[Child of the 7th Age]

It was a lovely evening. Child and Kali were going for a walk on the outer deck, watching the sunset.

The wind shifted slightly, and Pio, who was steering the vessel made a course correction. They had been going due north all day, but before they could approach the mouth of the Anduin, it would be necessary to sail west. She shifted the wheel, and had Birdland adjust the sails so the Star could catch the breezes to sail towards the west.

Suddenly, Kali looked up at Child with genuine terror in his eyes. "What happened? Ship sail West? Bad, very bad. Mother and Grandmother and all ancient ancestors tell Kali not to do."

The hobrim tore over to where Pio stood and literally tore the wheel out of her hand, trying with all his might to shift it back to its original position.

Child raced over and grabbed onto the hobrim. "No, Kali, no, you must let Pio pilot our vessel."

With all his strength the terrified hobrim tore himself out of the grasp of Child. His voice rose in anger:

"Ba kitabdahe! We must not go this way. Ship sink."

Child held the hobrim close in her arms. "No, no, Kali, we are fine. This is how we must go to find your people."

Kali backed down: "Ship still sail? No sink?"

Child continued, "Everything is fine. Come, let us go eat now." They turned to go below.

But, in her mind, she wondered, "What did 'Ba kitabdahe' mean?" Child had no idea of its meaning or even what language Kali had spoken.

[ July 02, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]