Saule de Lila: Introduction. (1900, Plymouth).
The slender man adjusted his black, formal tuxedo, humming to himself. Walking in a steady rhythm,
he whispered a happy tune, "Going across the black hearted seas, we will always survive, you and me! Across the churning waves, over the highest tide, we will survive, survive, survive, you and me!" As he sang his song, he gave a weak chuckle and approached the rusty, 1850's post office. He swung the door open with tinkling ring, stepping into the warm, toasty, seawater-smelling air.
"Hullo, Tobias," said a chubby man, wiping his brow with the corner of a brown handkerchief.
"Old chap, I would fancy to send a letter to my family," Tobias replied as he handed a slightly soggy envelope to the man, observing the man's reaction. " James, would you mind sending this off for me?"
"Sorry, my lad, the mail's isn't runnin' today," James said fervently. "We have to send it off on a RMS..."
Tobias sighed heavily. "You see, James, I just earned enough money from the barber shop- my job, James!- to bring my wife and my beautiful daughter over!" He exclaimed sadly. "Now, I know how long RMSes take to get over, let alone travel the hundreds of miles from here to France..."
"Now, now, old chap!" James answered heartily. "Cheer up, fellow. The post will be going next week! You can send two letters then! But you have to understand us, we've had a lot on our hands: ships sinkin', mail being destroyed, rough Atlantic, you get the picture," he breathed with worry. "Whose your family, anyway?"
"The Tourners." But at James's confused expression, he quickly added, "French for the Winds."
"Rightyo," James said. "Thank you for your time, Tobias. I promise you can send something next week. I hope your family is alright."
"I do too," Tobias replied grimly, walking out of the ancient post office door with his black bowler hat to his chest.
One week later...
"Fellow! You have returned!" James said jovially.
"The post, as I take it, is ready to be delivered?" Tobias said gruffly, his pale face set with anger.
James beamed and winked happily. "Sure thing! The waters have cleared up just enough for us to send a USS and a RMS over without sinking." Then he laughed so hard, his plump belly shook."Just amazing! The technology this age. I wonder what will meet us in 2000s!"
"I want to board the USS Sahara, now," Tobias growled. "Before she leaves the dock. I want to head to For France."
James chuckled uneasily. "Go on, Tobias. I hope the tide stays calm."
Tobias nodded, stepped out of the office, and headed for the dock. Reaching it, he boarded it and sat at a window seat, gazing across the water, singing, "Going across the black hearted waves, we will always survived you and me. Across the churning waves, over to the highest tide, we will survive, survive, survive, you and me."
He wasn't so sure about living- for himself and his family- as he was in his song.
(To be continued)
