"Come on," Captain Brown said, "I'll show you my ship."
So Daphne followed the captain, who had a booming voice and thunderous laugh and made her feel like everything was going to be alright, down the port, down the wooden docks, and onto a ship. It gleamed in the sunlight.
Wait, sunlight? Daphne looked up and realized that the sun was rising. But it had just set a few hours ago!
She told Captain Brown this and he gave one of his reassuring laughs. "Time is weird in the Storylands. It doesn't follow a set pattern. Sometimes the night will stretch for days, maybe weeks. Other times, the night will slip past in moments."
"So when do you go to sleep?" Daphne asked.
"Whenever we want to," Captain Brown said. "Now, let's get on board my ship, shall we?" Together, they walked up the wooden plank onto the ship. Daphne, who had never been on a ship before, was a little bit uneasy at first, but soon got use to the ship's slight rocking motion.
"This here is the best ship in Allusion Oceans," Captain Brown said. "And do you know I call her?"
Daphne, silent in amazement, simply shook her head.
"The Hangman's Holiday," Captain Brown said. "On account of how lucky she is. Because the best time to do a crime is during a hangman's holiday." He smiled. "Now, let's see if we can push off, shall we?" He turned. "Lads! It's time!"
There was a rush of movement and Daphne watched as dozens of men and women moved around the ship, setting things in motion, tying things down, and generally getting the ship ready to sail. And as Captain Brown walked between his crew, he tossed out names, introducing Daphne to the crew, as if this kind of thing happened every day.
"This here's Haulaway Joe," he said, pointing at one musclebound lad. "Paddy Doyle's over there. And here's the Three Johnnies: Hanging Johnny, Whiskey Johnny, and Johnny Bowker. And where's my first mate? Where's Long Jenny?"
"Over here, Cap'n," an annoyed voice said and Daphne turned. And there was a woman in a blue overcoat with a bright, colorful hat.
"Daphne," Captain Brown said, "this is First Mate Stormalong Jenny. Though we just call her Long Jenny, sometimes, when she ain't listening."
"Which I always am," Jenny said. "We got a destination, Cap'n? Or are we just headed out into the lonely seas?"
"Nope," Captain Brown said, "we're heading for the King of Trees' domain."
"The Land of Black Trees?" Jenny asked. "That's a dangerous area, especially for a young girl.
"She needs to get to Home Again and the King of Trees can get her there," Captain Brown said. "Now, less questioning and more pushing off. Let's go!"
Daphne was quiet still as the other sailors finally pushed off the ship from the port and they started sailing. The boat creaked and Daphne felt that she might be seasick, but Jenny came over and grabbed her hand and she felt better.
As she looked out at the sea, Jenny spoke to her. "The Land of Black Trees is a dangerous place," she said, "and the King of Trees is not someone you want to be indebted to."
"Then how am I supposed to get home again?" Daphne asked.
"I don't know," Jenny said. "I was Doordropped a long while ago and I remember how long it took before I gave up trying to get to Home Again. Eventually, I realized it wasn't worth the price. So I joined up with Cap'n Brown and made the best of it."
Daphne looked around and realized that she had been enjoying herself on the Hangman's Holiday, but that she still missed her own home and her own life. "I'm sorry," she said, "I need to get home again."
"Aye then," Jenny said. "I'll help you, we all will. Just be careful. Sometimes Home Again isn't a very good place to be."
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