<div class="floatleft">(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8nWEwDHoLo/VuctPJcFklI/AAAAAAAAZzE/LH_CQD1cWsM-36_em_H4CNSfKPtAAs7xg/s1600/tumblr_napkpgrAjV1qb647qo4_1280.jpg)<br/></div><br/>Jim returned carrying with him a two-gallon canteen, some clothes, and a rolled up sleeping bag.  He had filled the canteen with potable water the day before and it was full.  He placed the canteen beside Arlene, and then rolled out the sleeping bag for Lucas.  Jim never used his sleeping bag to sleep in, but often used it as a pillow.  He had, from time to time, used it to roof a small lean-to if he ever got caught outside in a thunderstorm.  Today, it was dry and only smelled of down feathers.  The bag was military green and fluffy.  The clothes were rolled up tightly into one another:  a set of green cargo pants and a gray Army shirt with thick cotton gray socks.  These he set beside Lucas in a neat pile.<br/><br/>"You should change out of your clothes, Lucas, and cover yourself up with the sleeping bag," Jim said, standing upright.   "And you don't have to thank me.  It's nice to have the company."<br/><br/>Jim took a look over the starboard horizon, and then took a glance towards the port.  They were in the middle of the wide river now, and were heading down it at a good clip.  The rudderless riverboat was threatening to take a turn, but thankfully took on the stream straight.   "I am going to toss out the anchor.  We might find ourselves in a den of crawlers if we run aground."<br/><br/><em>"Hopefully in the morning we can sort stuff out,"</em>Lucas said.<em>"Find a way on, right?"</em><br/><br/>"Yeah," he said as he descended into the darkness again.  There was a loud splash, and the boat's speed was soon arrested.  When Jim returned, he sat down, took up his frog, fixed some logs, and moved the fire about a little bit to get the flame a little hotter.   "About that..."<br/><br/>He looked between Lucas and Arlene, and then back towards the fire:<br/><br/>"I've been a part of groups before," Jim began,  "and I get the benefits of traveling with companions.  So it goes almost without sayin' that I am open to traveling with both of you.  You both strike me as honest people who aren't here to kill me, an' that goes a long way with me nowadays.  However, before we agree to anythin', both of you should know that I'm always inclined to help strangers, especially when they are in distress.  This has caused a lot of friction with my previous groups, so it's important for me to get that out of the way as soon as I can so you know what we're gettin' into..."<br/><br/>He frowned and then added thoughtfully:<br/><br/>"One cannot survive on his own.  We need people to survive.  We gotta help each other."<br/><br/>---<br/><br/><strong>OOC:</strong>I actually posted this earlier, but the message timed out.  Good thing I re-checked!