I Should Have Been Told

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 6th July 2008

Characters: Menore, Mehan
Description: Menore discovers a problem has been found with the Moonflower and that she wasn't told.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 23 of Turn 4

"Mehan!" Menore's voice was sharper than she intended it to be, but she was annoyed - very annoyed. Her eyes darted around until they fell upon the object of her desire and she moved over to him. "You'd better come see this."

"If 'this' is the corrosion in the port hull beam, then they showed me this morning." Even though he was sure that was what she wanted to show him he got up from the desk the shipyard had designated as his -
theirs - and walked over to where the Moonflower's owner waited.

"What?" Menore stared at Mehan for a moment before asking, annoyance rippling through her voice. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would have, when they decided how bad it was," he said. "How did you find out?"

"I was inspecting the progress." Menore crossed her arms over her chest.
"I should have been told immediately."

"You weren't here," he pointed out, realising as he did so that they would probably never get her to leave the dry dock now. He cleared his throat. "I would have reported to you this evening." The tavern they had found accommodation in served an evening meal and they had agreed to make that their meeting time.

"Corrosion! Corrosion, Mehan! On my Moonflower!" Menore moved over to the desk and leaned against it, throwing her hands up in the air.

"Metal, water ... It was bound to happen and this is why our boats have overhauls." Some families were fool enough not to have regular overhauls and then there would be a stranding or and bump against a wharf and something that was supposed to be sturdy would break. Mehan never wanted anything as catastrophic to happen to any riverboat he was serving on.

"I know." Menore crossed her arms again. "It's just. I don't know.
I know it's impossible, but I just feel like it shouldn't have happened.
Did they say if this is going to make the overhaul take longer?"

"They didn't say and it's probably too early for them to tell. They do have another beam on hand, though, which is a blessing."

"That's something, at least." Menore reached up and rubbed her eyes, as if weary. "I guess you're going to tell me to leave it alone and let them do their job."

Mehan's expression hardly altered though his eyes betrayed his amusement. "Would it do any good if I did?"

"Maybe." Menore turned away from him, and when she looked back, there was a small smile upon her lips. "Maybe I'll take your advice, for once."

Sometimes, when she smiled, Mehan caught a glimpse of her sister - his late wife. If Dimaya had lived - But she hadn't. And here he was, stuck ashore with the prickly Menore for four months. With an eye to making the most of her conciliatory words he smiled back. "That'd be twice then."

"Imagine that." Menore lifted her chin, peering at Mehan through half closed eyes. After a moment she straightened up and grasped his hand, then turned and began tugging him along. "Come on."

"Come on? Where are we going?" Mehan asked, finding himself already on his feet, despite the question.

"I'm going to take your advice and get out of their hair." Menore stated, not letting go of Mehan's hand. "And you're going to keep me company."

"Am I?" There was no point in disputing it - he was being pulled along in her wake. "I guess I am."

"Yes, you are." Menore left no room for argument, "So pick up your feet, you're dragging me down."

"I'm - Oh, surely not?" Mehan said, finding himself smiling. "You're just going to walk out of here and leave these craftsmen to get on with their work?"

"Yes, I am. And you're coming with me to keep me from going insane and trying to go back. You said if I just let them do their work, things would go faster, right?" Menore looked back, revealing a smirk. "I'm trying to listen to my Captain for once. Just don't let it go to your head."

"Too surprised to allow that," he muttered in complete honesty. This friendly, teasing Menore was a very different creature to the owner and headwoman he usually tussled with on a daily basis. Still, he could make an effort and meet her half way. "They're refurbishing the landing stage, too, and suggested I might to look around to see if I can find of the fittings and fixtures they want to replace any cheaper down along the waterfront. How about we do that?"

"Even better." The young woman seemed to perk up at the suggestion.
"That means we can do something to help, even if we aren't there."

Mehan smiled. "I thought it would appeal."

Last updated on the July 9th 2008

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I Should Have Been Told