[center][h2]The Widening Gap[/h2][/center]

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From what Abby could conjure, the new woman, Penny, done took over the galley.  Nobody said nothin’ about it, leastways not to her, but nowadays seemed like a whole lotta nothin’ but whispers was touchin’ her ears anyway.  And most of that weren’t particular good, judgin’ by the eggshells the new galley hand tiptoed ‘round her on as the deckhand took her seat at the table.

She wore her usual sleepin’ rig, a pair ‘o blue men’s boxers covered in old ship’s wheels, compasses, swordfish and other seafarin’ [i]la shi[/i].   Up top was a new tee shirt, rescued from a vendor’s cart on the Skyplex more for comfort than looks.  She ain’t never seen [i][b]Le Cabaret à la Montagne[/b][/i] when she’s last on New Kasmir lookin’ fer her folks’ graves, but the big proclamation [i][b]SOLSTICE EXTRAVAGANZA[/B][/i] printed on the shoulders made ‘er think some day she might find ‘erself back down in them parts.   

Her usual posture of legs folded up beneath her and an open book in ‘er lap was finished off with the same breakfast ever’ single day…a slice ‘o’ toast and a mug ‘o’ coffee.  Long red hair, loosely brushed on a good day, hung wild and sleep tousled as she sipped and turned pages.

“Morning, Penny.”  Edina made her way into the galley.  She accepted a return greeting with a smile as she grabbed a coffee mug.  “Good morning Abby.  Quiet watch last night?”

“Yup,” the teenager didn’t look up as she answered.  She thought to say more.  She thought to tell them both about how she yearned for days when she could carry her chalk outside to decorate the hull.  Or mayhaps even just talk about the peace of gazing out into all them stars.  Her thoughts was comin’ a mile a minute these days.  So much she had to suss out.  Even things she’s dreamin’. Why did she keep hearin’ a voice tell her to “Feel the wind?”   And now, right now, when she sure felt like she’d wanna run off at the mouth,  folk was lookin’ at her like she’s gon’ coil up an’ strike.  “Went off without a hitch,” was all that come out to staunch the silence.

“Good…good,” Edina made a valiant effort at brightness as she reached for the sanctuary of her cup.  “I saw Yuri after his watch.  He said it’s all shiny…speak of the devil,” she smiled at the First Mate as he entered the galley.  “I thought you’d grab a few hours’ shut eye.”

“Not right now.”  Yuri’d grabbed a shower and change of clothes since his dog watch on the outer hull.  He looked none the worse for wear as he surveyed the galley and its’ occupants.  “We’re close to getting past Reaver space, but we’ve still got the Miranda no fly zone to slip around.  I’ll turn in after Captain gives us the all clear signal.  Speaking of,” he cast a glance toward the deckhand as he reached for a mug, “have we heard anything from him?”

“Nada,” Abby replied without liftin’ her eyes from the page.  “SAM’s on ‘im ever’ fifteen ticks.  Starboard an’ sometimes a portside binoc sweep turnin’ up a whole lotta nothin’.”

The First Mate filled a mug with steaming black coffee.  “I’ll take it.  Did you get some sleep?”

“Some.”

“Good.  After morning chores I want to stretch out the snuffler.  We’re gonna make sure it’s running right and we’ve got to work out how we’re deploying and retracting it.”

She already knew the answer to that one.  But instead ‘o’ openin’ her mouth to tell her First Mate that once they spooled that heavy sumbitch down there’d be no reelin’ it back without the hardware they didn’t have, she decided folk was lookin’ askance enough at her an’ her gunplay practice to question just what was sloshin’ about in her brainpan these days.  Abby chose a simple “Sounds like a plan, sir” answer that with luck kep her off folks’ radar fer awhile.  

“Ooh,” Edina piped up, grinning.  “The snuffler.  I’d like to see that in action.  You need a hand?”

The inside joke might’ve been noticed by Penny, but Abby kept her head down throughout as Yuri smirked and answered, “the more, the merrier.  The whole thing is a gigantic tube full of brushes and gears.  Just securing it for flight was a chore, so we could use plenty of muscle to uncoil it.”

“Bout an hour,” Abby said to nobody in particular as she climbed to her feet.  “That’ll gimme enough time tah git squared away an’ run a load ‘o’ towels.  Ah’ll clean tha lav after we’re done haulin’ that thing out.”  What she weren’t sayin’ was that’d give Izzy, the late sleeper of the crew, a chance to get cleaned up before.  She knew they’s tension between mother and daughter about putin’ on the right game face fer Cap’n and Yuri.  Seein’s how she looked to be gettin’ that wrong herself these days, weren’t no call for her to go foulin’ it up for anybody else.   

Once her mug and saucer was rinsed and sittin’ on the rack, Abby made a quiet exit, her book tucked under one arm.

“You gonna talk to her?” Edina whispered to Yuri as the girl’s bare feet padded down the stairs.

The First Mate leaned against the counter to refill his coffee.  “It’s been on my list,” he said.  “Guess I’ll move it up a couple places.”