Holt squeeze a little tighter before he finally let me go.

‘What you want?’ I ask, after getting me breath back.

‘You’re going to need help. And I can help you,’ him say.

‘How?’

‘A diversion.’

‘You not coming?’ This is a surprise.

‘Have my own plans. Will wait to see how you fare. Doubt you’ll get too far. Before I see you dragged right back to the barracks in a couple of days. Watch as the scourger bring the blood to you back.’

‘Then why you want to help us?’

‘As soon as you get out, I want you to post a letter.’

‘A letter? Why not give it to the warden?’

‘I want no one to open it, read it before it get there.’

Curiosity rising. ‘Only if you tell me what’s in the letter.’

‘Can’t a man have a little privacy in him life?’ Holt ask.

‘Privacy, yes. But more important is the need to trust. Is like a contract,’ I say. ‘You tell me you secrets and I going tell you mine.’

Holt look at me hard, but he can see me not going to back down. Finally, he hold out him hand and we shake on it. After that, the plan began to form.

Taking Flight

Saturday come round, the end of a long week of work. We just finish the last job at the bore for the day and we laying down tools. Everybody tired, convicts, overseer and guards alike. I know nobody going pay too much attention. Everyone looking forward to the Sunday rest. We standing in line waiting to be chained and marched back to the barracks. Holt look me in the eye, as if to say, ‘Ready?’ I look at James, he give me a nod as him look down at him feet. I hesitate, afraid to give the go-ahead signal. Afraid the plan will end in failure. In that moment, the sound of a lonely cry. We all look up, see a big bird hovering, in a blue and cloudless sky. And I remember William the Second, a reminder of the freedom we seek. I look back at Holt, nod while I look like me brushing away a fly. Then a moment of silence that seem to stretch out thin, go on forever, before Holt suddenly turn to a fellow convict, start to argue. Before I know it, they having fisticuffs, moving away from rest of us. Must be only a few seconds, but me and James just look at each other. Don’t even make a move. Is only when the guards blow a whistle, run towards Holt, I find me feet, drag James with me. Run as fast as we can to the nearest bore entrance. Shoot down into the shaft and with backs bowed move headlong into the darkness.