A Sister's War by Molly Green (the reading strategies book txt) 📕

a shine to you. But they’re all over your face like last time. And they’re not flea bites. They’re bedbugs.’

Angela opened her mouth to argue, then startled as there was another loud bang and more cracking and creaking.

‘That’s the noise.’ Ronnie didn’t bother to keep the sarcasm from her tone. ‘Aghh!’ Her feet slipped. She shot out her hand on one of the shelves to steady herself.

‘What’s going on?’ Jessica sat up and threw her dressing gown around her shoulders.

‘The boat feels like it’s going over.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Angela said.

‘Stand up and you’ll see. We’re tipping.’

Muttering under her breath Angela stood up, then lost her balance and grabbed on to Ronnie. ‘Oh, God, the boat’s going over!’

‘Don’t be daft.’ Jessica pulled on her clothes. ‘It’ll be the ice. I’ve heard the canals can completely freeze over in winter and you can actually skate on them.’ She paused. ‘Though it does seem early this year – we’re not even halfway through December. But it’s probably well below zero outside and the boat’s probably stuck in it.’

There was a hushed silence as the three of them took in Jessica’s words.

Ronnie was the first to speak. ‘I’d better put the kettle on.’ She looked at Angela who was standing nearest the stove. ‘Can you hand me the water can?’

Angela picked it up. ‘It’s practically empty,’ she said. ‘There’s barely enough for tea.’

‘Whose turn was it to refill it?’ Jessica demanded. Then she caught sight of Angela’s face. ‘Oh, my God, you’ve got bedbugs again.’

‘I haven’t,’ Angela’s tone was furious. ‘I’ve caught fleas off that damned cat.’ She jerked her head towards Lucky who was soundly asleep on her favourite cushion.

Jessica pulled out the small mirror from her handbag and held it in front of Angela. She immediately pushed Jessica’s arm away.

‘They’re definitely bedbugs,’ Jessica said, ‘so I hope you brought the special candle with you. We need to light it immediately because Ronnie and I don’t want to catch them.’ She put the mirror away. ‘Back to my question about the water can.’

‘I don’t know,’ Angela said. ‘I only came last night and found everything completely disorganised.’

‘I’d keep those sorts of remarks to yourself, Angela.’ Jessica glared at her. ‘Well, it’s no good even thinking of going outside and bringing in the spare. It’ll be frozen solid. Ronnie, get the kettle on with what little we’ve got. We need a drink to warm us up. Angela, get the stove going again. It looks like it’s about to die – and find the sulphur candle.’

‘Why have I—’

‘Because I say so!’ Jessica roared. ‘If you’re going to live with us, then you damned well better move your behind.’

‘Don’t you dare speak to me—’ Angela began, turning red with rage.

‘One of us – and one only – is in charge around here,’ Jessica interrupted. ‘I’ve had some experience of sailing. I’m the eldest. And I’m in charge. And you’d better get that through your thick head. And if you don’t like it then go and complain to Dora.’

Angela turned and went to light the stove.

Jessica rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll start on the porridge.’

‘I wonder if Persephone has overbalanced,’ Ronnie said, her feet not feeling entirely stable as she laid the table.

‘If it has, I’m sure Dora will right it single-handedly,’ Jess said grimly.

‘OPEN UP!’

The three girls startled.

‘Coming, Miss Dummitt,’ Ronnie shouted as she rushed to the hatch to slide it back. Talk of the devil. But the hatch was well and truly stuck. ‘I can’t open it!’ she shouted.

‘I’m going ter freeze ter bloody death out here,’ Dora shouted back. ‘Soak a cloth in boilin’ water and keep pushin’ it inter the frame.’

‘We’re trapped if no one can open the hatch,’ Angela said, her voice rising with panic.

‘Just calm down,’ Jessica said. ‘We can’t use our precious one can of water willy-nilly. We don’t know how long this is going to last and when we’ll get an opportunity to refill them.’ She looked at Ronnie. ‘Didn’t you have a hot water bottle last night.’

‘Yes. What’s that got to do—?’ She broke off. ‘Oh, I see. We can tip it into the saucepan and heat it up.’

‘No flies on you.’ Jessica cast a glance at Angela who was looking white. ‘And we’ll stand the milk bottle in it to thaw it out afterwards. Angela, you can tell Dora we should have it open in a few minutes.’

But there was no answer.

‘Well, she’s either frozen to death as she’d warned us or she’s gone back to the motor,’ Jessica said.

It was several minutes later before Ronnie managed to slide the hatch free, half expecting to see a frozen corpse outside, but all was deathly quiet. Then she spotted the water can. Good old Dora. She’d put it by the hatch knowing they’d need it, frozen or not. She lifted it and came back into the cabin.

‘No sign of her,’ she said, putting the can down near the stove Angela had fired up. ‘I think I ought to go and see if everyone’s all right.’

‘Put your coat on and for God’s sake be careful,’ Jessica warned. ‘It’ll be very slippery.’

‘Dora did it.’

‘Dora’s used to it.’

Ronnie stepped through the hatch and cautiously climbed out. Almost immediately her foot shot from under her on solid ice. Desperately trying to stop herself from plunging headfirst over the low wall round the edge of the deck she clung on to the chimney, the searing heat penetrating her woollen gloves, then screamed as her foot slipped again.

‘What is it?’ Jessica’s head poked through. ‘Oh, dear God. Hang on, Ronnie. I’m coming.’ She was by her side in an instant, taking Ronnie’s arms in a firm grip.

‘What’s happenin’?’ Dora’s head shot from Persephone’s cabin in front.

‘Don’t worry – I’ve got her, Miss Dummitt.’

There was a pause. Then Dora barked, ‘Jess, yous and Angela come out and start bashin’ the ice round the boats with the poles. After an hour me and Sally will do it. We gotta stop the boats icin’ up.’

‘All right,’ Jessica called,