January 18th, 1832 1:52 PM

    I have just had lunch aboard the ship the H.M.S. Beagle, where Captain FitzRoy has decided that I will remain his niece for the period of time I am aboard the ship to hide the facts of my homeland from the crew. I stroll over to the fore mast, on the other side of the ship from the reckless Matikhara, and pull out The Odyssey. Before I can read even the first page, I hear a shouted "Look out below!" from Valicia, sliding down from the crow's nest.
    She swung down the rope with a large sail and knocked the book out of my hands with her foot. Before I could run to get it, it went over the side of the ship, where I did not go because of my fear of water. I walked out to the side of the ship to see Valicia toss one end of the sail to me. I held on to it, and she dashed over the side holding the other end. I held on to it, not feeling the weight of Valicia at the other end.
    When she climbed back up, she was dripping wet and her hands had a severe rope burn on them, but she had the Odyssey with her. "Thanks for retrieving my book, Valicia! You ought to see Aliaranel about those rope burns," I replied.
    "Oh, it was no problem! You don't go cavorting around the ship in wild-goose chases or picking on all the other crew, so I helped you. My perpetual bad mood is concealment for my real nature, which I reveal to only those who deserve it," replied Valicia.
    She always seemed friendly around me, but I never suspected that she used her irritability as a shield for her true nature. "I'll see you later, Valicia! Have a good time doing...whatever your job is on the ship?" I thanked her.
    "Sail repair. FitzRoy's going to be furious with me for getting it wet," she replied sullenly.
    "Oh, don't worry. I think I can dry it out for you by tomorrow morning," I told her, though what I was thinking of was different than hanging the sail out on a line and waiting—it involved several trillion tons of tectonic force and a significant updraft of hot air.
    "Sure! Could I help? What are you thinking of?" Valicia replied, handing me the drenched sail.
    "In short, geological drying. In long, I hike up Fogo, grab the sail, and jump into the crater, letting the updraft gently carry me into the air and dry it. Can you get a jolly boat ready by 3:00 and be there?" I asked.
   "Sure! I've got nothing to do until then! However, you might want to use ropes. Tie them around your wrists so you can hold on. Also, isn't that a bit risky?" Valicia replied.
    "So? Ignia, Fogo, fire. Same thing. Fire never suffers from its own kind," I consoled her.