Chapter 15: Landfall Part 1

In the morning, Pentam saw Cal on the deck with her satchel, and nodded to himself. He had been worried about her in that engine room. They were dangerous places, unsuitable for a woman of Cal's breeding.

Captain Cully had said they were to make landfall today at Finches Harbour. It would give them a day or two to spend time off the ship and pick up anything they were running short of.

Birds flew over the water, the first he'd seen since they'd left sight of land at home. They looked like the same species, but they were too far away for him to see details. The number and variety of birds increased through the morning. Straight ahead Pentam saw a faint cloud rising out of the water.

"Land ho!" came the shout from the top deck.

One of the birds landed on the railing near Cal and her fingers almost blurred as she drew the bird. He'd ask to see the picture later, if she was still talking to him.

By the time dinner was served in the mess the mountains rising out of the ocean were clear in the distance. Pentam rushed through his meal to get back out on deck, but was still slower than Cal. He stalked over to the stern to get away from her and try to think. The sight of dolphins playing in their wake mesmerized him.

After watching for a bit, he found Cal at the bow.

"Cal, there are dolphins playing off the stern, you might want to see them." Pentam wasn't sure about her reaction, but she flashed him a bright smile and hurried to the stern with her sketchbook. Pentam followed her and leaned against the rail while she filled page after page with drawings. He tried to recall the last time they'd simply been in each other's company without concern or plan.

Maybe I should try to do this more often.

As the Peregrine entered the harbour, the deck bustled as the crew prepared to dock. They politely, but firmly requested Pentam and Cal to locate themselves somewhere out of the way.

Once docked, Henrichs met the scientists at the gangplank.

"Most of you have been, if not here, in some other foreign land. I will remind you anyway. This is not home. The laws and rules of polite society are different. If you stay near the hotel, you'll be fine. If you want to wander further abroad, take advantage of the native guides the hotel employs. Money is different; again, at the hotel, there will be little problem; in the rest of the city, it may be. Under no circumstance are you to leave the city. No matter what the guide may promise, outside this city, we have no influence. Not every citizen of this country is happy with our presence."

"Thank you, Henrichs." Sir Shillingsworth looked at each member of the team waiting them to nod in acknowledgement. "If you want to spend a portion of your money here, see me before you disembark. I will add to Henrich's comments. If you plan on drinking, do it in the hotel bar. It may not be as exotic as other places, but it is safer. I don't want to waste time extricating anyone from trouble." He stepped to the side. Dan and Cal waited at Sir Shillingsworth's side until the others had left.

"I wouldn't mind a bit to spend while I'm here." Dan shuffled his feet.

"I've never had the chance to spend money I earned myself." Cal blushed and looked down.

"Follow me." Sir Shillingsworth led them away. They returned a few minutes later and disembarked.

"It might be wise if one of us remained on the ship." Pentam leaned on the railing watching the team vanish into two-wheeled carts pulled by muscular young men.

"You volunteering?" Sir Shillingsworth looked at Pentam sharply.

"I have some thinking to do." Pentam sighed and turned back toward the harbour.

"I see, very well. If you change your mind, I will take your place tomorrow. We will be here two nights." Sir Shillingsworth started down the gangplank then turned to Pentam.

"This might be a chance to make more use of that camera of yours."

Pentam fetched his camera and took photos of the scenic city curled along the shores of the harbour, mountains soaring in the background. When he thought he'd taken sufficient pictures to record Finches Harbour, he moved to the dock and got several shots of the Peregrine from different angles.

After developing the negative plates, he left them to dry and headed to the berth he shared with Matt, Prof. Orthin's assistant. There was a paper on his bunk. He picked it up and turned it over.

Cal had sketched him leaning against the rail watching the dolphins play in the background. The wind played with his hair and the sun lit half his face, leaving the rest in shadow. Somehow he looked strong, competent, at peace with who he was. Staring at the drawing Pentam began to understand Lord Carroway's reaction to her portrait of him. This was the person he imagined being when he wasn't confused by ambition or envy.

He lay on the bunk and studied the drawing until he fell asleep.

***

Cal sat in the two-wheeled taxi twisting her head as she tried to take in everything at once. She was happy Dan sat beside her. Henrichs' speech made her nervous, which she guessed was the point.