May, 3rd, 1935, Cuxhaven, Germany, Aboard the RMS Sixsmith
Dear Hildebrand,
Today we set sail on the RMS Sixsmith bound for Whitby. There, it is my understanding, that we will take on freight and passengers before setting a course across the Atlantic.
Hadn’t an opportunity to meet the others bunking with me. Fell quickly to sleep–you know how travel exhausts me. The cabin smellt strangely of some sweet floral perfume, that stuffed my sinuses right up. Dreamed of nothing at all and didn’t wake until the flushing of the toilet alerted me to fact others were in my room.
I sat up to find I had been bunked with three women–by some strange mistake or no. In their teens they looked and not one of them pleased to see a man waking up on this top bunk. I apologized and asked if they might leave so I could get dressed. A futile attempt, I had fallen asleep with most my clothes on.
“You already have clothes on, mister,” said the girl with a rather pink nose, turned up like a pig.
I told her she was quite right in a tone that could have turned the words to ice, I expect. Slipped from my covers and felt my stomach give a growl of hunger–that pitted feeling. The girls must have heard it as well.
“You’d better hurry if you want to catch breakfast at the diner,” said another of the girls.
“Yes, of course,” I said, checking my watch. Nearly ten o’clock. “What time do we set sail?” I asked.
They gave me a look as though I was a beggar, which then struck me wasn’t far from the truth.
I introduced myself as Samuel Honeysett. Instead of taking my hand they waved in turns. I knew not why they’d be so shy and reserved. We had Ava the pig nosed, Bethany the redhead, and Juniper the tall–and I mean tall, Hildebrand, perhaps taller than you. I was shocked. Said they had been vacationing in Germany, visiting Ava’s grandparents from England.
I bade them farewell and left the perfumed room far behind looking for a porter that might explain why I’d been roomed with three young women, quite against regulations I would guess and social norms, I would know. Couldn’t find a porter. Little surprise there, I was sure once the issue was resolved I’d be able to find nothing but. Typical, Hildebrand, I’ve never been able to find what I’m looking for, always stumbling upon something I’m not. Some might say it is a blessing and I suppose it is for without it I’d not have met you.
As I had no money left after paying for my ticket I didn’t make my way to the dinner, but instead to the deck to look out on the day. It was quite sunny with low hanging puff ball clouds. I felt almost as if I could reach out and nab one of them, maybe eat one, though I don’t think that would have fixed that knot in my stomach.
The enemy forces are on the run. After Landing in Italy the fighting was fierce and the enemy gave little ground [grainy images of soldiers firing from behind trees, behind rocks, behind anything they can take cover behind]. But after weeks of brutal conflict the allies gained the upper hand [A man pulls the pin of a grenade and lobs it over head into a fox hole. There is an explosion of dirt and the charges forward]. In this way did our brave American son’s capture Palermo Sicily.
Asked him what he was reading now. Handed me the book in question. Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis. I’d told him I’d never heard of the man. The negro seems surprised. Said a rising star in literature, was Mr. Lewis. Englishman, like myself. I asked the negro what the book was about. Said it was about a man who travels into space. I say, Hildebrand, there is not a race more fanciful than the english. It is rather embarrassing.
Winter Station 