Page 142 of The Armor of Light

Then a third wagon arrived, and a fourth.

The red-faced man had now forgotten Kit and was busy directing people into houses. They did not always understand what he was saying, and he responded by shouting at them. One of the newcomers seemed to be their leader, a tall man with a shock of black hair. He spoke to the group, apparently interpreting what the red-faced man said.

The families began to disperse and the leader walked towards Kit, accompanied by a woman and two children. Kit decided to speak to them. ‘Hello,’ he said.

The man said something Kit did not understand.

Kit said: ‘Who are you?’

The reply sounded like: ‘Oy ma waver.’

Kit thought for a moment. ‘You’re a weaver?’

‘That’s what I said. We’re all weavers.’

‘Where have you come from?’

The man said something that sounded like ‘doubling’.

‘Is it far?’

The man replied, and this time Kit understood, getting used tothe accent. ‘Three days on a ship to Bristol, then a day and a half in that wagon.’

‘Why have you come to Kingsbridge?’

‘Is that what this place is called?’

‘Yes.’

‘The mill in our village closed down, and we had no work. Then a man came and said we could work at a mill in England. Who are you, little man?’

‘My name is Christopher Clitheroe, and they call me Kit.’ Proudly he added: ‘I’m the tackler at Barrowfield’s Mill.’

‘Well, Kit the tackler, I’m Colin Hennessy, and I’m glad to meet you.’

The family went into the house. All the front doors had been unlocked ready, Kit realized, and that was why he had been able to get in. Looking through the open door, he saw the children racing around excitedly. The wife appeared pleased.

Kit felt this was an important event, though he could not figure out quite why. He headed home, excited to be the bringer of news.

His mother was making supper, gruel with wild onions. Jarge was sitting down with a flagon of ale. He was on strike, and Kit had heard Sal say: ‘Idleness is bad for Jarge – he drinks too much.’

Kit said to them: ‘I saw something strange.’

Jarge took no notice, but Sal said: ‘And what was that?’

‘You know the new houses?’

‘Yes,’ Sal said. ‘Over by Piggery Mill.’

‘They’re finished. I had a look inside one. It was all ready for people, with mattresses and a table and cups.’

His mother frowned. ‘It’s not like Hornbeam to give his tenants free gifts.’

Kit decided to skip over the episode with the watchman. ‘Then this wagon came along full of people who talked funny.’

Sal put down the spoon she was using to stir the gruel and turnedto look at Kit. ‘Really?’ she said. Her attitude told him that he was right to think this news was important. ‘How many people?’

‘About thirty. And then three more wagons came.’