"Whenever there's any need, I'm there, just there."
"And Shane, great waves like you see in pictures—great enormous waves, does she stand those?"
"Yes, great waves, like you see in pictures, she stands those. Drives through them, and over them, and under them."
"And Solomon said"—she was just thinking aloud—"that he couldn't understand the way of a ship on the sea. And he was immensely wise. Dearest ... it can't be just wood and canvas, a ship ... power and grace and beauty.... It's like great people...."
"They're as different as people are, Claire-Anne."
"Are they, Shane? I knew they weren't ... just things."
He took her below in the dusk of his cabin. She filled the space like some gracious green tree.
"And here is where I live on board ship."
The Aberdeen terrier came forward to greet her, his tail waving gently, his ears up, his brown eyes grave and warm.
"Duine uasal! Duine uasal!" she knelt to him.