“But, Maitress...”
“No more buts. You have had ample time to make up your mind.” She stood and walked back to the door. “The Captain will be in my office at noon. You will tell him then.”
Katkin said nothing in response to this, and the Maitress left without wishing her a good night. She shut the door very firmly and Katkin could hear the tapping of her walking stick gradually fading away as she made her way back down the hallway towards the stairwell. It sounded just like the ticking of a clock.
Katkin jumped up from her bed, crying, “Lalluna, my Goddess, please help me! Tell me what I should do.”
She walked over to the ewer by the washstand, and poured some water into the basin. Katkin splashed her face, hoping it would help her think more clearly.
After pulling the eiderdown off he
