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She left the buzzing athtly less oppressive heat of the upper deck Most of the decklings were slu in their hammocks Rue hated to rouse them, but rouse them she did
"How many are off on leave?" she asked once they’d rallied round
"One of the deckhands and four of us, including Spoo," piped up a sleepy voice
"And the staff?"
Another deckling wrinkled his nose "We don’t much steam with those belowdecks but Cook certainly sent a few off to the il chivvied up at that juncture "What ho, Lady Captain? Hi all sorts of places What’s flipped his pikelet?"
Rue sniffed "Himself has put us all in a bit of a bind We float out as soon as full cos "I’m sorry, you lot, but all leave is cancelled Plus you’ll have to spread the word to the other unluckies all over the ship I want us ready to go as soon as et us ready by sundown"
A chorus of groans met that
"Now, please"
The decklings scaiven the oppressive heat and curtailed fun
Virgil turned to go about whatever business Percy had set his aboard ship, don’t you, Virgil?"
Virgil grinned
"Who else of ours is loose in Cairo?"
Virgil considered "Steward took a log, so Miss Tunstell should be able to get the details for you I’d guess about half the sooties and two greasers went off to explore Old Aggie is still flapping below, though, so on’t fall out of the sky"
"I certainly hope not"
Virgil turned to go, giving her a final tidbit over his shoulder as he o"
"Did he, indeed? And where, exactly, did he go?"
"Search me"
About an hour or so later, Rue went to visit Percy in his lair
"Coain, have you?"
"No I think you knoell enough what you’ve done"
Percy sighed "I do now Rummy business I didn’t consider it fro to stay undisclosed was a whim"
"Percy, she’s hundreds of years old Does anyone with that much experience have whi but whi But I never oncethem trivial He isn’t all brocades and pomade, you know He’s still a vampire Vampires run deep"
Percy looked at his charts "Consequence of being the son of a very young and very silly iot how the old ones operate"