Willis had slid down the ship's wall, and was seated with his arms over his knees. From this position he watched the other two stokers move from one end of the small room to the other, carrying sacks of coal or armfuls of shovels and buckets with them.<br/><br/>He hoped they would be setting out soon. As much as he hated this ship, he hated being stuck waiting even more. With a groan, Willis got up, dusting off his pants. He paused on his way to the door, something having caught his attention.<br/><br/>"Something wrong Will?" One of the stokers asked, noticing the man standing frozen in place.<br/><br/>Willis shushed him, turning his head to the side slightly in hopes of hearing whatever it was better. A few seconds ticked by as all three men waited, the only sounds being their breath and the usual creaks of the ship down here.<br/><br/>"There it is!" Willis said as a particularly loud thud echoed in the room.<br/><br/>"What the hell?"<br/><br/>"Heck if I know."<br/><br/>"She shouldn't be making those noises unless something's gone and got itself caught." Willis said with a shake of his head, remembering when a couple of rats had gotten into the walls. Trudging back to the top deck, Willis went in search of the captain to ask when they should expect to be leaving.