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Celestia's Prize was still there ht of her clean lines, as the sun began to shine off her white painted surfaces I parked the jeep and grabbing the bag I headed down to the wharf and juhy that was tied off to a post I cast off the line and fired up the little eggbeater and headed out across the still waters of the harbor

It was a beautifulof re back to the way things used to be That bridge had been burned

Ortega's head popped over the railing as the dinghy grew close to the ship and a line was thron I shut the dinghy's hy in close to the side of the ship and tied it off We'd have to haul it up before we left port, but I would let the creorry about that

I cli not holding a was the only one on board, as he never left the ship, while ere in American held territory

I'd never asked the El Salvadorian as to why that was and I didn't intend to now It was enough that he was faithful to me and that I had someone I could trust to watch over the Celestia's Prize while I ay

He greeted lish, "Your trip a success yes?"

I s hands His eyes lit up appreciatively with the feel of the weight of the pack

"You have brought so iron, but it is soa said enthusiastically

Pig iron?

I gazed at Ortega as his unwitting words jarred a htly oxidized ave e look and I patted him on the back and reclaimed the pack, as I stepped past him briskly headed for my quarters aboard ship

"Call everyone in We leave port in two days" I called out overthat I didn't hear as I made my way below When I reached my cabin I stripped off my filthy clothes stained with snake dust and jumped into the shower

I was tired and the hot water made me even more so Once done with the shower I left it to tumble into my narrow bed to be overcome by sleep