XIII. Jemgum
Some eight hours later, the Fearless Explorer touched down at the Republican Navy base on Jemgum.
Misha had stayed on the bridge throughout the approach and landing, always sticking close to Mayhew. The bridge crew had gotten used to him by now and even began treating the boy as a sort of mascot. Lieutenant Farahani had donated even more of her secret chocolate stash — that woman really had a sweet tooth — and Ensign Hoogeveen added some liquorice drops and spicy rice crackers from his own personal stash. It was certainly an odd combination, but who was Mayhew to judge?
Misha always said what Mayhew had learned by now meant “thank you” in his language, whenever someone gave him something to eat. But otherwise, he was still shy and didn’t talk much in either language. At tim
