Barbara said she was staying put, but asked us to bring her back something bland. We made graceless progress towards the mess, the four of us clutching our stomachs and swaying from side to side. Another announcement came over the loudspeakers as we walked.

‘This is an American ship. All personnel will keep to the right using gangways and ladders.’

We quickly moved to the right of the gangway and just then encountered a group of sailors, who had been laughing but quieted as we passed.

‘Evening, ladies,’ one of them said. ‘Enjoy your dinner.’

‘Good evening,’ I replied, and once we were clear of them the others giggled.

‘They’re cute,’ Jane said, once they were out of earshot, and Brynn replied, ‘You’ve got a husband!’

Clarence was blushing so much his face was brighter than his hair.

‘You’ve got a husband!’ became a popular refrain among us, since Jane thought every man in uniform divine, and I wondered if I should feel sorry for the husband who was meeting her in San Francisco.

I’d had no idea what to expect of the food on the journey. I assumed it would be simple and bland, probably not fresh. But I was in for a shock, and I certainly wasn’t the only one who gasped when we saw the buffet table in the main dining room. There were platters of roast turkey, dishes of corn on the cob, loaves of bread and an entire cart dedicated to ice-cream. Too bad I didn’t feel up to eating a bite of it. I took a dry bread roll and followed the others to a circular table set with cutlery and china. Min complained about the lack of tea, but I was still in awe at the sheer quantity of food. I had never seen so much in one place, ever.

After nibbling my bread roll I thought I would try to find my way back to the cabin on my own. I had several packets of salted crackers for Barbara—Min had called them saltines—and a banana.

I walked slowly, taking a detour outside to the deck to stand by the railing and breathe in some fresh air. There were only a few exterior lights on the ship and it took my eyes a moment to adjust to the dark. There was the deep engine sound, the slap of waves against the hull and shreds of voices carried by the wind. The water was so far down, and if I leaned over I could see the lights from portholes, all the cabins below. A cluster of sailors stood at one end of the deck, and along the railing were several small groups of women. I could pick out the glowing ends of cigarettes and longed for a smoke; it would certainly help the nausea. I decided to buy a pack at the commissary the next day.