Before the Storm Read Free

back and his fists held as if he were presenting a rifle across his chest.
    Even Emily had been to enough parades to know that Fox’s salute was not even remotely like anything done on British ships.
    â€˜Ah, so you are a sailor, then?’ asked Mrs Lang.
    â€˜Sailor, formerly, ma’am! Status, discharged. Employment, local, seeking.’
    It was soon established that Fox had arrived in Melbourne that same day, that his baggage had been stolen, and that he had lost his papers during the rescue.
    â€˜Oh you poor boy, and now your clothes have been soaked!’ cried Mrs Lang. ‘What are you to do? You simply must come home with us!’

    Brighton was six miles south of the river, and the doctor drove his gig down St Kilda Road with his four passengers crammed onto a seat designed for two. Emily noticed that Fox looked about continually, and seemed confused and puzzled. Suddenly he stared to the left.
    â€˜Imperial War Academy!’ he exclaimed softly.
    â€˜No, that’s Wesley College,’ said Daniel. ‘I go to school there.’
    Fox glanced about nervously, said, ’Mistaken,’ then sat back and put a hand to his head.
    â€˜There, there, Fox, the excitement has confused you,’ said Mrs Lang soothingly. ‘You will be back to your old self after a hot bath and a good dinner.’
    By the time the Lang family got home it was late in the afternoon. The maid was told to start a fire in the living room grate, and to boil water for three baths. Emily bathed quickly, then dressed while the maid emptied the tub. She entered the living room to find Daniel and Fox sitting with her mother, both wrapped in blankets.
    â€˜Next, you are,’ said Fox to Daniel as he caught sight of Emily.
    â€˜Oh, that is very kind of you young man, but you are the guest,’ insisted Mrs Lang.
    â€˜Being wet, am often,’ replied Fox. ‘Daniel, needs, more urgent.’
    Mrs Lang left the room with Daniel, calling to the maid to fetch dry clothes for him.
    â€˜I would be dead were it not for you,’ said Emily awkwardly.
    â€˜To rescue, my honour,’ replied Fox.
    â€˜You probably think us so pitiful.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Daniel not knowing how to swim, and me able to do nothing but scream. He stood up in the boat, you know. I think it was just to tease me.’
    â€˜Myself, money, home, have none. Rescuing, myself, you are.’
    â€˜Why Fox, that is a very sweet way to put it.’
    Mrs Lang returned with her sleeves still rolled up. She collapsed into an armchair and put a hand to her forehead.
    â€˜Fox, I do apologise again for keeping you waiting in wet clothes, but as you can see, my children are, well, frail compared to someone like you.’
    â€˜Acknowledged.’
    â€˜And you were a sailor …’ began Mrs Lang, then she realised that all her small talk about sailors was about how rough and dirty they were. ‘I … saw sailors at work on the voyage out here,’ she finally managed. ‘You … are the first sailor I have spoken to, however.’
    â€˜Impression, satisfactory, perhaps?’ replied Fox.
    â€˜Oh indeed. A good impression, a wonderful impression. But tell me, young Fox, you seem very well spoken, and, ah, well-mannered for a sailor.’
    â€˜Acknowledged, ah, on target.’
    Odd, he does not seem to know how to express his thanks to people, thought Emily.
    â€˜And your family?’ asked Mrs Lang.
    â€˜Family? No target.’
    â€˜Your mother and father, your parents.’
    â€˜Kensington hatchery.’
    â€˜Ah, they were poultry farmers? But Kensington does not sound like a Norwegian name.’
    For a moment Fox looked really tense, and he frowned slightly in thought.
    â€˜Ship sank, all died,’ he declared, as if he wished to terminate the subject.
    â€˜Oh, I am so, so sorry!’ exclaimed Mrs Lang with genuine horror, swaying a little, as if about to faint.