Just Another Day

"I would have liked to have invited them back to the ship," Doctor Newbury said wistfully.

"For study?" Shanku asked.

"Indeed," nodded Doctor Newbury.

"Much writing to do tonight then?" Shanku teased as they approached the ship.

"Oh, very much!" Doctor Newbury exclaimed. "What a wonderful day! Meeting Bhadarukians!"

"Bhada-wha?" Shanku asked as she sat on the deck railing of the Meriweather.

"Bhadarukia is the country to the east of L'aernth and is divided from us by Mruha," Doctor Newbury explained.

"Ah," Shanku nodded.

When Shanku woke up the next morning, she found the ship was nearly deserted. She amused herself for a while before she became lonely. Shanku looked around and found only Dawson. He was leaning up against the railing in the shade of one of the masts. Oddly, his hair wasn't down to his shoulders anymore. He had started tying it back off his neck. Presumably due to the wind and humidity.

"Where's the crew?" Shanku asked as she plopped down on a barrel next to him.

"In their bunks," Dawson said without looking up.

"At noon?" Shanku asked in surprise. The sun was quite high in the sky.

"They've been 'working' long nights lately," Dawson chuckled mischievously.

"Bah, I'm ready to go back into town," Shanku sighed.

"Me too," Dawson said. "Wanna come with me tonight?"