The Travels of Anadrasata Nearabhigan: Day 10
So, Anadrasata is ten days into her big adventure and almost at the end of her voyage on the Pearlish Star. Mother is wants her to read the latest book by a popular author of written sermons, and everyone is making goodbye noises, etc. This runs to 1,409 words and I hope that you enjoy it.
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Naiphday, 20 Ochd, 1893C.E.
Dear Journal,
We started the morning with a prayer service led by Captain Fhairghail in the second class lounge. The entrical was recited by Half Colonel dh'Trai, who has an excellent voice for such things, and a short sermon was given by a young curate travelling in second class - it was on Serethas, Chapter 2, Verse 37: "Love, duty, and justice all require us to take action, and none is more important that the others although the weight of each upon us and in relation to each other will vary with time and circumstance." The collection was taken up for The Aircrew's Benevolent Society. Evening prayers will occur in the same place before dinner this evening.
Breakfast this morning had the air of a post-service churchyard catchup. Even the Dowager and Miss Dhaighan were reasonably pleasant to each other. I sat with Miss Lhaidair, two of the Misses Haghaiphran, the middle Miss Uhghitair, and Mrs Vashaiti Vahtraiti, and we talked about suitable clothing for the northern weather and suitable headwear for the sun.
After breakfast I walked twice around the promenade deck, putting off the Naiphday task Mother has sent with me on my trip. She has given me a copy of a new book of sermons by The Reverend Zaim Fairdaice and has set me the task of writing a precis of one sermon per Naiphday and adding a paragraph of commentary of no less than one hundred words, to each. Mother has done this before, and I think she uses my notes as a shortcut so she can let other people think she has read the book. I feel this one is a somewhat pointed selection as it is titled "Spiritual Guidance for the Modern Woman." The Reverend Fairdaice is a man with, I note from the frontispiece, a permanent position attached to the Stoned Saint Cathedral in Boitrais.
I will note that, having complete my task on the first chapter, I am rather concerned about not his opinions but his theology. I am considering whether I should ask to discuss it with the curate in second class, if he is not getting off the ship today in Haildain.
Aftyer I wrote this, I went and had lunch. Of the military officers, only Half Colonel dh'Trai and Major dh'Lhaigh remaion. They and Lord Elnaith sat with me at lunch. We did take four new first class passengers on board in Haildain, but they are a mourning party splitting vigil over the coffin of the deceased so none of them were at lunch, although one or two of them may be at dinner.
I must admit that I didn't pay much attention to Haildain, except to note that it seemed colourful to look at because when we were in dock was when I was wrestling with the Reverend Fairdaice's theology.
After lunch I returned to my cabin to find written disembarkation instructi9ons for tomorrow. Because Amnestri is the end of the Pearlish Star's run up the east coast of the Circle Sea, the ship won't sail again immediately soI don't have to have my luggage ready for collection until mid-morning. In order not to be rushed later on, I began collecting and repacking the items and clothing I would not need in the morning or this evening. In the process of stowing things away in my chest, it is in fact my glory box because Mother didn't see why I shouldn't use what I already had for transporting my possessions, I realized that I haven't done any needlework for myself since my father died. I've done my own mending, of course, but nine years of effort spent only on things Mother wants, or to supplement Anna's trousseau, or to make sure Sura has nice things for school seems a little...something?
Mother's table runner is about half done, so after that I shall see if I can do something for myself.
After doing as much packing as I could, I began writing a letter to Mother so that I can post it in Amnestri tomorrow. I have told her something of my journey so far and touched on my concerns about the Reverend's theology.
I went to the balcony parlor for a cup of tea, the two Mrses Haghaiphran poured today, and I had another fine view of a storm as we rose to avoid it. Much less turbulence this time. After one cup of tea, I excused myself and returned to my cabin to dress for evening prayers and dinner.
There were fewer people at evening prayers than there had been in the morning, but that is normal. Half Colonel dh'Trai recited the entrical again, the collection was taken up for the Aerial Widows and Orphans' Fund, and a young man from third class sang the oairon. (He was very good.) The young curate gave us another ten minute sermon, this one on one of the other readings for today - Nailsh, Chapter 17, verse 13: “And then he sought the wands of willow that had been demanded by the Widow Gaidth that he might make good his payment to her." Not an easy text to render a sermon on, I would think, but he did it well.
When the service was over, I made my way over to the curate, introduced myself, and asked his advice about the Reverend Fairdaice. I had my copy of the book with me, in case I needed to show him the source of my concerns. To my surprise, he told me that I would be wise to set the book aside for now as concerns about the book had already been expressed in ecclesiastical circles, and a warning note had already been sent to clergy in most bishoprics. He added that he believed that a letter to be read from the lectern might be issued before next Naiphday. Investigations, he told me, were said to be ongoing. I took this to mean that theological authorities were working out how in error the Reverend Fairdaice has been. Interesting.
I thanked the curate for his time and returned to first class and my dinner. My seat tonight was at the Chief Engineer's table between Major dh'Lhaigh and young Mr dh'Uhghitair. Both gentlemen asked me about my travel plans after disembarkation and I explained that I was expecting to spend two nights in Amnestri before joining the Pearlish Queen bound for Akatoil. Mr dh'Uhghitair replied by telling me about his family's plans to continue to the resort towns of the northern shore - starting with Biphanami and seeing whether they want to stay there or move on after a fortnight or so. When I told Major dh'Lhaigh my plans, he asked me whether I realised that I would be travelling through the Sulegassi Kerajaa to get there. I replied that I was and that I planned to follow instructions and the stated rules, and not be a trouble to anyone. Major dh'Lhaigh told me that he will be travelling on from Amnestri, but he did not say where too.
After dinner I sat with the Mrses Vahtriti while we enjoyed our fortified wine, then I helped the eldest Miss dh'Uhghitair pour tea for the company when the gentlemen joined us. Much of the discussion was about disembarkation times and where people were going next. The Mrses Vahtraiti, the Baron dh'Uhghitai and his family, and Miss Dhaighan and her party were all going on to Biphanami but on two different ships. The Haghaiphrans will be staying in Amnestri for Miss Ailain's wedding. Lord Elnaith said, somewhat vaguely, that he had legal business to attend to in the area that would take some time, and the military gentlemen said that they would be going to the local military hostel on disembarkation. Mr dh'Venhair said that his precise plans were dependent on his brother. I told several people who asked that I was spending two nights in Amnestri before resuming my travels.
From various comments I heard during the evening, no-one has seen the mourning party that came aboard today. The vigil is being held in a cargo area of the ship, but they do have two cabins in first class, but no-one has seen them coming or going. I bade everyone good night after my third cup of tea and went back to my cabin to pack up my evening dress and get a good night's sleep.
Anadrasta Nearabhigan