Mary decided the truth was best, so that's what the man got.<br/><br/>"I'm from Norfok, up in Virginia.  A fisherman mostly. Been on the water since I could walk.  Mostly in the Chesapeake Bay at first, then coastal, some deep water fishing.  Been on several merchant jaunts along the coast, mostly up north of there, two  to the Carolinas.  Been on one tansatlantic crossing, to England and back."  She hesitated, finished the last of her ale.  God, that stuff was nasty!<br/><br/>"I got blown down here by a Nor'easter, dismasted us, blew everybody overboard but me."  A haunted look entered her eyes,  "I made it, barely.  Drifted into port just at nightfall."  She stared off into space.  "Boat's a wreck, I'll get a little for it.  But the cordage, canvas, some tools, I'll bring that with me."  She corrected herself.  " We'll bring that with us, I mean."