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Professor Jacobs lay on his cot.
His body ached every time the ship shook and moved. He did begin to wonder if he was drugged, maybe even poisoned. Della sat cross-legged on the bunk next to him. She closed her eyes and seemed to be meditating.
Jacobs wanted to talk to Erlick, but he was exhausted. His mind was fuzzy and he couldn't keep a clear thought in his head. The aspirin he took wasn’t working.
Shaking his head, he closed his eyes. The droning noise of the engines soon lulled him to sleep. His mind wondered about Rose, and whether she was now happily married. It has been a long time since he’d thought about her.
He heard the engines of the ship start to taper off, now almost like a whispering noise. He opened his eyes as the door to their room slowly opened.
"Hello Professor," said a sailor, poking his head around the opening. He had a large nose and red hair.
"Yes," Jacobs said.
"Dinner is being prepared in the Captain’s quarters. Are you hungry, sir?"
"Yes, give me a few minutes. Thanks.” The sailor nodded, then closed the door behind him. “Della, are you hungry?"
Her eyes opened and didn't notice him at first. After a moment, she said, "Yes, but I don't trust him."
Jacobs was about to inform her a sailor was waiting for them in the hallway, but she stood and walked to the front. "But I am ready to dine. I hope you do not get sick again."
He followed her to the doorway. The sailor grinned as they came up to him. His nose twitched a little. "Follow me this way, and watch your step."
They strode through several corridors, moving down into the ship. Jacobs was confused, and couldn't tell which way they were going. "Are we almost there?"
"Yes." They stopped at a metal door with a large round handle. The sailor took hold of the handle and turned it.
The room he saw once the door swung open made him forget he was even on a ship. He walked inside. The interior was cavernous. The ceiling was as high as the teaching halls of his university where he taught hundreds of students. A large oak table sat in the middle of the room. Captain Jostler sat at the front of the table and Erlick was next to him. They were already eating.
Captain Jostler stood. "So, how do you like my dining room? Impressive?"
"Yes," he said, "it is impressive."
"Please, come and sit."
He walked the length of the table and sat across from Erlick and next to the Captain. In the front of the room were two large windows, showing a forested area. They were moored close to the ground, which relieved the professor.
Captain Jacobs addressed them. "We're camped at an area called the Everglades. Your history books would have called it Florida."
Professor Jacobs nodded. "Yes. That’s correct. I thought these were wild lands with giant creatures roaming about."
"It is safe here. Our sensors would have picked something up if there were any danger."
The windows were lashed with rain. Lightning flashed and thunder cracked. Della's eyes shot wide open.
Professor Jacobs noticed Della’s concern. "Della, you probably haven't heard thunder before."
"No. It sounds like a battle."
Captain Jacobs said, "Sorry, I like the sounds of nature. I can stop the noise."
Della looked embarrassed. Professor Jacobs could tell, and was about to say something, when Della said, "No, I just didn't know where the sound was coming from."
Captain Jostler smiled. Professor Jacobs had to look away. The Captain reminded him of a monster Grog with razor sharp teeth snarling at him.
"Let's eat," said Captain Jostler.
A group of sailors emerged from the doorways in the side walls. They carried all types of food, from fresh loaves of bread, broiled chickens, steaks, and heaps of different salads. The smells of spices and food punctuated the air, and the professor salivated with hunger.
They placed the food in front of them, and the professor was about to grab a piece of chicken but stopped himself. "Della, do you want to know what we’re eating?"
"You don't have to tell me," she said, "Erlick explained the different types of foods."
"Yes, professor, I gave Della a lesson about our foods," Erlick said.
Professor Jacobs felt foolish and embarrassed. He grabbed a chicken leg and some vegetables.
"So," Captain Jostler said, "how will you find the Alphas?"
The question was innocent enough, but the Professor felt something was amiss.
"Don't worry. I will give you directions when we’re closer."
"Okayay," Captain Jostler said, "but my Mage senses a strong artifact is on board my ship. And I was not asked permission for this powerful artifact to be brought on my vessel."
Erlick held up his hand. "Captain, I have paid you handsomely, and I can ensure you the artifact is safe, and actually a protector for your ship."
"You should have told me. So, is there anything else you want to tell me," the Captain asked.
"You know why we are here. That should be sufficient."
"You’ve got to understand my skepticism. Others have come with me before, yet they didn't find anything."
Professor Jacobs understood what Captain Jostler wanted. He wanted to look at the artifact, maybe even hold it.
Erlick looked at him and then at the Captain. "We have paid you more than enough. If you don't think we have confidence in your ship and your men to carry out this mission, then we will find another ship."
"No, I was just making observations. Please eat."
Della said, "Captain, can you please tell us your plans?"
Her voice was sweet and high, and dispelled the friction growing in the room. Lightning pealed outside and illuminated the room even more. Thunder sounded again, this time louder and closer. Della didn't recoil or even flinch like he had before.
"The storm raging outside also stretches into the Triangle,” explained the Captain. “We'll have to wait for a little while."
"But you have somebody on board that could navigate the magical storms," Della said.
The thunder boomed outside again.
"Aye," Captain Jostler said. "So you know about Janelle. She is my Mage, and we can travel through the storms under her guidance. I hope, Professor, you can lead us to the Alphas. We will leave tomorrow morning."
It was late afternoon, and the Professor agreed it was prudent to leave at first light.
