Night Music: Thanks for your suggestions. I think I've got a pretty good idea of where Silver's gonna' show up. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait some more....Details are confusing.

Chapter 14

"So...what do you think of it?"

"Oh, Jim! It's gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!" Zandra stared up in awe at Jim's ship. The titanium colored metal glittered in the early morning sunshine. It was a rather large ship, with five masts, the one in the middle huge, the two on the sides a little smaller, and the last two comparably smaller. A sparkling steering wheel (AN/ what are those called anyway?) right up front with fancy carved embellishments on the handles. An complicated control panel lay right below it. A two huge gunners stood off to either side of the middle mast. The bound up sails where made of the most durable, long-lasting material that was still bright with newness.

"Jim, how did ever afford it?"

"Zandra, I've been saving since I was sixteen, and I owe the Dopplers some money. But it was well worth it."

"So did you hire any girls for me?"

"Sorry. You can't find many girls willing to work on a merchant ship."

"Why not?"

"Pirates." A look of absolute terror flashed across her face.

"P..pirates?" She squeaked. He slipped his arm around her waist.

"They're a very uncommon any more. And we have one of the best tracking systems there is. If there are any pirates. We'll be able to tell where they are and who they are a long time before they get to us. I promise. Why don't I give you a tour of the ship, alright? It'll take your mind off of unpleasant things."

"Sure...great...wonderful...fantastic...."

"You're still scared, aren't you?"

"Just a tad bit."

"I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

He showed her his stateroom, filled with books, maps, and complicate d looking diagrams. He showed her the room that would be hers for the voyage. It was small, one could've easily mistaken it for a closet, but she had a small dresser built into the wall, a desk and chair for writing letters, but no bed.

"Jim...?" She looked at him quizzically. He grinned at her.

"Watch." He reached for a leather strap she had missed when she first saw the room, and pulled down on it.

"Step back." He cautioned a nicely sized bed was pulled down from the wall and covered most of the floor space.

"Wow. How does it go back up?"

"Easy. You grab the bottom and push up. Want to try?"

"Sure." She followed his instructions and was surprised at how easily she could push the bed back upright.

"You want to see the rest of the ship?"

"Of course."

He showed her the galley and where all the supplies were kept. She was pleased to see that everything was neatly arranged for convenience.

"So how many are we supposed to cook for?" She asked, referring to the aged lizard that she would be assisting.

"Roughly fifty to sixty." Her jaw dropped.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one cooking...We have to clean up after them too, right?"

"Mm-hm. But it won't take very long with Alissa and..."

"Who's Alissa?"

"Didn't I tell you?" There was a hint of teasing in his eyes. "She's my first mates little one. About three or four years old. Poor child her mother died when she was only two. Sterling brings her everywhere with him since. She'll be the cabin girl. Of course there's also James the actual cabin boy who'll do most of the actual work, but...."

"Where'll she sleep?" She asked, her eyes taking on a soft shine.

"Sterling said that when she was younger she stayed in his room with him, but now that she's older and bigger..."

"Oh Jim, could she stay with me?" His face broke into a grin.

"I was hoping you'd ask. Sterling's awfully concerned about the kid growing up without a woman's influence. He was asking if you'd let her stay with you, but I wanted to surprise you."

"That was nasty of you not telling me."

"Do you want to go meet them?" He asked quickly, changing the subject.

"Are they here?"

"Should be."

They hurried up to the main deck to meet Mr. Sterling, a man with dark hair that was tied back in a ponytail, green eyes that held a hidden sorrow, chiseled features and strong hands, probably in his late thirties. There was a little girl about three and a half with him, but her features were much softer than his, her chin length, brown hair hung in delicate curls around her face, her eyes were dark blue orbs that studied the newcomers with curiosity. Zandra smiled at the little girl and was rewarded with an adorable grin, showing that the child had just lost a front tooth.

"Zandra, I'd like you to meet Mr. Sterling and his daughter Alissa. Mr. Sterling, this is our assistant cook Alexandra Cortez."

"Please, call me Zandra." She reached out to shake the mans offered hand

"Zandra has agreed to let Alissa stay with her." Sterlings face broke into a smile.

"God bless ya' lass. Thank ya'. Do ya' 'ear that 'Lissa? Ya' gets to stay wid a woman 'dis time. Aren't ya' happy?" The little girl smiled shyly.

"Yeth Da. Yeth." The little one threw her arms around Zandra's legs in a hug. Zandra looked up at Jim, startled. Sterling turned away from them to hide the tears in his eyes.

"Aye, lass. She's been awaitin' for one to love 'er. Thank ya' lass." Both young adults could hear the tears in his voice. Zandra had to blink back her own tears.

"Do you want to see your room, Alissa?" Her voice was choked with unshed tears for the two broken souls.