“Heeeeeere, mechanicmechanicmechanicmechanic….” [i]Just figgers[/i], Abby thought as the foot traffic began to thin. All about the Eavesdown docks, street vendors and stall merchants were beginning to close up shop and trudge homeward. Usually, them as stayed past dark was sellin’ food. [i]Yeah...food,[/i] her stomach growled its’ displeasure at bein’ visited by naught but half an Oaty Bar all day. Once the word was out they’s bound fer New Melbourne, seemed like half ‘o’ Persephone wanted to book rides on China Doll. Lots was bummers, seagoin’ deckhands offerin’ trade ‘o’ work fer a bunk. Whole flock ‘o’ whores come callin’, with scant coin and offers tah take tha entire crew [i]“all the way...if you know what we mean.”[/i] Abby might not have travelled the road, but she knew the map. “Keep walkin’ girls,” she folded her arms as the women all turned away. [i]I prob’ly just pissed off all the menfolk,[/i] she thought, only to draw a sharp breath as one of the working girls blew her a kiss. [i] Mayhaps the women, too…[/i] “Heeeeeere, mechanicmechanicmechanicmechanic….” As sky changed to a darkening blue and shadows lengthened, the girl weighed their options. [i]Hell,[/i] she dismissed the concern, [i]there’s dozens ‘o’ times Uncle Bob took Mariposa to the black without a mechanic…[/i] But she had to fess up that Uncle Bob had ‘em broke down in the black a whole bunch, too. Over time, Abby had jury rigged half the parts on the radion core, forcin’ ‘em into place with wraps of duct tape and even little cages of bailin’ wire. She liked to think she could turn to an’ get this crew to New Melbourne, but the truth of things was she’d never seen the shape of this boat. No sense in lettin’ her alligator mouth overload her canary [i]pi gu.[/i] Down the way was a stall had lights on ‘er...and what they’s cookin’ set her stomach into overdrive. She could hear the meat sizzle; the aroma of its’ seasoning carried on the night breeze like a sireen’s call. Abby’s mouth positively watered for a taste of whatever it was. [i]Don’t rightly care what ‘tis,[/i] she thought, her gaze fixed upon the cheerful lanterns and a woman working the cooktop. [i]I’m starved...right now I’d even tuck into a nice bowl ‘o’ beagle an’ noodles.[/i] But no. Orders was orders. Long’s there was boxes to check, Abby would stick to the chore. [i]Mebbe Hook talked his way into the galley,[/i] she tried to cheer herself up. [i]He’ll put a plate by fer me.[/i] That bit of reassurance paid up, Abby chanted the mantra again. “Heeeeeere, mechanicmechanicmechanicmechanic….”