Run on 26 June 2011
While the emu hunt was going on, the merfolk finally arrived in Madagascar, bringing news of a Nightmare Storm coming from the Southwest, due to hit in a day or two. Anemone explained to Birdie that this meant the pod, would migrate, and that further sea travel would be much more risky. It also meant that many of Madagascar’s fishermen and sailors would be leaving for some time.
Questioning of townsfolk brought out some little information about the storm. They happened every few years, and only those with sensitive minds were affected. They would have nightmares of death. In a ‘bad one’ they would not be able to tell waking reality from the nightmare, and sometimes they acted out. Most of the villagers were more worried about their children than themselves.
Gian thought it would be a good idea to offer the ship as a way to harbor the more sensitive children. He discussed the idea with Captain Margarite, who needed some idea to consider. He also discussed it with several townsfolk, including Captain Hawkins, who said that it had been tried before, and the ship had been caught at sea during the nightmares, and that it had not ended well. He also admitted that the Medici was far faster than his own ship.
Also that day, Randolph Barber, the Captain of the Watch, took Gian to see Mrs. King, the town’s only merchant, and issuer of chits. There was a complicated exchange of notes (one ‘season’ from Dr. Smythe to Fred Martin, a ‘season’ from the town watch to Dr. Smythe, and some complication about where that ‘season’ should come from, Donal Allen, the owner of the rabbit farm which was attacked, not admitting that it was in any way his fault that Martin got injured).
Also during that day, the Widow Brown invited Dr. Smith to join her for tea. They discussed her late husband’s library and natural sciences with two young friends of Mrs. Brown’s. Sarah Harper, a young widow, was completely charmed by Dr. Smith’s company. Victoria Iwonson noticibly less so.
Before the sun had set, Gian had publicly made his offer of a trip far to sea for some of those most at risk of the nightmare storm, confident that the Captain would respect the fact that he had chartered the boat. He asked the film crew to stay ashore for the duration.
That evening, the film crew drank and gambled and shared stories at the local pub, and picked up some interesting rumors and folklore.
