Beyond Innocence Read Online Free PDF

she said hastily. “It’s just that he makes me feel uncomfortable and I thought you might know something of his background.”
    His eyes narrowed. “The man is a piece of scum that Clarke dragged out of a pothouse two nights before we sailed. I know nothing of his background except that he knows ships. He is lazy, ignorant, and insubordinate. And of one thing I am sure, this will be the last time he sails on my ship.”
    She chewed her bottom lip as she thought on her next question. The captain’s gaze did not move from her face.
    “It seems you’re not done with your questions, Miss Shipley,” he said, one eyebrow raised.
    “Yes, there is something I wish to ask but I’m not sure how you will receive my question.”
    “You can but try me, madam.”
    She cleared her throat. “The men, they expect certain — er, favors from the women.”
    He nodded, seeming unperturbed at her statement.
    “Being a convict should not remove a woman’s right to protect her virtue.” She was aware of heat in her neck and face.
    “A convict has no rights, madam. However, my observations indicate most of the women welcome the men’s attentions and in fact encourage them.”
    “But what if — ”
    “You may rest assured you are under my protection while on this ship and no man would dare lay a finger upon you. This subject is now closed.” He turned on his heel and left the cabin.
    Electra sighed. She hated to cause the good captain pain but she knew she could not give him what he wanted.
    • • •
    Although Electra had the captain’s protection, young Mary Buckley did not. Four weeks after their transfer from Newgate to the Liberty , the seventeen-year-old had been forced to favour the bo’sun’s mate and not long after found she was with child. The girl’s belly grew as the ship drew closer to the colony.
    As the lookout on the mizzenmast sighted the heads into Port Jackson after eight months at sea, Mary went into labour.
    Electra had fallen into a restless sleep still recording supplies in her head, when she was woken by Mary’s unearthly wails.
    “Help me, Jeezuz! It’s rippin’ me apart!” she screamed.
    “It’s the babe, it’s comin’ an’ there’s somefin’ wrong,” hissed Lizzie Cranston.
    The women, annoyed at their sleep being disturbed, yelled at Mary to “shut up.” Some threatened harm if she continued.
    Electra, unable to ignore Mary’s screams, joined Lizzie who seemed to know what she was about.
    “The babe’s facin’ the wrong way. We got ter turn it,” said Lizzie, as she massaged Mary’s belly and thrust her grimy hands inside to feel for the baby. She withdrew her hand and shook her head. “Whatever it is, it ain’t the back of ’is head. Might be I got ’is leg or face but it don’t feel right.”
    One by one, the women gave up on sleep and gathered around Mary. Their faces were blank but their eyes betrayed their doubts that Mary or the baby would survive. Life and circumstances had desensitized them and they awaited the inevitable with indifference.
    Mary’s mouth hung open as she gasped shallow breaths with each searing contraction. Her eyes, wide with fear, locked first on Lizzie and then Electra, soundlessly begging for help.
    “What can we do?” asked Electra, desperate to help the young girl.
    “Here, take her arm, she’s got ter walk. If we kin get her movin’, the babe might move an’ all,” said Lizzie, as she hefted Mary to her feet.
    Electra encircled the thin, trembling body with one arm and held her close, as much for comfort as support. Mary’s hair and clothes were wet with perspiration and her dirty shift clung to her thin legs and enlarged belly. For five hours, she and Lizzie walked Mary up and down the airless hold, stopping regularly for the contractions to pass. Finally, they lowered Mary exhausted upon the rough bedding piled on the floor for the purpose. Lizzie once more felt for the baby and looked up at Electra with a nod and a thin