Not Exactly Legal

Writers: AL, Devin
Date Posted: 30th July 2008

Characters: Jerroll, Edele
Description: Jerroll reveals some practises of the ship's to Edele
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 1 of Turn 4

They were a few days out to sea, and there was every indication Edele
intended to stay with them long term. The crew was falling in love
with her, after all food was the fastest way to a man's heart. So he
would have to bring up the subject, the sooner the better. Edele had
to know that some of the things the Silver Sails did were not exactly
legal. Better that he tell her than she find out by accident.

Jerroll opened the door to the galley and was greeted by the delicious
smells of their new cook preparing a meal.

Edele looked up and smiled to Jerroll, but her attention upon him was
soon taken up by the skillet that sizzled under her ministrations.
"Hello, what can I do for you?" She asked, reaching to give a pot
behind the skillet a bit of a shake.

How could he word this carefully? "Edele, do you think the current
attitude toward women in the South is fair?"

"Fair?" Edele looked up from her food to level her gaze at Jerroll.
Did they really want to get into a discussion about politics? An odd
entry into a conversation as well. The woman pondered the question a
moment, turning back to her food as she did so. After a moment, she
shook her head. "No. No I don't." It wasn't fair at all.

"Then I hope you won't be upset when I tell you we sometimes take
girls, even women, to the Weyr." This subject wasn't so hard, but
illegal transport and outright theft were considerably less noble.

Edele raised an eyebrow at Jerroll's words. "I'm assuming these girls
and women make the choice to go to the weyr."

He chuckled lightly, realizing how that might have sounded. "Yes."

"Then I don't see why I would be upset."

"Good, good." He leaned against the wall. "We also transport other
things that we technically shouldn't."

"Oh?" Edele's eyebrow was cocked once more as she gave Jerroll a
sidelong glance. "Such as?"

"A few undocumented goods, here and there."

"What sort of goods?" Edele wasn't sure if she wanted to know, but
Jerroll was the one who had brought it up in the first place.

Jerroll shrugged. "A bit of everything. Wines and liquors were common
earlier in the turn with the Vintner Hall being affected by the
earthquake. Jewlery is popular now with Turn's End coming up." It was
best to be honest and upfront about it. It was a normal part of his
life, and if she was going to stay on the ship, it would be a part of
hers, too. Still, he was nervous. There was a chance she would report
them.

"And can you tell me why they are undocumented?" It didn't really make
sense to her. Of course, Edele really didn't know anything about how a
ship worked.

"So they don't officially exist. No taxes, no tithes."

"I see." Edele stared down at the food she was preparing, going
silent for a long few moments. Her mind whirred. Technically, they
were transporting goods and getting around the system set up. At the
same time, they were helping women who could be in bad situations.
And they had helped her. Finally she nodded. "All right, Jerroll.
Is there anything else you wish to tell me?"

He was relieved that she accepted that, but now came the real test.
"We do, on occasion, steal things."

"Steal?" Edele looked back up, her frown deepening. "What do you
steal, from whom, and why?"

"We steal from merchants, anyone that looks like they have plenty
worth taking. We take jewlery, marks, just about anything," he said.
"We do it to survive. We do it to make a comfortable life for
ourselves." And there really wasn't a good excuse for it. They could
survive on less, but they didn't want to.

"Oh." Edele's struggle was visible on her face. She hadn't realised.
And she wasn't sure if she could deal with it. She looked away from
Jerroll and back to the food and sighed. "I really need to finish
cooking." And she needed to think.

"We're thieves, Edele. Pirates. But this crew -- my crew -- is built
on trust. I want you to stay with us, but I needed to be honest. If
you need me, I'll be up on deck." Jerroll turned and left.

****

Last updated on the July 30th 2008

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Not Exactly Legal