She feels the girl’s sharp intake of breath as they look at each other.

What are you doing? the woman asks, straightening up from her work, and catching sight of her grandchild standing upright in the gorse, still and tense as a deer, smelling the air. Graceful as the apple tree by the spring, she thinks.

The girl turns to her. Time to go back, she says.

The wandring Islands . . . Where many Mermayds haunt, making false melodies ... There, whence that Musick seemed heard to bee, Was the faire Witche her self now solacing, With a new Lover, whom through sorceree And witchcraft, she from farre did thither bring ... But all those pleasant bowres and Pallace brave, Guyon broke downe, with rigour pittilesse; Ne ought their goodly workmanship might save Them from the tempest of his wrathfulnesse, But that their blisse he turn’d to balefulnesse: Their groves he feld, their gardins did deface ... And of the fairest late, now made the fowlest place.

Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, London, 1590

His mother was a witch, and one so strong That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs, And deal in her command without her power ... You’d be king o’the isle, sirrah?

William Shakespeare, The Tempest, London, 1612

Though I be A princess, and by that prerogative stand free ... Because no power above can examine me; Yet ... many wandering eyes upon my ways, Being left alone a sea-mark, it behoves me To use a little caution, and be circumspect.

John Fletcher, The Island Princess, London, c.1621

10
Nina

WOMEN: Thank you, Nina. We really appreciate the effort you have made to get here this evening, to talk to us here on Cwen.

NINA: No problem. [Pause] It’s a bit weird. [Pause] Can I smoke?

WOMEN: Yes, of course.

[Nina takes out a cigarette]

WOMEN: So, we wanted to ask you what you thought of Eva’s work?

NINA: [Click of lighter] At the college?

WOMEN: Well, the effort she spent on securing female leadership.

NINA: [Drag, exhale] Sorry, what?

WOMEN: [Sigh] The women at the museum, the council. You know.

NINA: [Drag, exhale. Smoke ring]

WOMEN: She was fighting for a better world?

NINA: [Tap, drag, exhale] She was?

WOMEN: Because of Zoe, your daughter.

NINA: Because of Zoe? [Stubs out the half-smoked cigarette on a rock; pockets butt] Sorry – I’m trying to smoke less.

WOMEN: Well?

NINA: Er, no, I don’t think so.