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Chapter 20
The Unexpected Visitor
A mild, warm wind is quietly rustling the leaves of the trees at 05:00. It seems to carry with it a soft, white satin sheet which is cloaking the entire morning with a mild, natural scent of buds, or seeds, or immature flowers.
Lieutenant Slender is asleep in her cabin, though her dream is telling her that she’s already awake, and that she’s finding it hard to work out precisely what this half familiar smell is. It’s distant and imprecise, yet it’s tugging at her repressed childhood memories, and it’s quietly demanding an answer, as if to say “you know this smell … think harder!”
The sun rose half an hour ago. Playful flecks of light are promenading, in and out of the gaps in the roughly hewn curtains. She rolls over, running her fingertips through the soft satin sheets, though she’s beginning to suspect that what she’s actually feeling are just her simple cotton ones. A mischievous ray of light challenges her right eye. And now, she truly is awake!
Scanning the wavelengths to see who else is awake, she can detect only one solitary signal.
Below decks somebody is treating themselves to a favourite breakfast. By all accounts they are treating themselves to a little too much of it, according to this broken transmission!
« Sugar. How much sugar … without anybody … more … wouldn’t it be nicer if I could have used some milk … »
The elusive scent is real enough. That much wasn’t a dream. Though the silky satin sheets were!
Reaching for the water jug on the vanity unit, it looks as if the batman has not yet been in. Slender’s simple ceramic mug has a trace of residue in the bottom. Too late to stop now, she’s already started pouring some water into last night’s mug! But the water smells good though. Or is that the soap?
« Honey … »
« … now that would be lovely … »
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