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of Genoa in my first battle. Seven dead, though, in our crew alone, and half the wounded never sailed again. Never thought I’d see the like.’ His laugh was grim. ‘Now look at me.’
    â€˜She’s a famous ship, the Bedford ,’ I said. ‘I remember seeing her once. She took on supplies in Santa Lucia.’
    â€˜Famous enough, I suppose. Lousy enough. You know, the French took one of those two ships right back, a few months later, off Toulon. More men dead. It’s just a game to those admirals, you know. Like draughts.’
    I stood silent, to let his thoughts sort themselves out.
    â€˜I felt like I’d been at war most of my life,’ he said. ‘It’s a rotten way to earn your bacon. So one night the Navy and me decided we’d had enough of each other and parted company. Majorca, I think it was.’
    â€˜You mean, you’re a deserter?’
    â€˜Don’t think of it that way. Let’s just say me and the Navy didn’t get on, just like me and my missus.’
    He flexed his massive shoulders and stretched his arms. ‘Hard enough work today, but nothing like being in a gun crew.’
    â€˜But if they catch you?’
    â€˜They never will, don’t you worry.’ He winked. ‘Neither will my missus.’

8.
A very French revolution
    Somehow the Corfu beat us back to Dingli. We rounded the point to see her moored in the little cove, already unloading sacks of grain into two launches.
    â€˜Hell,’ said Jem. ‘How did he do that?’
    Captain Caruana waved as we drew close.
    â€˜Nice sailing weather.’
    â€˜Show-off,’ Jem muttered. ‘Cyg! Find out what course they took so we can beat them next time. Damned if I’m going to lag behind that old barge.’
    â€˜Sorry, Jem, but Caruana’s been sailing these waters all his life — and his life’s been a lot longer than mine. He must know a secret way.’
    â€˜He must have come through the Comino channel,’ suggested Ricardo. ‘It’s the only way.’
    Jem clenched his jaw and glared at Corfu . ‘Of course. Next time, damn the watchtowers, we’ll just sail straight through the middle.’
    â€˜But yesterday you said —’
    â€˜Never mind what I said yesterday. Today we have been challenged. You wouldn’t understand, Cyg. It’s a matter of honour.’
    I had to walk away, I was giggling so much. He heard me.
    â€˜Any navigator worth their salt would plot the fastest course!’ he yelled.
    I giggled even louder.
    â€˜Drop anchor!’ he shouted, as furious as Diablo in a temper.
    My aunt and all her children were on the shore, waving. I waved back, and she raised her parasol in greeting. Ebenezer Black was already making his way towards us in one of the rowboats. It looked for all the world like a peaceful regatta. You’d never have known that we were smuggling forbidden goods right under the noses of the French garrison at the Verdala Palace.
    Yet my uncle came aboard with all his usual nonchalance, greeting Miller with a handshake and waving to Jem, who still stood fuming in the stern.
    â€˜We wondered if we’d lost you,’ said Black. ‘ Corfu ’s been here all morning.’
    I took his arm and led him along the deck. ‘Sshh. It’s a sore point.’
    He laughed. ‘I see. Well, Caruana is an old hand at the grain race, let me tell you. When he was younger, he held the record for fastest passage to Spain. Even at his age, and even in Corfu , he’d be a hard man to beat in the right wind.’
    â€˜He’s a good man to have on our side then,’ I said.
    â€˜Undoubtedly, and funnily enough, he says the same thing about your friend McGuire.’
    Black’s voice took on a conspiratorial tone. ‘Young Carlo de Santiago is aboard Corfu , I understand?’
    I nodded. ‘You know him?’
    â€˜I know his father, well enough to be sure