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‘Not for a couple of aret sniffed, pushed tentatively at her ht have given us ha opened the conversation, she was now unsure what else to say She returned to her book

Maude Gonne shifted and whined in sleep, her paws scrabbling against Margaret’s back The noise was disguised by the thru outside the half-open door But she would have to do so Maude Gonne couldn’t stay in here for the whole six weeks Even if she only left to go to the bathrooirls were here Hoould she keep her quiet then?

Bugger it, she thought, shifting her belly again What with the baby ht, day and every single ht

The cabin door was open and Avice stepped in, re Ian with a bruised forehead – and raised a s on the botto in a raised platfor, they were less than five feet apart, and the wos, were stacked securely against the temporary sheet-metal wall that divided them from the next cabin

The entire space was rather smaller than her bathroom at hoers: the fabrics were utilitarian at best, the floor uncarpeted, the colour a uniforrey The only mirrors were in the steaer cases, with the s, were stored in the quarterdeck lockers, which s access from a spectacularly sour WSO, who had already reminded Avice twice – hat Avice felt was obvious envy – that life on board was not a fashion parade

Avice was desperately disappointed in her travelling co she had seen girls in sht sort of look, the kind that spoke to Avice of a social standing not dissiht have found consolation in their company for the awfulness of the ship But instead she had been landed with a pregnant far to be one of those superior types, as if the terrible things she had supposedly witnessedto enjoy themselves) And, of course, there was Jean

‘Hey there, shiparet, her thin bare liarette ‘Avice andout the action on board There’s a cine to the pictures later?’

‘No Thanks anyway,’ said Frances

‘Actually, I think I’ll stay here and write some letters’ Avice hadher skirt down over her thighs with one hand It took sogie?’ Jean leant over the side of her bunk

Her head heaving suddenly into view aret jump and contort into a peculiar shape Avice wondered if this travelling co to prove even odder than she had suspected Margaret seee: she reached behind her, picked up a azine and flicked it open with studied nonchalance ‘No,’ she said ‘Thank you I – I should probably rest’

‘Yeah You do that,’ said Jean, hauling herself back into her bunk and taking a long drag on her cigarette ‘The last thing ant is you dropping it in here’

Avice was searching for her hairbrush She had been through her vanity case several tiaze at the others Now that the excite off had dissipated, and the circu to have to spend the next six weeks had co it difficult to keep sh ‘I’m sorry to bother you all, but has anyone seen ht it rather noble of her not to direct this at Jean

‘What’s it look like?’

‘Silver It has my initials on the back My married ones – AR’

‘Not up here,’ said Jean ‘A few things spilt out of our cases when the engines did that juddery thing earlier Have you looked on the floor?’

Avice knelt down, cursing the inadequate light from the one unshaded overhead bulb If they’d had a , she would have been able to see better In fact, everything would have been irls had got s She couldn’t understand why her father hadn’ther arh on the inside of her thigh She shrieked and ju the back of her head on Frances’s bunk

‘What, in heaven’s na her stu round in an effort to see behind her ‘Who did that? Was it someone’s idea of a joke?’

‘What’s the oosed me Someone stuck their cold wet’ Here, words failed Avice, and she gazed round suspiciously, as if perhaps sooosedher silently, her face i it,’ Avice told her crossly

It was then that all eyes fell on Margaret, as leaning over the edge of her bunk, s crossed defensively, stared at her

Margaret looked up at her with a guilty expression She stood up, went to the door, closed it and sighed ‘Oh, hell I need to tell you all soet a cabin tolike this’

Avice took a step backwards – which was a difficult manoeuvre in so little space ‘Like what? Oh, Lord! You’re not one of thosedeviant types? Oh, aret

‘I knew I shouldn’t have coet a cabin toa nest under your bunk?’ said Jean ‘My cat did that when she had kittens Made a terriblea ruddy nest Look, I’’ Her cheeks were flushed

Avice crossed her hands protectively over her chest ‘Is this your way of apologising?’