“What does it look like to you?” asked Hodges.
“Just bad weather, I guess. We’re in the open now, I see.”
“Yes, we left the island a little after four. We’ll be near Ilak around seven tonight.”
“I wonder which is best in a storm: to be near shore or out like this?”
Hodges shrugged, “Hard to tell. I like the idea of being near land. You don’t suppose we’re going to have one of those big storms, do you?”
“Heaven forbid!” said the Chaplain from his seat on the bench.
“Well, if it is one I have every confidence in the Master of the ship,” said Major Barkison, upholding vested authority from force of habit. The idea of a storm did not appeal to him.
“I think we should go see Evans,” said Hodges.
The Major considered a moment. “Might not be a bad idea. We should have some idea of what he plans to do. We might even go back to the Big Harbor.”
“Let’s go up, sir.”