They will land in England in approximately three days. So they are dancing. Here, beneath a sky so crammed full of stars it seems as though it might sink, Meg pulls out her violin and sailors dance. They sing, too, beat out a rhythm on the deck, dancing to the light of flicker fast lamps in the dark clarity of night.
Thomas watches Meg. She is laughing, throwing back her head of butter yellow hair, playing her violin as though her life depends upon it. She is bright and brave and blazing and oh so very beautiful. So he pulls himself to his feet, from where he's sitting on the deck, and goes to her, and takes her hands- she gives her violin to a reaching sailor, who continues the jaunty tune.
And they dance.
He and Meg – they dance out a drum beat on the wood, hands clasped together, and then they spin, round and round, and he looks at her eyes and he swears, he promises to God, that he will never let her go.