Black Water Read Online Free

presented her sail to the wind, and before Farren could shout to duck, the wind flung it, the boom smacking Robbie square across the forehead, knocking him right out of the boat.
    ‘Jesus Christ!’ Farren jumped up. ‘Oi, Robbie! Robbie, oi!’ He tore down to the shore, dragging off his shirt and jumper, watching the boat muddle away to leave Robbie as a motionless lump in the water. ‘Eh! Pricey!’ At the water’s edge Farren pulled off his boots, socks, and pants, and started to wade out as fast as he could. ‘Eh, Pricey ! Hang on! I’m comin’!’
    Farren ploughed on until the water reached his ribs then he dived and swam, keeping his head above the surface so as not to lose sight of Robbie who wallowed like a drowning animal. And then Farren had hold of Robbie’s jumper and collar, and as he dragged Robbie’s head up Farren felt his own feet meet the soft, weedy, welcoming bottom. The water was only chest-deep. Farren felt his strength double.
    ‘C’mon, Pricey!’ he yelled at Robbie’s sodden head. ‘C’mon! It’s only shallow. Come on. Stand!’ He heaved, and Robbie’s weight lessened as he did what he was told. ‘See? Just stand.’ Farren kept good hold of him with both fists. ‘That’s it.’
    ‘Fu-kuh!’ Robbie coughed out. ‘Fu-kuhn- Farren !’
    Farren had to laugh. It was as if he and Pricey had left the world for a minute but now they were back; he could feel the warmth of the sun and the coldness of the water, the houses and roofs of the town were as clear as a picture on a postage stamp, and the Jane-Eliza ’s sail was as white as a seagull’s front.
    ‘Geez, Pricey.’ Farren’s hands were twisted deep into the greasy woollen folds of Robbie’s jumper, ‘I gotta say, mate, you’re onehell of a good sailor. C’mon, start walkin’.’ Farren started to haul him towards shore. ‘But geez, you gotta bump on your head like a bloody cricket ball. It ain’t bleedin’, though.’
    Unsteadily Robbie headed inshore with Farren.
    ‘Where’s za boat?’ He made an effort to look around. ‘Me dad’ll – it didn’t bloody sink, did it?’
    The boat had nudged harmlessly into the shore and tipped; Farren knew it was safe.
    ‘Nah. It’s just over there. I’ll sail it back out to the moorin’ later. You better just get out on the bank and sit for a bit.’
    The boys walked around the inlet on the train tracks, Robbie stumbling as if his knees couldn’t carry his weight. Farren stopped.
    ‘We better rest for a minute. There’s a good big log down there.’ Farren pointed to the shore where a log had lain like a fallen hero for as long as he could remember. ‘I wouldn’t mind a siddown anyway.’
    Robbie didn’t argue. Farren led the way, knowing that now he and Robbie were mates. Even though they’d fought at school, off and on for years, it didn’t matter. Things had changed as of about twenty minutes ago.
    For a while they sat, Robbie with his head in his hands, Farren running his palms over the old hollow log, wondering if there might be a snake hibernating inside it, right under their bums.
    ‘How’s your brother?’ Robbie spoke through splayed fingers. ‘He all right over there?’
    Farren looked away, along the shore, seeing water that was the colour of black tea and thickened with seagrass. Here and therebirds paddled placidly. He hoped Danny was safe in a cave or deep down in a trench.
    ‘Yeah, he’s all right.’ Farren picked at the hard silver wood. ‘So far.’ He wanted Robbie to know that he knew about his dad, and that he knew how serious it was. ‘I hope your dad’s all right, too,’ he added. ‘Maggie from the pub reckons he probably is and so do I. Maybe they just got him as a prisoner or somethin’. Or in their hospital.’
    Robbie spat, hands to his face like blinkers.
    ‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘I hope so.’
    The Price’s brick cottage stood in a flat street right at the top of town. Farren had walked past it plenty of times, occasionally