‘No,’ I say, laughing. Explain what Calla told me that day out in the cow pasture, back when I was a pickney.

‘Yes. Too many mosquitoes,’ Smith say. ‘Must give them a good swat.’

Days flow one into the other and it start to feel like the further we sail, the more time seem to be standing still. Is a blessed relief when we hear the good news that we will soon arrive at the Cape of Good Hope. We all looking forward to stopping, for the ship to take on fresh supplies, but Captain Bolton say no, want to get to Port Jackson as fast as him can. Surgeon McKay and him have big arguments, loud and long enough that we all hear them and the crew turn sourly indeed. It take another four weeks to travel cross the Indian Ocean and if we didn’t have a good wind behind us, I think the crew would mutiny.

Early one morning, the cry come echoing down, ‘Land ho!’ and me heart start to lift, hoping to finally get a glimpse of the land I going plant me feet on. It supposed to be clear sailing after that, but fate not done with us yet.

All the arrival excitement drain away as the seas start to turn choppy and rough. We passing through what sailors call the North Heads when a great storm rise up. Southerly, the sailors call it. Is like a nightmare. Thunder rolling. Lightning striking the dark skies. The boat rocking and heaving, rising and dropping. The wind howling till it tear the main sail full apart. Rip her in two like she made of paper. The ship slowly drifting, heading towards the rocks. Could be the end of us.

When the wind die down a little, a lieutenant and bout a dozen sailors manage to row over from the man-of-war ship stationed in the harbour. Bring with them spare anchors and cables to help hold the ship steady till the storm pass. A few of us convicts too busy helping out on deck to be scared, but I tell you what, I pray harder than I ever done before. Pray to see another day, to feel dry land under me feet. Pray the storm is no omen of things to come. That me not going end up like Powell and Reid, me bones rocking on the ocean floor, picked over by fish.