wolfling: Big thanks to all reviewers. At last, the puzzle pieces are in line, and my mystery is being set in motion!
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Jimmy entered the Galley and slumped down into a chair.
"I've got a problem."
She came out of the kitchen and sat opposite him, with one bowl full of potatoes and an old newspaper with peelings on it. She spread the paper out between them, and handed him a potato peeler.
"Out with it then."
He could tell her, couldn't he? Chef was one of those listening types. She paid attention to little things.
So didn't that mean that if he lied, she would see straight through him?
He opened his mouth, but paused, and started again
"Well," he began, and then she frowned and reached over to turn the potato peeler the right way round in his hand. "I've heard that the captain wants to ditch me from the ship."
What? What kind of lame replacement for the truth was that? Jimmy felt he was losing his edge.
"Why do you think that?" she looked up whilst peeling, taking another potato from the bowl and leaving the skins on the paper.
"What are you making here anyway?"
"Cheese and potato bake with that leftoverham from last night. Answer the question."
"I heard Scruffy talking about how the Captain had said something about it."
She sighed, "You know Scruffy never gives any reliable information. Besides, the Captain wouldn't chuck anyone, the crews already too small as it is."
"There's a first time for everything! I don't want to go, where would I go?"
"You're a young lad Jimmy, I think you'd find another job just fine."
"But I wouldn't know how to survive!"
"It'll be easy Jimmy. Few jobs need an education. You could find a job helping out in a restaurant or working the docks."
He pouted a little bit and she kept peeling "Here. I doubt they're going to chuck you. It's weird, but I get the feeling that the Captain's got a soft spot for you. He's used to you being around, be weird if you weren't. I don't know what happened on the last voyage; from the sounds of it I don't think I want to. But still, you and him were there. Lost someone in common. They won't chuck you, Jimmy. You're a part of this ship."
Jimmy beamed at her, and cut his finger with the potato peeler.
Chef gave him an 'I knew that would happen' look and rose as the kettle started whistling loudly, and walked into the kitchen to pour it into two mugs. As she did so, she noticed something rather odd. There was a knife stuck in the wall. With blood on it.
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wolfling: Chapter Four up...tomorrow...
con-crit appreciated.
