The Gay Hornet was flying every stitch of canvas it owned. The triangles of wind catchers fought a running battle with the broad beams of the deck and the hull. Each side pushed the other, and dared it to fail. Rain had started to follow the ship as soon as it had left the Ghost Fleet. It fell from above, then slanted in from both port and starboard, so that there was no hiding place. Captain Conny had issued them all with thick oilskin trousers and a sturdy overcoat with a huge collar that when turned up made them look like vampires at a really bad fancy dress party. Judas, Ray and Evenor kept below decks for most of the time; they had acquired their sea legs, but still had to lunge for something to hold on to when Captain Conny spun the wheel in the cabin above.
The rain finally gave up
