Mary snagged an upturned cup from a passing tray and plopped it before an empty seat at the table "Join us, Thomas!"  She splashed a benerous dollop     of rum into the vessel and waived the frenchman over. "We be stuck on that ship a long time, best find out how not to annoy each other too much!"  She stretches like a cat. "Me, when m' shipmates get too much for me, I just clamber up high in the riggin'."<em>Lots of frenchies aboard</em>, she observes,<em>and I do find I like the way they talk.</em><br/><br/>Nash gave Li Feng a considering look.  "All the way from China be quite a search."  She added only half jokingly "Anybody chasin' ya?"