged?

Had she known exactly what was to happen? Zachary doubted it.

Another sailor carried Leo’s portmanteau down, then the boat cast off.

‘I don’t like the looks of that man,’ Zachary commented.

‘Nor do I, but there was nothing I could do except let him go,’ the Captain said. ‘The Governor won’t see the need to intervene if there’s someone responsible for him, because he’d be a charge on the authorities otherwise.’

It’d be a long time before Zachary forgot Leo’s pleading and unhappy face growing smaller and smaller as the boat was rowed to the shore.

‘Could you come to my cabin in quarter of an hour, Mr Carr?’

‘Yes, Captain.’

He stood by the rail, looking across at Fremantle, which had a population of just over two thousand souls, according to articles in the ship’s newspaper. Perth wasn’t much larger, apparently, at just over three thousand. Surely in such small towns it’d not be hard to find the Blake sisters?

How would they feel when they found they’d been left what seemed to Zachary a small fortune? Would they take an interest in the shop? Or would they leave everything to a manager? They might even sell it. He didn’t know them well enough to hazard a guess.

He knew Harry only too well, though. The longer Zachary was away from his former colleague, the more certain he became that he’d have difficulty settling down to work under him.

He’d grown more confident in this new life, felt more sure of himself, something he hadn’t expected. People said travel broadened the mind, but it did more than that – much more. It taught you a lot about yourself in comparison to others.

The first time Alice went to tea with the Dawsons, she was slightly nervous. They were, after all, strangers. But they made her so welcome she really enjoyed the visit.

‘Perhaps you could come to tea with me next time?’ she suggested as she got ready to leave.

‘We’d be delighted,’ Judith Dawson said. ‘As long as my health permits. It’s up and down, so I never know from one day to the next whether I’ll be wheezing and unable to talk without coughing and spluttering, or whether I’ll be able to breathe more easily.’

Ralph walked home with Alice.

‘I like your sister.’

‘So do I. But her health isn’t good and I fear for her sometimes when she can’t breathe.’

‘Has she always been like this?’

‘She’s always been delicate, but she never complains.’

They walked slowly, chatting comfortably. The better she got to know Ralph, the more Alice liked him.

Did he like her in that same way? It was hard to tell, hard to hope, too, for a woman like her.

Alice invited Ralph and his sister to tea the following Sunday, but when the door knocker went, Dot showed only Ralph up to the parlour.

‘My sister sends her apologies. She’s having a bad day.’

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘I am too. I was looking forward to continuing our discussion about books.’

Alice hesitated. Should she? Would it cause talk to entertain him on her own? Oh, let it! ‘Would
you
like to join me for a while? It seems a pity to waste the scones and cake.’

He beamed at her. ‘I’d love to. Judith is sleeping now and probably won’t wake for an hour or two. Our maid will send a lad to fetch me if I’m needed. She’s very reliable. You’re sure I’ll not be putting you to any trouble?’

‘On the contrary. It gets a bit lonely at times here.’

Two hours had passed before either of them realised it.

‘I shouldn’t have stayed so long.’ He stood up.

She walked down to the door with him. ‘I’m glad you did. I feel much more cheerful for some company.’

‘No more troubles during the night?’

‘None at all.’

‘And Prebble has been very quiet, doing what he was asked and not going beyond his remit. I still can’t trust him, though.’

‘Neither can I. Will he be given the manager’s job when the new owners get back?’

‘Not if I have any say about it. The trouble is, the shop is indeed making more money under his management and Mr Featherworth is pleased about that.’

‘Perhaps Prebble has learned his lesson.’

Ralph sniffed scornfully. ‘Leopards don’t change their spots.’

Zachary was shown into the Captain’s cabin.

‘Do sit down, Carr. I’d like to thank you for your help with Leo on this voyage and the Governor has sent his thanks as well. I’m happy to tell you that his aide remembers the young women you’re looking for. There was a bit of a fuss when the oldest sister was accused of stealing, but it was proved that it was an error and the money was indeed her own. Since her new employer has purchased some land, we have her address. Two of her sisters went to another employer nearby.’ He held out a piece of paper. ‘These are the details.’

Zachary scanned the piece of paper eagerly, then frowned. ‘It’s not in Perth, then?’