This is the tale of a journey that takes Luna not only to discover the world beyond Narnia's borders; she will find a purpose that goes deeper than protecting her king.
» That's why. I can't protect you the way I should... « As she looks into his ey...
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In the early afternoon Lucy and Edmund finally receive a tour of the Dawn Treader. They did see most of it already as the ship is not that big. However, now Caspian explains everything to them, and he looks proud by doing so. They start on the quarterdeck which lays in the back of the Dawn Treader, higher as the main deck in the ship's middle. The crew also calls it the poop. This is where the ship's wheel and the tiller are. As usual, Drinian stands at the wheel and keeps the Dawn Treader on track. For this duty, shifts are divided among the captain himself and the two highest ranking mates. Stairs lead up there on both sides – starboard and larboard. This deck is completed by the golden dragon's tail. Luna remembers the time Reep and she balanced out there to pass the time under Drinian's watchful eyes. The Talking Mouse has a major advantage though, in size and in keeping his balance. As they did this for the first time, Rynelf ended the mischief by calling them down. The first ship's mate takes safety very seriously and doesn't relax as easily as others. The look he cast Luna then as well as his words, she can still picture vividly.
» Don't ya fall down there, « he said and smiled crookedly,
» Didn't take ya for a mischievous one, lassie. « He was right, Luna does take her duty so very serious that there isn't much time left for such jolly things. However, with Reepicheep she tends to have her fair share of it. Especially since they spend every day in each other's company and the journey hasn't been eventful so far.
The middle deck lays lower and centres around the mast. Two hatches – one smaller than the other – lead down in the belly of the ship. On this deck, the dinghies are stored. Those are small boats which carry the crew ashore if there is no proper harbour fitted for the Dawn Treader. At the back lay the entrances to the study, the cabin Lucy and Luna share, and the salon as well as Drinian's cabin and the sick bay which is occupied by Eustace. On the other side, between the stairs up to the small front deck or forecastle, a hen coop is located. It houses nine chickens that are cared for by Anaru, the scullion, who helps the ship's cook Jaro. The galley – the ship's kitchen – is his domain at the very front of the Dawn Treader, located within the forecastle together with the quarters of the first and second ship's mate. Once, Jaro explained to Luna why the galley is sat there. As a ship sails with the wind, the smoke and smell of the kitchen's chimney would waft over the whole ship, if at the stern. The location at the bow prevents this.
After greeting the people in the galley, Caspian leads the small party to the hatches. One by one, they climb the ladders down into the ship's belly. They find themselves in a large room with an uneven floor as the rowing benches are integrated in it. The Dawn Treader is not one of those galleons which have slaves row them day and night. Actually, the oars are used scarcely, to get in and out of harbours until the sails catch enough wind and the ropes tighten, or when the wind refuses to push the ship at all. Supplies and barrels containing water, beer and wine are stored here as well. There are sacks of flour, salted pork and sides of bacon, different kinds of cheese, durable vegetables and fruits like carrots, potatoes and apples, honey jars, nuts and even biscuits. Strings of onions and garlic hang from the ceiling here and there, as well as smoked ham, bacon, and the hammocks of the men. They walk to the back where a small cabin is situated. This is where Caspian and Edmund hanged their hammocks. One bunk is available which will be Eustace's as soon as he recovers.
