The man tipped his head back and laughed. After a moment he sobered up and said, "What a disappointment on your part this must be then. Perhaps we can find something of value laying around to make your journey still a profitable one. It would be a tragedy on your part to have to come so far and have nothing to return with to show for all your troubles. I do assume that you can return to the world above if you should wish to?" The man asked craftily.
I smiled and my fear was that the fakeness of my smile would shine through as I responded with, "That's the plan."
I didn't care for the man and I wasn't about to reveal more to him of our purpose for being here then needed to be said.
His smile in response smacked of equal insincerity and it seemed that we both had come to a mutual agreement to keep our true intentions a secret from the other.
"The Governor wants to meet the first ever recorded visitors to our inner realm." He infused gregariously.
"Lead on." I said in response.
He started away from the dock and the crowd parted. I started after him. I glanced back to see Christina quickly step in behind me and Matt as Jim brought up the rear of our little group.
I looked beyond Jim to where Flynn sat cross legged on the deck of the ship staring down the hard eyed stares of the black overseers glaring at him from the dock. Flynn was not a man easily rattled and the shotgun cradled across his lap bore testament to his ability to back his own play should he need to. My concern for my boat was nonexistent with him on guard.
There is a loyalty that runs deeper than skin color or even the blood of a brother. It's called a friend and I was waking up to the fact that I had more friends than I had realized.
It was a good thing to know, but it was a bad thing to know how much danger I'd put us all in.
"Fascinating!"
I turned my attention back to Matt beside me who went on, "It's like we stepped into a time capsule!" He said as he glanced all around.
I couldn't but help agree with him, but I didn't feel so much wonder at the sight of a bygone era in working order around us. The sight of a white man's scarred back, who was working a rudimentary water pump helped take any wonder there was at finding this community still rooted in the past away from me.