Silence

Writers: Francesca, Jane
Date Posted: 13th March 2009

Characters: Kellin, Coril
Description: Kellin and Coril enjoy a companionable moment.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 1, day 10 of Turn 5
Notes: Riverboat Sungazer

There was no doubt that the job of pilot on a riverboat was a serious and sometimes stressful one. Although the captain had the overall responsibility for the riverboat, the crew and the financial viability of their lifestyle, the pilot did the nitty gritty work of making sure their livelihood and home didn't run aground anywhere. That she tied up in safe spots. That she kept running under all but the very highest and lowest of flows in the Nettleweed River.

Kellin wasn't one of the Sungazer's pilots, though she was working with the one they did have. She was lately of the Riverboat Moonflower, working on the Sungazer while the Moonflower was being overhauled. Keeping in touch with the river, because a pilot who spent any amount of time away from the ever-changing river was a pilot who was asking for trouble.

Pilots worked hard and shouldered a lot of responsibility - until the riverboat was tied up for the night. Then they were off-duty. Completely. No chores, no extra duties. When they had whole days tied up they had those just like the others did, but not on the days when they'd been working.

The Sungazer was alongside the bank, tied securely and with her landing stage down. Kellin's working day was over and she was making the most of the pleasant evening settled in one of the wide seats on the balcony that ran around the crew deck. She was on the landward side, something uncommon among the crew, but she found it restful and it prevented her mind wandering back onto thoughts of the river.

Coril stood, elbows resting on the railing and eyes looking out to land but not focused on anything in particular. Any thought that tried to form in his mind was gently pushed away. There had been some tricky maneuvering around a fallen tree early in the morning which had made him even more vigilant than usual for the rest of the day. Now that they were tied up, he was enjoying thinking of absolutely nothing.

Hearing someone take a seat nearby he turned to see Kellin, a visiting pilot from the Moonflower who he had been working with for the past sevendays. Giving her a brief nod in greeting, he turned his gaze back toward land.

"Are you looking for a bit of peace and quiet on this side?" Kellin asked as she eyed up a seat near the Sungazer crewmember. She could sit somewhere else if he didn't want to talk.

Coril made a non-committal grunt, not looking back at her. Kellin was a hard worker who he respected, and he enjoyed spending time with her, but he preferred not to speak unless something really needed to be said. In this case, he didn't mind whether she remained there or found another spot to relax.

"All right, then," Kellin said with a smile for the man's response. Though he didn't say much he was perfectly capable of speaking his mind when he wanted to so she was going to take the grunt as indifference or better. "I'm putting my backside in this very comfortable chair here -" though she was picking it up and turning it around as she spoke, then turning another to face it. She settled in one and put her feet up on the other. "- And then I'm not moving until supper time."

The man smiled slightly at that. Several months had passed since Kellin and others from the Moonflower had temporarily joined the Sungazer crew. For the first few sevendays, he had tried to be a bit more talkative than usual, but it was a relief now to be able to be himself and know others would not be offended or confused.

"All right," he finally said, not taking his eyes from the sky, where the first stars were appearing.

Kellin followed the fireman's example and also lifted her gaze to watch the sky. It was a peaceful pastime and felt herself relax as she did so. There was something about life on the Sungazer that made if feel different to life aboard the Moonflower. Something that was more than just the individuality of the hull and superstructure that gave each riverboat its unique movement in the water. Possibly it was nothing more than being among somebody else's family instead of her own. Perhaps it was being around somebody like Coril who had that restfulness about him.

His opinion of her rose when she remained silent. Many people tried to force a conversation with him - about the weather, the river, anything. They could not appreciate the comfortable silence that sometimes fell between two people. A silence that allowed other sounds to emerge: the occasional creaking planks of the riverboat, the soft sounds of the river, the breeze ruffling his hair, the muffled voices from the common room. He closed his eyes for a moment and smiled, enjoying the tranquillity of the riverboat at night and Kellin's silent company.

Last updated on the March 14th 2009

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Silence