54> Subject: Re: [akus] Mae Lee 997.272.0900: Rousting the Help
54> 
54> >  The two men walk through the open gate in the metal fence and
across
54> >  the lot of crushed stone toward the metal buildings. As the way
there
54> >  is a crunching sound under there boots that mixes well with the
smell
54> >  of oils, ozone and chemicals that permeate the air.
54> >
54> >  The door to the "Office" is unlocked and opens into a dimly
lighted
54> >  interior. There is an empty table and chairs in the center of the
54> >  room. To the left there is a counter with stacks of boxes behind
it,
54> >  and an open door that leads out into the warehouse. To the right
54> >  there is are shelves with a number of parts, boxes, and
unidentified
54> >  "stuff" on them, as well as a door that leads out into the
"yards"
54> >  where the surplused and salvageable ships are kept.
54> >
54> >  Behind the counter are a pair of men. One is short and gray
haired,
54> >  Ricardo recognizes him as Pete. The other is tall and young with
his
54> >  long hair tied back in a pony tail, you don't recognize him.
54> >
54> >  "Morning! Can I help you." Pete calls out from behind the counter
as
54> >  he limps around it toward you. As he moves out from behind the
54> >  counter you see that he is wearing short gray pants to match his
gray
54> >  tee shirt. You can also see that his left leg is artificial, and
the
54> >  knee joint isn't bending properly as he walks causing the limp.
54> 
54> Pete, for this *is* Pete, welcomes Ricardo and Zeek and taking the
list
54> that Kelly has made up starts helping them find the parts and
modules.
54> Collecting everything that Kelly says you need takes all day because
you
54> have to personally remove some parts from the salvaged ships out in
the
54> back lot.
54> 
54> Ricardo has been back there before, but it is new to Zeek. The
ships,
54> ranging in size from boats under 100 dtons to ships of over 1,000
dtons,
54> are scattered in the large swampy area behind the warehouses. The
swampy
54> area has many small islands, and many of the small islands is topped
54> with a large inflated white plastic dome. Under each of the domes is
a
54> ships protected from the elements by the dome. The small islands are
54> connected by metal bridges and narrow earthen causeways. Open water
54> channels run past each of the islands giving barge access to them,
that
54> is how some of the wreaks are moved into place and how parts can be
54> removed.
54> 
54> During the day, as you walk along the causeways and bridges, you
54> occasionally see ripples in the water of the canals, and see the
grasses
54> of the swampy areas ripple as something large moves through them,
cut
54> neither of you catch sight of any large animals.

"Skipper, looks like good fishing here."  Zeek then tosses a small rock
at one of the ripples.

54> After working for several hours you have all of the parts on your
list
54> collected and moved to the office. You'll need a lorry, or grav
truck to
54> carry the parts back to the ship, though.

"Major, do you have a truck that we can borrow to get this stuff back to
our boat?." Zeek says looking at Pete. "I don't think a cabbie would
like us carrying this on board."