"Marte!" His voice was almost pleading.
"Here I am, Johnny. Over here."
"Little imp," he said, not unkindly. "What do you mean, hiding?"
"Hiding, Johnny? I wasn't hiding.... And besides, you looked so funny and lost, standing there, calling me."
He saw her, now, sitting half in shadow, leaning against the far bulkhead.
His feet ping-pinged on the uncarpeted deck plates as he crossed to her.
"Hello," she said brightly. She threw back her head, and her eyes caught the dim light and sparkled it. "I hoped you'd come today." Smiling, she held out her hand.
He took it. "I really shouldn't have," he said.
"Oh?" She puckered her lips in mock anger and drew him down beside her. "Didn't you want to come?"
"You know I did."