We ran between the buildings, and out onto the pier. We could see the city across the river, where there was a cluster of office buildings which mirrored the ones behind us. Signs indicated that ferries were supposed to go across to the city from there. But the ship approaching was no ferry.
It was an ocean liner, showing three flags. The bottom one was a rather raggedy U-town flag, the upstart symbol. Above that was a large white flag with a red cross. The top was the blue and green flag of Bellona.
–The cavalry, my wife said, has arrived. Only not on horseback.
Of course, once people heard the engines of the ship, they began to come out onto the pier, despite what Vicki had said. I saw Jack and motioned, and he and his new assistants started working to control things.
I could easily visualize a situation where everybody would try to pile onto the pier and some people would end up getting pushed into the water, or worse.
As the ship came near the dock, Neil had his field glasses out, but I didn't need them to see Jan standing at the rail, along with Ray, Pete, SarahBeth, Pat, Sam, and Fifteen.
Then, not waiting for the ship to reach us, Vicki stepped back and launched herself through the air and onto the deck, where she threw her arms around Pat. This caused some looks of amazement on the faces of the crew, who were dressed in the uniforms of the Bellona navy, but Vicki didn't see their reaction.
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