. if female. Not a board, or deckhouse or even a mast bobbing ... or not ... in the disturbed and tossing sea. Nothing.But we did finish out our job.W... couldn't tell General Uncle Bleeker. Our attention was supposed to be on the rescue or recovery of the crew of the Queen. At the altitude we flew and with the bulkers trying for one last run before lay-up ... ALL our attention was on the water. Those damn Lake boats are huge. If it fogged we landed. Right now.We had to fly to Chicago. We. "Who you?" the man in charge said loudly, pointing at me with his mallet. "Ain' never seed you a'fore." Passing through," I said. "Do this kind of work down in Maryland, lower part of Frederick County. You know the port of Georgetown?" No, boy," the auction manager said, "but you kin stay an' learn; bid if y'like. This part's hard money only."Many eyes passed over me, and I returned several knowing smiles."Bring on out the fust one," the man cried, and two burly fellows produced a slim girl,. "I am undamaged, as you can see. It is just getting almost blown up, tossed across space and time, and ending up in someone's back yard in nothing more than my nightgown." I smile up at the young man. "Has me a little unsettled."I notice then, that the crowed is dispersing and my three escorts have moved away from me. I really want to ask them some questions, so I start to follow them."Would you please come with me. I am sure we can get you something more appropriate to wear," the young man. If this was really an extra terrestrial ship, whatever piloted it across interstellar space had superior intelligence and no doubt superior weapons. Gripping her flashlight she explored that thought. Hell, if it only had a sling shot it would be better armed than her. All she had was a flashlight and a quickly growing supply of methane gas in her large intestine. Alone and unarmed, if there was anything out there that intended to do her harm, she would be totally at its mercy. That.