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“I’m sure things are fine,” Billy said, arms folded over his chest.
Cait leafed through the Travelers’ papers. Everything had been right, or at least looked right, but she checked again. She sat at her desk, reading each line, down to the way they were printed on the page.
“Things do not feel fine,” Cait said. She checked again. “There is something… off.”
Billy scrubbed his face with his hands. “What? What’s off? Neither one has a criminal record, or marks that are too bad on their transcripts. They’re normal, Cait.”
Cait set the papers down on the desk and, head in hands, said, “you must think I’m daft.”
Billy leaned up to Cait and patted her back. “Oh, Cait, we weren’t going to say anything, but yes. As crazy as a krakken fisher. We’ve arranged for you to be picked up in Coupland and taken to their mental facilities.”
“Oh, hush.” Cait pushed him away, but couldn’t hide her smile.
“There it is,” Billy said, leaning back against the wall. “We’ve officially exited the familial bubble of anger and pain. We are now in non-Molyneux waters. I’ll alert the crew.”
“It’s all Molyneux waters, Billy. ‘The sun never sets on the influence of the Molyneux’.”
Billy leaned his head back, looking up at the ceiling. “Someday we’ll be all wistful and teary-eyed for the days when the Molynuex only dreamed of taking over the world.”
Cait snorted. “So what brings you up here, Billy?”
“It’s important I see how the captain is feeling.”
“I am fine, thank you.” Cait picked up the Travelers’ papers again.
“Preoccupations aside?”
“I am not preoccupied. And you, Billy, are a general physician, not a psychologist.”
Billy folded his arms again. “Xiphos didn’t do as well as you did last night.”
Cait looked up at Billy. “That girl.”
“It only happens on Molyneux Island. There’s something about that place that brings out the worst in a lot of us.”
“They’re called ‘Molyneux’, Billy.”
Billy rolled his eyes. “I’m worried, Cait. I don’t want this to become a habit for her.”
“Billy, you are the doctor. Say so, I am sure she will listen.”
“She likes you.”
“She practically lives in your infirmary, Billy. You two are a team.”
“Cait,” Billy said. “She trusts you. She adores you. If you say, she’ll listen. Don’t forget who told us about Logan.”
Cait froze, her hands hovering just above her desk. Her eyes flicked across the papers, and then she sat back, the weight of history slipping off her shoulders. “Right you are. I will talk with her before her shift starts, then.”
Billy patted her shoulder. “That’s what I wanted.”
“Am I slipping, Billy? Should I have noticed that?”
Billy shrugged. He picked up Cait’s teapot, shook it, and put it down when he discovered no tea inside. “Do we know how the boy’s doing?”
Cait took a moment to skim over Tami’s record sheet. “He seems alright. He is still closed off, which… I would fully expect in his situation. Nina has seemed to take an interest in his well-being.” Cait reached out to the intercom on the wall. “Speaking of which…” She said into the receiver, “Nina, I need you on the bridge, please.”
Billy raised an eyebrow. “I think Nina and Xiphos are having a very long talk.”
“Good. That needed to happen.”
“I suppose. But what about Tobias?”
“He is going to run again,” Cait offered. “He has a passport now.”
“So that went through? Cait, why do you keep giving him the opportunity?”
“Because,” Cait said, “if we want him to trust us, he needs to see we trust him. Also, how would you like an assistant in the kitchen?”
Billy shrugged again. “Oh sure.”
Cait set aside the Travelers’ papers. “Good. I will assign him as soon as he gets back from his excursion in Coupland.”
Billy stretched and opened the office door. “I’ve got other work I need to get done.”
“As do I.”
Billy started into the bridge. He stopped, turning back to Cait, resting his hand on the office door frame. “Cait… I can’t always be here to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.”
“I’ll be fine, Billy.”
Billy nodded, but his expression didn’t change. He sighed, and started back to the infirmary.
Outside, on the bridge, Tre manned the helm. Cait approached slowly, placing her hand on Tre’s shoulder, watching the displays around him. A headline flashed on the Relay screen: a Burian Lake attack, again in the South Ocean. This one seemed a little more authentic, and Tre pointed to it.
“I see,” Cait said. “That is serious. Has it been confirmed?”
Tre shook his head.
“It is a big ocean, dear.”
Tre sighed hard out his nose. Cait patted his shoulder.
“How is she sailing?”
The lion pointed to one of the displays, and a chart of fuel usage.
“We are running more efficiently than normal? Is that your doing?”
A nod.
“Well done, Tre!”
Tre tried to hide his smile. He turned away from Cait.
Cait leaned closer, dropping her voice. “What do you think of our Travelers?”
Tre’s ears dropped. He narrowed his eyes.
“Yes,” Cait said. “I agree. I want you to keep an eye on them.”
Another nod.
“Good. You know where to find me, dear.”
Cait turned back to the portal down to the guest quarters. Nina stood waiting, hands behind her back, her ears stuck up alert, head tilted a little. She watched Cait, the gears in her head clearly turning. “Aunt Cait?”
“Hello, Nina.” Cait said, stifling a small jump, willing it back into her spine. She stood up straight. “Have you and Xiphos straightened everything out?”
Nina sighed and nodded. “I think so. I think I’ve talked her in to being at least professional to Toby, if not nice. That’s better than nothing, right?”
“I think it is very commendable, dear.” Cait motioned for Nina to follow her in to her office. “I have a job for you.”
“Is it about the Travelers? Is everything alright?” Nina hung back at the door, just like Billy had, hands still behind her back. She slumped just a little, betraying her emotional fatigue, and stared ahead, bewildered and concerned.
“Just helm business, dear. It is none of your concern.”
Nina nodded. She let her hands down to her side.
“When we get to Coupland, after our guests have dispersed, I need you to meet someone…”
