working my way through the Thatch section, second draft

1 files changed, 132 insertions, 83 deletions

diff --git a/lbh.txt b/lbh.txt
index ca351e1..0d4de4b 100644
--- a/lbh.txt
+++ b/lbh.txt
@@ -26,26 +26,7 @@ Her father smiled at her. "A wonderful idea my darling freewoman, but... but, we
 
 
 # Notes
-'''
-Storm
-    - try to stop the cousins from going
-    - burying their stores, sailing the boat up the river, past Kadis
-    - storm hits, under the boat, darkness and terror
-    - alligator scene
-    - storm aftermath. ship not heard from, waiting for their cousins
-        - birdie won't eat
-        - staring out at sea. hating the sea. cursing the sea
-            another visit from the sea
-        - Henri crying for owen. We need to add more about them together
-    - Kadi's grandmother dies. 
-Sails
-    - Ratham arrives, break the spell of sadness
-    - no word of the ship though
     - hunting and careening, winter solstice bonfire with the pirates
-'''
-
-
-'''
 # Prologue
 
 They were two. Blood covered the bed. Even the midwife was whimpering and pitiful by the end. "A night and day," she said. And they were born, one the night, one the day. 
@@ -65,7 +46,6 @@ When he returned the winds blew favorably again and they left, hugging the coast
 By the time they arrived all the twins had left was a memory of trees. The deep darkness of the forest floor where they would lie as babies, staring up at the trees, the branches reaching like thick fingers to scratch at the light of the sky above.
 
 # Main
-
 ## Chapter 1:  On The Sea
 
 The scent of the world crept into her hammock before she ever opened her eyes. The smell of wet cedar wood and salt. The soft sweetness of cedar too long at sea and then the bright briny salt smell of the sea itself. She opened her eyes and looked up. A sliver of purple twilight peaked through the canvas of the hammock, wrapped up around her. She craned her head back to look at the dark brown mast, crusted with salty white patterns that looked like the drawings of snowflakes in Papa's big book, which was wrapped carefully in walrus leather and stored somewhere in the hold beneath the deck. 
@@ -2580,20 +2560,15 @@ Her father laughed. "Oh, I don't care about commerce at all. I like to sail, and
 
 ## Lulu and Delos at Sea
 
+They were well out of the river mouth before the eastern sky even hinted at dawn, but there was little wind to speed them over the horizon. They road the current and hoped for more wind. The plan was to sail east, out of sight, and then cut north to find Whydah, which was likely north of Charlestown, watching the shipping routes to London and Bristol. The wind was not cooperating though. In a flat out race they could not beat the British warship. It was bigger and heavier, but it had more sails and could catch more wind. Tamba still believed they could out run it, but even he didn't want to try right now. So they were going to do what the warship could not, sail close the wind, row if they must, and use the tides and shallows to their advantage. They could lose her in the tidal marshes of the shoreline, they just had to get north of her first. That was the first race, and they had one distinct advantage: surprise. The tk warship's crew had to raise anchor, set the sails, and get moving. The ship might know something was hidden up the river, but the British did not know that they would slip out under the cover of night. They had a head start, the question was, how much would that help? 
 
+Tamba pushed them nearly four miles out and then turned north. They had a northwest wind at their back, but as they moved closer back to shore it would fall off. While Edisto Island faced nearly due east, most the coast line above it faced south and the land to the south didn't extend out as far, which meant winds from the south were blocked by the land when you got close to the island. That meant that while Delos had 13 knots of wind, and was moving at over 6 knots, the British ship closer to shore would have trouble finding southerly wind at all. Delos would run into the same problem as she got closer to shore, but if all went well, they would already be far enough north of the other ship that it wouldn't ever get within cannon range.
 
-:TODO: Proof from here:
-
-
-They were well out of the river mouth before the eastern sky even hinted at dawn, but there was little wind to speed them over the horizon. They had hoped to sail east, out of sight and then cut north to find Revenge, which was likely north of Charlestown, watching the shipping routes to London and Bristol. The wind was not cooperating though. In a flat out race they could not beat the British warship. It was bigger and heavier, but it had more sails and could catch more wind. Tamba still believed they could out race it, but even he didn't want to try right now. So they were going to do what the warship could not, sail close the wind, row if they must, and use the tides and shallows to their advantage. They could lose her in the tidal marshes of the shoreline, they just had to get north of her first. That was the first race, and they had one distinct advantage: surprise. The tk warship's crew weren't on the lookout for a ship. They might know something was hidden up the river, but they did not know it was Delos or that she would slip out under the cover of night. They had a head start, the question was, how much would that help. 
-
-Tamba pushed them nearly four miles out and then turned north. They had a northwest wind at their back, but as the moved closer back to shore it would fall off. While Edisto Island faced nearly due east, most the coast line faced south and the land to the south didn't extend out as far, which meant winds from the south were blocked by the land when you got close to the island. That meant that while Delos had 13 knots of wind, and was moving at over 9 knots, the British ship closer to shore would have trouble finding southerly wind at all. Of course Delos would run into the same problem as she got closer to shore, but if all went well, they would already be far enough north of the other ship that it wouldn't ever get within cannon range.
+The British ship had sails out. Lulu could see them through the glass. There was something strangely thrilling about this chase. She knew they might all die if that ship caught them, but somehow it seemed impossible that it should. That was the thrill of it, that distance between what it seemed like was going to happen and what was actually happening. 
 
-The British ship had sails out. Lulu could see them through the glass. There was something strangely thrilling about this chase. She knew they might all drone if that ship caught them, but somehow it seemed impossible that it should. That was the thrill of it, that distance between what it seemed like was going to happen and what was actually happening. 
+She turned the glass north toward the shoreline of St James island, the marsh country south of Charlestown. The pitch of Delos and the blurriness of her glass made it impossible to tell for sure if the trees were moving, but she didn't think they were.That was good for them. She scanned back to the warship and was startled to see how fast it had gotten underway. It seemed like it was halfway to them already. For the first time since they'd escape the marsh Lulu felt afraid. She put down her glass and glanced at Tamba who was staring through his own glass. She heard him mutter under his breath as he brought the glass down to his side. He saw that she was watching him and he smiled. "She's a fast one eh?"
 
-She turned the glass north toward the shoreline of tk island, the marsh country south of Charlestown. The pitch of Delos and the blurriness of her glass made it impossible to tell for sure if the trees were moving, but she didn't think they were.That was good for them. She scanned back to the warship and was startled to see how fast it had gotten underway. It seemed like it was halfway to them already. For the first time since they'd escape the marsh Lulu felt afraid. She put down her glass and glanced at Tamba who was staring through his own glass. She heard him mutter under his breath as he brought the glass down to his side. He saw that she was watching him and he smiled. "She's a fast one eh?"
-
-Lulu nodded and gulped. If Tamba was afraid then maybe it wasn't impossible that it would catch them. "Is it going to catch us."
+Lulu nodded and gulped. If Tamba was afraid then maybe it wasn't impossible that it would catch them. "Is it going to catch us?"
 
 Tamba frowned. "It's going to be close. She's made good ground with the offshore breeze, just like we did. Now she's going to turn north at a slightly sharper angle and try to overtake us before we make it back in the wind shadow."
 
@@ -2601,13 +2576,13 @@ Tamba frowned. "It's going to be close. She's made good ground with the offshore
 
 "Not if I can help it. Now you go forward and tell Kobayashi to come back here. I want you to stay by the main in case we need you there."
 
-She knew he wanted to talk to Kobayashi without her listening. Birdie would have found some way to listen, she had some curious way of always finding a way to listen to what the grownup were saying. They called her nosey sometimes, Aunt Māra got made at her when she did it to her, but Lulu never bothered. Grownups didn't know what they were saying half the time anyway and other half the they said things they would never end up doing so what was the point in knowing them? 
+She knew he wanted to talk to Kobayashi without her listening. Birdie would have found some way to listen, she had some curious way of always finding a way to listen to what the grownup were saying. They called her nosey sometimes, Aunt Māra got mad at her when Birdie listened to her, but Lulu never bothered. Grownups didn't know what they were saying half the time anyway and other half the they said things they would never end up doing, so what was the point in knowing them? 
 
-She went forward and sent Kobayashi to the back. She sat down with Henri to play cards. There was nothing they could do. It was all about the wind and skill of the captains in using it. She, along with every other sailor, was just along for the ride. The wind always decided who won and who lost.
+She went forward and sent Kobayashi aft. She sat down with Henri to play cards. There was nothing they could do. It was all about the wind and skill of the captains in using it. She, along with every other sailor, was just along for the ride. The wind always decided who won and who lost.
 
 By midday it was not looking good. The British ship was within hailing distance. Thankfully she had no forward cannon or they would be in real trouble very soon. As it was they still had a chance, though even Tamba was sweating now. He and Kobayashi had used lines to pull the main boom in tighter, allowing them to turn sharper into the wind, which gave them a heading the British warship could not match. Unfortunately it was also pushing them further out to sea rather than closer into the coast where they wanted to be. 
 
-When the sundial her father had built just forward of the wheel read 3, Tamba gave up on the coast and pointed them as close to the wind as they could come, heading them nearly east, when they wanted to heading west. He decided, and they all agreed, that it was better to run until dark and try to cut back inland in the night, then disappear into the marshes at first light. It was working. They had gained a little ground on the British ship, but the wind would begin to die down as evening wore and her much larger sails would soon have the advantage. She was already and anticipating this, having broken off a direct chase in favor of setting herself up to tack back into the them as the wind died and Delos's speed fell off.
+When the sundial her father had built just forward of the wheel read 3, Tamba gave up on the coast and pointed them as close to the wind as they could come, heading them nearly east, when they wanted to head west. He decided, and they all agreed, that it was better to run until dark and try to cut back inland in the night, then disappear into the marshes at first light. It was working. They had gained a little ground on the British ship, but the wind would begin to die down as evening wore and her much larger sails would soon have the advantage. She was already and anticipating this, having broken off a direct chase in favor of setting herself up to tack back into the them as the wind died and Delos's speed fell off.
 
 "Her captain knows how to sail anyway." Tamba muttered. 
 
@@ -2615,17 +2590,17 @@ Lulu watched the British ship cross their stern wake as it headed further out, h
 
 Kobayashi nodded. "We could, but we might be stuck there. The tides are tricky too, we need to time them right to make sure we can get in, lay low, and then get out again without being noticed."
 
-Lulu nodded. "But don't we want to find Anne and Jack?"
+Lulu nodded. "But don't we want to find Sam and Jack?"
 
-"Yes, but first we have to lose this ship. Anne and Jack don't want us showing up with a 32 gun frigate behind us. That's no good for anyone."
+"Yes, but first we have to lose this ship. Sam and Jack don't want us showing up with a 32 gun frigate behind us. That's no good for anyone."
 
-"Revenge could sink that thing couldn't it?"
+"The Whydah could sink that thing couldn't it?"
 
-"Probably, but it might be quite a battle. And Revenge and her crew might not be well disposed toward us when it was over."
+"Probably, but it might be quite a battle. And Whydah and her crew might not be well disposed toward us when it was over."
 
-Lulu considered this in silence. She was curious what Anne did in battle, but she knew that Anne mostly preferred to avoid pitched battles with warships. Edward was the only person she'd heard of who enjoyed that. Her father too perhaps. She had never seen him in battle. 
+Lulu considered this in silence. She was curious what Jack did in battle, but she knew that Jack mostly preferred to avoid pitched battles with warships. Edward was the only person she'd heard of who enjoyed that. Her father too perhaps. She had never seen him in battle. 
 
-Suddenly the british ship began to come about, moving toward a parallel course. "Tamba!" Lulu screamed as she watched tiny black dots come running out the length of the tk british ship. Cannons. All those black dots were cannons and they were all pointed at Delos. Pointed at her.
+Suddenly the British ship began to come about, moving toward a parallel course. "Tamba!" Lulu screamed as she watched tiny black dots come running out the length of the tk british ship. Cannons. All those black dots were cannons and they were all pointed at Delos. Pointed at her.
 
 Tamba stood beside her with the glass. He didn't say anything but she noticed his hand was shaking slightly as he held the glass. She heard him exhale and steady himself. "Are they going to fire at us?" Before she was finished speaking a screaming came across the sky, a shrieking whistling roar that stopped when something splashed into the sea about two hundred feet off their port side. Lulu screamed. 
 
@@ -2641,7 +2616,7 @@ Tamba scooped her up in his arms and hugged her tight. "It is okay lulu, they ar
 
 "Are we going to fight?"
 
-They watched a tiny puff of smoke and then there was another roaring sound. The splash seemed closer. "We may Lulu. But I still think we can get away." Tamba glanced up at the sun, slinking slowly down behind the islands to their west. "Once that sun is down, the advantage shifts to us, he doesn't have a pilot, non of them know these waters. We will lose them in the shallows tonight, make our way to mouth of the tk river and run out it northeasterly like any other ship headed for England. Then we're home free, use the current to head to Ocracoke. Should take two days. Another to provision and ready Queen Anne, and then we'll come get your Papa while that frigate is out at sea chasing our ghost."
+They watched a tiny puff of smoke and then there was another roaring sound. The splash seemed closer. "We may Lulu. But I still think we can get away." Tamba glanced up at the sun, slinking slowly down behind the islands to their west. "Once that sun is down, the advantage shifts to us, he doesn't have a pilot, none of them know these waters. We will lose them in the shallows tonight, make our way to mouth of the tk river and run out it northeasterly like any other ship headed for England. Then we're home free, use the current to head to Ocracoke. Should take two days. Another to provision and ready Queen Anne, and then we'll come get your Papa while that frigate is out at sea chasing our ghost."
 
 "And if we don't get away?"
 
@@ -2653,11 +2628,11 @@ Her father was up before dawn. He nudged Birdie's foot and moved around so their
 
 Birdie nodded. "I'm fine. How are you?"
 
-"I am fine. I wish I knew were Delos was and what luck she had had, but I'll just have to have faith in Tamba and Kobayashi."
+"I am fine. I wish I knew were Delos was and what luck she's had, but I'll just have to have faith in Tamba and Kobayashi."
 
-"And Lulu," said Birdie.
+"And Lulu and Henri," said Birdie.
 
-"And Lulu," agreed her father.
+"And Lulu and Henri," agreed her father.
 
 Tonight we'll likely get to Charlestown, unless they decided to wait another night and show up early. Either way we'll likely be separated. I will be thrown in the jail and you'll probably be taken to someone's house."
 
@@ -2665,15 +2640,17 @@ This sent a chill down Birdie's back. "I don't want to leave you."
 
 "I know, but I'd rather that than have you in jail with me. I can get myself out of jail, I don't know that I can get both of us out of jail."
 
-"How are you going to get yourself out of jail?" The news the her father wasn't worried about jail startled her. How did one get out of jail so easily.
+"How are you going to get yourself out of jail?" The news the her father wasn't worried about jail startled her. How did one get out of jail?
 
 "Oh, there are several ways to do that. Gold is the easiest, but I haven't got any so I will have to use wits. Or cannons. We'll see."
 
 "Cannons. Where are you going to get cannons?"
 
-"Revenge of course. And Queen Anne perhaps."
+"Queen Anne. Perhaps."
+
+"Edward's coming?"
 
-"Edward's coming? If Delos can find him."
+"If Delos can find him."
 
 "I thought you and Edward didn't get along?"
 
@@ -2681,7 +2658,7 @@ This sent a chill down Birdie's back. "I don't want to leave you."
 
 "You argue all the time whenever we're around him."
 
-"Oh, well, we're just discussing things. Edward is very idealistic about what he's doing. I am not as much." She could see her father's teeth in the starlight as he smiled. "And we both like to hear ourselves talk so we have that in common too."
+"Oh, well, we're just discussing things. Edward is very idealistic about what he's doing. I am not as much." She could see her father's teeth in the starlight as he smiled. "And we both like to hear ourselves talk so we have that in common."
 
 "Papa?"
 
@@ -2693,9 +2670,9 @@ Her father was quiet for a moment. "That's the hardest part. The waiting. We wil
 
 ## Lulu and Delos into the night
 
-The sun was already below the horizon when Lulu woke up. She and Henri had laid down in the hammocks to try to make up for the sleep they'd lost last night and the sleep they'd lose tonight. Lulu didn't think she could sleep with a warship periodically firing cannons at them, but she did. She remembered her father once saying, you'd be surprised what you can get used to, but she'd not really believed him until now. She lay there a moment in the hammock just listening to the silence of the boat plunging though the sea, there was no other sound and it was easy to believe she was alone in the world. That the whole world was just this boat and there was no British warship around, no England at all, just ocean and her ship sailing in between worlds where no owned the trees and everyone was nice. Then she got up and looked around. The British ship was no closer and in little while it would be dark. 
+The sun was already below the horizon when Lulu woke up. She and Henri had laid down in the hammocks to try to make up for the sleep they'd lost last night and the sleep they'd lose tonight. Lulu didn't think she could sleep with a warship periodically firing cannons at them, but she did. She remembered her father once saying, you'd be surprised what you can get used to, but she'd not really believed him until now. She lay there a moment in the hammock listening to the silence of the boat plunging though the sea, there was no other sound and it was easy to believe she was alone in the world. That the whole world was just this boat and there was no British warship around, no England at all, just ocean and her ship sailing between worlds where no owned the trees and everyone was nice. Then she got up and looked around. The British ship was no closer and in little while it would be dark. 
 
-She went below to get some food for her and Henri when he woke up and found Aunt Māra and Tamba sitting in the hold sewing on a huge black piece of canvas. 
+She went below to get some food for her and Henri when he woke up. The darkness she found Aunt Māra and Tamba sewing on a huge black piece of canvas. 
 
 She took a piece of dried fish from the rafter and a ball of rice from the stove and came over to where they were working. "What are you doing?"
 
@@ -2717,13 +2694,13 @@ Tamba laughed. "That's what your father calls it. It's a black sail, hard to see
 
 "I need a break," said Aunt Māra standing and stretching. "I'm due to relieve Kobayashi in a spell anyway. You take over for me." She handed her needle to Lulu and bent down to show her where she had been sewing. Lulu could see the ragged holes where rats had chewed the canvas to make themselves a nest. She hated rats.
 
-She and Tamba worked in silence. When her section was done she carefully put the needle away in the bag Aunt Māra had given her and hung it back up in its spot on the wall. She grabbed some more fish and rice for Henri and went back up topside. The air was cool now and the last hint of blue was fading from the western sky. It was Lulu's favorite time to be a sea, the darkness was overwhelming, like a huge thing rising up to swallow you, but in the good way, it was so much space, so much room, it was as if you could see forever. On calm nights when they were anchored somewhere sheltered the water turned glass and reflected the stars so well it was like floating among the stars, sailing on the great clouds in the sky. Which her father told her were clouds of stars, but she wasn't sure if he had been pulling her leg or telling the truth. 
+She and Tamba worked in silence. When her section was done she carefully put the needle away in the bag Aunt Māra had given her and hung it back up in its spot on the wall. She grabbed some more fish and rice for Henri and went back up topside. The air was cool now and the last hint of blue was fading from the western sky. It was Lulu's favorite time to be at sea. Darkness was overwhelming, like a huge thing rising up to swallow you, but in the good way. It was so much space, so much room, it was as if you could see forever. On calm nights when they were anchored somewhere sheltered, the water turned glass and reflected the stars so well it was like floating among them, sailing on the great clouds in the sky. Which her father told her were clouds of stars, but she wasn't sure if he had been pulling her leg or not. 
 
-Tonight it wasn't that calm, but that was okay, somewhere out there in the darkness that ship was still coming for them. She squinted at the western horizon, but could not tell how far out they were. She came and stood by her Aunt who was taking her run at the helm. She sat down on the stool her father had anchored to the deck and Lulu climbed in her lap. 
+Tonight it wasn't that calm, but that was okay, somewhere out there in the darkness that ship was still coming for them. She squinted at the western horizon, but could not tell how far out they were. She came and stood by her Aunt who was taking her turn at the helm. She sat down on the stool Tamba had anchored to the deck, Lulu climbed in her lap. 
 
-Aunt Māra would sail for four hours, then Tamba would relieve her and sail into the early morning, then Kobayashi would take over, then Aunt Māra again, and so it would go. As long as they were at sea, someone had to be on watch. If her father were here, and if they weren't being chased, Lulu would have a watch, usually in the day time, although once or twice her father had let her take the first night watch. Twilight was her favorite time to be at sea, there was something so peaceful about the way to sounds of the sea and light of the evening mingled together. mixing at the western horizon where the last yellow glow faded to blue and then black and then it was just the waves and the wind and stars, like floating in a sea of stars. 
+Aunt Māra would sail for four hours, then Tamba would relieve her and sail into the early morning, then Kobayashi would take over, then Aunt Māra again, and so it would go. As long as they were at sea, someone had to be on watch. If her father were here, and if they weren't being chased, Lulu would have a watch, usually in the day time, although once or twice her father had let her take the first night watch. Twilight was her favorite time to be at sea, there was something so peaceful about the way to sounds of the sea and light of the evening mingled together, mixing at the western horizon where the last yellow glow faded to blue and then black and then it was just the waves and the wind and stars, endless stars. 
 
-Lulu jerked away and realized she had dozed off in Aunt Māra's lap. She stood up, hugged her Aunt and went forward to find Henri. She picked him up and carried him to his hammock, gently laying him down. She went below and fetched a quilt for Henri and another for her. The night was already chilled and would be even colder some morning. Then she climbed in her own hammock and pulled the quilt over her head and fell asleep.
+Lulu jerked awake and realized she had dozed off in Aunt Māra's lap. She stood up, hugged her Aunt and went forward to find Henri. She picked him up and carried him to his hammock, gently laying him down. She went below and fetched a quilt for Henri and another for her. The night was already chilled and would be even colder some morning. Then she climbed in her own hammock and pulled the quilt over her head and fell asleep.
 
 The sun was up when she woke with a start. It was cold, but the beginning of warmth was there in the light of the sun poking through the canvas of her hammock. It was damp. Everything was always damp at sea. Her father said sailors love the sun not because it means fair winds but because it means maybe, just maybe, for a few minutes the world won't be damp. This sun had it's work cut out for it. The inside of Lulu's canvas hammock was nearly dripping. She however was quite warm with a quilt under her and another over her. She was wondering how long she could stay in this nice warm cacoon when Henri's head poked into her hammock, appraised her open eyes and said rather matter of factly. "here's some fish, you should eat, we'll be anchoring soon."
 
@@ -2731,29 +2708,29 @@ Lulu sat up. "Anchoring? Where, why?"
 
 "Good winds through the night, Tamba brought us straight up to Ocracoke. We're going to see Edward."
 
-Lulu looked out at the Carolina coast, which was more barren here than down south. That meant they must have had excellent wind all night to have made it this far. "What about Revenge?"
+Lulu looked out at the Carolina coast, which was more barren here than down south. That meant they must have had excellent wind all night to have made it this far. "What about Whydah?"
 
 Henri shrugged. "It's out there somewhere, but we don't have time."
 
-Lulu chewed on the fish and consider this. "Maybe Revenge is at Ocracoke?"
+Lulu chewed on the fish and consider this. "Maybe Whydah is at Ocracoke?"
 
 "Maybe," said Henri.
 
-There was no way to know until you came right up on it. Ocracoke was a small barrier island off the coast of Carolina with several very protected anchorages. It was favorite of Thatch's and Bellamy's before he'd gone down. It offered three things all sailors loved, protection from storms, fresh water, and game. It was also nearly impossible to sneak up on it. They watched Thatch's lookouts came toward them from the headland long before they rounded the bend and actually saw his ships. If they'd been flying colors they'd have no doubt been engaged, but they flew a solid blue flag with a small white trident in the upper left corner. It was another of her father's symbols which he was vague about. "It's the color of the sea he'd said once, and that's our only master. 
+There was no way to know until you came right up on it. Ocracoke was a small barrier island off the coast of Carolina with several very protected anchorages. It was favorite of Thatch and Bellamy. It offered three things all sailors loved, protection from storms, fresh water, and game. It was also nearly impossible to sneak up on it. They watched Thatch's lookouts come toward them from the headland long before they rounded the bend and actually saw his ships. If they'd been flying colors they'd have no doubt been engaged, but they flew a solid blue flag with a small white trident in the upper left corner. It was another of her father's symbols which he was vague about. "It's the color of the sea he'd said once, and that's our only master. 
 
 Tamba hailed the men in the long boat with the bullhorn, letting them know they sought Thatch. The men came alongside and tied off to Delos. They both clamored aboard and glanced around briefly before Tamba brought them to the wheel to pilot her in to the shallows where they could anchor.
 
-They were both missing teeth and dirtier than Lulu had ever seen anyone be. Even the men of Jack and Anne's crew, while rough, were not a rough as these men. Lulu involuntarily shrunk from them. One of the men grinned at her. "Don't often see young ones on a ship out here, good for you girl. And don't worry, I won't bite."
+They were both missing teeth and dirtier than Lulu had ever seen anyone be. Even the men of Whydah, while rough, were not a rough as these men. Lulu involuntarily shrunk from them. One of the men grinned at her. "Don't often see young ones on a ship out here, good for you girl. And don't worry, I won't bite."
 
-Lulu was embarrassed that she'd tried to back away from them and nodded quickly and then busied herself with a line that needed coiling. She avoided them both the rest of the time they were on the ship, which wasn't long. There was one narrow passage between to shoals that Lulu felt sure they could have managed without a pilot, but then one probably didn't want to take any risks. It wouldn't do to run aground in front of Blackbeard and crew and then flounder ashore and ask them to help you. Certain people commanded a level of respect that meant you had to get things right the first time even if that meant accepting a pilot to help you through the shallows. Some times, her father had said to her when they came to Ocracoke the first time, you have to know when the real strength is admitting what you can't do.
+Lulu was embarrassed that she'd tried to back away from them and nodded quickly and then busied herself with a line that needed coiling. She avoided them both the rest of the time they were on the ship, which wasn't long. There was one narrow passage between to shoals that Lulu felt sure they could have managed without a pilot, but then one probably didn't want to take any risks. It wouldn't do to run aground in front of Blackbeard and crew and then flounder ashore and ask them to help you. Certain people commanded a level of respect that meant you had to get things right the first time, even if that meant accepting a pilot to help you through the shallows. Sometimes, her father had said to her when they came to Ocracoke the first time, you have to know when the real strength is admitting what you can't do. This he said, was why Edward liked the place so much, not for the protection, but for the weeding, the cutting of the herd.
 
 Lulu was pretty sure they *could* do it, but then that was the point right? Not admitting that they couldn't sail the shallows, but admitting that they could not get to Blackbeard without a pilot. No one could. That was *his* point.
 
 They Anchored Delos close enough to Queen Anne's Revenge that they could have had a conversation with Thatch from the deck, but he was ashore according to the men who piloted them in. They left quickly, heading back the headland where they apparently lived, and presumably, kept watch over the anchorage.
 
-Tamba, Lulu and Henri climbed down into Delos's boat and Tamba rowed them ashore. A sixable portion of Queen Anne's crew leaned over the railings, watching them in silence as they paddled by. 
+Tamba, Lulu, and Henri climbed down into Delos's longboat and Tamba rowed them ashore. A sizable portion of Queen Anne's crew leaned over the railings, watching them in silence as they paddled by. 
 
-Here there was no surf to negotiate. The protected lagoon allowed them to row straight in and beach the boat. As the pulled her up above the high tide mark, Lulu glanced up the beach and saw two men walking toward them. One was stocky man of medium build that Lulu did not recognize. The other was a tall man with a massive black beard that stretched half way to his waist. He had long curly hair and sparkling, wild eyes. He reminded her of her father. 
+Here there was no surf to negotiate. The protected lagoon allowed them to row straight in and beach the boat. As they pulled her up above the high tide mark, Lulu glanced up the beach and saw two men walking toward them. One was stocky man of medium build that Lulu did not recognize. The other was a tall man with a massive black beard that stretched half way to his waist. He had long curly hair and sparkling, wild eyes. He reminded her of her father. 
 
 "Tamba! I thought I recognized that flag." He embraced Tamba, they clapped each other on the back. "How are you? Still sailing with tk father's name I see. That's still Delos eh?"
 
@@ -2761,9 +2738,9 @@ Here there was no surf to negotiate. The protected lagoon allowed them to row st
 
 Thatch nodded, stroking his beard. "Still making the tar then?"
 
-Tamba nodded. "Careened Revenge not more than a fortnight ago."
+Tamba nodded. "Careened Whydah not more than a fortnight ago. Revenge before that."
 
-Thatch grunted. "Which Revenge? I've got a Revenge. And Queen Anne's Revenge. Then there's captain Ratham. Hornigold has a Revenge down in Nassua. Hell, Vain probably does too by now." He turned to the man next to him as if sharing an inside joke. "If he stops drinking long enough to sail that is."
+Thatch grunted. "Which Revenge? I've got a Revenge. And Queen Anne's Revenge. Hornigold has a Revenge down in Nassua. Hell, Vain probably does too by now." He turned to the man next to him as if sharing an inside joke. "If he stops drinking long enough to sail that is."
 
 "There's a lot of Revenges in these damn waters Mr Tamba. What is it with Revenge? Tk father's name would say that's our problem, too much revenge, not enough... something else." Thatch chuckled. He waved his hand to the man standing next to him, you remember my quartermaster Mr Dobbs?"
 
@@ -2775,7 +2752,7 @@ She nodded.
 
 Henri glanced uncertainly at Lulu. She spoke up. "He already is sir, on Delos."
 
-"Ah, shame. Well." Thatch stood up. "Come, let's walk to my new home. I have property now. Here. I own it. Thatch laughed. "So, what brings you to my island Tamba? Not that you aren't welcome to visit, but tk father's name does not appear to be here, and only two of his children are, which suggests... mystery."
+"Ah, shame. Well," Thatch stood up. "Come, let's walk to my new home. I have property now. Here. I own it. Thatch laughed. "So, what brings you to my island Tamba? Not that you aren't welcome to visit, but tk father's name does not appear to be here, and only two of his children are, which suggests... mystery." Thatch's eyes sparkled in a way that made Lulu shiver slightly.
 
 Tamba looked down at his feet. "Yes. You might want to hear this before we go to your property. A British ship has come to Charlestown. Well. First to Edisto, now, since we lost it in the night, I assume, Charlestown."
 
@@ -2785,15 +2762,41 @@ Thatch glanced up. "A British ship? You mean a man of war? Do go on..."
 
 Thatch glanced at his quartermaster and raised his eyebrow. "That's four more cannon than we've got. I like this story so far, go on."
 
-They brought a British nobleman of some sort, claims he owns Edisto. He arrested tk father's name for cutting down his trees."
+"They brought a British nobleman of some sort, claims he owns Edisto. He arrested tk father's name for cutting down his trees."
+
+Thatch burst out laughing. "He was arrested for cutting down trees? That is the most British thing I have ever heard." He glanced at Lulu, "I am sorry to hear about your father, but a British warship arrives on the most pirate infested coast in the entire Americas and arrests a man for cutting down trees." He shook his head smiling. "Some times I almost like the British."
+
+When Thatch had composed himself he straightened his jacket and smoothed out his beard. I have learned something from my new neighbors Tamba. Not the British ones, the ones the British have almost wiped out. I have learned from them that one should spend more time thinking. Do you know what they do when visitors arrrive? When I myself arrive? Provided it's not urgent, they invite me in and we all sit down and we smoke tabacco, have a bite to eat, I sometimes convince them to try tea." Edward smiled. "You know what it Tamba? It's civilized. Thinking, it's the cornerstone of civilization."
+
+"My people do something similar." Tamba smiled. "And we do something similar on Edisto."
+
+"Yes, I know. I have experienced that as well. But this time we will not have to put up with tk father's name's contrarian streak." Tamba and Thatch both laughed. "Come, join me in some tea and bit of tobacco, and we will talk about this British warship and what we should do about it. Bring the children, we have peppermint sticks."
 
-Thatch burst out laughing. "He was arrested for cutting down trees? That is the most British thing I have ever heard." He glanced at Lulu, "I am sorry to hear about your father, but a British warship arrives on the most pirate infested coast in the entire Americas and arrests a man for cutting down trees." He shook his head smiling. "Some times I almost like the British. 
+Lulu and Henri's eyes widened. Edward really was the best pirate ever. Who else would keep peppermint sticks?
 
-When Thatch had composed himself he straightened his jacket and smoothed out his beard. "What do you want from us then?"
+he shrugged when Tamba raised an eyebrow. "I like them. Dobbs likes them. What? Don't you like them Tamba?"
 
-"Well," Tamba glanced at Lulu. "tk father's name sent us here because he knew you were looking for a flagship. And he does not like living in Charlestown's jail."
+Tamba frowned. "Too sweet."
 
-Thatch grunted. "I imagine not. So we sail into Charlestown, blockade the harbor, demand the release of," he glanced down at Lulu and Henri, "your father, cpature this british warship and sail out of the harbor, is that about it?"
+"Yes rather, that's the point I think." He turned to the children, "well you may one if you like."
+
+Lulu and Henri both nodded.
+
+The small party walked back down the beach to the tiny cluster of trees where a number of tents, ringed by cannon, were pitched in the shade. The wind blew harder here and the sound of canvas snapping in the wind added a rhythmic percussion that mixed with the distant thud of waves breaking somewhere on the other side of the dune. Edward led them into a small tent where he and Dobbs set about making tea and gave Lulu and Henri three sticks of peppermint, one for each of them and an extra to take to Birdie. Lulu carefully wrapped Birdie's in a scrap of sailcloth that Dobbs gave her.
+
+Tamba and Thatch smoked. Lulu and Henri sucked at the peppermint sticks. An easy silence settled in and no one spoke for a long time. Finally Thatch said, "Well then, how soon to you think this warship will come looking for us?"
+
+"Well," Tamba glanced at Lulu. "I could not say." 
+
+"Hmm, well, what could you say Mr Tamba?"
+
+"I could say," said Tamba, "that word is you are looking for a new flagship."
+
+"I see. That could be."
+
+"And tk fathers name does not like his new residence in Charlestown's jail."
+
+Thatch grunted. "I imagine not." He blew out a long exhale of smoke. "So we sail into Charlestown, blockade the harbor, demand the release of," he glanced down at Lulu and Henri, "your father, capture this British warship and sail out of the harbor, is that about it?"
 
 "Exactly that sir," said Lulu before she could catch herself.
 
@@ -2801,11 +2804,13 @@ Thatch grunted. "I imagine not. So we sail into Charlestown, blockade the harbor
 
 Tamba smiled. "Probably."
 
-"Sounds like a fantastic plan." Thatch rubbed his hands together. "We're been itching for a prize around here. It turns out the men are less impressed with my property than they are with more, well, tangible goods. We've a bit of work to do as well of coures, but when is that ever done? A ship is nothing but work. Nothing but work. Sometimes you just have to say enough. Trim the sails and find the following wind." He patted Henri's head. "Mr Dobbs, call the men, let's put it to a vote and go get ourselves another ship. Maybe we can even," he glanced mischievously at Lulu and Henri, "recruit some new crew members."
+"Sounds like a fantastic plan." Thatch rubbed his hands together. "We're been itching for a prize around here. It turns out the men are less impressed with my property than they are with more, well, tangible goods. We've a bit of work to do as well of course, but when is that ever done? A ship is nothing but work. Nothing but work. Sometimes you just have to say enough. Trim the sails and find the following wind." He patted Henri's head. "Mr Dobbs, call the men, let's put it to a vote and go get ourselves another ship. Maybe we can even," he glanced mischievously at Lulu and Henri, "recruit some new crew members."
 
-## Birdie at the rich people's house, father in jail
+## Birdie and her father in jail
 
-The road into Charlestown became too rough to lie down in the back of the wagon. Birdie braced herself against that side, her legs stretched across the width and bed and pressed firmly against the other side to keep her from sliding around as the wagon lurched and shuddered over the deep, dry ruts of the road. She tried to ignroe McPhail but her kept asking her questions and she knew it was impolite to not answer them, and she wanted him to like her since her fate, and her father's fate was as least partly in his hands. Until Revenge showed up anyway. Please hurry Lulu, she sent the thought out into the universe in hopes that her sister or her bother would hear her, please hurry.
+The road into Charlestown became too rough to lie down in the back of the wagon. Birdie braced herself against that side, her legs stretched across the width and bed and pressed firmly against the other side to keep her from sliding around as the wagon lurched and shuddered over the deep, dry ruts of the road. 
+
+She tried to ignore McPhail, but he kept asking her questions and she knew it was impolite to not answer them, and she wanted him to like her since her fate, and her father's fate, was as least partly in his hands. Until Revenge showed up anyway. Please hurry Lulu, she sent the thought out into the universe in hopes that her sister or her brother would hear her, please hurry.
 
 Then McPhail's voice brought her back to the world of the wagon and road. 
 
@@ -2833,38 +2838,82 @@ She thought this over a for minute. "But how did the king come to own them?"
 
 "My dear girl, he claimed them of course."
 
-"But he forced out the Edisto. And the Kusso. And the Sewee. You overwhelmed them with force and marched them out."
+"The king has been here?"
+
+"No dear, not personally, but people he sent claimed this land for him."
+
+"But to do that they had to forced out the Edisto. And the tk tribe. And the Sewee. You overwhelmed them with force and marched them out."
 
 "I did not."
 
 "British soldiers and settlers did."
 
-"Yes. Yes, I suppose that's quite right, we did." He smiled quizzically at her. 
+"Yes... Yes, I suppose that's quite right, we did." He smiled quizzically at her. 
 
-"And that's wrong. Every bit as wrong was what you say Papa did."
+"That's wrong. Every bit as wrong was what you say Papa did."
 
-"No my child it's not."
+"No my child, it's not."
 
-This was what she'd been waiting for him to say. "If that's not wrong then why is wrong when Capitan Ratham overwhelms one of your ships and takes it from you?"
+This was what she'd been waiting for him to say. "If that's not wrong then why is wrong when someone overwhelms one of your ships and takes it from you?"
 
-"Woah!" He jerked the reins tight, and the horses nearly reared as the wagon can lurching to a stop. He said nothing, but turned and stared at her for a long time. She felt his eyes memorizing her features the way she had studied the pictures her book. Then he turned around again, shook the reins, and resumed their journey. This was what grownups did when they lost an argument, they pretended as if the whole thing had never happened. McPhail stared off into space and ignored her the remainder of the way into Charlestown.
+"Woah!" He jerked the reins tight, and the horses nearly reared as the wagon came lurching to a stop. He said nothing, but turned and stared at her for a long time. She felt his eyes memorizing her features the way she had studied the pictures her book. Then he turned around again, shook the reins, and resumed their journey. McPhail stared off into space and ignored her the remainder of the way into Charlestown. This was what some grownups did when they lost an argument, they pretended as if the whole thing had never happened. 
  
  ---
 
-The landscape changed as they neared Charlestown, swampy forest gave way to large rice fields and sugar plantations. Charlestown sat on a peninsula at the confluence of two rivers, nearly five miles upriver from the sea. The first river you came upon from the southern road that Birdie's wagon was slowly lumbering up, met the Ashley river and followed the edge of it to the ferry at the edge of town. The road was better here, Birdie was able to sit up without bracing herself again the sides. It wound through the great sugar plantations where her uncles and cousins once worked in the summer. Birdie felt a now familiar lump in her throat at the thought of them. She squinted in the sun and watched as armies of slaves worked the fields. Men with guns sat idly in the shade of oak trees. They waved to the party of soldiers and wagon as it lumbered past. Birdie just stared back. The slaves in the field looked up and just a quickly looked down again, lest the men in the shade notice them.
+The landscape changed as they neared Charlestown, swampy forest gave way to large rice fields and sugar plantations. 
+
+Charlestown sat on a peninsula at the confluence of two rivers, nearly five miles upriver from the sea. The first river you came upon from the southern road that Birdie's wagon was slowly lumbering up, met the Ashley river and followed it to the ferry at the edge of town. The road was better here, Birdie was able to sit up without bracing herself again the sides. It wound through great sugar plantations where her uncle and cousins worked in the summer. Birdie felt a now familiar lump in her throat at the thought of them. She squinted in the sun and watched as armies of slaves worked the fields. Men with guns sat idly in the shade of oak trees. They waved to the party of soldiers and wagon as it lumbered past. Birdie just stared back. The slaves in the field looked up and just as quickly looked down again, lest the men in the shade notice them.
 
-Charlestown proper was a small walled city with some 3,000 residents, most recent arrivals come up from the sugar plantation islands of the British Indies. Charlestown was, she'd heard Jack Ratham say, Barbados with none of the fun. Birdie had never been to Barbados, but she did agree Charlestown wasn't much fun. It was a swampy lowlying piece of land chiefly appealing because it was well situated for loading cargo onto ships, which was the chief occupation of nearly everyone living in the city. The shoreline was muddy estuary, against which were stacked houses unlike any other Birdie had ever seen. They were high ceilinged structions with large windows and expansive balconies on the second story. They were capped with orange, tiled roofs. 
+Charlestown proper was a small walled city with some 3,000 residents. Most recent arrivals came up from the sugar plantation islands of the British Indies. Charlestown was, she'd heard Jack Ratham say, Barbados with none of the fun. Birdie had never been to Barbados, but she did agree Charlestown wasn't much fun. It was a swampy lowlying piece of land chiefly appealing because it was well situated for loading cargo onto ships, which was the main occupation of nearly everyone living in the city. The shoreline was muddy estuary, against which were stacked houses unlike any other Birdie had ever seen. They were high ceilinged constructions with large windows and expansive balconies on the second story. They were plastered sided and capped with orange, tiled roofs. 
 
-Aside from the road Birdie was on, which led out to Edisto, Charlestown was entirely isolated. A city stranded on a narrow spit of muddy sand in the middle of a marsh. The only communication it had with the rest of the world was through the sea. To the north was North Carolina, largely in control of Blackbeard, Samual Bellamy, and other pirate bands. To the south was hostile Spanish Florida. Charlestown had no one to turn to in the event of attack, it was essentially, just like a West Indian slave island stranded on the coast of English America. 
+Aside from the road Birdie was on, which led out to Edisto, Charlestown was entirely isolated, a city stranded on a narrow spit of muddy sand in the middle of a marsh. The only communication it had with the rest of the world was through the sea. To the north was North Carolina, largely in control of Blackbeard, Sam Bellamy, and various other pirate bands. To the south was hostile Spanish Florida. Charlestown had no one to turn to in the event of attack, it was essentially a West Indian slave island stranded on the coast of English America. 
 
-Worse for Charlestown, the entrance from the sea was blocked by a long sandbar that necessitated a pilot and was rather simple to attack. All you really had to do was sail up and wait, everything in the harbor was trapped. Birdie climbed down from the wagon and stretched her legs as the ferry brought them across the river into the city proper. She scanned the marsh for sails. There was one headed out to sea, but there was no sign of a blockade. As they rattled down the dusty streets toward the jailhouse though she saw the HMS Victory. If it was sitting here in the harbor, odds were it had never caught Delos. That meant her father's plan was unfolding as it should and everything was going to be okay. She glanced over at her father, he was watching her, he knew that she had noticed. The corner of his mouth smiled ever so slightly and he nodded to her before turning back to watch the street in front of him.
+Worse for Charlestown, the entrance from the sea was blocked by a long sandbar that necessitated a pilot and was rather simple to attack. All you really had to do was sail up and point your cannon at the narrow channel, everything in the harbor was trapped. Birdie climbed down from the wagon and stretched her legs as the ferry brought them across the river into the city proper. She scanned the marsh for sails. There was one headed out to sea, but there was no sign of a blockade. As they rattled down the dusty streets toward the jailhouse though she saw the HMS Victory. If it was sitting here in the harbor, odds were it had never caught Delos. That meant her father's plan was unfolding as it should and everything was going to be okay. She glanced over at her father, he was watching her, he knew that she had noticed. The corner of his mouth smiled ever so slightly and he nodded to her before turning back to watch the street in front of him.
 
-The entire town turned out to watch the soldiers ride in, and especially to see who was riding in the middle of them, clearly a prisoner. Charlestown was a divided city. The majority of its residents were African slaves. After that the small percentage of business men fell into two groups, those that made their money off the backs of the slaves and those that made their money off the people who stole the first groups cargos. There were in essence, those who would benefit from the presence of the British, and those who would not. The one you had to watch out for her father had told here, were the men who made money both ways. They were the dangerous ones not to be trusted.
+The entire town turned out to watch the soldiers ride in, and especially to see who was riding in the middle of them, clearly a prisoner. Charlestown was a divided city. The majority of its residents were African slaves. After that the small percentage of business men fell into two groups, those that made their money off the backs of the slaves, and those that made their money off the people who stole the first group's cargos. There were in essence, those who would benefit from the presence of the British, and those who would not. The one you had to watch out for her father had told here, were the men who made money both ways. They were the dangerous ones not to be trusted.
 
-Bridie watched The faces watching her from doorways. She saw a mixture of expressions. Some clearly uneasy at the sight of the soldiers, uneasy at the sight of her father in chains. Others seemed pleased to see both. And every now and then she noticed men whose expression was inscrutable. Men and women who seemed neither uneasy, nor pleased. Men and women who were trying to sense which way the wind was blowing. Men and women who could only sail where the wind blew them. Men and women who were dangerous, to themselves, to the world around them.
+Bridie watched the faces watching her from doorways. She saw a mixture of expressions. Some clearly uneasy at the sight of the soldiers, uneasy at the sight of her father in chains. Others seemed pleased to see both. And every now and then she noticed men whose expressions were inscrutable. Men and women who seemed neither uneasy, nor pleased. Men and women who were trying to sense which way the wind was blowing. Men and women who could only sail where the wind blew them. Men and women who were dangerous, to themselves, to the world around them.
 
 ## Lulu and Henri at sea.
 
+Thatch's crew convened that evening. There was a bonfire on the beach and some nearby farmer brought over corn and a two deer they had hunted. Lulu's mouth watered as the meat cooked. She and the rest of Delos crew had lived on nothing but dried fish for days. Not that they hadn't lived on worse at times in the past, but it was enough to have Lulu and Henri drooling as they stared intently at the meat slowly cooking over the coals.
+
+"Good Lord Tamba, what do you feed these children?" Edward smiled as he sat down next to them. "But that does look good doesn't it?" 
+
+Lulu nodded. 
+
+Edward glanced up at the circle of men sitting under the trees in the shadows of the evening sun. 
+
+"Don't you get to vote?"
+
+"Aye, I do. But I let them talk it over without me hovering over them." He smiled. "I am only a captain in battle and weather, but I still seem to impose some weight upon their discussions that they prefer me not to impose." He shrugged, as if to say, I don't understand it, but Lulu, who was staring at his dark face, black beard, and strange glinting eyes, understood it perfectly. And she understood that he did too. Some people move through the world and world takes notice her father said. They are rare people, but they are out there. Edward, thought Lulu, was one of them.
+
+Edward stood up, drew a large knife Lulu had not even noticed in this belt, and carved off a bit of meat and fat hanging off the bottom of the rib. He did the same to another rib and then stabbed them both with a stick and handed one stick to Lulu. "This is the past meat, and it'll cook faster this way."
+
+Lulu stood up and moved closer to the fire, holding the stick of the coals, trying to keep it close, but not burn it. "Here, here," Edward gestured to Henri, "come hold this one and Tamba and I will get some rocks so we can wedge them in place. Henri stood next to Lulu, holding the stick over the coals. "Edward has a lot of knives," he said quietly.
+
+Lulu nodded. "He does."
+
+Edward, Tamba, and Aunt Māra returned each carrying a piece of driftwood which Edward proceeded to stack and arrange in such a way that the sticks were in the perfect position over the coals. Every few minutes he'd rotate the sticks and inspect the meat, smelling it, and grunting to himself. "No children going hungry on my watch," he kept saying.
+
+He gave the first piece to Lulu and Henri, handing them the meat, roasting stick still in it, on a piece of bark. It was the best meat either of them had ever tasted. Soon they were all silently eating. 
+
+The meat had just about disappeared, Lulu, who loved fatty bits was still gnawing her was though some flap as she called it, when Mr. Dobbs came over to the fire to fetch Edward. "The men are ready to vote."
+
+Edward put down his bark plate and heaved himself up. Every time he stood Lulu was struck again by how fantastically tall he was. "Alright then, let's hear it."
+
+After they'd walked out of earshot Lulu turned to Tamba. "Do you think they will help us?" 
+
+Tamba chewed for a minute, looking over at the crew. Finally he said, "I think this is mostly a formality. I don't think any crew anywhere on this coast would pass up a chance to do what we're asking them to do. Some might not bother to get your father out, but Edward will."
+
+Edward was smiling when he walked back, most of the crew followed. "Let's go get us a new flagship," he yelled raising his mug. The men cheered and cask of rum was opened. Much to Lulu and Henri's disappointment, Tamba and Aunt Māra dragged them away from the festivities quite early. They returned to Delos to ready her for the journey south the next morning. Delos would lead, Revenge and her two consorts would follow.
+
+
+---
+
+:TODO: Proof from here
+
+
 The next day Delos sailed out of the cove at Ocracoke, followed closely by Queen Anne's Revenge, tk, and tk, the latter two being prize ships that Thatch and crew had decided to keep for the time being since a show of force, rather than speed was called for on this occasion. The winds and current were against them coming out to the east and of the island, but as the rounded the point and moved into the ocean, the wind blew west southwest and Delos could bear almost directly for Charlestown. Queen Anne's Revenge and the other ships, being square rigged, could not sail quite a close to the wind, and had to tack. After consulting with Thatch Tamba agreed that Delos would sail to the mouth of the river and wait, staying out of sight as much as possible, posing as a fishing vessel should they be spotted. Tamba believed they would make Charlestown before the sun set, but it would likely be a long night of sailing either way since they'd probably have to tack back and forth all night. Unless they got their early enough to set an anchor before the light disappeared. Tamba and Kobayashi set the sails and gave her the course before they went below to get some rest, leaving Lulu on watch. She knew that Aunt Māra was to keep an eye on her, but she also knew Aunt Māra was no sailor and that Tamba was trusting her to keep the ship on course and the sails smartly trimmed.  
 
 Henri sat on the desk beside her playing with two corn husk dolls who alternated between brutal close quarters sword fighting, and scampering runs around and between his legs and body. Sitting on the deck, below the reach of most of the wind it was warm in the sunshine. Lulu could almost pretend it was spring, they were headed north to fish, to spend the summers on the warm beaches of Rhode Island. But whenever she stood up to check her heading against the landmarks on the coast, or compare the maze of inlets, creeks, and estuaries on the map to the seemingly unbroken coastline in front of her, a cold blast of Atlantic winter wind reminded her it wasn't spring, and she wasn't sailing for fun.