‘The noon bell shall sound shortly. All ready?’ the leather man called.

I saw now that there were already many Iremongers outside, all dressed in leathers, wearing helmets, holding buckets and pitch forks, with great nets and shovels, and all with heavy gloves. They were large these Iremongers, big men and big women, thick with muscle, with creased faces, broken noses, scars on them, some with thick scabs.

‘Now listen up,’ called a leather man, ‘stay close to the wall. Not to pass out of sight today. Check your harnesses. Double-check your harnesses. Anchors pull back at the slightest hesitation. Don’t go far, stay close. Your leads must be no greater than thirty yards, but don’t stretch them.’

‘’Nother one here for you, express from Sturridge.’

‘This? This isn’t much. She’ll be thudded and pitched. You’re new, aren’t you, I haven’t seen you out before.’

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘I’m new, yes, sir, and –’

‘Not a good day to start out, just take it slow, all right? And stay by the wall.’

‘Excuse me, Captain, she has particular instructions. She’s to have a lead. Five hundred yards. Captain, express order, and a particular anchor too.’

‘Five hundred? In this?’

‘Yes, Captain, ’fraid so.’

‘Well, Iremonger, if you must be Five Hundred, then Five Hundred you’ll have to be. I think it stinks myself, but no one cares what I think. We’ll have to suit her. And get her a strong anchor.’

‘Beg your pardon, Captain, the anchor’s been chose for her.’

‘Really? Someone strong I trust, strong and heavy. Who is her anchor?’

‘This one.’

‘That one, you sure?’

‘Quite sure.’

‘It’s murder!’ he said. ‘Make sure the ropes are secured, tie them yourself, Lieutenant.’

‘Yes, Captain.’

‘Well do it, man!’ said the Captain, marching down the line.

‘Step up then, Anchor. Let’s get you attached.’

The Anchor was a child, no more than ten at my reckoning. A greasy, skinny thing, very unhappy, shaking a little.

‘I only lifted up a saucepan, that’s all I did. I just wanted to see it, can’t be blamed for that, everyone wanted to see it, didn’t they? Just to make sure it really was moving, and it was. A cup. I’m out in the heaps for letting a cup free–! Is it fair, is it right?’

‘Did you?’ I asked. ‘Were you the kitchen boy?’

‘I was, I did it, and so what. I let the cup free.’