Page 142 of Destiny of the Witch

The boy ran off and the two girls surveyed us curiously.

‘What you wanna go over there for?’ one of them queried.

‘Bird watching,’ Romy said immediately. ‘We’re ornithologists. We study birds in their natural habitat and there are reputedly lots of seabirds on that island.’

‘Ornry what?’ The youngest girl wrinkled her nose. ‘Who wants to go all the way over there just to look at birds? There’s birds everywhere!’

‘Well,’ Romy said, ‘that’s just what interests us I’m afraid.’

They exchanged glances which clearly said they thought we had more money than sense.

The little boy returned a few minutes later, hand-in-hand with a red-faced man who, to be honest, didn’t look strong enough to row us out to the island. He was elderly, incredibly thin and quite small, and his clothes had been patched so many times they were more patch than original material.

My heart went out to this family. Life round here was clearly tough. Who could blame him for seeking warmth in the inn?

‘Jago tells me you want to go to the island,’ he said.

‘They watch birds, Grandad,’ the little girl said. ‘They’re ornry something.’

He frowned. ‘Eh?’

‘We’re ornithologists,’ I explained hastily. ‘We study birds in their natural environment. If you’d take us out there we’d be very grateful.’

He considered the matter. ‘And you’d want me to wait around while you’re looking at these birds? Or would you expect me to go back an’ pick you up?’

‘Oh no,’ Blaise said immediately. ‘We have a friend with a boat who can collect us later. It would just be one journey for you and no waiting.’

‘Hmm. Friend with a boat you say? From these parts?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘Just visiting. He’ll be putting out from Gerrenporth.’

He shook his head, clearly baffled. Even so, his need for money got the better of him. ‘How much would you be willing to pay?’ He nodded at the sea. ‘Bit choppy out there today and freezing cold. My old bones ache at the best of times so I’m not going out there for nothing.’

‘Naturally,’ I said. ‘Would ten shillings suffice?’

His eyes widened and I heard his grandchildren gasp. Maybe I’d been over generous in my offer? But how could I begrudge them payment, given their obvious circumstances?

‘Er, I reckon that would do the job,’ he said, trying to sound nonchalant.

I gave him the money. ‘And a penny each for the children, since they were kind enough to recommend you,’ I added, handing the delighted youngsters their finders’ fee.

‘I went and fetched him for you,’ Jago reminded me hopefully.

I laughed. ‘Another penny for you then.’

‘Don’t go spoiling them,’ the man warned. ‘You lot, get off home now and tell your ma where I’m going.’ He handed the eldest girl the money I’d given him. ‘Give that to her an’ all. Now, you keep that safe, Mary. And don’t go tellin’ anyone about it neither, you hear me?’

She nodded and the three of them ran off.

‘Right,’ the man said heavily. ‘I suppose we’d better get goin’ then.’ He eyed the sky doubtfully. ‘I reckon there’ll be rain later. Heavy rain. You sure about this? Nothin’ on that island from what I’ve heard except some trees to shelter under.’

‘We’re used to it,’ Romy assured him. ‘It’s what we do as ornithologists. We’re carrying out important research into English birds and their natural environments.’

‘Funny job for a woman, being an ornary…’ He floundered and scratched his head. ‘Funny job for anyone if you ask me, but what do I know? No disrespect intended. We’d best set off now afore the weather turns.’

It wasn’t a pleasant trip to the island. In fact, I felt distinctly queasy, and looking at Romy and Blaise I could see they were having trouble preventing themselves from literally throwing up. The old man didn’t speak which we were grateful for. The waves heaved and tossed the little boat around, and I had an awful flashback to the day I received Excalibur. At least we had the island to look forward to, and it grew ever nearer, filling me with hope the closer we got to it. I would never, I thought fervently, be gladder to set foot on that shore.

The man dropped us as close as he could to the shingle beach, but there was no jetty in this time and nowhere to moor the boat. We had to jump into the sea and wade the rest of the way.

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