Nothing. Back in her cabin, Fina shook the Makhno volume, willing it to give up its secrets. No slips of paper fluttered to the ground. No discreetly pasted-together pages, no secret folders, and no tellingly underlined words or notes in the volume. Selkies and kelpies. It must mean something, she thought. Why else would a steward give an unknown guest an anarchist book?
Perhaps he was their contact? It seemed too easy, she thought as she threw the book on the bed in frustration.
The sugar of the banana and caffeine of the iced tea fuelled a sudden burst of energy. She busied herself with the neglected task of unpacking – a pleasure in life she had in common with Ruby. Perhaps that was one of the reasons they were good friends. She pulled out a flowery chiffon frock with flutter sleeves and draped it over the bed. It was her one small – well, rather large, really – splurge she had made for this trip. It wasn’t her style, but she had decided it was a good time to branch out a bit.
As she stepped into the bathroom to arrange her toiletries, she heard a key turn in the lock.
Ruby stumbled into the room. The performance was reminiscent of a drunken sailor, though Fina had never witnessed this clichéd spectacle herself.
Fina rushed over and steadied her friend. “Here, come sit down on your bed.” She peered more closely at her friend. Beads of sweat lined her forehead. Ruby never sweated – at least not visibly. That was Fina’s department.
“What is the matter?”
Ruby collapsed back on the bed, clutching her stomach. “I am so queasy and feverish. Do you think I’m ill?
“Do you feel weak?” asked Fina.
“No.”
“I wouldn’t wonder if it were a combination of the heat and seasickness.”
“Perhaps,” said Ruby, rather grudgingly. “But maybe it’s just something I ate?”
“Here,” said Fina, going to the pitcher on the bedside table to fill a glass of water. “Drink this. I think I have some pills that might help, but they’re not designed for seasickness, exactly.”
As she rummaged in her sponge bag, Fina recounted her adventures thus far. Ruby swallowed the pills with great effort and then collapsed again on the bed. “I feel awful, Feens, but we can still talk. What you say about Neville is definitely intriguing. Hmm. He definitely seems to have piqued your curiosity,” she said, giving Fina a half-hearted wink, though it was a wink nonetheless. “I wish I could read that Makhno book myself, but I do think it will only make me more ill right now.”
“Of course,” said Fina. “You should rest.” She lay back on the bed, and then sat up with a jerk. “I forgot to mention that I saw Dolores Dominguez!”
After Fina recounted the conversation she had overheard, Ruby grew so excited that she lifted herself up on her elbows. “Gustave and I met her and she asked to see some of my sketches. It is a great opportunity for me. I really admire her so much, especially because she ‘made it big’ as the Americans say – in Hollywood. Can you imagine if she wore some of my designs in a film?”
Despite her obvious and somewhat uncharacteristic gushing enthusiasm, Ruby’s elbows gave way and she sank back into the sheets. Fina gave Ruby a wan smile of knowing appreciation.
Ominous gurgling noises could be heard coming from Fina’s stomach, despite her snack. She peered at the clock on the opposite wall. 4:50. “Drinks are at 5:30. Perhaps you should rest here. I’ll go and report back to you about what I learn.”
“I, ah, oh yes, I suppose you’re right,” said Ruby with great effort. Patting her friend on the hand, Fina gathered her chiffon dress, sponge bag and handbag and whisked into the bathroom. Leaving the door open ajar, she said rather loudly, “Shall we continue to talk while I dress?”
“Yes, though there’s no need to shout, dear one. My illness hasn’t stolen my hearing.”
Touchy, thought Fina. Must be that she’s not feeling well.
“Sorry. So what else did you learn on your adventure this afternoon,” Fina said, slipping off her day dress and sliding into the chiffon.
“I forgot to tell you one thing. It’s not really important to our mission – but I did want to alert you about some rather unpleasant fellow passengers. What were their names? One was rather tall in tweed and the other was shorter – but still quite tall – in silk. Not only were they rude, but the tall one made some comment about my colour that I’d rather not repeat.”
“I wonder if that’s the same pair that nearly knocked me overboard with their suitcase? Wait.” Fina withdrew the passenger manifest from her handbag. “The only two women travelling together are Miss Emeline Caulk and Mrs Patricia Burbage.”
“That’s it!” yelled Ruby, though she was so weak it sounded more like a protesting whimper. “The one in the tweed referred to the other one as Patricia. Patricia also seems to have a wandering eye, dear one, so watch yourself. I already noticed the way she looked at me.”
“Don’t worry,” giggled Fina, her lipstick application now resembling a circus clown’s lips. “She’s not my type. Too serious.”
“Ta-da!” she continued, sweeping out of the bathroom. “What do you think?”
“Fabulous Fina, as always,” said Ruby with a weak smile.
Sighing with pleasure, Fina sat on the edge of the bed. “Now, what shall I do at drinks? Look for someone in particular? Some furtive sign? Should I give a sign?”
“Well, other than keeping an eye on Ian and…”
Fina shook her head in disapprobation.
“I know, I know what you said about him,” Ruby responded. “Just don’t get too cosy with him, especially if there’s drinks. I’m worried that you might spill the so-called beans.”
“What? Me?” said Fina, sticking out her lower lip.
“You know this isn’t about you, Feens. I didn’t mean to say anything about you, personally – it’s just the situation. It could happen easily to anyone, especially if they don’t have a friend there to pull them away at the right moment.”
“I suppose you’re right. You were about to say something else, though – about keeping an eye on…”
“Ah, sorry. I’m having trouble focusing. Just be your charming self and gather juicy details about our companions.”
A slithering noise came from underneath the cabin door.
Fina rose. Perhaps someone was preparing to knock. Instead, she saw a small envelope, addressed to Ruby, had been slid under the door.
“It’s a letter for you,” she reported, handing the missive to Ruby.
“Ugh,” groaned Ruby, pushing it away and turning on her side. “Just the thought of reading it turns my stomach. Would you read it?”
“It says: ‘Dearest Ruby, Please meet me in the reading room at midnight. Yours ever, Ian.’
Ooh! A lovers’ tryst!”
“Hardly. I think he feels guilty about sneaking up on us like this. I’m afraid you’ll have to tell him I am ill – which is true. And now, dear one, I have to sleep,” said Ruby, pulling the covers over her head.
The familiar butterfly of social anxiety began to flutter in her stomach. Determined to ignore it, Fina placed her clutch firmly underneath her arm and marched out to meet her destiny – or at least to find a fine beverage to calm her jangled nerves.