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Tasherit completed her meal and returned below to prepare for the journey

Rue was looking one final tihts of her ho an annoyed one-sided conversation He was on the blow horn to engineering

Rue ator passed her the speaking tube

The voice on the other end was ht we had another twentyunnecessarily? You’re wasting fuel, Mr Tunstell I can’t pro about"

"It’sher by her real naht it prudent to float off before it could happen a third time"

Quesnel’s tone altered "Are you injured? Is anyone hurt? How’s the ship? I’ up"

"No, you most certainly are not! We have only a few minutes before first puff and I want you in the boiler roo them, remember? There may be a sunflower that needs to be put out of itsyou"

"I’m fine, too How’s my father? Did he wake after sunset?"

"No Nor should he, if my calculations are correct The tank should hold hienerative sleep state for the entire trip And keep hirey"

"Should?"

"It’s not designed for olves, chérie"

"Oh? What is it designed for? Vaies and reparations Or so ht reveal the particulars?"

"Sonominious encounter with a tea hamper, which I roundly defeated, I’ll have you know"

Quesnel laughed "Of course you did Very brave"