"Well, 751, it looks like you got yourself a project for when the harvest is over," 415 informed Hotch the next morning when he woke him for the day. "It seems that Cook likes the idea of your rebuilding the shelves in the pantry and Mistress agrees with her. I hope you're up to it."
"It shouldn't be a problem," Hotch replied thoughtfully. "Of course, I would like to strip the entire room and paint it first. It looks like it hasn't had a coat of paint in a long time."
"I'm sure you will have a chance to talk with Cook before you begin," 415 told him. "She'll probably want to cover all the details with you before you start. In the meantime, we still have several shipments to get out."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
The harvest concluded with a general holiday/day off for everyone. Cook had overseen the creation of a truly magnificent lunchtime feast and the afternoon was spent relaxing and leisurely wandering about the farm. As he walked about exploring the area, Hotch noticed that many of the women were wearing cotton tops with extensive embroidery across the yokes as well as around the sleeves and along the bottom of the garment.
"Those? They are some of the tops we make to be shipped off the island," 495 told him when he asked. "Haven't you seen them before?"
"Not since I've been here," Hotch replied slowly. "They are really quite attractive. You say they are shipped off the island?"
"Yes, there were several boxes of them in the first shipment that went out," was the reply. "And more of the materials needed to make them arrived on the second boatload. There are always more to be shipped whenever the boat comes. Our workroom is constantly busy."
Hotch was fighting hard to keep his composure. He recognized the tops – Jessica had brought one back from a Caribbean cruise she had taken several years ago with some friends. And, the wooden carvings from Farm #4, along with the jam and jellies from Farm #2 - All of these could be items for the tourist trade. Finally, he had an idea of where he was – On an island in the Caribbean and probably not far from the routes favored by the cruise ships. Now, he just had to figure out how to get to the nearest cruise ship dock.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
The next morning Hotch had a familiar visitor stop by his cell.
"I understand you volunteered for a job," Mistress said from where she was sitting just inside the doorway.
"It would give me something to do," Hotch replied. "I'm tired of just lying here waiting here for my next assignation. Not that I don't appreciate the books you have been providing," he added quickly.
"I can understand that," Mistress sympathized with him. "That's why this afternoon you will be meeting with Cook, her assistant, 502, and 586. They have some ideas about how they would like the shelves rebuilt. Also, 343 will be working with you."
"And don't think you'll be relieved of your other duties," she added. "We'll just have to arrange your schedule so you can work around them."
"That's what I thought," Hotch sighed resignedly.