Wednesday 19 June 2013

Lundahn, 21/7/MR5

We've landed. Here. In Lundahn. I can't believe I've made it this far. No-one seems to be following me either. Good. Yet, disappointed. It confirms my suspicions and fears that everyone regards my brother as the more important. It also confirms that my decision to get on and plough my own furrow was the best one.

We're in the East, in amongst the airship towers, docked at the HaitchessBeesey Tower. All the vessels from Eastwards land here. I need to get Westwards though, find Bibendum and pass on my letters of introduction. I might not like living in my kid brother's shadow but I'm sure as going to milk it as much as I can. I want to go ashore.

We're waiting for customs clearance though. The opiate smuggling has grown to epidemic proportions in recent years. Epidemic, that is, if you're dealing with the fall out. Epic, if you're dealing with the dealers and smugglers. Our Captain's clean. His first words when I joined the crew were: "I'd show you what happens to smugglers on my ship but the last one I caught is spread across the Himalayas. It's not customs you need to worry about at the height we cruise, it's me." Not that smuggling is why I'm here mind you. I've bigger fish to fry.

JB reckons they're wasting their time. He says that the main smuggling routes are by land and sea, not by airship anyway. Smuggling or no, I'm keeping my head down until they're gone. I don't want word to get back to my folks too quickly. They're going to think I'm running from my duties, abandoning my brother's duties. But really I'm here to help fulfil them, help ensure there's still a kingdom for me to serve. They won't understand. At best, Papa will put it down to too many adventure stories. At worst, mama will put it down to wilful disobedience.

Ah good, customs have gone now. I gather my leather case and my letter of introduction, bound in my brother's purple, gold braided ribbon and head down to the deck. Time for my real adventure to begin.