Number 2 (Hoover) displayed resistance far greater than anticipated. I watched Ramses and father struggle, shoving his bruised body into the spike-less iron-maiden. After they grew tired of having an audience, and his persistent howling, father permitted us on the main deck. The rain moved south, and the stars above shone like cosmic crystals in the open black sky.

Number 1 (Helen) began tracing the universal blueprint with her index finger, attempting to educate our nautical ...