"Aye..." mumbled Murray, moving swiftly to the wheel, and turning it firmly Eastward.

"Sou', sou'-east." he called out, watching the various crew members scurry over the deck.

-----

Krissa just stared at the Captain for a long moment, her head quizzically inclined; but she said nothing. Finally, when it was apparent he was in no mood for chatting, she climbed up the main mast with monkey-like speed, and begin rigging (for they had been blown askew in the storm) the main sails.

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"The piano is able to communicate the subtlest universal truths by means of wood, metal and vibrating air."

Shade nodded to the Capt'n and climbed the ropes quickly with one arm, but it still took her more time than usual. She took her regular post in the Crow's Nest and looked at the beautiful peace of land in front of them. She smiled.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

[Ahem. Bumpness on this baby.]

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<center>
"The piano is able to communicate the subtlest universal truths by means of wood, metal and vibrating air."

(hey, i'm waiting for one of you!)

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

[I guess I'm waiting for Cpt. Montoya to make a decision, and until then, I'll stall with... something.]

As Murray turned the wheel back and forth, he grinned to himself, and yelled for Shade to toss out the anchor. They had run a-ground.

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<center>
"The piano is able to communicate the subtlest universal truths by means of wood, metal and vibrating air."

Shade nodded and leaped down, climbing down quickly and running across the bow and leaping over a pile of ropes. She started cranking the level and the anchor started to fall into the ocean floor.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

[Hmm, hmmm, guess I'll keep stalling. ]

Everything was in tact, the boats were ready to go off to shore. Krissa swung down the rope, and arched one eyebrow at Shade. "Captain seems to not be in a talking mood today, aye? I wond'r wots on his mind?"

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<center>
"The piano is able to communicate the subtlest universal truths by means of wood, metal and vibrating air."

Shade held her ground well as the anchor hit the ocean floor and the boat shook and made a loud, creaking halt. She sighed and said, "Aye. Someth'ens wrong with 'im, I can feel it."

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Dale rolled his eyes. "Females," he muttered, and then called, "Stop fretting, you two, it's not as though he's going to abandon us."

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Shade glanced u at Dale and smiled a mocking grin. "Oh, Dale, don't be jealous...I know how hard it is to be male and not get to be a female, but you'll get over it someday." She winked at him and smiled and finished tying up the anchor to keep it in place. Dale was one of the only crew members she could joke around with without starting a brawl or something like that.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Dale let go the rope he was holding for a moment nad said dramatically, "Indeed, I don't know how I shall ever bear the disappointment - oh! To be female!" he intoned soulfully, looking at the sky, and then grinned at Shade. "Thanks for the sympathy. I'm sure I'll recover soon...as soon as you get over not having the fortune to be born male. What a loss."

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"Oh, did I wake you last night from me crying of pity for my misfortune? I'm sorry, deary, I'll try to be quiet tonight on my nightly "cry-because-I-wasn't-born-male" session." Shade smiled at Dale as she made sure the rope was tight and sacure.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

"Oh, I'd be very much obliged to you, then," Dale replied with a grin. "You see, a specimen as fine as myself needs his sleep."

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Krissa stifled a snicker, as she continued on wordlessly with her tasks. Here eyebrows arched playfully, as she swung the ropes about, and then turned, hands on hips, and smugly noted [because she simply had to enter this fascinating debate... "Too bad everyone wasn't born Irish."

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<center>
"The piano is able to communicate the subtlest universal truths by means of wood, metal and vibrating air."

"Oh, what a loss indeed..." said Dale, hauling on ropes. "Then the whole world could all be insane together."

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Shade burst out laughing. She smiled and said, "I wander...are their Irish pirates? They don't seem the type for pirates, to me."

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly