Not the Same Sky by Evelyn Conlon Page B

Surprisingly, it was Anne Sherry who was most moved. Surprisingly, because she was generally most in control of her thoughts and emotions.
    ‘Imagine. Even the stars won’t be the same,’ she said. ‘It’s like leaving again.’
    ‘Don’t be silly, we’ve already left. You can only leave once,’ Julia said.
    This was what Charles had wanted to avoid. He hurried them below. After they had settled, when the last noises seemed to be over, he walked back on deck and had another look at the beautiful stars by himself. Yes, he could imagine travellers addressing them, those who thought they would never see them again. And he could imagine how possessive one could become about your stars only when you were leaving them. He went down below. He could hear a girl crying, but that was not unusual. Most nights there was at least one. The girls had a way of letting her cry for some time before someone would go to her. Indeed, those closest whispered over the sobs for a while before providing comfort for whatever sadness had overcome her. He heard the whispers.
    ‘Why’s she crying? She doesn’t usually.’
    ‘She says that even the stars will be different.’
    ‘Oh, what the hell difference does that make. Everything will be different.’
    ‘Still, I’d better go over to her. She’s only young.’
    ‘What age are you?’
    ‘Sixteen.’
    ‘Oh.’
    Charles walked away. Maybe he could write more letters. Perhaps they would meet another ship on its way back.

CHAPTER 12
    On the following day Charles let the girls know about the equator ceremonies. Perhaps telling them about the stars had been too much, but they would definitely need to be forewarned about the equator carry-ons. He unfurled the map again—the girls seemed surprised that they were so far down. They had travelled unfathomable miles and were still going. They felt tired just thinking of it. The sun was now so close it could almost be touched. The girls put both their hands in front of their eyes when they came up in the mornings to stop themselves from being blinded. The few thin clouds in the sky seemed to be in an almighty hurry, casting only a momentary shadow, as if they were dancing past the light.
    Charles showed them exactly what their latitude and longitude was.
    ‘That’s not bad,’ one of them said.
    But Anne Sherry still looked at where Australia was, he could see her out of the corner of his eye, her gaze fixed on it. Although surprise for non-seagoing people is part of the joy of equator ceremonies, in this instance, he thought it best to give them a little information, partly because the act of looking forward was good for them, and also because he did not want them to be frightened in any way. He was still at times taken aback when he realised again their ages, and last night had reminded him of this.
    It was a very hot afternoon, as one would expect, when a sailor shouted, ‘Now!’ and simultaneously a trumpet bellowed out its noise. There was a sudden shouting and bustle from all directions, members of the crew enthusiastically throwing themselves into their production, as much for themselves as for their passengers. Some of the young or nervous girls clutched the hands of others, unsure of what was happening, unprepared for the make-believe. Dressed up people were also coming over the side—Neptune and Amphitrite, the constables and the barber, all boarded the ship.
    ‘From where?’ some girls shrieked. ‘Where did they come from?’
    The visitors approached individual girls and asked them questions. The girls stared at first, then tried to get an answer out as they realised what the game was. If the answer was not correct the girl was ducked in a large tub. It was hard for Charles to tell if a girl wanted to be ducked or not—if she was shy or afraid, or if there might be a feminine reason for her shouts of ‘No, no, no’. But all in all, he thought the celebrations had been enjoyed by all. There was a general sense of lightness