Date:         Fri, 14 Jun 1996 10:37:17 -0400
From: Janell Robisch <JPR@OUP-USA.ORG>
Subject:      INT:A Call to Arms - Angel spies the Darkwind

It didn't take me long to get to the docks, but once I got there it took me a
while to figure out where I was headed.  There were a jillion ships in port
and choosing the wrong one could cost me my life or my freedom.  I hid
behind some cargo barrels on one of the main boardwalks and listened
to the passersby, trying to get a hint on which boat might be leaving
soon.

Instead I heard rumors of a boat captained by an elf and run by a bunch
of children.  I almost laughed.  That was impossible!  No sane captain
with any kids on board would pull into the Dragon's Tooth.  I was only
here because I had no choice.  It just happened to be where the Black
Scorpion's ship was docked when I made my escape after he killed Da.
Had I known about the rampant slave trade, I'da been a bit more careful.

I looked toward the ship, named the Darkwind.  I remembered Da talkin'
bout that ship.  It was run by some guy named Deog or somethin' like
that.

If I hadn't seen it myself, I would have never believed it.  I saw some
heads peeking over the rail of the ship.  They weren't no pirates.  They
really were kids!  I couldn't believe it.  I decided that was the way for me
to go.  Hopefully, I could stow away, but if I was caught, at least I'd be
on fair ground.  You always gotta think about stuff like that whenever
you make a big decision in life, that's what Da always said.

Knowing there'd be no way I could sneak past the guards on the docks, I
headed for the water.  It was simple, I'd just swim to the other side of the
Darkwind and climb up the side.  Tieing the small knife I had stolen on the
way to the docks to my ankle with a small piece of rope, I dove into the
cold waters.  The tingling sensation of the cool sea was welcome.  This
is where I had come from.  This was my life.

I made my way around the ship in one breath and emerged on the other
side.  Carefully and quietly, I found footholds between the boards of the
hull and made my way up.  There were advantages to being small.
When I reached the top, I cautiously peered over, relieved to find all the
kids on board were too busy looking out the other side, toward the
docks, to notice me.   Within a few seconds, I found some nice bulky
crates to hide behind and got comfortable.  The whole escape must have
really exhausted me, because before I knew it I was fast asleep.