Across a War-Tossed Sea Read Online Free PDF Page B

on a roll.
    â€œThere were even some turncoats right here in Virginia.” Ron pointed east, where just a few miles down the road enormous old plantation houses built in the 1700s still stood along the riverbanks. “When the British fleet sailed up and down the James lobbing cannonballs at people’s farms, some planters who’d claimed to be patriots turned into loyalists when they thought being loyal to the king was safer.”
    â€œWhat happened to turncoats?” Jamie asked.
    â€œWell, I’ll tell you, Jamie.” Ron put his arm across his little brother’s shoulders. “When patriots realized they had British sympathizers in town, they’d haul them into the street and tar and feather them.” He looked toward Wesley and cocked his head, as if imagining Wesley covered in white chicken feathers.
    Jamie and Johnny followed his lead.
    Wesley held his breath to see what Ron would say next. Bobby might think Ron had no brains, but this speech of his was diabolically clever.
    â€œBut aren’t we friends with the British now?” Johnny asked.
    â€œOf course we are. And us Americans are good friends, too. Hitler would have starved out the Brits if it hadn’t been for us sending ships with American food and American fuel and American parts for their trucks and airplanes. Think about all those ships sailing out of Norfolk and Hampton Roads for England, braving the high seas and Nazi submarines. Remember those tankers of ours being blown to smithereens right off Virginia Beach?”
    The twins nodded. Wesley remembered too. One of the Ratcliff neighbors was enjoying a day of sunbathing when she witnessed four ships explode and burn from mines a Nazi U-boat had managed to string at the mouth of the harbor. After the girl recounted the scene, Wesley had had to rush outside to throw up in the bushes.
    Ron continued: “But we didn’t stop sailing, did we? Even with those dirty rotten Nazi subs waiting off Virginia’s coast to blow up our ships? Our ships keep going out.”
    The twins shook their heads. “No, not us. We don’t stop.”
    â€œSome people even say the only reason the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor was because we’d stuck out our necks for the Brits…again…just like in World War I. But”—Ron shrugged—“that’s what friends do, right? Otherwise the great British Empire might be just another Krautville right now.”
    Wesley’s face flamed with fury at the insinuation the British were weak charity cases. But before he could manage any kind of reply, Ron changed the subject. “Say, you boys did a great job. The bag’s full again. How about a swim? It’s hot.”
    â€œGee, thanks, Ron!” chorused the twins.
    Ron smiled down at them as sweet as honey. He turned to Wesley. “Coming, old chum?”
    Smarting from Ron’s not-so-concealed insults, Wesley wasn’t interested in getting himself into a situation that facilitated further harassment. “No thanks,” he managed to answer. “I’m going to fill another sack. Your mum can use the fifteen cents to buy a quart of milk.”
    Ron narrowed his eyes. “Trying to show me up?” he said in a lowered voice only Wesley could hear. “No way.” Then he announced loudly, “It’s hot. We all deserve a break. You too, Wesley. You don’t want us to feel guilty if we go on to the pond and you stay here, do you? You’d spoil it for the twins.”
    â€œYeah, don’t be a spoilsport,” said Jamie.
    That was that.
    As soon as they reached the pool’s clearing, the Ratcliff boys stripped down to their boxers. They dove in, scrambled out, and dove in again—over and over. Wesley floated along the opposite bank.
    â€œHey, y’all, who do I remind you of?” Ron stood at the water’s edge, thumped his chest, and bellowed: