The meal was breaking up, now. The dishes were put into the recycling slot in the wall. Bred and Nezla had already disappeared, undoubtedly down into Sector V. Tyla announced she would be in the Theater if needed, and Captain Kirre said it was her turn again to stand watch. Vini was helping Sora back to Sick Bay.
“Please excuse me,” Dru said. “It is now time for me to retire and sing my Songs for the day.” She stood up and left the Dining Room.
This left Johnathan by himself, and emphasized exactly how alone he felt on this big ship. He had been accepted by everyone aboard, except Mistress deVrie, as an equal—but there was an enormous gulf between being an equal and being a friend. There was still an awkwardness when he spoke to them, a thin veil between himself and the rest. So far, onl
