Sunday 7th July 1900 02.30am
17 Nautical Miles E - NE
Port Macquarie
He woke as the footsteps came closer. The soft padding into the small cabin stopped abruptly at his bunk. His eyes slit open. Light from the lantern held above his head danced across the ceiling and shimmered over the shadowy figure standing above him.
“Wake up – wake up boy.” Sebastian’s gruff Scottish accent cut through the silence.
Arthur lifted himself slowly, resting on his elbows as he strained to see out the small porthole on the other side of the cabin. It was still pitch black outside. Arthur looked back to the wrinkled face of the old engineer who smelt of oil and sweat. He couldn’t make sense of what was happening.
“It ain’t light yet. I ain’t suspose to be fixin’ the morning meal until…” but he was silenced by an angry rebuff.
“Don’t argue with me, boy. Grab yer gear and get yerself top side. Captain’s orders.” Sebastian’s anger was unusual. His normally cheery nature replaced by an uneasiness that Arthur had never seen before. The older man had been Arthur’s closest friend on this, his first sea voyage.
