Page 133 (2/2)

The staggering mortality rate was partly due to a harsh winter, as well as the fact that, while thefresh water, women and children were confined to the damp, crowded recesses of the ship, where disease could spread e, they remained on the ship for an additional fourquarters on land Young Puritans routinely cared for the sick, increasing their exposure to a vast array of illnesses, including a fatal affliction of the blood that historical documents called "consumption"

Myles Standish was elected governor of the colony in 1622 for thirty consecutive one-year terms He and his wife Rose had fourteen children, a remarkable seven sets of twins In an extraordinary turn of events, within a few years, the colony had doubled in size, withfamilies

- From Death and Life in the Plymouth Colonies, 1620�C1641 by Professor Lawrence Winslow Van Alen

Catherine Carver's Diary

21st of November, 1620

The Mayflower

It has been a difficult winter The sea does not agree with John, and we are always cold Perhaps ill find peace in this new land, although er behind Outside my , the coastline reserateful I will always long for hoer safe there I myself do not believe the rumors, but we must do as instructed It has always been our way John and I are traveling as husband and wife now We are planning onsoon There are far too few of us, and s will change Perhaps good fortune will shine on us, and our situation will ameliorate The ship has anchored We have landed A neorld awaits

- CC

NEW YORK CITY

The Present

;

Heartfelt thanks to the book's fairy godmothers - Brenda Bowen, Helen Perelave me a ship and let me fly Thank you to Colin Hosten, Elizabeth Clark, and everyone at Hyperion for believing in this book Thanks to Richard Abate, Kate Lee, Josie Freedorio and Karen Kenyon at ICM for their fantastic support

Hugs and kisses to the a at every reading and for always being there for me; Aina, Steve, Nico, and Chito - we are faie, too (especially Nicholas!); Dad J and Mo all those books; John, Anji, Alex, Tim, Rob, Jenn, Val, and the one on the e are family and we can mosh pit, too! Thanks to all the extended fas, the Izumis, and the de la Cruzes