Casting Off

The next morning was bright and fresh. Darby had arrived early at the docks with her trunks and suitcases ready to go. She stood looking out over the sea, enjoying the salty, crisp breeze sweeping up from the churning water. She took a deep breath of the brisk, briny air and felt a wave of exhilaration wash over her. She was finally going on her first expedition. She had been waiting a long time for this moment. Her years of hard work, of grueling lessons and classes were finally finished and she was about to start a part of her life that was entirely of her own choosing. Anticipation hung in the air around her and she felt a rush of her own emotions, she was so thrilled and excited she thought she might burst, she couldn't keep herself from smiling as she stood looking out into the wildly tossing sea. The lively breeze played with her hair, causing it to curl even more and tangle around her face. She gripped the railing and inhaled deeply, and still she couldn't stop herself from smiling.

Jack carried his suitcase towards the docks and was searching through the crowd looking for a familiar face from the museum. He spotted Darby standing holding the railing along the edge. He paused in his steps as he looked at her. The wind tossed and tangled her light blonde hair, causing it to sweep across her face, caressing her. She looked so lovely with the wind blowing through her hair. Today she wore a dark green and blue teal suit set and a crisp white shirt. She looked as alluring and captivating as the wild sea. He still couldn't understand why her father had had such a difficult time finding her a chaperone, she had been nothing but charming since the first time he met her. Jack took a deep breath and called out to her

"Miss Herrington! Good morning! Is this where we meet for our ship?" Darby turned to see Jack and called back.

"Hello Mr Clemins! Yes, all our luggage and equipment will be loaded and we will set off from here." Jack thought to himself 'I feel bad that I am hired to chaperone her and she has no idea, maybe I should tell her?' Jack moved to speak to Darby, saying

"Excuse me, Miss Herrington—"

But Darby suddenly interrupted him, saying loudly

"Oh! Here comes the Director to see us off!" She waved widely to the Director as he approached and Jack said pleasantly

"Good morning Director Mortimer!" The Director looked anxious in his own thoughts but smiled warmly when he saw Jack and said "Oh yes! Yes! Good morning!" Darby, who was standing a little behind Jack and partially blocked by him, held on to Jack's arm and popped from behind him brightly, saying

"Good Morning Director!" Director Mortimer's eyes narrowed and he said dully.

"Oh, Darby, good morning…Are you both all packed and ready?" Jack nodded his head eagerly and replied.

"I am ready." Director Mortimer muttered under his breath.

"Heaven help you, I hope you are." Then he turned to Darby and said nervously

"Ahem! Darby? Are you ready?....Uhh..Um.. What did you pack?" He was hoping and praying that she hadn't packed anything dangerous, but with Jack here he couldn't ask her outright. Darby gasped out in pretend shock and horror.

"Director Mortimer! That is an extremely personal question! How could you ask a woman about the contents of her suitcase?!" She clutched at imaginary pearls around her neck as if she was completely scandalized. Director Mortimer understood what she was implying and nervously glanced at Jack. He flushed in embarrassment because he didn't know what Jack would think of him and thought 'Damn that Darby! Always causing trouble!' Jack also understood Darby's implication and became flushed too upon hearing the conversation. Director Mortimer snapped at Darby in anger, "I mean did you pack anything….unnecessary? Or….uh....Dangerous?' He was trying to select his words very carefully and not sound creepy to Jack. Director Mortimer imagined her having packed all kinds of dangerous items; guns, knives, darts, throwing stars, poison. Meanwhile, Jack was trying to guess what kind of dangerous and unnecessary items that a young lady might bring that were incredibly personal. 'Perfume?' He thought, ' A gown? Maybe a corset? I've heard that those things can be dangerous.' Jack quickly realized that his thoughts were quite inappropriate to be having about a young lady. He should not be thinking about or imagining Miss Herrington's corset and his face became flushed all over again. Darby was still pretending to be innocent and not know what the Director was talking about asked "Director! Do you realize what you are saying?!" The Director glanced warily over at Jack, who seemed to have become lost in his own thoughts, so the Director Mortimer angrily hissed.

"Stop it Darby! You know what I am asking about!" Darby looked at him questioningly with big eyes and said

"Hmm?" The Director glanced again at Jack and then leaned toward Darby and whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

"Did you pack any...weapons?" Darby, finally dropping the act, chuckled.

"Pfft! I assure you, Director, I only packed the essentials.." The director let out a sigh of relief and wiped sweat off his brow with a handkerchief. Darby turned around to walk and inspect some of their luggage being loaded, but before leaving, she added

"Whether or not those are dangerous depends entirely on the situation…" and then she walked away towards where the museums museum's luggage was being loaded. The Director felt a twinge of anxiousness again at Darby's last statement. He quickly turned to Jack and grabbed his arm, wanting to warn him about anything dangerous. But then, suddenly, the horn of the ship sounded very loudly, meaning everyone with tickets should begin to get onboard the ship. Director Mortimer sputtered out hurriedly.

"Mr Clemins! Watch out for weapons! Stay safe!" Jack knew that he should now be boarding now and had turned to leave, he said in a rush, not fully listening.

"Uh yes, alright. Thank you, good bye Director." Darby, already on the boarding ramp, called.

"Mr. Clemins! It's time to board!" Jack hurried toward the boarding ramp and him and Darby quickly walked onto the ship. The two now onboard found a place to stand near the railing as the ship began to pull away from the dock. Darby pulled out a handkerchief from her jacket pocket and used it to dramatically wave goodbye to Director Mortimer with mock tears in her eyes, yelling

"Farewell Director! Try not to miss me too much!" The Director, frustrated and annoyed, roared back.

"Darby, you had better behave yourself! Good luck Mr. Clemins!" Darby, still waving her handkerchief, called back.

"Of course! I've only ever behaved like myself!" The Director, positively fuming, at this point bellowed

"Darby! You know what I mean!" Darby smiled and yelled.

"Bye-bye Director!" Jack stood with one hand holding onto the railing and pleasantly waved goodbye to the Director. As the ship pulled further out to sea, Jack turned to Darby and said

"You and Director Mortimer seem quite close." Darby smiled and said

"We are very close, he is like a second father to me. I would never tell him this but I actually respect him a lot and think he is an excellent director." Jack, shocked and confused, asked

"Why would you never tell him that?" Darby's eyes were laughing and she was about to reply when she recognized someone past Jack's shoulder. She motioned to Jack to lean down and whispered to him quietly.

"I'm not sure what you've been told about our expedition, but there will be a lot of other groups competing around the same site as us. We are all searching for the same thing, so we will have to be wary. Just follow my lead, alright Mr. Clemins?" Jack nodded earnestly, ready to begin working hard in his new role as Darby's assistant. Darby saw his serious and resolute expression and lifted her hand to cover her mouth as it began to twitch, threatening a smile. She thought 'Such an honest and pure person is very rare. His earnestness catches me off guard every time. He is like a cute little puppy.' She shook herself out of her thoughts as she saw a person she knew approaching them. Darby patted Jack on the shoulder and walked past Jack, past him, saying

"Well, well, well if it isn't Miss Madolyn Browning….Let me guess, The Foundation of Archeology wants to copy The Institute of Archeology…. Again, isn't having similar names enough? Now you want to follow us around and get the same exhibits?" The young lady that Darby was addressing had dark chestnut-colored hair that was braided into a bun on top of her head, she had tawny skin and olive green eyes, she was a few inches taller than Darby and wore and olive green dress that matched her eyes. When turned to see who was speaking to her, when her eyes fell on Darby she became visibly upset. Darby chuckled seeing the young lady's agitated face, then Darby leaned toward Jack and lifted up her hand as if to have a private conversation but did not lower her voice at all and said "Our rival museum, founded a year later and shockingly with a similar name." The young woman stuck her nose up a bit and crossed her arms scoffing

"Hmph! Plenty of museums are looking for that tomb. Miss Herrington, don't act like your museum has a monopoly on who can find it!" Darby turned to Jack and made the introduction.

"Mr. Clemins allow me to introduce Miss Madolyn Browning. She is from The Foundation of Archeology. She and I also got our degrees at the same time, the very first two female archeologists, so you can imagine the special bond we share. Miss Browning, this is Mr Jack Clemins, my new assistant." Madolyn, already thoroughly annoyed with Darby, snapped

"Don't you dare make us sound close! Who would want to be bonded with such an ill-mannered and wild barbarian like you?!" Darby smiled at Madolyn and chuckled as if she found the other young lady extremely amusing and didn't find her words upsetting at all, while Madolyn stood nearby absolutely fuming with anger. Madolyn calmed her temper and then turned and offered her hand to greet Jack, saying politely

"How do you do, Mr. Clemins, if you are Miss Herrington's assistant, I truly pity you." Jack shook hands with Madolyn and replied "How do you do….So you attended university with Miss Herrington, as the first women archeologist that is impressive for both of you." Madolynn cringed and answered with a sour expression

"Uggh! Please don't categorize her and me together, she is the most uncivilized woman I've ever met! I personally value ladylike behavior, unlike her!" Jack looked confused at her words and glanced at Darby. Darby took a step towards Madolyn and said darkly in a lower tone.

"Oh, Miss Browning! How could you say that? I thought we were comrades!" It suddenly felt as if the sun had gone behind a cloud and cast a shadow across them and the air became chillier. Madolyn shrunk back, even though she was a few inches taller than Darby she felt uncomfortable with her intimidating aura. Madolynn took a couple quick steps back and stuttered out

"D-don't come any closer! Ha! Comrades? A well-mannered lady like me won't associate with the likes of you! N-now if you'll excuse me, I-I need to go inspect my crew's equipment and luggage!" And with that Madolyn turned to hurry away.