Across the Sea, Somewhere

Adelaide passed a day in other small preparations: picking up items from the Top Drawer, calling to make final goodbyes to those at home, and trying desperately to think of everything she would later kick herself for forgetting. Ray was otherwise occupied in ways he declined to disclose, and the day passed more quickly than Adelaide noticed. She even managed to sleep a bit, albeit fitfully.

And then it was Sunday morning, and she was back on the docks, standing before the Foam Strider. Ray was there before she arrived, talking to Captain Mattson at the base of the gangway. They saw her approach, and the Captain yelled out, “Adelaide! A glorious day for it, no?”

“It is. Although I suppose it’s really the weather in the Triangle that matters, right?”

“Right you are! But every sailor knows that it is good to leave in fair weather. Some things are true even if they don’t matter!”

Adelaide smiled and started towards the gangplank, but Ray stopped her. “The Captain is going to give everyone an introduction and a tour before anyone gets to board.”

“It is easier to wait for everyone than to repeat myself!” Mattson explained.

Luckily, the passengers began to arrive before Adelaide could protest. Jim was first, with three duffel bags made of a dark brown material that likely kept the water off. He smiled at Ray and Adelaide before shaking the Captain’s hand. “Captain, it’s good to see you again.”

“Jim! You’re returning to the Strider! The crew will be glad to see you!”

“It’s always a pleasure to travel on such a fine vessel, Captain.”

Emma was only a few minuted behind, riding in the passenger seat of a pickup truck with luggage in the back. A large metal cube appeared to be the freezer that Chef Chris had sent, but Adelaide was less clear why there were so many long, thin cases. Emma jumped off the pickup as soon as it stopped and bounced over to Adelaide.

“Hi! Look at everyone! This is going to be great, I just know it. Thanks again for bringing me along. I brought a lot of food in the freezer, which should be fine as long as we eat through it before I need to store something new in there.”

“Good morning, Emma. I’m glad you made it. I have to ask though, what is all of the other stuff you brought? Cooking equipment?”

“A bit, but mostly weapons! We need to hunt, right? I’m great with weapons and I brought everything I owned . Everything from a bow and arrow to a rifle that can pierce a hide a foot deep..”

The next arrival would have been instantly noticed walking into a crowd of a hundred, let alone towards the five people standing alone on a dock. A tall man, he had an elaborate haircut which was both asymmetrical and highly flattering. It looked almost as if he had chosen it to match his outfit, a long green coat that evoked a pirate’s greatcoat while looking like it would barely keep the rain off of his body. But most striking was the outfit’s collar, which shone light directly into his face, keeping him lit as if on stage.

While Ray and the Captain just stared, Adelaide approached. “You must be Alessio, right? I’m Adelaide. I’m glad you made it.”

Alessio pulled Adelaide into a side hug, and said, “Ah, Adelaide, so wonderful to meet you and to be here and can I say that I love your name? So classic. Let’s take a quick photo or ten, just as a start. Smile!” As he said that, he pulled out his phone, and the lights around his collar flowed and flashed. “Thank you, truly. I know it’s an imposition, but I’m absolutely desperate for content, given the blackout we are about to experience. I must say, though, it is quite helpful that you cut the initial voyage down.”

“I’m glad it helps you, at least.”

Adelaide raised an eyebrow at that, but continued on. “Even two weeks will be a challenge, but it’s worth it. I do believe in this project! Let me get some shots of the ship herself before we board.”

As he walked away, Ray approached. “Who is that and what is he doing here?”

“That’s Alessio. He’s a paying customer.”

“What does he want on our trip?”

“He’s an influencer — most people would know him, at least from one or two videos, but you don’t strike me as a big Instagram guy. He thinks there’s real content potential in a longer Triangle voyage and paid for a spot.”

“You understand the liability someone like that represents? Does he know this isn’t a pleasure cruise?”

“Do you know how much he paid to get here? And everyone in the world knows this isn’t a pleasure cruise, because you keep telling them.”

Percy was the next to arrive, with a cart containing several large plastic containers. He briefly said hello to Adelaide before opening one case and removing a metal device with several faces that he began to open, twist, and close. Adelaide approached him and asked, “Percy, what is that thing.”

Without looking up, Percy said, “It’s a puzzle - sort of like a Rubik’s cube but in more dimensions. And each hinges has adjustable resistance, so it’s a small workout trying to solve it. It’s good for boring moments. And I’m hoping that guy won’t take my photo if I don’t look at him.”

Before Adelaide could discuss further, a white Lexus drove down the dock. The driver began unpacking the suitcases that had filled the trunk, and the passenger stepped out wearing Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses and five inch heels. “Ade!” she yelled, and ran over for a hug.

“Hey Trish,” Adelaide responded while returning the hug. “I’m glad you made it.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry I’m so late, it was a crazy morning getting everything together. I really appreciate everyone’s waiting for me!”

Adelaide silently congratulated herself on having told Trish that they needed to arrive an hour before they were actually supposed to — as it was, she was only fifteen minutes late. Externally, she said, “Don’t worry about it. Anyway, the tour’s about to get started.”

Captain Mattson, seeing his final guest arrive, cleared his throat. “Welcome! Welcome to the Foam Strider! I am Captain Mattson. We will begin with the Tour! Leave your bags here for now!”

Everyone followed the Captain up onto the gangplank. He stepped up onto a box and stood above everyone, before yelling, “This is the deck! It is very good to spend time here — fresh air! And you can see very interesting things! But you must be aware of one rule: when the alarm goes off, you must follow the crew’s direction. The alarm does not go off very often, but you must pay attention when it does!”

Captain Mattson pointed at the metal door to a room at the front of the ship. “This is the Bridge! I am there most of the day! It contains many sensitive instruments, which you may not touch under any circumstances. Now we go below deck!”

Descending from the deck, they found themselves in a large, open room with an iron door at the front and a wooden one aft. There were thin, narrow couches lining the walls and a few tables with folding chairs scattered around. “This is the Commons! Everyone is welcome at all times. Meals are served here, and we can have meetings as needed. There are temporary walls that can divide the space - just ask the crew, who you will meet once we are sailing - right now, they are very busy! The galley is through that wooden door - I understand there is a fancy chef aboard?”

Emma nodded, and Adelaide thought she might have been starting to blush. “I don’t know if I’m --”

“It is great to have a fancy chef! Very exciting! We do not have a fancy kitchen, but you can cut things up and make them hot, which should be enough! Now let us go downstairs.”

Descending the stairs, they entered a long corridor with a dozen doors branching off of it, each with a keypad. The Captain opened the nearest to reveal a room the size of a walk-in closet with a hammock strung along it and a small porthole. “These rooms are your Chests! Each of you has one and each of you may do with it as you choose! Anything you keep in here is yours, and yours alone. Anything you want to take home with you must be in your Chest or it is community property, like in Monopoly! Meaning we can throw it overboard, and may do so. The rooms are simple, but you can have a feather bed if you want to use your space on one. Or you can fill it so much that there is no room for your body and sleep under the stars!”

Tish stuck her head in. “Are you saying that we can only bring whatever fits in one of these rooms?”

“You can bring more, but if you do you are donating it! On the Foam Strider, property is the Chest. Most things, we share. But the Chest is yours alone. If you try to enter another person’s locker, you will be shot!”

Tish laughed and Adelaide smiled before looking at Ray and Jim and seeing them entirely unamused, if also untroubled.

“You will see another metal door at aft - that leads to the engine room. You should not enter it! But other than that, you have the run of the ship! There is none better!

“We do not have clearance to queue for the Triangle until noon, so you have a few hours to organize yourselves. If there is anything you do not wish to bring, we can arrange to have it stored. And if you’ve forgotten anything, needless to say, this is your last chance! I will blow the horn three times when we are about to go - your Guide will have words for you! See you all soon!”