“The harbor remembers,” Drake said.
Merrit held out the fee sheet.
“Does it?”
“We carried people out of that approach with the water over the lower landing.”
“Then it may remember its repair bill.”
Drake took the sheet without conceding the point. Beyond the bow, the repaired passage bridge lifted clear of the channel. Fresh timber showed pale against the older structure. Two workers stood beside the hinge housing, watching a loaded vessel pass beneath it.
The Gull’s Luck waited for its assigned entry.
They had left Solitude with the trip they had actually agreed to take: inspection tools, three differently shaped sample couplers, sensible stores, and a commercial load small enough to leave access to the equipment. Felix’s chair remained at home. A modest cushion had survived the luggage discussion.
