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You take back the pick and with an expertly strong swing; you knock a hole right in the deepest, darkest crack of the ship. You make sure to angle it a bit and away from the main; placing the sharp point of the whale bone up and pouring some black water over the top, drizzling it down with a handful of whale powder to fill in the gaps.
<span class="mu-b">"Seems like an awfully small amount of bone, cap'n..."</span>
<span class="mu-r">"It will suffice. Ships are alive, ain't you gal? I gave you a snack. So grow big and strong for me."</span>
<span class="mu-b">"I was just worried it might not... be enough."</span>
<span class="mu-r">"If those pirates knocked a hole in our ship with a cannonball, and we patched it with powder, just a day or two later you would've seen a bulge at that spot, a good few fingers extra space. That's just from some dust. You'll see, but a mast is no small patch job. It'll take some time."</span>
That night, the crew packs into the cargo hold. Everyone's belly is full of whale meat, they snore happily from their successful voyage, eager at the riches that await at port. The ship is too small and you too humble to have your own captain's quarters, at least just yet, and sleep among the rest of the crew. It's hot, but the smell is not bad yet- your ship is still clean and new after all, and you think the Pink Lady has a bit of that feminine <span class="mu-i">charm</span> that other ships lack in regards to its pretty color and odor. In a weird way, it seems like it was perfect built for a man concerned with luxury and status, as the <span class="mu-i">richest</span> Captain would be. But you don't want to get ahead of yourself...
You wake up in the dead of night, hearing the soft swaying of your goods, the drip of water, and splash of waves, to hear a creaking noise. It's from all around you. It's an uncomfortable feeling. You clutch your hammock to avoid falling off at the fright of it, like you're in the belly of a whale. You have a half-awake half-dream thought of that anglerfish coming back and finishing the job, but no, nothing more comes. Just more of that noise. You can feel it around you, the ship is groaning. It's so familiar to you. You spent many nights as a boy just like this, swinging on a hammock, feeling your body shift and change uncontrollably with your growth spurt; more then most boys given your good diet. The ship is undergoing the same thing. You hear the creak louder behind you, turning your head just enough to see the other sailors sleeping soundly.
Can nobody else hear it? Only you? Only the <span class="mu-i">Captain</span>?
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