"It was a thumping, beneath the floor of my cabin," said Cat. "Most distinctly it reminded me of the fits of those animals sealed in crates for the menagerie. I became mesmerized by their horror, enduring weeks of storm-tossed sea in a lightless box without escape. You must think me mad, for there is nothing now, but I recalled the sight of them unloaded from the menagerie ship, mangy with filth, eyes motherless and unmoored, and<em>I will not set foot in saloon nor cabin </em>nor any such wooden box."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Corinne's Perception</div><div class="spoiler_body">But there was no thump to substantiate Cat Grosbelhomme's story, only the groaning of timbers for the fitful mind's tricks.</div></div><br/><br/>As Corinne ascended the narrow stairs Cat was freeing one of the lanterns, but the light did not follow back to the saloon.<br/><br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Aloisa's Perception</div><div class="spoiler_body">In the distance, through the chatter of voices on deck, the noise of the crew's work and the blanketing fog, there was a low growl of thunder like the day-long downpours which shocked Dementlieu back to life come spring.</div></div><br/><br/>"I shan't utter them aloud," Eloise hissed playful, "for to give rumor wing is bad luck, and whom else accompanies on the Blackwell guest list, we cannot say for certain."<br/>Eloise's eyes were on Danae as she invoked this, the woman whose hands had been on Mlle. Goulet below; entertaining her fancy, and almost certainly, her interests.<br/><br/>"I have no qualms with that," said Camille. "Was it not bad luck to bear a woman on a ship, before we had the gold to fund them? Bad luck, I should think, is often very convenient for the one who warns against it."<br/>"It is the spirit of the wine," Hannah's quiet voice came to Danae, only quiet enough that when Camille should hear it, she should feel as though it ought not be heard.<br/>"Superstitions, superstitious curses," said Camille. "Evil eyes and hexes unseen. If you must invest in such nonsense, draw faith in the blessing of Our Lady upon the Charlotte. She carries us to a place our own, away from shame and guilt. You must leave that behind, Hannah; Zoe."<br/><br/>"Look, you taint the fog around us with all this prattle," said Zoe. "I detect your breath from here."<br/>To the rail Zoe leaned out, bottle a small scoop to catch the ephemeral fog where it was most pure- out there greying out the horizon, smearing the buck moon, and yet a slow swim through the mist brought nothing to show, only an empty glass.<br/>"It is the Saint Ezra Country Club's first foothold upon Markovia, and our first journey there. Other sisters of chairty have been to the islands besides. I have heard tell of queer weather such as this, where the ship lists ponderous. What does tend to occur is that the master of quarter will ration supplies smartly."<br/>"The wine?" asked Hannah.<br/>"Only the necessities, and only so far as the stupor persists. A ship travels..." Zoe's eyes wandered off, and she traced the air with the bottle, working with a picture in her mind. "It travels on its belly."<br/><br/>Eloise stirred. "But if the wind does not return, then surely even the wine must be rationed. And what of bread?"<br/>Zoe considered the empty bottle in her hands for a long moment. "Well-"<br/>There was a sound at the ladder which drew the conversation quiet. When Corinne apeared at the top, Zoe greeted her with a smile, whatever dark consideration her mind conjured evaporated. "Ah!"<br/><br/>"Would that we had a weather-wizard in such a case," said Camille. "And to entertain with pyrotechnics and enchanting colors and illusion while the nights are long. It is difficult to find sleep on the boat."<br/>Camille breathed deep the mist. She surrendered her spot, and shuffled cross the highest deck for the ladder. "But good wine and good company do wonders for it, so I shall try again. If the saloon still avails you in two hours when the rocking awakes me once more, I shall see you again to wish you a good night."