Narrow Escape (ebook)

Argumento de Narrow Escape (ebook)

With its month by month and tongue in cheek look at the liveaboard year, Narrow Escape sets out to dispel the commonly held myths about this idyllic lifestyle.

MUM!

I jumped at the shout. Intent on giving our fire desperate CPR, I obviously hadnt heard my youngest trying to get my attention.

What? I yelled down the boat at him, Im a bit busy at the moment. Ignoring the muttering from behind me I turned back to my sulking log burner. I cant believe I made such a damn rookie mistake. I poked at it and grimaced as my fledgling fire collapsed into a puff of sparks and cinders. Oh, for goodness sake.

Whats the matter Mum? Sam, still yawning and dressed in pyjamas, three jumpers, and a lot of socks, had wandered down to see what all the swearing was about.

I jumped and hit my head on the blackened door of the log burner. Jaaagghh! was all I managed.

Sam winced and took a step back. That wasnt my fault, he said.

I never said it was. I sat on the floor and picked up my morning coffee, it wasnt very warm but, compared to the temperature in the boat, it was the closest thing I had to a hot water bottle. I stared up at the ceiling. My repeated unsuccessful attempts to light the fire had merely created rolling clouds of smoke that, hovering at ceiling height, effectively sliced the boat in two.

Im freezing. Sam stared at the cold, black fire for a moment. Why is the fire out?

I stared into my coffee cup and took a deep breath. Although I was fairly sure that screaming and throwing bits of wood around would warm me up, it would be a temporary solution at best. Taking a deep breath, I went back to chopping the wet kindling into the longest and thinnest slivers I could. Its out because I didnt put enough coal on it last night. I was being lazy and didnt want to go out into the snow for a new bag so I hoped Id put on enough to make it last.

Never put off till tomorrow what you can mess up today. Sam solemnly intoned one of my favourite sayings.

I had to laugh. Yes, thank you Sam, I said. It would be a lot faster if I had some firelighters but Ive run out of those as well, so maybe I should just concentrate on what Im doing. I turned to give him my patent now is not the time for daft questions look. Unfortunately, my teeth were chattering so hard Im fairly sure all he got was a somewhat surprised look. He got the message anyway and scarpered.

Thirty seconds later he was back.

I sighed and turned again as he poked me in the shoulder. Sam honey, I cant do this with you sitting like a monkey on my back

He held his hand out. Curious, I took what he was offering. I was now the proud possessor of a handful of cotton wool balls.

Very nice dear. I put the fluffy balls on the floor and wondered if the cold had finally leeched into his brain, I know I was finding thinking difficult.

He picked them up and handed them to me again. Use these instead of firelighters, he said.

I stared at them for a moment and then put them down again. I dont think so, Sam. I turned back to the fire.

I saw it on telly. He piled them up into a little pyramid on the carpet. They were showing you how to light a fire outside. They said that cotton wool was an excellent fire starter.

I peered up at him from where I sat on the floor. He didnt seem to be having a laugh.

He picked them up and handed them to me with a grin. Go on, Mum, he said. Can we just see what happens?

I shrugged. Well, I might as well give it a go, nothing else Id tried so far had worked and, at the very least, hed learn that you cant trust everything you see on the goggle box.0