Most days, Mary was a patient woman.  This was not one of those days.  When the captain announced that the ferry was ready to dock, she rose, taking hold of her trunk.  It was amazing how much she managed to fit in there.  For a woman of her particular fancies, this was remarkably frugal of her.  The crew, which consisted entirely of the captain himself, had nothing to offer by way of carrying services, and Mary knew better than to rely on Dr. Black to have any valets standing by for their imminent arrival.  Besides, this was to be a brief diversion, no?<br/><br/>When she emerged from the cabin, she cursed the weather with a tame scowl, and pulled her sheepskin hood more snugly around her neck.  Though Mary would have preferred to be docked by now, she occupied her time scrutinising the other passengers, silently passing her judgment upon each in turn.  The woman with the copious luggage must have been from a more distant residence if she needed to carry that much, perhaps not within the UK, she thought, but most likely western Europe because nobody east of the divide could safely travel such a distance without Soviet interference.  Secondly she suspected this lass was well off financially, easily inferred after noting the volume of her luggage, but her presence on this excursion was anybody's guess.<br/><br/>There was an Eastern man, far East, she reckoned Japanese, since relations have been slowly mending since their awkward refusal to participate in the Olympics in London.  He was well dressed, and she guessed he was perhaps a businessman of sorts?  Did Dr. Black have foreign contacts in his line of work?  She wouldn't find it surprising.  In fact, it was quite plain here that this man must travel frequently to this part of the world; his English was just too well enunciated, and his mannerisms were well-practiced, which was by and far not something a first-time tourist would know.<br/><br/>Her eyes fell upon a quieter figure perched upon the rails, and this one actually held her interest- somewhat.  He was tall and defined, and had she not seen his violin case first she might have guessed he was merely hired security.  Was he to perform, then?  He was dressed the part, not exceedingly so, but tastefully, which she appreciated.  Mary caught herself thinking she might have found something to look forward to in this hitherto drudgery of a commute.<br/><br/>An energetic lad, the one latching to the handrails like an excited pup, was young and astoundingly difficult to read.  In such company it was reasonable to assume Dr. Black's guests would either be wealthy and powerful, a professional in an area of the man's interest, or both.  This excitable young lad was neither as far as Mary could tell.  He was not the only young one here, either.  There was an American aboard this ferry whom seemed close in his age, yet already Mary sensed he had his head on steady.  She broke her scowl briefly, hearing his input on the unwritten law of 'ladies first'.  There was a lad worth his quid.  She was pleasantly surprised by his manners.<br/><br/>Now, just what sort of man<span style="font-style: italic">was</span>this Dr. Black?  The company he so apparently kept suggested a mad one.<br/><br/>“There's a good lad,” Mary responded, patting her trunk and winking in his direction, “I'm afraid it is lighter than it appears, and I can handle it onto the deck.  I won't argue if you insist to bring it inside for me, however.”  She was not eager to share her name just yet.<br/><br/>The ferry was close to docking, and it seemed even with just a head count of six and a captain that the platform was heaving.  Mary pushed her way toward the centre of the cloud, fully intending to exit the boat as quickly as possible.  She settled her trunk upright in front of her and could wait no longer for dry land, and with deft hands she lit up and indulged.  The relief was almost instantaneous.<br/><br/>“Sorry loves, I might go proper ape had I waited another moment,” she announced, her tone more or less a non-apologetic one.  “Captain is a soggy twp, he is.”