Page 135 of Fire Must Burn

‘In case I’m wrong,’ said Iris.

An hour later, they were back at theCecilia.

‘I’ve disconnected the shoreline, but I need your help with the gangplank and the ropes,’ said Iris.

‘Of course,’ said Gwen. ‘But first, in honour of your maiden voyage …’

She pulled a bottle of burgundy from her bag and presented it to her.

‘Save it for when you’ve moored,’ she advised.

‘I will,’ promised Iris.

She ran across the gangplank and inside the saloon to store it, then came back out and grabbed the ends of the gangplank’s rails. Gwen reached down and grabbed the bottom of the other end.

‘Heave ho!’ cried Iris.

Gwen lifted the end up as Iris pulled the handles until it was vertical. Then Iris slid it inside the taffrail and connected the safety chain across the gap. Gwen untied the stern rope, coiled it, then tossed it across the narrow gap to Iris.

‘I’d come with you, but I’ve got Ronnie,’ said Gwen. ‘Are you going to be all right on your own?’

‘I’ll be fine,’ said Iris. ‘I need to be alone for a while. Hopefully, it will clear my head.’

‘Where exactly are you going?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Iris. ‘That’s the beauty of it. When I’ve been gone for a week, I’ll find a place to turn around and come back. Don’t worry, I’ll send you and Ronnie some postcards.’

‘Ring me if the boat breaks down, or if you break down, or if you need bail or anything,’ said Gwen.

‘Will do,’ promised Iris. ‘Let me start up the engine, then you can untie the bowline.’

‘Aye, aye, Captain,’ said Gwen.

Iris disappeared into the boat while Gwen moved to the other rope and stood at the ready. A minute later she heard the engine rumble into life. Iris came out on the fore well, and Gwen untied the line, coiled it and tossed it to her.

They looked across at each other for a moment.

‘Do you know,’ said Iris, ‘when I raced the Bumps at Cambridge, it took eleven of us brilliant women to get us on our way. You and I have just done it by ourselves. Do you realise what that means?’

‘What, darling?’ replied Gwen.

‘That you are worth ten Cambridge women,’ said Iris. ‘Love to Ronnie, and mind the shop, won’t you?’

‘I will,’ said Gwen. ‘Bon voyage!’

Iris walked to the stern and grabbed the tiller. Slowly, carefully, she eased theCeciliainto the centre of the canal. She looked back at Gwen, blew her a kiss then throttled up the engine.

Casper, her neighbour and instructor, was watching with approval from his accustomed chair on the roof of his boat. As she passed him he lifted his pipe in salute and she waved, grinning proudly.

Gwen watched as theCeciliaslowly made its way down the canal and disappeared around a bend.

‘Fair winds and following seas, Iris,’ she said softly.

Then she turned and walked home to spend the rest of the day with Ronnie.