"B 6"
"Miss"
"D 8"
"Do you always start your guess with the corners?"
"Yes." April quickly answers.
"Why would you think I would put any ship in any corner? You always start with the corners."
"I suspect ..."
"Quiet!" Mirum whispers with authority into her microphone.
Without question Jennifer and Odea stop and listen to Mirum.
"I hear you. Can you be louder?"
All three hold their breaths, even though their microphones are not active, as they focus their hearing and press the headphones closer to their heads keeping white noice out. Turn their volume all the way up.
"Again, please. If that is the loudest you can do simply say yes as loud as possible."
A faint muffled voice is straining through the wires, "Yes."
Odea leaps from her chair and the headphones snap off her head around her neck. She gathers herself and quickly adjusts the volume to the loudest option. "I heard Ada. I miss you."
Mirum inturrupts, "I will write everything down. She heard you and misses you."
"See is she is okay? Where are they?"
Mirum speaks slightly irritated, "Odea I can't hear her if you keep talking. Please be quiet."
Odea calls down and yells into the residence, "We have made contact."
"Is everyone safe?" Mirum continues to have a one way conversation with a meek voice as if in they were located in the rear of a long cold cave.
"That is excellent news. We all have been worried. Especially your wife."
Those located on Saville Row strain their ears for any voice to respond. To moments laters having Mirum burst out laughing, "So true. We have been doing our best to keep her busy. I fear it is not enough."
"I will tell her that."
Soon Olda is joined by Alaya and Fiona. All three sitting doing their best to follow a conversation with a very vaint person and a loud clear one. Odea finds herself adjusting the volume between the voices in added annoiance not hearing Ada very well.
"Okay. Hold on Ada. Odea she is going to be quote very unlady like and yell into the microphone. If you can hear here say yes."
"Okay."
"Ada. Go ahead."
Odea pushes the headphones to her ears and prepares herself. There it is her wife, she closes her eyes to concentrate. "Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Yes! Mirum. Tell her that I look forward to any updates."
Odea sits back emotionally exhausted, "Mother is talking and Mirum is taking notes."
Fiona and Alaya sits in silence continuing to listen on the conversation with Mirum talking to the static.
"I see. Do you want me to tell everyone?"
"Okay, but how long will you be gone?"
"Is there anything we can do to expediate you return?"
"Yes. I understand."
"Do you have a possible date to when we can hear from you again?"
"That is good. Yes, I will share with everyone."
"Know that I speak for everyone we love you and may the goddess grant you passage with a speedy return."
Everyone listening can imagine Madam Vastra offering a bow to the old and cherished blessings.
The static is gone.
"Okay! Give me a few minutes to go over my notes and I will let you all know what is going on. My ears need a few moments of silence."
"Did you hear your wife's voice?" Fiona moves her chair to be next to Odea.
"I did." Odea taps her headphones, "I just had to concentrate. She was screaming and I could hear most of it." She taps the radio, "I have my questions for Mirum."
"Have you thought about seeing Mirum and Miss Dither?"
"We can't have the automobile sitting there," Odea smiles, "I can go pick up the car with a jerry can and then drive to see the large group at Low Borrowbridge."
"We do you plan on leaving?"
"It depends ..."
Mirum coughs twice, as a signal that she will be talking, "First things first. I am simply a messenger, nothing more. Which means I only know what I have been told. Does everyone understand?"
Multiple "yes" is flooding the everyone's headphones like a echo. "Please hold off any questions until after I am done."
"First they are not heading directly to Argentina, they are going to Halifax Canada, New York, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and then Argentina. After which they shall return Home. It seems Ada's employer and a groupd called 'The Joint' have financed this expedition. It seems that the ratlines are just the tip of the iceburg." There is a long unusual pause, "I need a sip of tea and I need to look out to the sea."
"They will be gone just about a year." Mirum adjusts her seat, "Mother informed me that she didn't know until they went into the cabin. Her instructions and assignment was in their cabin, on her bed. All four are frustrated. This was not their plan."
Odea whispers under her breath, "I knew something was fishy." She taps the papers text to the radio. She forces herself to concentrate on Mirum.
"Everyone feels like a pawn and they are determained to do the best job possible, as quickly as possible. They want to come home but feel obligated to see this through. They will be writing all of us, as needed or able. They seem in good spirits for a ship tossed around the sea. They will send a telegram when time allows for a radio conversation or a better signal. They just don't know. I passed on the general information. I have much more in my notes. Odea you are coming up soon?"
"Yes. I am going to bring up petrol so that after my visit I will head over to Jennifer and then Low Borrowbridge."
"Oh that would be wonderful!." Kay basically jumps with excitement, "You are missed."
Jennifer inturrupts, "We could use some help in the store and it would be wonderful to spend time with you."
"I am looking forward to seeing all of you. I will come to vist, thank you." Odea becomes quiet, "Mirum is there anything you are not telling us?"
"Nothing general. There are specifics that mother shared and of course Ada wanted to talk to you privately. I believe that I am too embarrased to repeat her words, as they are personal. Odea, I am drafting a letter now with the conversation."
"Thank you," Odea smiles. "I did hear her voice, it was such a weak signal."
"What about what the information from Grandma Vastra?" Jennifer almost irritatedly asked.
"I am going transpose my notes and then share with everyone." Mirum becomes quit sober, "I truly miss everyone. The scarves helped, but it is not the same. I always loved my space, my reading nook. However, family was always nearby, I could taste everyone. It is lonely."
"What of Miss Dithers?" Kay asks.
"We are roommates, friends. But, we have our own jobs to complete. She spends most of her time in her office while I am here watching the sea."
"What keeps you company?"
"I do read books, write and listen to the although I am not able to get lost in anything. I have to wind my alarm clock for 15 minutes to look out at the sea. I am not truly able to enjoy myself."
Jennifer does her best to lead her team from the wireless, "I speak for everyone, we are truly sorry. If you seek a holiday, even for a day or two I am sure we will commidate."
"I will think about that." Mirum ponders the stack of books in her room. "I accept any assistance."
"Have you thought about cameras?" Odea inquires, "Since the family business includes security I have been doing research on using cameras for highly sensitive areas. When I come up we can set up cameras and a telly or two."
"That sounds very interesting." Molly chimes in, "You are thinking about a small studio?"
"Yes, a mini broadcast solution. The only limitation would be night, as there isn't a light source." Odea continues, "I believe it would be easier to watch, at least during the daytime to watch multiple screens rather than straining through a binocular."
"I would love the opportunity to do something different." Mirum smiles to herself, "I need to do this more efficiently."
"Mother would be proud," Odea adds with a slight saddness.
"I am sure if this is a success you should report to your superiors." Molly instits, "Seriously, anything to quicken the end of this war."
"At the end of our school sessions," April looks to Kay and continues, "We switch places?"
Kay nods, "I would not mind being by the sea for a month or two."
"I will see about accomidations and such. Currenly I have taken over the Harbourmaster position and office." Mirum smiles at the idea of company, "I have made a little life for myself, a lonely one. But it is my life and on my terms."
"That is wonderful," Odea replies. "Let's see about expanding your empire to include some help."
"What are you suggesting?" Jennifer seeks clarification.
"How about a small brigade of volunteers?" Odea offers.
"I would talk it over with your supervisors, please." Jennifer wisely interjects, "You have to worry about privacy, security and remember we need to maintain a strong government relationship of trust."
"I agree," Molly grabs Jennifer's hand. "We all have our part to play."
"Yes." Mirum looks out to the sea, "Before we continue the game, Kay?"
"Yes?"
"Are there any news of Mary Baines, the Tebay Witch?"
"Not yet." Kay gets giddy, "We shall head into town to trade goods this weekend. Hopefully there is a scandalous story."
"D 8 was a miss."