Chapter 45: Limping to Port Part 2

"I love you, Pentam, but don't get in the way when I have a job to do." Cal pushed herself to her feet and headed down to the engine room. She brushed tears from her eyes, then pushed away all thought but getting the Peregrine back to Finches Harbour
***
They limped into port at one quarter power with the shaft hammering the engine room. Listening to the engine struggle brought tears to Cal's eyes. The machine had struggled mightily to get them here, but it wasn't going any further. The signal from the bridge came to shut down the engine. Cal cut the steam and killed the fire. Whatever they did to this ship, the engine room would need to be completely refitted.
Cal headed upstairs. She watched at the rail while two of the boats rowed the Peregrine to the dock. She didn't leave her spot until the ropes were secured and the gangplank down. While the team left the ship, headed for the hotel, Cal went to check on her father and Monky.
"Hear ye're a proper engineer now, Cal." Monky sat up in his bed.
"There's so much you never showed me." Cal sat beside him.
"It'll come, som'un 'll teach you."
"Thanks, Monky." She patted his hand and stepped over to her father's bed.
"This blasted leg itches."
"So you've told me. Dr. Franklyn said he'd arrange for you to be transferred to the hotel. It will be a bit more comfortable there."
"Thank you, dear. How's Pentam?"
"He's trying, but he's determined to get between me and what I have to do." Cal had stopped shedding tears over it as the engine consumed her attention.
"How are you?"
"More scared about how I'm going to tell him. I still love him; I don't think I could live with him."
Her father squeezed her hand.
"Better go get changed and head up to the hotel. I'll be fine for now."
"I will see you there."
Cal went to her berth. For a moment, she considered going and fetching the gown, but that felt like lying to Pentam. Instead she put on her clean dress and put her satchel over her shoulder. Time to face the inevitable.
Surely if she could face the sea serpent, she could talk to Pentam.
***
Pentam walked into the hotel and headed straight to his room. He ordered a bath, then chose his clothes when his luggage arrived. After an hour of scrubbing, Pentam climbed out of the bath and dressed in the finest clothes he'd brought with him. They'd be here a while, and he didn't want to look less than a gentleman. The hotel was almost full so the team had to share rooms. Sir Shillingsworth would join Pentam as soon as they got him transferred.
He strolled down to the lounge and sat at a table with Dr. Franklyn and Prof. Orthin.
"So now what?" Pentam waved down a waiter and ordered a glass of wine. "I can't imagine the Peregrine can be fixed any time soon. Do we wait here for months?"
"There is another ship in port, a luxury ship. If they have space, we could return on it, commission a ship to come and collect the research and specimens from the Peregrine. Everything will be in the city in a couple of months. It will take months after that to catalog, analyze and write a report on our findings." Prof. Orthin swirled his glass and sighed. "There are worse places to be stuck than here."
Dr. Franklyn shook his head.
"Tempting, but I do have responsibilities in the city. I for one, will be talking to the Captain of the Demeter about booking passage home."
Lahdin slid into a seat across from Pentam.
"I think I will remain a while, maybe return on the ship which brings parts for the Peregrine. This island must be a treasure trove of insect life. I'll let Dan decide for himself, but I'm hoping he will stay with me."
They ordered a meal and talked about the trip and what they might present when they reached home.
Pentam watched for Cal to arrive. A woman walked in, dressed in a fine gown; for a moment he thought it was Cal, but her blonde hair cascaded down her back in artfully curled waves. She walked in a way which informed all watching that she'd grown up with such finery.
A table of older people welcomed her.
"Miss Crysabel Dimant, daughter of a Baron who, according to her, has his estate too far from anything interesting. Meaning I think, fashion and men." Cal sat beside Pentam. She had the strangest smile on her face.
"How on earth do you know all that?" Dr. Franklyn turned to look across at the young woman.
"Señor Calamphi was very apologetic, but there are simply no suitable rooms left. Miss Dimant was kind enough to allow me to share hers."
"How is Sir Shillingsworth?" Pentam put the girl out of his mind and turned to Cal.
"Cranky." Cal grinned broadly. "The hotel has called in a surgeon who admitted the leg was set tolerably well under the circumstances. It's too late to do anything about it now. He's to start putting a little weight on it tomorrow, so I expect you'll see him dashing about the hotel."
"Did you bring your gown to the hotel?" Pentam put his hand on hers. "I would love to see you in it again."
"I'll be meeting with the engineer from the other ship all day tomorrow to do an assessment of the damage. Captain Cully would like to send a list of the parts we need back with this ship."