The Expert

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 14th August 2009

Characters: Eliste, Rahona, Lineal, Denna, Xerxen
Description: Rahona and Eliste (and the crew) gather to watch Lineal work.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 4, day 3 of Turn 5
Notes: Riverboat Sungazer

Rahona knocked on the open door of Eliste's room. "Come down and watch Lineal practice his carpentry skills," she suggested with laughter in her tone.

"His carpentry skills?" Eliste drew the baby carrier around her baby, slipped the straps over her shoulders, across her back and brought them around the front to tie under Follen's bottom. "Oh dear, what is he doing?"

"He's found the gates that fit to the doors of the communal rooms to keep the crawling babies and toddlers in. You know the things. Anyway, he's decided to fit them this afternoon but he doesn't think it needs an audience." Rahona's expression made it clear she didn't agree. "So, how about a cup of klah down in the dining room?"

"I say that sounds like a lovely idea." Eliste giggled as she doubled the knot, then closed the door behind her. If Rahona thought Lineal would be a spectacle, who was she to argue? Entertainment was always appreciated.

"Apparently seacrafters all know how to do carpentry and all he needs to do is fix the gates to the spots that are already made for them." The older woman led the way down the wide balcony that ran down each side of the Sungazer on the two upper levels. "Things are never that easy in real life."

"Do you think he'll be able to do it?" Eliste knew that men could be rather prideful at times, especially when someone tried to tell them they couldn't do something. Especially if it was something a man thought he _should_ be able to do.

"I _think_ so, but the bigger the audience the more pressure he'll be under." Rahona's expression left no doubt about her affection for her husband, but equally she had no intention of not teasing him a little about this sudden decision to 'do the job himself' on a riverboat of supremely practical and capable men.

Eliste giggled. "We'd best hurry then if we want to be the first ones there! Surely this is bound to catch the attention of others!"

"I hope so. I might have mentioned it to a few people while I was up front talking to him about it." They reached the open area between the dining room and the paddlewheel, now still for the evening. "Oh good, there's a decent crowd already."

Eliste took note of a couple of passengers along with a couple of the crewmembers. Xerxen grinned as he saw them and waved, then stepped to the side so both women could slip in front of him for a better, frontal view.

"We hear Lineal's going to show us his _captainry_ skills," Denna murmured to her cousin's wife. "Can I have a cuddle of Jestlin?"

"Carpentry?" Rahona chuckled. "Though, yes, the other works, too." She handed over the babe into Denna's waiting arms and immediately had her firelizard arrive to make the most of her shoulder now that the baby wasn't around.

When Lineal arrived he found the dining hall and outside seating area crowded - more crowded than he would have expected at this time of the evening. "Er - here, Xerxen. Would you like to hold this gate for a moment."

The large, younger man raised his eyebrows and grinned, teeth stark against his dark skin. "Are you sure sir? You seem to be doing just fine without me."

"Don't call me sir - and I haven't done anything yet." He leaned closer to the younger man. "What's everybody doing here? Is there a meeting I don't know about?"

"We were simply curious as to how to go about putting up a gate on a riverboat." Eliste piped up, her voice soft yet clear. "I don't think most of us have ever seen it done."

"You and Rahona might not have," Lineal grumbled, "but the rest have been here all their lives and know perfectly well how this is done." He edged though the crowd to the door into the dining hall where he set down the gate. "See - the holes are still here from last time it was fitted ... probably for Jezz or Linli."

"I see. Well, please, go ahead, I'd love to see how it's done." Eliste was surprised that she was able to keep the laughter from her voice. Outwardly, she was able to keep the same from her face as well, though she did smile. "Where does that go?" She pointed to one side of the gate, the one the lower part instead of the upper and marked it as being upside down.

"That goes ..." Lineal frowned, and then cleared his throat and turned the gate up the other way. "This goes here, against the door frame, and this goes here against the other. And this bit opens and closes."

"Oh, I see." Eliste nodded as if she were learning from a wise Master. "Where's the lock?"

"Here." The captain rummaged around in his pocket, carefully drawing out the ornate latch. "It fits on the top here - well, there, really, since that's the top. Too high for the littlies to operate, or so the theory goes."

"I see. Is it secure?" Eliste wondered how long it would be until the little ones _could_ reach the latch - or perhaps simply climb over the gate.

"Yes. By the time they figure it out they're well walking and old enough to be following their older cousins around during the day." He had had Barli trailing around after him, and before that had trailled around after Denna.

"And how does it attach?" Eliste heard Xerxen cough and it was suspicious enough to make Eliste think he was actually trying to hold back a laugh.

"I'll show you." Lineal looked around the crowd, taking in their smiles and his wife's expression that was lit by her obvious amusement. "I'll show all of you," he said firmly. "Now, if you'd just clear some space so the expert can get to work ..."

Rahona laughed at Lineal's teasing and stepped away from the door. "All right, Captain Expert. Show us all how it's done."

Last updated on the August 15th 2009

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