Mari was woken early by the sound of the baby crying incessantly. Usually Aunt Marilla or the captain would fetch her first thing, so Mari tried to close her eyes again. But this morning that did not appear to be happening and Susanna continued to wail in an increasing crescendo. Sighing heavily Mari made her way through the gloomy cabin to the bassinet. Rather than greeting it she just picked her up and changed the diaper, plonking the soiled one in a handy bucket and took the baby in to see her mother. It was unusual for Marilla not to be awake already and Mari feared something was amiss. She stood in the cabin doorway and gaped; the bed was unmade and empty.

Dawn's rosy glow stretched out across the breathless sea when John awoke with a start, an answering bell responded in the bow, perhaps the initial one had woken him? Yawning he looked across at Marilla's lax face made pink by the rising sun. Another hot day beckoned the doldrums were well named; one just had to wait it out as frustrating as it was. The sails flapped uselessly in the light wind and the ship felt as though it was taking a breath before the day began. He was pleased that Marilla slept still, she had endured too many broken nights courtesy of young Susanna. As gorgeous as she was, she was no fan of long nights. Grimacing, he quickly shimmied into his clothes and made his way below decks.

Susanna's pitiful cries were counterbalanced by Mari's attempts to soothe her. "Sorry," he said. "We snuck up on deck in the middle of the night. Give her to me. Why don't you take a break before the boys awaken?" Mari nodded gratefully and handed the squalling infant over. Stunned momentarily at the change and comforted by the smell of her father Susanna briefly ceased her cries, but her face was still red and scrunched ready to start up again. John carried her carefully up the ladder and made his way to the alcove. He barely had to touch Marilla's shoulder when she came to at the first cry.

"Oh, darling come here now, Mama's got you, sweet one." John watched as she put the screeching baby to her breast, the upper lip searching desperately. They sighed with relief when she latched on and silence fell. All that could be heard now was the suck and pull of the waves against the hull and the faint sound of the baby swallowing. He loved to watch her mouth pull on the teat and swallow, pull swallow, pull swallow in a ceaseless cycle as she drank her fill contentedly. But he had places to be and a job to do. They had to get out of the doldrums and be on their way. After a brief spell he kissed both his girls on the tops of their heads and went down to get himself ready for the day.

Marilla watched him go, calling after him to bring up some clothes. Once the baby finished, she needed to get off the deck with some semblance of decorum. Lying there in their special spot she felt true contentment; their change of location had helped her sleep and now with the baby at her breast on such a stunning morning she was at peace. The ship moved barely at all which she knew frustrated John, but to be honest she did not mind overmuch. It provided a nice respite in their long life of constant movement. Everything was just that little bit easier on a steadier platform. Down in the water she could hear a plopping as if some large creature had come up to watch. Unable to rise in her current situation she could only speculate, but from the sound it was probably a dolphin, they did see them in these parts on occasion. She could hear the blow out and subsequent suck in of a blowhole as it took a few deep breaths before descending back to the depths.

Susanna pulled away suddenly distracted by the noise her eyes wide, unfortunately taking the nipple with her. Marilla frowned at the sudden pain and using her forefinger unclenched the baby's mouth. She was due to swap sides anyway. Rubbing her breast to ease the sting she resettled the baby only looking up when Mari appeared. The girl had ignored the crew's lewd comments when she appeared on deck with a spare dress and had picked her way through the ropes and general debris to find her mistress. "Are the boys still asleep?" Marilla asked. When Mari nodded her affirmation Marilla added, "sit with me awhile, it's such a beautiful morning. I think we had an aquatic visitor just a moment ago. If you look over the side, you might see it."

Mari peered over the edge and saw it below, a largish animal with a blunt nose like and yet unlike a dolphin. "What is it, Aunt Marilla. It doesn't look like a dolphin it's flippers are wrong, and it has an odd fat lip."

Marilla smiled, "it's a seacow. Once upon a time, sailors mistook them for mermaids, if you can believe it."

"Mermaids?" said Mari frowned back over her shoulder at Marilla, disbelief evident in her voice.

"They must have been a little crazed don't you think. At sea for too long perhaps? Or suffering from scurvy?"

Mari gazed back down at the seacow as it lolled on the surface and nodded.

"There that's you sorted little one," Marilla said as Susanna disengaged. She wiped a drop of pearly milk off her chin with the bottom of her nightgown and said, "here can you take her while I get dressed? Then it'll time to wake those sleepy boys." She pulled the dress towards her and put it over her head so her next words were a bit muffled, "sorry I wasn't there when she woke, Mari. I hope you weren't concerned."

"Um," Mari paused then remembered herself. She had been worried, but she didn't want Marilla to know that. "No, it was fine."

Marilla could hear the hesitation in her voice and when she emerged, she reiterated her contrition, "no we must have given you a shock. I do apologise. It was just so hot down there I could barely breathe. If you ever find we've gone, you'll find us up here. This little nook is our escape." Together they turned and made their way back to the boys' cabin. "Mermaids?" Mari repeated still stunned anyone could mistake those ungainly sea creatures for the svelte and stunning mythical creatures she had heard tell about; behind her Marilla laughed in collegiate bemusement.

At some point in the night Matthew had stirred when he felt a small hand on his cheek. He'd rolled over in the dark and the animal had followed nestling under his chin for warmth. He'd been vaguely aware but was too sleepy to care. In any case he had rather missed sleeping with his stock. He'd booted them out of the house when Marilla came home, but he'd missed their collective sighs and snores. It seemed so very quiet and still without them all to keep him company.

He woke up to find the monkey had relocated to the top of his head and was now intent upon tickling him with its long thin fingers. He couldn't see but it seemed very intent upon its work. There would be a tickling sensation as it moved his hair out of the way and investigated then there would be a pause until it started again. The sensation was unique but not unpleasant. The animal was nothing if not meticulous at whatever he was doing and Matthew lay there for a while enjoying the process. Eventually though he heard the deep lowing of the cattle and he knew his day was due to begin.

He found he kept up a running commentary for the monkey as though it was necessary to explain his routine. "Got to milk the cows every morning," he said to it as it rode his shoulder to the barn. "The poor ladies get grumpy if I'm late." He did feel sorry for them when their udders strained with the milk. He fancied he could hear their complaint in their moos. "Now I'll just take this bucket up to the house." He felt a bit foolish really, as if Goliath cared about his routine, but it was company and somehow, he felt like it was a little child, so human like was he.

"He was grooming you," explained Anne after breakfast. She had dropped in on her way to school as had become her new habit. She would get the Lynde children dressed and fed before she ran off yelling over her shoulder to Rachel that she didn't want to be late. They would follow shortly afterwards and would always be surprised that they got to school before she did.

"Grooming?" Matthew asked.

"Yes, it's his way of telling you he likes you. He's looking for the salt left behind by your dried sweat and the odd bug."

Matthew rubbed his head, "ain't no bugs in my hair."

"No, I suppose not. Well you can be safe in the knowledge that if ever there were Goliath would eat them, wouldn't you boy?" Anne said with a smile as she chucked the small animal under its chin.

"I think he slept with me too," remarked Matthew a tad shyly.

Anne's smile lit up her whole face, "oh, Matthew I am delighted to hear that. I think he's really settling down. That news fills me with rapture because I just hated leaving him, but now I feel he's found a kindred spirit in you." She looked at the monkey and said, "Goliath I must say you have excellent taste for Mr Cuthbert is a gentleman I hold in high regard."

Matthew blushed and timidly said, "folks just call me Matthew. Reckon I'd be happy if you did too, Anne. Mr Cuthbert sounds so formal, makes me think of my father."

Anne took another piece of toast from the plate and asked, "what was he like, your father?"

Matthew scratched his nose and replied, "gruff. Papa was taciturn. Wouldn't have approved of no monkey living here that's for sure and certain," he smiled and scratched the animal on the top of its head. He imagined his father's reaction to a monkey hanging off the lamp in the Green Gables kitchen; just the thought was enough to make him smile with a glint in his eyes. He had never defied his father while he lived, but now that he was gone Matthew was free to welcome any animal, stock or pet into the house.

Anne watched the interplay of emotions cross Matthew's face. He had been amused she could see, but now his countenance changed, and he looked more solemn. She was silent as she believed see he was remembering his past.

She was correct, Matthew was recalling the time Marilla ran away. He had cowered in the barn while his father railed against Marilla, against John Blythe who he threatened to kill if he found him, and against the authorities who refused to chase after them.

Raucous laughter filled the kitchen as his mama and Michael laughed uproariously at some shared joke while a young Matthew looked on mystified but happy because they so obviously were. Their merriment was dying away when his father walked in and gruffly asked what the joke was. That made them laugh again at his incomprehension; even if he had wanted to he'd never have gotten the joke anyways. Mr Cuthbert was not known for his sense of humour. Matthew looked back and forth between his parents; his father's stern expression and his mother alight with merriment.

The scene shifted then to a time after Michael had died. Mrs Cuthbert thought him asleep, but through slitted eyes Matthew saw her standing in the doorway wearing just her white nightgown with bare feet, matted dark hair tumbling over her shoulders. She stared at nothing for a long moment before turning and padding out of the room. Matthew released the breath he had been holding.

The light went out of her life when Michael was killed, no more did she smile regardless of how Matthew tried to make her. She just lay in her bed as if part of her died in the cannery along with her boy.

Anne watched as Matthew pulled himself together, he looked across at her, "sorry Anne, I went away there for a little bit."

"That's all right Mr er Matthew. I better be getting on to school anyways." She waved him and Goliath good-bye as she made her way through the gate and on to school.