Shore Leave Day 3 - Early Morning
With a terrifying roar, the huge bear pummeled its’ way down the sloping ridge. Mei Lin felt her legs go to rubber at the sound, but still she ran, crashing down through snow laden boughs as the giant closed the distance. “Run,” her father’s voice filled her mind. “Fast as you can.”
He was close. Too close. Right behind her. She could hear the heavy thump thump thump of his paws in the snow, and the growling rumble of each breath taken. The fleeing child ran downward, her little legs no match for the locomotive barreling in hot pursuit. Ahead lay the pike, it’s bottom rising up from the log on which she’d propped it. Mei Lin fought the urge to look behind her. This was it. This was how she’d die.
The bear roared again, this time lunging forward, it’s gigantic body taking flight. Mei Lin also sprung, her tiny frame landing atop the pike which gave way, dropping her face first into the snow. The weapon’s fire hardened tip rose into the air, its’ lethal point straight and true as the predator’s immense bulk…
“Hey. Look who’s back!”
Abby lifted eyes from ‘er book to see Yuri, bath robed an’ bare footed, headin’ fer tha showers. ”Ni hao,” she answered.
He stopped, his bundle of fresh clothes and toiletries tucked under one arm. “No more waitressing antics?” the first mate offered a smile. “I was gonna bring Edina by.”
“Nope,” the girl shook ‘er head. “Vic’s closed tahday. Somethin’ ‘bout his religion, and he cain’t do no work nor even switch on a light.” She’s sittin’ in the galley, Injun style on a chair, still wearin’ them boxers an’ tee shirt she liked sleepin’ in. “Don’t rightly think I could tolerate such a thing,” she offered.
“It’s called Shabbos,” he replied, “the day of rest. So, since your little friend’s off today, do you two have plans…or was it just a one night stand?”, he teased.
“Swear tah Buddha,” Abby groused, “if y’all’d spend more time gettin’ us work an’ less time worryin’ ‘bout who’s at my nethers we’d all be a sight better off.”
Yuri laughed. “Sorry, we can’t help ourselves,” he chuckled. “Our little girl, all grown up. Makes us proud.”
“Makes yah bunch ‘o’ pervs is what it does,” the deckhand give a snort. “But since yer keepin’ such a watch, tha answer’s no. Ain’t havin’ no tumble with Lorraine. Jest lotsa laughs, is all. So,” she changed subject, “yah see that mule Cap’n brought back?”
China Doll’s first mate nodded. “Just from a distance. Edina and I had just gotten back from a big to-do at the museum. Looked a little rough around the edges.”
“True that.” Abby laid ‘er open book down on tha table. “Looked like she had tha ever lovin’ la shi run outta ‘er. Can’t wait tah know what Elias thinks.” Her expression shifted, eyes gone all knowin’ as a crooked smile lifted ‘er cheeks. “So, you an’ Edina, huh?” she asked as that smile sprouted into a grin. “An’ did y’all…grow up? Did’ja make me proud?”
“Oooh, touche,” Yuri laughed and shook his head. “I will say we might’ve gotten the boat a plum job. If Cap’n signs off, we could be covered for the next three months.”
“Doin’ what?” Word ‘o’ such charter had ‘er ears pricked up proper.
“Ever run a jackhammer in an EV suit?”
Her eyes widened. “Fer true? We got salvage? In tha black? I git tah work outside? What’re we goin’ after?”
The girl can sure put two and two together, he thought as his lifted hand stifled a barrage of questions. “Hold on, you know Cap’n likes to tell the crew about our jobs,” he smirked. “Lat’s not steal his thunder, dohn mah?”
“C’mon!” she whined. “I ain’t gon’ tell. An’ I promise tah act all surprised when he fills us in.”
Yuri wanted to laugh at the excited girlchild before him. “I promise,” he answered, “you’ll get all the four-one-one no later than tomorrow. In the meantime, you’ve still got a day of shore leave. Use it. That’s an order.”
“Yes, sir,” Abby done said all reluctant. “Hear anythin’ from Alana?”
“Not a peep,” he said. “I did get a wave from Tommy. He’s leavin’ the boat.” At her unvoiced question, Yuri continued, “turns out the dude ranch he’s staying at needs a head wrangler and all around cowboy. Not to mention his childhood sweetheart is working there, so he wants to give that a shot.”
Abby’s ‘bout tah speak up on lookin’ fer a new pilot til all of a sudden Edina showed up. Difference was she din’ come upstairs from ‘er passenger room. This time, she come from tha forward passage…crew quarters.
“Hi, Abby!” the boat’s cook greeted her deckhand. Edina wore an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of cut off sweatpants. “I’ll get some coffee going. You up for breakfast?”
Abby didn’ answer with nothin’ but a cheshire cat grin an’ a look what screamed ‘BUSTED’ at Yuri. “I’m so proud. Our lil’ boy done growed up,” she said afore laughin’ out loud.
Edina stopped, her eyes darting from one to the other. “Did I miss something?”
“I’ll tell you later,” Yuri said before hastily retreating below deck.