I found the Purser's office easily and knocked on the window. The
purser opened it, but seemed sidetracked.
"Thayer... Thayer... Thayer..." He waved a telegram around in his hand and looked up at me seemingly annoyed by my presence. "Oh, what do you want?"
I gave him a curious look, "What about Mr. Thayer?"
"Why? What do you know? Not that it matters, I'm much to busy. I must get this telegram through for Mr. Thayer." He paused and pressed his lips together for a moment. "Mr. Thayer expects his private train car to meet him in New York, and I can't leave my post. But I need to send this telegram."
"Can I help?"
"Help? Yes it might be helpful if you took this telegram to the wireless room for me. In fact, why don't you send it? Mr. Thayer is a very wealthy man. So send this telegram, and when you've done please don't forget to tell me."
I nodded and took the telegram. "All right I'll do that. But first, I'd like to check in this book..." I handed him the Rubaiyat and he looked it over.
"Nice. Very nice. Security's our first priority; I'll put it in the safe."
"Could I check the passenger list?"
"If you give me a name, I can tell you their cabin number." I nodded, an inquired various people and cabin numbers. Then remembered my favor for Daisy.
"Could you tell me whose initials are G.Q.C.?
"Ah yes, Mr. George Quincy Clifford. Is that all then?"
"Yes thank you, and goodnight. I'll let you know when I've finished sending the telegram."
"All right then, goodnight." He shut his window, and I left the room and headed out to send the telegram. I stepped out onto the boat deck where Penny grabbed my arm and pulled me off to the side.
"Quick. I've trapped Zeitel and Sasha to the ships stern. They're having a rather heated conversation, see if you can listen in. I'll track their movement."
I nodded and looked down towards the stern where I spotted them. I headed in the opposite direction and took the stairs down. I ran to the stern, and leaned out the side of the deck, right beneath where they were standing.
"We've a problem Zeitel." I recognized Sasha's voice.
"Which is?" Zeitel's distinctive accent gave him away.
"The Rubaiyat! It was not at your drop point."
"You are sure?"
"Most definitely!"
"But, I put it there myself. What happened?"
"There's a third party on board. An agent working against you. Against us."
"How do you know?"
"My servant saw them at the drop. They now have a Rubaiyat. This could ruin my, Zeitel...if I were found out."
"We should take precautions."
"What about the painting. Have you brought it up from the cargo hold?"
"No, I do not have it."
"You don't? But I put it there myself!"
"Sasha... I've discovered a traitor. Don't look so started." He said with a grim chuckle. "It isn't you."
"You mean Haderlitz? You're associate?"
"No longer my a associate I am afraid. Wille was an intellectual, and intellectuals are not smart enough for espionage. Now we must recover the painting, and it's plans. I fear this third party may already have possession of it."
"And Haderlitz?"
"He will bring no further harm to our plan, I assure you. Let us plan." I heard their footsteps hurrying away. I tried to follow the sound, but they went inside. I walked back towards the stern and spotted Georgia.
She hurried over to me, and threw her arms around me tearfully. "I knew you'd come!"
"What happened?" I returned the hug and pulled away to look at her. "Why are you so upset?"
"Charles got a telegram, from the solicitors. Our estates to be sold off!" She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "He asked about the necklace I gave you. I told him I left it with the Purser. Don't say anything to Charles... or Sasha." Her face turned cold and spiteful. "I'd never trust him again. Him and his..." She sighed exuberantly. "There's much more to tell. Can you meet me in my staying room? I'm in B-70."
"All right, I'll meet you."
"Thank you. I'll see you then." She placed a soft kiss on my cheek and hurried towards the doorway in. I watched her hurry away. She had always been a pretty girl. She would always hold a place in my heart but was there something more? I shook my head. If I ever wanted to have anything with Penny Pringle I would have to keep my relationship with Georgia platonic.
I looked down at the telegram still clutched in my hand and hurried up the stairs to the wireless room. I spotted Officer Morrow and gave him a wave on my way in.
When I shut the door and turned back around the same table that I had seen earlier was in the same place. But now I saw it in a whole other manner. All of the switches and buttons were enough to make an agents head spin! Gratefully, I found an instruction sheet, and figured out how to work the thing. I sent the telegram and returned to the Purser once again.
"I sent the telegram."
"You did? Marvelous! I was afraid you'd forgotten. Mr. Thayer will be most gratic- gracious."
"Should I tell the Thayer's?" I asked glancing at a book that read "Cargo Manifest".
"What? And let them think the Purser's not doing his job? I am the purser, and as purser I am the one who looks after the passengers. Mr. Thayer is vice president of the Pennsylvania Railroad and it is I who shall inform the Thayer's that their train will be waiting." He looked at me sternly. Being that I had just done him a favor I would have assumed he would be friendlier. "No if you'll excuse me..."
After he left I opened up the Cargo Manifest and began to leaf through the pages. I came upon the name "Lemke & Buechner" holding one frame and painting; Barbican Galleries signed it. On that some page I noticed that it was in the same hold as the Carter's motorcar.
After gathering that information I headed for Penny's room. There was nothing more that I could do now, I might as well visit her. If nothing less, seeing her would brighten things up a bit.
I knocked on her door, and told her about what I had found.
"Good... does the purser have some keys to get you into the Cargo Hold?" I shrugged and she shook her head shutting the door before I could answer. I sighed, and headed back. Seeing Penny hadn't been as spectacular as I had imagined. Maybe I should stick with Georgia after all. We had already dated once, so I knew what to expect.
I returned to the purser's office. "Can I get into the Cargo Hold?"
"Away, go away I'm much too busy. Mr. Issadore Strauss has lost a cuff link and he's so particular."
"Did he drop it somewhere?" I asked shifting from foot to foot. My feet were growing tired from the running about.
"How should I know? There's more than enough passengers on this ship to keep me hopping." He sighed. "Oh, Mr. Strauss could make things very difficult. Yes, very difficult." He placed his hand on his head, and I noticed the mound of paperwork that cluttered his desk. I began to feel a twinge of remorse for the man.
"Maybe I can find it for you. Then maybe I can get into the Cargo Hold..."
"Thank you. It is a gold cuff link. Mr. Strauss will be very grateful... but we'll have to wait and see about the Cargo Hold." He shut his window and I walked outside. I looked my map over, trying to decide where to start. The Reception. There was a party last night and probably today as well.
I noticed Max standing in the room. He was pacing about as if he was concerned or distraught. I over to him, hoping maybe he would have some information.
"Hello there! You again! You'll never guess whom I saw earlier. The man himself, Isadore Strauss, the owner of Macy's Department Store, standing right over there!" He pointed to the seats beside the stairs. "Haymakers is a fine shop but Macy's..." He whistled as if still in awe of his sighting. "That's the big store!" He grinned, and then got the distraught expression on his face again. "Just as I was readying myself to make an introduction, he leaves! You seen him?" He looked to me hopefully.
No, sorry. But, where did you say he was sitting?"
"At the foot of the stairs... with his wife." I glanced over there, and it happened to be the same spot where he was sitting. "Let me know if you see him?"
I nodded and was about to make another comment when he walked away to talk with a blonde girl headed towards the lift. I walked over to the chairs. I looked them over, not spotting anything. I was about to give up when I noticed a flicker in the niche behind the cushion. To my relief, I lifted out the ruby, gold-rimmed cufflink. I turned around to leave and noticed Zeitel. He was seemed to be looking for something. Probably the book, I though as I chuckled to myself.
"Are you looking for something?" He looked up in surprise. For a moment I was afraid he might see through me. "I was just looking for something myself. I had the same look on my face as you do now."
"What? I had advised you against it. Young people," He scoffed, "they listen to no one nowadays. May I help you in your search?"
I shook my head. "No I found it." I held up the cufflink. "What about you? What are you doing?" He chuckled.
"I am looking for something also. A misplaced notebook. Ah, such a big ship." He sighed and looked to me for help. "You have not seen this notebook?"
"No, I don't usually take things that aren't mine." I said hoping to hit the nail on the head. Or the German in this case. "What does it look like?"
"How moral. But I see ethics have not influenced you curiosity." He somewhat glared at me. "Curiosity. In English it kills the cat. But it can also kill larger things." This time, he really glared at me. "Stay away from German business!"
I glared back just as challengingly. "War or peace?"
"Germany wants land, industries and materiel. And we will fight to get it. Britain and America will try to stop this, but we will know your plans." My heart thumped loudly in my chest at that. It had to be the plans Officer Morrow's brother in law had been talking about. "And if there is war... Germany will win! But enough politics." He paused and laughed to himself. "This has been such a civilized voyage so far. Let us meet tomorrow in the café. The band, they play Strauss so well. Until then. Auf Wiedersehen."
Without allowing me another word, he retreated into the lift. I looked around, noticing the Max was long gone as well. I trudged up the stairs back to the Purser. I handed him the cufflink.
"Here is the cufflink. It was in the Reception." I smiled as his eyes lit up, then turned back to look at me curiously.
"Thank you. Mr. Straus will be quite pleased that I found his cufflink. I should go and deliver it to him right away. I am sure that his gratitude will be reflected quite generously." He hurried away, obviously so that I wouldn't get the chance to ask about getting into the cargo hold again. I sighed but then noticed a personal touch to one of the keys. I pulled it from its hook and read the name 'Carter' etched into the wood.
The name made me grin profusely. This was the answer! I knew that the painting was in the same area as the car, and I remembered Daisy saying the Carter's left their key with the Purser.
I ran up the stairs, slowing down between stairs, and made it up to the top. I used the stairs on the deck, and finally found the entrance to the Forecastle Deck. It took a few minutes to find the door but I found it. When I shut it, I found myself in a place lacking the chatter of people. I hadn't even noticed that there were people around. There was no more wind either.
I walked down a set of spiral stairs, and found the entrance guarded by a seaman.
"Nobody's allow to- you've go the keys! You're a Carter! Well, of course you can enter! Come to visit your new automobile, have you? I can't blame you she's a beauty!! Right this way." I followed him down some more stairs to the Cargo Hold. "You'll find your way from here."
I nodded as he stood waiting. I looked at the key again and noticed a number I hadn't seen before. I looked up at one of the doors, seeing a number. I walked down the narrow stretch until I found the door that matched the key. I quickly entered.
To my disappointment, the room was almost pitch black. I could see the car, but there was no way I could read the boxes. I walked over to the car, and then got an idea. The headlights. I turned them on, illuminating the entire room! Now it would be a cinch to read the boxes. I found the one labeled 'Lemke & Buechner'. I pried open the box, and stared down at the painting in awe.
There it was. The painting! Now all I had to do was take it to Penny, and tell her about the notebook. After that, maybe she would see my dedication, and look at me more seriously. Maybe- my thoughts were interrupted by shouting, and a thump. I ripped the painting out of the frame, rolled it, and stashed it deeply into my handbag.
I hurried to the door, and looked out. Zeitel was heading my way angrily, the seaman lying unconscious on the floor. I was trapped. I felt like a deer caught in headlights as he continued to walk.
"Zeitel!" Zeitel turned around to meet with the coming Sasha. This was my chance. I hurried over to the car, and shut off the headlights. Then I dove into the backseat, cradling my bag in my arms. There was no telling what they might do if they found me.
"This is it. This is where my painting it. Do you have a key?"
"Yes." I heard a crunching sound, and the door being forced open. Then I heard the sound of footsteps. I couldn't bring myself to look, so I only listened.
"That's not what I meant!" Although my eyes where shut, I could see a glimmer of light. They had a flashlight. "Here it is." I could hear the moan of the old hinges louder than I had when I had opened it myself.
"AH! He's gotten here first. Sasha, I told you we should have come down sooner." He sighed.
"You don't know that for sure. Willie could have gotten the painting."
"Even if he did, he will not give it to me!" I heard the stomping of boots out of the room. "Let us meet in my cabin. The seaman will be waking up shortly.
I waited until I couldn't hear them any longer before climbing back out of the car. The door was badly damaged and the seaman remained unconscious. I checked his pulse, and noted that Zeitel was capable of knocking me out, or worse.
I walked tiredly to Penny's room. My lack of sleep was catching up with me and my feet hurt from the running around. It took him longer than usual to get to her room, but he did, and knocked on her door.
"Did you get the painting?" What a welcome. The first words out of her mouth had to be business of course. Well, I could play along.
"I found it in the Cargo Hold, and Zeitel is looking for a notebook. What do you want me to do next?" She gave me an odd look.
"First, I'd like to congratulate you. Good job. But... now something else has come up. That snoopy steward Schmedles was looking for you. Find him, and kick him smartly in the shins." She gave me another look. "Is something wrong?"
I shook my head. "No but I should find him. Thank you, and let me know if anything else comes up." She nodded slowly, and was still standing there when I walked away. If she didn't want to be friendly with me, there was no point in my wasting time.
"Thayer... Thayer... Thayer..." He waved a telegram around in his hand and looked up at me seemingly annoyed by my presence. "Oh, what do you want?"
I gave him a curious look, "What about Mr. Thayer?"
"Why? What do you know? Not that it matters, I'm much to busy. I must get this telegram through for Mr. Thayer." He paused and pressed his lips together for a moment. "Mr. Thayer expects his private train car to meet him in New York, and I can't leave my post. But I need to send this telegram."
"Can I help?"
"Help? Yes it might be helpful if you took this telegram to the wireless room for me. In fact, why don't you send it? Mr. Thayer is a very wealthy man. So send this telegram, and when you've done please don't forget to tell me."
I nodded and took the telegram. "All right I'll do that. But first, I'd like to check in this book..." I handed him the Rubaiyat and he looked it over.
"Nice. Very nice. Security's our first priority; I'll put it in the safe."
"Could I check the passenger list?"
"If you give me a name, I can tell you their cabin number." I nodded, an inquired various people and cabin numbers. Then remembered my favor for Daisy.
"Could you tell me whose initials are G.Q.C.?
"Ah yes, Mr. George Quincy Clifford. Is that all then?"
"Yes thank you, and goodnight. I'll let you know when I've finished sending the telegram."
"All right then, goodnight." He shut his window, and I left the room and headed out to send the telegram. I stepped out onto the boat deck where Penny grabbed my arm and pulled me off to the side.
"Quick. I've trapped Zeitel and Sasha to the ships stern. They're having a rather heated conversation, see if you can listen in. I'll track their movement."
I nodded and looked down towards the stern where I spotted them. I headed in the opposite direction and took the stairs down. I ran to the stern, and leaned out the side of the deck, right beneath where they were standing.
"We've a problem Zeitel." I recognized Sasha's voice.
"Which is?" Zeitel's distinctive accent gave him away.
"The Rubaiyat! It was not at your drop point."
"You are sure?"
"Most definitely!"
"But, I put it there myself. What happened?"
"There's a third party on board. An agent working against you. Against us."
"How do you know?"
"My servant saw them at the drop. They now have a Rubaiyat. This could ruin my, Zeitel...if I were found out."
"We should take precautions."
"What about the painting. Have you brought it up from the cargo hold?"
"No, I do not have it."
"You don't? But I put it there myself!"
"Sasha... I've discovered a traitor. Don't look so started." He said with a grim chuckle. "It isn't you."
"You mean Haderlitz? You're associate?"
"No longer my a associate I am afraid. Wille was an intellectual, and intellectuals are not smart enough for espionage. Now we must recover the painting, and it's plans. I fear this third party may already have possession of it."
"And Haderlitz?"
"He will bring no further harm to our plan, I assure you. Let us plan." I heard their footsteps hurrying away. I tried to follow the sound, but they went inside. I walked back towards the stern and spotted Georgia.
She hurried over to me, and threw her arms around me tearfully. "I knew you'd come!"
"What happened?" I returned the hug and pulled away to look at her. "Why are you so upset?"
"Charles got a telegram, from the solicitors. Our estates to be sold off!" She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "He asked about the necklace I gave you. I told him I left it with the Purser. Don't say anything to Charles... or Sasha." Her face turned cold and spiteful. "I'd never trust him again. Him and his..." She sighed exuberantly. "There's much more to tell. Can you meet me in my staying room? I'm in B-70."
"All right, I'll meet you."
"Thank you. I'll see you then." She placed a soft kiss on my cheek and hurried towards the doorway in. I watched her hurry away. She had always been a pretty girl. She would always hold a place in my heart but was there something more? I shook my head. If I ever wanted to have anything with Penny Pringle I would have to keep my relationship with Georgia platonic.
I looked down at the telegram still clutched in my hand and hurried up the stairs to the wireless room. I spotted Officer Morrow and gave him a wave on my way in.
When I shut the door and turned back around the same table that I had seen earlier was in the same place. But now I saw it in a whole other manner. All of the switches and buttons were enough to make an agents head spin! Gratefully, I found an instruction sheet, and figured out how to work the thing. I sent the telegram and returned to the Purser once again.
"I sent the telegram."
"You did? Marvelous! I was afraid you'd forgotten. Mr. Thayer will be most gratic- gracious."
"Should I tell the Thayer's?" I asked glancing at a book that read "Cargo Manifest".
"What? And let them think the Purser's not doing his job? I am the purser, and as purser I am the one who looks after the passengers. Mr. Thayer is vice president of the Pennsylvania Railroad and it is I who shall inform the Thayer's that their train will be waiting." He looked at me sternly. Being that I had just done him a favor I would have assumed he would be friendlier. "No if you'll excuse me..."
After he left I opened up the Cargo Manifest and began to leaf through the pages. I came upon the name "Lemke & Buechner" holding one frame and painting; Barbican Galleries signed it. On that some page I noticed that it was in the same hold as the Carter's motorcar.
After gathering that information I headed for Penny's room. There was nothing more that I could do now, I might as well visit her. If nothing less, seeing her would brighten things up a bit.
I knocked on her door, and told her about what I had found.
"Good... does the purser have some keys to get you into the Cargo Hold?" I shrugged and she shook her head shutting the door before I could answer. I sighed, and headed back. Seeing Penny hadn't been as spectacular as I had imagined. Maybe I should stick with Georgia after all. We had already dated once, so I knew what to expect.
I returned to the purser's office. "Can I get into the Cargo Hold?"
"Away, go away I'm much too busy. Mr. Issadore Strauss has lost a cuff link and he's so particular."
"Did he drop it somewhere?" I asked shifting from foot to foot. My feet were growing tired from the running about.
"How should I know? There's more than enough passengers on this ship to keep me hopping." He sighed. "Oh, Mr. Strauss could make things very difficult. Yes, very difficult." He placed his hand on his head, and I noticed the mound of paperwork that cluttered his desk. I began to feel a twinge of remorse for the man.
"Maybe I can find it for you. Then maybe I can get into the Cargo Hold..."
"Thank you. It is a gold cuff link. Mr. Strauss will be very grateful... but we'll have to wait and see about the Cargo Hold." He shut his window and I walked outside. I looked my map over, trying to decide where to start. The Reception. There was a party last night and probably today as well.
I noticed Max standing in the room. He was pacing about as if he was concerned or distraught. I over to him, hoping maybe he would have some information.
"Hello there! You again! You'll never guess whom I saw earlier. The man himself, Isadore Strauss, the owner of Macy's Department Store, standing right over there!" He pointed to the seats beside the stairs. "Haymakers is a fine shop but Macy's..." He whistled as if still in awe of his sighting. "That's the big store!" He grinned, and then got the distraught expression on his face again. "Just as I was readying myself to make an introduction, he leaves! You seen him?" He looked to me hopefully.
No, sorry. But, where did you say he was sitting?"
"At the foot of the stairs... with his wife." I glanced over there, and it happened to be the same spot where he was sitting. "Let me know if you see him?"
I nodded and was about to make another comment when he walked away to talk with a blonde girl headed towards the lift. I walked over to the chairs. I looked them over, not spotting anything. I was about to give up when I noticed a flicker in the niche behind the cushion. To my relief, I lifted out the ruby, gold-rimmed cufflink. I turned around to leave and noticed Zeitel. He was seemed to be looking for something. Probably the book, I though as I chuckled to myself.
"Are you looking for something?" He looked up in surprise. For a moment I was afraid he might see through me. "I was just looking for something myself. I had the same look on my face as you do now."
"What? I had advised you against it. Young people," He scoffed, "they listen to no one nowadays. May I help you in your search?"
I shook my head. "No I found it." I held up the cufflink. "What about you? What are you doing?" He chuckled.
"I am looking for something also. A misplaced notebook. Ah, such a big ship." He sighed and looked to me for help. "You have not seen this notebook?"
"No, I don't usually take things that aren't mine." I said hoping to hit the nail on the head. Or the German in this case. "What does it look like?"
"How moral. But I see ethics have not influenced you curiosity." He somewhat glared at me. "Curiosity. In English it kills the cat. But it can also kill larger things." This time, he really glared at me. "Stay away from German business!"
I glared back just as challengingly. "War or peace?"
"Germany wants land, industries and materiel. And we will fight to get it. Britain and America will try to stop this, but we will know your plans." My heart thumped loudly in my chest at that. It had to be the plans Officer Morrow's brother in law had been talking about. "And if there is war... Germany will win! But enough politics." He paused and laughed to himself. "This has been such a civilized voyage so far. Let us meet tomorrow in the café. The band, they play Strauss so well. Until then. Auf Wiedersehen."
Without allowing me another word, he retreated into the lift. I looked around, noticing the Max was long gone as well. I trudged up the stairs back to the Purser. I handed him the cufflink.
"Here is the cufflink. It was in the Reception." I smiled as his eyes lit up, then turned back to look at me curiously.
"Thank you. Mr. Straus will be quite pleased that I found his cufflink. I should go and deliver it to him right away. I am sure that his gratitude will be reflected quite generously." He hurried away, obviously so that I wouldn't get the chance to ask about getting into the cargo hold again. I sighed but then noticed a personal touch to one of the keys. I pulled it from its hook and read the name 'Carter' etched into the wood.
The name made me grin profusely. This was the answer! I knew that the painting was in the same area as the car, and I remembered Daisy saying the Carter's left their key with the Purser.
I ran up the stairs, slowing down between stairs, and made it up to the top. I used the stairs on the deck, and finally found the entrance to the Forecastle Deck. It took a few minutes to find the door but I found it. When I shut it, I found myself in a place lacking the chatter of people. I hadn't even noticed that there were people around. There was no more wind either.
I walked down a set of spiral stairs, and found the entrance guarded by a seaman.
"Nobody's allow to- you've go the keys! You're a Carter! Well, of course you can enter! Come to visit your new automobile, have you? I can't blame you she's a beauty!! Right this way." I followed him down some more stairs to the Cargo Hold. "You'll find your way from here."
I nodded as he stood waiting. I looked at the key again and noticed a number I hadn't seen before. I looked up at one of the doors, seeing a number. I walked down the narrow stretch until I found the door that matched the key. I quickly entered.
To my disappointment, the room was almost pitch black. I could see the car, but there was no way I could read the boxes. I walked over to the car, and then got an idea. The headlights. I turned them on, illuminating the entire room! Now it would be a cinch to read the boxes. I found the one labeled 'Lemke & Buechner'. I pried open the box, and stared down at the painting in awe.
There it was. The painting! Now all I had to do was take it to Penny, and tell her about the notebook. After that, maybe she would see my dedication, and look at me more seriously. Maybe- my thoughts were interrupted by shouting, and a thump. I ripped the painting out of the frame, rolled it, and stashed it deeply into my handbag.
I hurried to the door, and looked out. Zeitel was heading my way angrily, the seaman lying unconscious on the floor. I was trapped. I felt like a deer caught in headlights as he continued to walk.
"Zeitel!" Zeitel turned around to meet with the coming Sasha. This was my chance. I hurried over to the car, and shut off the headlights. Then I dove into the backseat, cradling my bag in my arms. There was no telling what they might do if they found me.
"This is it. This is where my painting it. Do you have a key?"
"Yes." I heard a crunching sound, and the door being forced open. Then I heard the sound of footsteps. I couldn't bring myself to look, so I only listened.
"That's not what I meant!" Although my eyes where shut, I could see a glimmer of light. They had a flashlight. "Here it is." I could hear the moan of the old hinges louder than I had when I had opened it myself.
"AH! He's gotten here first. Sasha, I told you we should have come down sooner." He sighed.
"You don't know that for sure. Willie could have gotten the painting."
"Even if he did, he will not give it to me!" I heard the stomping of boots out of the room. "Let us meet in my cabin. The seaman will be waking up shortly.
I waited until I couldn't hear them any longer before climbing back out of the car. The door was badly damaged and the seaman remained unconscious. I checked his pulse, and noted that Zeitel was capable of knocking me out, or worse.
I walked tiredly to Penny's room. My lack of sleep was catching up with me and my feet hurt from the running around. It took him longer than usual to get to her room, but he did, and knocked on her door.
"Did you get the painting?" What a welcome. The first words out of her mouth had to be business of course. Well, I could play along.
"I found it in the Cargo Hold, and Zeitel is looking for a notebook. What do you want me to do next?" She gave me an odd look.
"First, I'd like to congratulate you. Good job. But... now something else has come up. That snoopy steward Schmedles was looking for you. Find him, and kick him smartly in the shins." She gave me another look. "Is something wrong?"
I shook my head. "No but I should find him. Thank you, and let me know if anything else comes up." She nodded slowly, and was still standing there when I walked away. If she didn't want to be friendly with me, there was no point in my wasting time.