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“You go on now, boy Try the Gallinule, heard a day or so back they’re short of deckhands” The oldrow of ships

“Thanks”

Silas spoke to many other people on many different boats, they all said no Several of them had said about the Gallinule, but he hadn’t come across it yet Maybe I over to travel yesterday, I could have been on my way across the sea

Two drunkeach other up in slurred conversation Silas’s first thought when he saw theement, but quickly realised they were in the saod kno many days now It made him want a drink Not a care in the world The si to find honest work He let out a long sigh A couple ht

Two more rejections, and he found it Gallinule was painted on the side of the ship in white paint, and they’d made a terrible job of it Which fit in nicely with the rest of the ship, old and falling apart, with rotten timbers and frayed ropes The sails were rolled up, but no doubt, full of holes

A led over its sides As Silas approached, he heard thethe row of ships, all better looking than the Gallinule Maybe I’ll try soe their minds

Thefit Silas took a step back

Thefor work?”

Didn’t even have to ask “Uh… yes For passage One way”

The man scratched at his beard, then stretched his ar away fro on criolden teeth

“Looking for change”

“Right you are” The man winked “You don’t look like you’ve been to sea”

“Heard that a lot today What makes you say that?”

“Your skin ain’t dark enough or rough enough”

Is that a good or a bad thing? “Well… I haven’t”