IPN

The debouch was progressing on schedule. The crew had consumed the sake and was just getting into the vodka they had saved for just such a time as this when, of a sudden (wouldn't you know), a stranger appeared among them. He did not say a word but moved quickly below deck where he encountered one of the two sober people aboard the Grate Ship. After a brief exchange both men went to find the boatswain. Who they found brooding over a coffee drink.

"O, so yeh found me?"

"Most nat'ly done Carson." replied the stranger, "you have a trail like algae."

Carson cursed, in a generic way, "What do you want?"

"You don't know?"

"No."

"I'm calling in the last favor."

"And what would that be?"

"Joyce"

"Look, I know you're better informed than I, what in blazes are you talking about?"

"Okinawa, or rather what happened just off it? What happened to Joyce"

Carson rubbing his head, "The ship was cracked. I don't know what happened."

"You're the only survivor."

"I am?"

"Well that's what I need to know."

"Look, last I know the ship cracked just after dark. A lot can happen in the dark. I
came to half on half off wreckage. Not a soul in sight. Spent days getting ready to die but got picked up instead."

"Who picked you up?"

"It was a French ship. But the crew was Russian."

The stranger snorted. Nothing good would come of this.

___

"Would it be our dumb luck to be gentlemen born? To be second sons and bastards of lords? Thrown to the waves to build our fortune?"

"That's a good one."

"You interrupted me. Now I forgot what I wanted to say."

"Oh, sorry."

"Let's see, do you know what happened to that chart? The one depicting Xi harbor?"

"Blimey, Kellen, you haven't asked after that in years."

"Well, Jacko, I have intelligence that the Goat is to winter there."

"Arrr."

"Not that."

"Oh, I haven't forgotten she carries a man I must settle accounts with soon. Besides, she has a cargo of spice."

"I hope you mean gold and not the other kind."