“Women and children only!” cries an officer. “Men, stand back!”

Some of the men do as they’re told, but others, whether because they’re afraid or because they don’t speak English, still manage to board.

“Hold boarding!” a crewman with the darkened complexion of a fireman bellows from inside the lifeboat. “We’re at limit. You’ll have to wait for the next boat.”

“There is no next boat!” wails a man. “They’re all gone!”

The news sets my heart rattling against my rib cage. If this is our last chance, we’d better make it good.

“Act helpless,” I drop in Wink’s ear. “Maybe cry. Can you do that?”

His eyes become flinty, and he nods.

“Smartly,” Jamie orders hoarsely.

“Please let us through!” I cry, pushing Wink along past a couple of men, Jamie at my back. “I got me baby brother!” The Cockney wench bangs to be let out, apparently sensing a charade brewing. So I let her take over, careful not to overdo it.

Last time I tried to get Wink on a lifeboat, I was too polite, too quick to play by the rules, and that won’t happen again. This time, I’ll be as pushy and streetwise as the gangs in Cheapside, who’ll beg, barter, or beat the shadow off you if they want something badly enough.

The officer in charge, a pale young man with a haunted face, holds up a hand to me. My feet halt, but my mouth keeps going.

“He’s a wee one, barely seen life, and it’s been hard, with Mum gone belly-up.” I glance at Jamie, who quickly transforms his astonished face into one of mourning. “She dropped her teeth looking over the pier and fell in trying to catch them. Drowned right in front of his eyes. Come on, sir, give us a chance.”

Wink, whose face has begun twitching, squeezes out a tear, a good fat one that takes its time rolling down to the tip of his nose, where it bravely hangs on.

The officer scratches his blond whiskers. From the boat, a man with a paunch like a bag of flour puts his hands to his mouth and bellows, “We’re at capacity. Any more will sink—”

“You wanna let a child what seen his mum drown in front of him go down the same way? That would just be evil. Come on, sir, have a heart. Take us with you.” I grab Jamie’s arm. “We’re family. You can’t break up family. Please, we’re no trouble. You won’t even notice us.”

“Officer, lower away!” a man calls down from the Boat Deck.

From the back of the lifeboat, a figure rises, someone with the stocky build of a trimmer, and a shaved head. “Wink!”

“Ming Lai!” cries Wink, maybe blubbering real tears this time.

Beside Ming Lai sits Dina Domenic with her parents squeezed in next to her.