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‘Do we really need theotthe chastity rounds, surely that should be adequate?’

‘Well, it’s obviously not, is it? Not if we’re already breaking up petting parties and goodness knohat else Look, we’re only a week out of port If we let it slip now, heaven knohere we’ll end up’ He was besieged by i couples in the flour store, of irate husbands and puce-faced admiralty

‘Oh, come on, sir I’d say it’s important to keep it in perspective’

‘What?’

‘There are bound to be a few hiccups to begin with, especially with so e In fact, after the business with Indo It shows that the h diplomacy or even a desire not to wound their captain further, no one had talked of the sunken ship – at least, not in relation to the htened It ht have been reflexive More likely it was because of who had spoken

As he gathered his thoughts, Dobson added silkily, ‘If you’d rather, Captain, you could leave disciplinary matters to us It would be sad, sir, if, because of a few youthful high jinks, you couldn’t enjoy this last voyage a little’

In Dobson’s barbed words, in his relaxed, confident hfield now but would not say aloud Once, Dobson would never have dared speak to hihfield was so stunned by this barely veiled insubordination that he couldn’t speak When the steward arrived with his tea, he had to wait for several seconds before the captain noticed his presence

The marine captain, a more diplomatic sort, leant forward ‘I think, sir, that much of the problem this past week ht,’ he said ‘I believe that both the seae of the fact that so many of the monitors were absent to increase the levels of – erm – interaction Give it a few days more and the woot used to having thes will settle down’

Highfield, now suspicious, studied the marine captain There was a transparency in his expression visibly lacking in that of the s be?’

‘Yes, I do, sir’

‘I agree, sir,’ said Dobson ‘Best not to rattle things up too nored hier, he turned to the o softly for now But I want to know everything, every footstep, that takes place below deck after ten pet thehtest hint of htest hint, mind – I want us to be down on it like a ton of bricks I will not have anyone charge this voyage with lowering naval standards Not under my command’

Dear Deanna,

I hope you, Mother and Father are all well I’ht I would write and let you know a little of our voyage It is all terribly exciting I often think howare the conditions we travel in, given htful new friends: Margaret, whose father owns a large estate not far fro ad; and Jean They are all so irl here has brought fifteen pairs of shoes with her! I a before I cas, isn’t it?

My accoest part of the boat, a short distance froe and the captain’s ‘sea cabin’ We are told there et to Gibraltar as it is entirely possible that several governors are co to look forward to

The staff really cannot do enough for us Every day they lay on new entertain, all the latest films I am off to watch National Velvet this afternoon I don’t believe it has reached Melbourne yet but, believe irls who have already seen it say Elizabeth Taylor is perfectly wonderful The sailors are chars to eat And, Deanna, you would die for the food It’s as if no one had ever heard of rationing Not quite the powdered egg we had all feared! So you can tell Mother and Father they do not need to worry in the slightest

There is a fully fitted hair salon at the far end of the ship After I finish writing I think I ht even offer some help! Remember how Mrs Johnson always said no one could set hair like me? I shall have to find a decent salon as soon as I reach London I shall, of course, let you know all about London I a to hear from Ian before we meet, as to the plans for our little holiday there

As I said, I hope my letter finds you all well, and please do pass on my happy news to the old crowd Oh, yes, your little recital will have taken place by the tiain when I’ sister

Avice

Avice was sitting in the s out of the salt-spatteredat the seagulls swooping alongside the ship and the bright skies beyond For the half-hour it had taken her to write her letter, she had ale she had created So much so, in fact, that she had felt rather deflated when she signed off to find herself back in this rusting waterborne hangar, surrounded not by cocktail parties and adorable new friends but by the scarred noses of the aeroplanes on the deck, the shuffling, incoherent boys in their grubby overalls, the brine and salt, the saret was leaning over her, that huge belly alet soht settle your stomach’