We’ll be docked an extra day just because we’re swapping out almost a third of the containers.”
“Really? What are you putting in the empty container for Betrus?”
“Denim and canvas, I think.”
“Fabric? Why fabric?” I asked. “Wouldn’t you get more upside on clothing?”
“Yeah, but they use denim and canvas for a lot of different things on Betrus. Burlap sacking would be another good choice, if we can find the right quantities and prices. They use a lot of burlap there.”
“Really? What does Betrus make?”
“They have a variety of agricultural products. Mostly wine, but also hops, barley, wheat, and oats. We’re scheduled to pick up containers of hops and wheat this trip.”
“Interesting. No beer?”
“No.” He laughed. “Beer isn’t like wine. It’s a lot cheaper to take the bulk dry goods and brew your own where you are.”
“Wait, did you say barley?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Single malt whiskey is usually made from barley. Can we sell it at a flea market?”
“Good question.” He pulled up a schedule. “We’re heading for Niol after Betrus. I suppose if it doesn’t sell, we can always have a party.”
“Well, let’s see what’s doing, first, I suppose.”
“True,” Pip agreed. “And what are we going to do with all this yarn?”
“We have a hundred skeins at a cred each, right?”
“Yeah, twenty kilos worth.”
“I have an idea, but I need to do some homework of my own first. I’ll let you know how it pans out.”
Just then Sarah came out of the galley and headed out, probably on her way to berthing. It reminded me that we really had not had much time to talk about her recently. When she was gone, I asked, “So, how’s Sarah doing?”
Pip scrunched up his face a little before letting out a breath. “Well, some days are good and others not so much. We had a couple of times before transition where she flinched whenever somebody stuck a plate toward her on the mess line. Sometimes she’s very positive and upbeat. Sometimes I hear her crying in her sleep.”
“Can you get her to go to the gym and maybe ride one of the bikes? Or row or something? The walls must be closing in by now.”
“I’ve suggested it, but she’s still self-conscious. She is beginning to put a little flesh on her bones, though. A month of Cookie’s cooking is really helping. She’s not quite so knobby, but she’s still shy around the rest of the crew. She seems okay though with Bev, Cookie and me. Except for that those flinches, she’s been okay on the line. Something about being behind the counter maybe…”
“I thought she looked a little healthier, but if she doesn’t find something to do with her off time…”
“I know. Believe me, I know.” Pip shook his head helplessly and changed the subject. “But how about you? What have you been doing? Besides running and walking the length of the ship three times a day?”
“Studying for spec three.”
“You’ve given up the idea of a set of full share ratings?” he asked surprised.
“Well, realistically, what’re the chance that I’m not going to be on the
“True,” he conceded.
“If I leave here, it’s most likely because I want to at this point, and I can’t see me wanting to.”
“You and me, both, brother. So, how’s spec three going?”
I shook my head at that one. “It’s a lot harder than the other tests I’ve taken. There’s a lot of science and math that I’m not really all that familiar with.”
“Well, hang in there, brain boy,” he said encouragingly. “I’m sure you’ll do fine.” He looked at the chrono. “I need to get in a run and a sauna before the dinner drill. You coming?”
“No, I’m gonna pass this time. I need to go do some homework.”
Pip nodded. “Okay, I’ll see ya round the mess deck, then,” he said with a wave. He left for the gym, and I headed for deck berthing.
Sean Grishan was right where I expected him to be—in his bunk with a crochet hook and a big ball of blue yarn. He was listening to something on a headset as he worked and I stood there for a heartbeat or two before he noticed me watching. His fingers danced along the yarn and the silvery hook glinted as he turned out stitch after identical stitch.
“Ish, hi!” he said, pulling off his headset. “What brings you to the spider’s web?”
“Hey, Sean. I wonder if you have a few ticks to talk a little business…”
“You kidding? Of course! What’s on your mind?”
I outlined my idea a bit at a time, and as I talked, I could see him fitting the bits and pieces together and nodding. As I got near the punch line, he started smiling. By the time I had finished, he was hooked. “Count me in.”
“Thanks, Sean. I think this is going to be an interesting experiment. I appreciate your help.”
“Don’t thank me, Ish. If this works like I think it might, you’re going to make me a lot of creds.”
Three quads down, I found Sarah sitting on her bunk, fingering her raven, and reading something on her tablet. She seemed a lot better than the bruised woman who had stepped off the shuttle, but she still had a haunted look around the corners of her eyes. I tapped lightly at the entrance to the quad and spoke very softly, “Hey, Sarah.”
She looked up at me and smiled. “Hi, Ishmael. Don’t see much of you these days. How’s it going in environmental?”
“Doing good,” I said as I moved slowly and deliberately into the quad, giving her as much room as I could. “I saw Pip a little while ago and he said you’re doing pretty well yourself.”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Some days I do pretty well. Some days…” she trailed off looking down.
“I remember my first voyage—Neris to Darbat. I was a mess. My mom had recently died and I just barely got off planet before they deported me. Pip had not told me about the gym yet and I was going crazy with nothing much to do.”
“I’m not ready for the gym,” she said a little defensively. “I like my little place up here.” And she patted the bunk.
“I told ya it was a good bunk,” I said with a grin. “But I understand about the gym. What I really needed was something to do. I remember feeling overwhelmed that all I did was work, sleep, work, sleep. The monotony drove me crazy.”
I could see that I had hit home with that. “Yeah,” she said a bit wistfully, looking about, “I’ve had a lot to learn and more to think about than I really wanted to, but I find myself wondering how much longer the trip is going to last.”
“How’d ya like a little project? Something to keep you busy and make some extra creds in the process?”
She looked wary, but asked, “What?”
Her voice was a bit sharp and I was not sure what she expected, but I don’t think it had anything to do with what I was about to suggest. When I got done laying it out, she said, “That sounds like fun, but…I don’t know how.”
“We got that part covered, too. I just wanted to run it by you to see if you were interested before I got too far into this.” I smiled as reassuringly as I could as I started to back slowly out of the quad. “Lemme get some things arranged, and I’ll come back and see you again in a few days, okay?”
“Yes,” she said shyly. “I’d like that.”
Chapter 13
