Ninni frowned. ‘Then you’re not going in the boat. First rule at sea: always wear a life jacket.’

She dropped the jacket at his feet, then put on her own and zipped it up, before getting Frikk into his. The dog stood perfectly still while she fastened the Velcro around his belly and neck. Jack hadn’t touched the jacket. Ninni sighed.

‘We always use life jackets in the boat when we are going out to sea. The currents here are dangerous and the water cold, and it doesn’t really matter if you’re a strong swimmer or not. If you want to see your sheep, put it on.’

He did what she said then. ‘I look like a twat,’ he said.

Ninni smiled sweetly. ‘Yes, you do, but if I push you out of the boat for being annoying, at least you’ll float.’

Jack looked at Frikk with a wary expression on his face. The dog looked back at him, ears up, tail down.

‘Are you sure he’s friendly?’

‘Are you scared of dogs?’ Ninni smiled at him.

Jack kept a watchful eye on Frikk. ‘No, not really. I’m not used to them, that’s all. We never had any pets. My brother is allergic.’

Ninni turned to Frikk. ‘Say hello to Jack, Frikk.’

The dog lifted a paw and Jack, after a moment’s hesitation, shook it. ‘That’s pretty good,’ he said and smiled.

Ninni laughed. ‘He has excellent manners. Better than most people, I think.’

She climbed into the boat, keeping it steady by standing with her legs apart. ‘Come on, Frikk, jump in.’

The dog looked at Jack, seemed to grin at him, and then jumped. Ninni grabbed him and lifted him to the front. She looked up at Jack. ‘Come on.’

Jack hesitated. ‘Are you sure that thing is safe?’

‘My word, you are a scaredy-cat. Don’t worry, if you fall while getting into the boat you can’t drown. That’s what the life jacket is for.’

She held out a hand, but Jack ignored it. Copying her, he carefully stepped into the boat, then sat down. He stretched out his hands and grabbed hold of the gunwale on both sides.

Ninni didn’t say anything. It wasn’t nice to make fun of someone sitting in a boat for the first time, no matter how hilarious he looked. He seemed so sure of himself on land and now he sat there, staring at the water as if it was going to attack him.

She sat down in the aft and pulled the cord to the engine a couple of times. It spluttered and then started.

The wind was coming from the south and the water was a bit choppy. The bow jumped on the waves and Frikk had a grand time barking at them.

Jack turned pale.

Ninni leaned forward. ‘Are you seasick?’

‘No.’ He shook his head, then turned a shade greener.

‘I’ll slow down. It’s not far, just about ten to fifteen minutes south of here,’ she said.

He looked slightly better at the thought. Ninni slowed down. Best let him get used to the rhythm, she thought. He needed a distraction.