"Why does she stay on that raft?"
Elizabeth sighed sadly, "There is a man that resides on this very platform village. He has not left his room in twenty-five years. He is scared to the point of death to even attempt leaving his room. Keturah is the same way. She walks the nets of her boat. She'll ride Dimbo and swim in the water, but she won't step foot on dry land or the relative stableness of this village platform. It's very sad how she spends her life at sea alone. Some have said things about her being……"
"Crazy." I filled in for her and Elizabeth nodded sadly before commenting, "There's nothing crazy about her other than she can be a bit impulsive at times. The bad thing is that I think she's starting to listen to what's being said by the small minded among us. I've done what I can to stop the talk, but the rumor continues on. She is a very sweet and passionate young woman. She would make any man a worthy wife, but of course such a man would have to have a penchant for spending most of his time at sea and have a tolerating patience from time to time."
Elizabeth was looking at me and the message of her words was resoundingly clear as to who she thought that man was. I turned away to go.
"She likes fruit. Doesn't matter what kind it is she loves it." Elizabeth called out softly.
I started to move forward again, but stopped as a sudden commotion erupted within the village. I made my way through the crowd to see what had caused the stir.
Another boat was coming in and was just now docking up as we had earlier in the day. The boat had an exotic passenger to these parts on it.
Christina took off screaming for the boat, "Serena! Serena!"
Christina practically knocked a laughing Serena off of her feet when she slammed into her with exuberance. The two hugged and cried and laughed all at the same time it seemed.
Flynn came to a stop beside me and glancing at him I thought his eyes unusually moist.
He quickly blinked rapidly before saying, "Looks like we got the crew back together Captain."
"Looks that way." I said affirming his positive statement, but my attention was elsewhere. I was looking at Big Jim standing off a ways with Matt.
The big man was twisting his hands together as his facial muscles twitched repeatedly in a nod to a private war going on inside of him. I made my way through the crowd and grasped him by the shoulders.