Eve of the Isle Read Online Free PDF

wall into Jimmy’s boat.
    Eve and the twins found Jimmy’s small room coldand damp. A hole in the rafters had grown larger and the permanent pail on the floor beneath was overflowing. The surrounding boards were wet, as was the blanket on top of the bed. The only thing that seemed dry was a chest in the corner, hiding the neglected, exposed brickwork.
    â€˜Lift the sash with me boys.’ They all pushed up the wooden frame of the window. It was stiff, swollen by the rain.
    Outside in the yard the water resembled a brown sea with odd looking icebergs. Buckets, boxes, bales of straw, barrels and papers bobbed up and down. There was even a dead chicken which gave Eve the shivers but fascinated the twins. She tried not to look at it.
    The boat came slowly into view. Jimmy almost lost an oar, but then caught it.
    â€˜I’ll tie me bit of rope to the top of the wall,’ he shouted, pushing back his spiky brown hair from his face as the boat rocked dangerously. In his belted donkey jacket and trousers encircled at the ankles he looked not much older than the twins.
    â€˜Do you think it’s safe on the lav roof?’ Eve called.
    â€˜I slid down it lots of times,’ said Samuel. ‘It’s easy.’
    â€˜Me too,’ agreed Albert. ‘We jump all the lav roofs to climb up to the ships’ bowsprits.’
    â€˜I hope the neighbours don’t catch you,’ said Eve worriedly, ‘’specially Mr Petrovsky. He’s not keen onlittle boys ever since they broke his window playing football.’
    â€˜It wasn’t us.’ Samuel grinned at his brother. ‘And we wasn’t even playing football.’
    â€˜Look, Jimmy’s climbing up.’ Samuel pointed to the small, agile figure of Jimmy Jones balancing his way along the top of the wall.
    â€˜â€™Ello mateys, Jimmy at your service.’ He shinned up the roof like a monkey.
    â€˜We thought rescue would never come!’ Eve exclaimed. ‘What’s happening? Is all London flooded?’
    â€˜Yeah,’ nodded Jimmy, his big eyes wide. ‘The Chelsea Embankment’s collapsed and even the House of Commons is under water. Not to mention the Underground and the Blackwall and Rotherhithe tunnels. Someone said the moat at the Tower has filled up and that’s been empty for nearly an ’undred years.’
    â€˜What about the Higgins?’ asked Eve. ‘And Mr Petrovsky?’
    â€˜The Higgins are away. And the old boy at number seven wasn’t touched as he’s higher up. When I row you back to Westferry Road, the Sally Army are waiting to take you to the nearest church hall with hot food and beds for the night.’
    â€˜Thank the Lord for that,’ sighed Eve.
    â€˜What’s going on?’ Peg shuffled her way towards them.
    â€˜Jimmy’s rescuing us,’ shouted the boys. ‘Then we’re going for a dinner up the Sally Army.’
    â€˜Can you take us all?’ asked Eve, doubtful that the small craft could fit in all four.
    â€˜Yeah, dead easy,’ Jimmy assured them. ‘I’m a first class rower.’
    But Eve wasn’t so certain. Jimmy might be able to ride a bicycle like the wind, but he hadn’t seemed proficient with the oars. What would happen if the boat capsized?

Chapter Three
    A fter some debate, they decided the two boys should go first. Jimmy held the boat steady with the rope as, clad in caps, scarves and raincoats, they slipped down the closet roof to the yard wall. A gust of wind made the little boat sway and Eve held her breath as she watched Jimmy help first Albert and then Samuel aboard.
    â€˜I’ll be back before you can blink,’ Jimmy called as he untied.
    â€˜You keep my babies safe, or else, Jimmy Jones!’ Eve wagged her finger as she watched her boys being rowed away, her emotions torn. She prayed the boat wouldn’t sink. It didn’t look safe and the rain had started again and was falling