Robert – whose nickname is Bobby – is a whirlwind. You wonder sometimes why you ever looked forward to having a child in the house! There is always extra mud on the floor, or something he’s broken needing repair. Still, he certainly brings the house to life.
Summer arrives, and the household celebrates Christmas and New Year. Not long afterwards, the master plans another trip to Hobart Town, and agrees to take Bobby along to see the sights, if you and Sarah will come along to supervise him. Molly and Mrs Tilsome seem pleased to have the chance to get things done around the house in Bothwell while Bobby’s away.
Now you stand in the sunshine at the far end of the wharves, watching Bobby play happily on the rocks. ‘Don’t get your shoes wet!’ you call. Bobby just laughs.
Sarah has gone off to a disreputable part of town known as Wapping, looking for the next clue to your da’s whereabouts …
‘Mr Taversham was a horrid old drunk, and a heavy gambler to boot,’ she told you when she first arrived in Bothwell, ‘and he’d entertain all sorts – travellers and vagabonds. Some of them were scary and you’d hope never to see them again, but one of them, Mike, came often, and he knows things. He helps moving livestock from the wharves all over the colony, so he sees all sorts go by. Now that you know your da did arrive here, and when, perhaps Mike can help us to find him. And … and … he is a very sweet man, too.’
You caught her blushing then, and gasped. ‘You have a beau!’ you squealed. ‘Have you kissed him? Sarah, tell the truth – is this a plan to find my da, or to meet up with Mike again?’
‘Both,’ she admitted, the pink in her cheeks spreading to her ears, ‘and no, of course I didn’t kiss him! It was too risky – you know we can get sent back to gaol for things like that. But maybe one day …’ She sighs.
That conversation was so long ago now. You’re so excited to have this opportunity to visit Hobart Town again today, and investigate. You wonder how Sarah is going on her hunt for Mike. You hope for her sake that he’s as kind and true a man as she thinks he is. Despite having gone through so much, Sarah has not lost her hopeful habit of seeing only the best in people.
Just then, you feel an odd prickling on your neck and turn to see a man watching you. He is young, and handsome in a quirky way – he has a long nose, ginger hair flopping to one side of his brow, and pale-blue eyes. His head is tilted to one side, his eyes resting on your face intently, a bemused half smile playing about his lips. He’s wearing a brown jacket, a high collar and braces, and leather boots.
After regarding the man for a moment, you look away, feeling a little fluttery. But when you turn back, he’s still standing there, seemingly transfixed by you. You look into each other’s eyes again, for what seems like the longest time. You know the ladylike thing to do would be to turn your back and ignore him, but you find that you can’t. He fills you with a curiosity to know him better.
A wail from Bobby snaps you to attention. He is lying sideways on a rock, clutching his knee. His little face is screwed up tearfully. You leap across the rocks to get to him. The ginger-haired gentleman is suddenly at your side. You sit Bobby up and dust him down. His knee is bleeding a little.
‘Allow me,’ says the gentleman. His voice is rounded, well-educated, but with a deep, lush Irish accent. It’s wonderful to hear a voice so instantly evocative of home. He ties his handkerchief around Bobby’s knee, pats his head, and turns to go.
‘Wait!’ you cry. ‘Why were you staring at me just now?’
He pauses to reply, but just at that moment you hear Sarah’s voice echo across the rocks as she returns, waving.
‘My apologies,’ the gentleman says, smiling. ‘You just remind me … of a very impressive man I know. You could be his daughter, the likeness is so striking.’
Your heart starts to pound. ‘Who?’ you ask, with bated breath.
But the mysterious gentleman sees Sarah approaching and says hurriedly, ‘I’ve said enough. I really must be off. Good luck,’ and he strides away over the rocks towards town at a pace you’ll never catch with Bobby in tow.
‘Your da was at Macquarie Harbour!’ Sarah cries breathlessly, joyfully, as she reaches you. Your heart is still pounding.
‘Sarah, that’s no cause for celebration,’ you say, stunned. On a place called Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour, on the wild, isolated west coast of Van Diemen’s Land, is a fearsome gaol. Hobart Town may feel like exile to some, but Macquarie Harbour is exile even from here: the lowest rung of Hell itself.
‘He tried to run away from a work gang here, and was sent to Macquarie Harbour – but it’s rumoured he escaped!’ she pants. ‘Mike had a friend who knew all about it. You do know what your da was taken away for in the first place, don’t you? That he was a freedom fighter in the Irish rebellion, who set fire to a government vessel?’
You nod, wondering who on earth she found in Wapping who knows so much about your da. ‘But no man can truly escape from that place,’ you whisper. ‘Sarah, he’ll have starved to death in the wilderness.’
‘Not all of the escapees starve!’ she cries. Then she sees your face, and stops. ‘I’m sorry. I was so happy at having found all this out that I forgot how worried you’d be. Your da must be a very strong man. Mike’s friend seemed sure that if anyone could
