All's Quiet

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 18th September 2008

Characters: Lineal, Xerxen
Description: Lineal talks to one of the Sungazer's crewmembers as they check over the riverboat for the night.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 12, day 5 of Turn 4

By the time the light left the sky the Sungazer was nearly always tied up securely against some bank or other. Although they could (and did) tie up to any suitable spot of bank, they did prefer to stop at serviced stops. Little wharves or piers that minor holds and cotholds had erected to encourage the riverboats to stop at their location.

Tonight, though, they had been running behind schedule after a late start that morning so there was no wharf or pier, just a convenient bank and the riverboat's own landing stage connecting boat to bank. And for some reason, as it often did, the proximity of the rough forest-land and lack of neighbours made the passengers more sociable. Up on the upper deck, the passenger deck, music was being played and voices were raised in conversation and song.

In the darkness on the bank the Sungazer's captain walked from one rope to another, inspecting them by the light from a glow basket. Electricity was all very well when the engine was steaming, but at night when it was powered down the riverboat, the crew, and the passengers managed with glows.

Another crewmember was performing an inspection of his own, checking the railing to make sure no damage had occurred. A weak railing could send a crewmember or passenger tumbling down the riverboat, allowing an untimely and unhappy ending - not to mention possibly causing more damage to the boat itself. So far, so good. One section was cleared and he moved on only to stop as he came into the path of the captain.
"Sir!" Xerxen greeted, his face lit with glow and smile.

Lineal chuckled at the greeting, so seldom used in the family environment of the riverboat. It recalled his life 'in between' - after he left the Sungazer as a child and before he returned as an adult - when he was a seacrafter plying the coast on the other side of the continent. "All all right, Xerxen?" he asked, pushing his hands into his pockets and settling in for a chat. Watch duty wasn't so onerous that those undertaking it didn't have time to talk.

"Going fine, Lineal." Xerxen copied the older man's position, though one hand continued to keep hold of his glow. "All's quiet I suppose."

"Well, except for that lot up there," Lineal said with a nod toward the upper deck and the passengers gathered on the balcony and in their dining room. "Sounds like they're enjoying themselves, anyway."

Xerxen's dark eyes flicked up to the group and then back down again. "It's a pleasant sound at least. No one yelling or crying. That's good in my book. Think we'll be able to catch up our lost time?"

"I'm sure the engineers will do what they need to. And we'll get away smartly tomorrow morning. Or there _will_ be yelling and crying."

"I guess I'll take that as a yes." Xerxen laughed then switched subjects. "The Moonflower crew are nice, though I think it will be good to get back to normal."

Lineal nodded. "We seem to be a good fit - the two crews." he could think of a few riverboats he wouldn't have wanted to take temporary crew from, though in all honesty if he didn't want them then they probably wouldn't have regarded the Sungazer as their first choice of berth, either.

"My roommate's a decent sort." Xerxen glanced behind him though his gaze met only the darkness that had settled about them. "Though I must say, it will be good to see the regular faces again."

"And to spread out in the crew quarters," Lineal agreed, though he and his family hadn't had to make any adjustments to fit the extra crew. They would, soon, though, when the babe Rahona was carrying was born.

As each crew stateroom slept four and the Sungazer normally carried less than a 'full house' in the crew accommodation, most people ended up in rooms with a spare berth or two. That made all the difference in the small rooms, with a bunk or two being upended and stowed out of the way, allowing the addition of a chair or desk.

"It's been interesting having their pilots aboard," Lineal continued. "Giving our two time off and just seeing how they work." He chuckled. "I always thought they were a breed apart, and now - having four of them running the pilot house - I'm sure."

"Oh?" Xerxen chuckled softly. "Are they driving you crazy yet?"

"_Yet_? Why do you think I'm out here? We're tied up and the four of them are still 'discussing' the river." He laughed, a good humoured chuckle at the foibles of the people upon whom the responsibility for any riverboat's safety rested. "I know it's their life, but really!"

"I guess it can get a bit dry after a while." Xerxen stated, obviously amused. "Ah well, before we know it things will be back to normal. Then we'll start missing our guests."

"But it'll be nice to have the Sungazer to ourselves again," Lineal said, wondering the presence of passengers never seemed to impinge on that feeling.

"That's true too." Xerxen leaned against the railing, crossing his arms over his chest. "I must say, it's a bit tighter squeeze than normal, even with some staying ashore."

"It will be interesting to see if any of our shore-volunteers decided to stay there." Sometimes even the most dedicated riverboat crewmembers spent time ashore as things in their lives changed. If necessary his own family could, though he would stay aboard. It wouldn't be the first time they'd lived that sort of life and, although he was enjoying having his wife and children with him every day, if they had to they could manage.

"I don't think I could ever be happy staying ashore." Xerxen mused. "Maybe for a short period of time where I know when I'm coming back, but not forever. I'm happy on the boat."

"Things change, sometimes, as you get older. Meet some woman, gat married, have children." Lineal shrugged. "But the riverboat's a great life, regardless and I'm glad that I've had a second chance at it."

"What made you leave in the first place?" Xerxen queried as he let his gaze wander about them.

"I wanted to go further afield. Beyond the there-and-back trips up and down the Nettleweed River."

"I guess you got that out of your system eh?" The younger man queried. "After all, you're back here now."

Lineal smiled. "I grew up, had a family I hardly saw because I was always at sea. Realised I wanted my children to grow up on the Sungazer, as I had. Got old and wise enough to accept my father's invitation to come home." He chuckled. "It's lucky people can grow some sense, isn't it?"

"I think some people hope that I'll eventually get some." Xerxen grinned. To be honest, he did have sense, though some people seemed to think he didn't really use it.

"You're young yet, Xerxen." Lineal slapped his cousin on the shoulder. "Time enough for sense when you're an old man like me."

"Ah, good, so that means I can just pretend I don't get it and keep driving people insane, eh?"

"For a while."

"A little time is better than no time at all." Xerxen laughed, the sound echoing through the night air. "Well, I guess we'd both better get back to work, eh?"

"Not me. I'm done for the night. But you carry on with yours," Lineal said, laughing. "Enjoy your evening, Xerxen."

"I'm almost done...and then I'm heading to bed." Xerxen saluted his captain. "Have a good one yourself, sir."

Last updated on the September 18th 2008

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All's Quiet