Chat on the Foc'sle

"Oh.. I slept durin' t' day. Here on Terpsy. Only so, 'cos I had no choice n' I was too sleepy not to sleep, if yer understand. So I went on, and curled and had one." He looked up , yawning. If he hadn't been talking, he'd probably already been asleep and even now his voice was becoming more dazed and sleepy.

"..Could we, do this again sum'time?" He murmured.

"Of course we can. Only, right now, you need to find your hammock. You'll be up ag'in afore you know it, and wonderin' why you ended up talkin' so long with me. Up you get, then, and you go find your hammock. You sound as though you'll be asleep soon's you get into it, anyhow." The Marine smiled at the sleepy boy, and thought how different he was now to how he had been that first day he'd come aboard.

"I'um goin, I'um goin'!" He yawned and covered his mouth as he did so, though he felt as if his jaw would pop out any moment, or get unhinged and he'd have to worry about setting it back right.

"You'll be wonderin' t' same." He grinned :" N' be cursin' that boy who'd kept you from yer sleep fer t' whole night!" He'd been reluctant to move as long as his back was stroked, but the moment it would've been stopped he'd be at last up on his feet and ready.

Thompson yawned and stretched. "I'll see you sometime tomorrow. Prob'ly you'll be havin' so much fun with the others you won't even notice me, though." He grinned. "An' I won't blame you for it, neither."

"Wouldn't so." He shook his head. "See yer tomorrow though, full certain! N' thanks again fer everythin'." He smiled and stretched a little. He yawned and rubbed his eyes, which didn't look eager to stay open or open, and thought it would be the best place to be, just lying down where he was.

"Um'.. can yer point me in t' right direction again." He said it so sleepily that one could've sworn he was already in the dream land and was struggling to have a foot in the one awake too.

"You're for'ard, thataway," Thompson said, pointing. "With the maintopmen, I think you are. Somewhere near Cob Chase, anyways. Me, I'm back with the Marines. You should know where your own hammock is by now, shouldn't you?" He was smiling as he said it, though.

"Hmph.. not in t' dark, three quarters asleep n' ..." He was too sleepy to come up with more than that.

"Sleep well, George. N' don't miss yer hammock on the way in it." He grinned and then turned slowly starting in the direction of his hammock. He felt around a little, but for the most part knew where to place his foot and hand, and when to lift it not to trip. He was focusing on only one thing then.

His hammock.

He watched the lad head for'ard before turning aft to where his hammock was slung between Vining and Branning. He unbuttoned his gaiters, and pulled his shoes off before getting into his hammock. He was asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.