Gus stood on the deck of the Shenandoah, crowded with the rest of the crew onto the starboard side. Up on the quarterdeck he could see all the officers, together with a stranger in naval uniform. They had existed in a kind of limbo for the last two days. First there had been rumours that they were all going to be allowed ashore. Then these had been dispelled and the marines had come aboard. From that time on they had been relieved of all duties and there had been nothing to do but sit around and speculate about the future.

‘You’ll be all right,’ Lofty had said. ‘This is your home port. You’ll have a home to go to.’

Gus shook his head. ‘I’ve got no home, except the workhouse where I grew up.’ But the exchange prompted another, terrifying thought. What if the people from the Industrial School were still looking for him? Could he be forcible dragged back there, to face whatever punishment the governor chose to inflict on him?

There had been one bright spot in the gloom. Fresh provisions had been sent out to the ship and for the first time in months Gus tasted meat that was not salted and fresh vegetables. But it did little to allay his fears for the future.

There was an emotional moment when the Confederate flag was lowered for the last time. Gus saw it carefully folded and handed to Lieutenant Whittle and he was almost sure he saw tears in Whittle’s eyes as he turned and handed it ceremonially to Captain Waddell.

Now Lieutenant Whittle stood forward and raised his voice. ‘Men, the authorities require to know what nationality each of you belongs to. I shall call your names one by one and when you hear that you must step forward and answer the question which Captain Painter here will put to you.’

He called the first name and a man stepped forward.

‘What is your nationality?’ Painter asked.

‘American, sir. Born in the Confederate state of Texas.’

‘The Confederacy no longer exists, as I am sure you know. Whether you were born north or south of the Mason Dixon line is irrelevant. You are an American. Stand over there.’

He indicated the port side of the deck and the man moved over. The next name was called and this man affirmed his American nationality and was sent to join the first. The same thing happened with the next and the next, until a name was called that belonged to a man Gus knew to be English, one who had been on board the Laurel and had then signed up to ship on the Shenandoah. To Gus’s surprise, when asked the question he, too, replied that he was an American.

‘He’s lying!’ Gus muttered to Boney who stood next to him. ‘He’s as English as I am.’