They were taking so long that she thought she would make a cup of tea for everyone. She thumped on the hatch that led to the galley up to the rear of the ship. Paul opened it, “I thought you were going for a bit of a nap?”
As she handed him a cup of tea she replied, “A nap, not me, I’m not a woman with a lily livered constitution. I’m made of sterner stuff.”
He gave her a look as though he didn’t really believe her, “Well thanks for the tea,” then he slurped a little of it.
Simpkins was chatting to Arthur again when she came in to give them their tea.
“Thanks love,” said Arthur as he grabbed the handle of the large teacup.
Simpkins smiled at her. She smiled back.
“Just a couple more minutes, then we’ll pop our noses out.” Said Arthur as he wiped his lips with his left hand.
An idea came to her mind, “We could use Lukin to have a look outside of the cloud to see if they’ve gone.”
“That’s a good idea,” agreed Simpkins, “but I thought you’d left him back on the New Britannia?”
A look of glee passed her face, the kind when someone has been discovered making a good-hearted practical joke. “I snuck him away from old Wagstaff. I left a bucket in his place.”
John’s eyes widened and his mouth opened a little.
She skipped back down to the crews quarters where she had stored the talking head. Lukin, the information droid she had picked up at the North Pole, was in a cupboard, in a bag. She got him out and checked his battery, “We need you to take a look outside for us.”
Lukin’s eyes glowed as he powered up from his resting state, “Of course Lizzie.”
He hovered up the steps after her. She opened one of the doors on the bridge to let him out, “Lukin, just make sure there are no pirate ships out there.”
When he turned to face the clouds, “I cannot see anything.”
She sighed, “Oh Lukin, if you fly straight ahead out of the clouds and look around to see. As long as you fly straight back then you won’t get lost. Tell us what you see beyond the clouds.”
The small robotic head complied, zoomed out of the ship and flew into the cumulus.
Lizzie looked at John then Paul and bit her lip slightly. What if they are still there? She didn’t feel too safe if she was on the rear gun now that the glass had been smashed by the shot that had entered the gunner’s position.
It was five whole minutes before Lukin returned. They had all finished their tea. Things were quite tense and they didn’t talk much. Each was concerned with thoughts of their own mortality. It was Simpkins who saw Lukin return. “He’s back at last.”
The robot head reported to Lizzie. “There are no pirates in the vicinity of the ship.”
She felt a release, “Thank you Lukin.”
Simpkins was a bit warier, “Any further afield Lukin?”
“Sorry Sir?”
“Are there any pirate ships further afield?”
“Not that I can see Sir.”
He didn’t know whether to trust the little robot head or not.
Paul, being in overall charge, ordered Arthur, “Come on then Penn, let’s be underway.”
Arthur pushed the wheel forward and took the Tawa out of the clouds.
