...of insubordination

The crying of the two babies makes him impatient. He is aware of the noise men make passing about them, the words and laughter on the wind which they too could be conscious of. He stares at the silhouette of the man who is to look after them. Standing in the prow of the boat, hands in his pockets, head turned towards the island, the man is unable to hear or speak. He was born deaf and his vocal cords have been cut by the order of the king. The children must be totally free from outside influence. Yet the deaf mute makes the king uneasy. He feels that, lacking the ability to communicate, the man is somehow outwith his control.

[Index, Penney, B.]