Chapter Five

    Wembly eyed the scared young women across the table from him.  Her hands shook as she clutched the cup of tea in front of her.  So far all he had gotten out of her was her name.  Wella was not what he had expected when he realized there was a stowaway onboard.
   "So," Wembly said, "what are you doing on my dirigible?"
   Wella looked up at him with big green eyes, that were quickly becoming watery.  She started sobbing, not a polite sob either.  It was one of the full body, snot running down your face kind of sobs.
    Wembly, despite the fact he was not happy about her being on the Wingnut, handed her a napkin and hesitantly patted her on the shoulder.  This only caused her to cry even harder.  Wembly sat back and looked at the girl like she had just grown two heads.  he was uncomfortable around women at the best of times.  Once the water works started he was completely lost.
    Wembly heard and indignant huff behind him, "What the hell is going on in here?"
   Wuffy had her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face.  She slowly looked between Wembly and Wella.  Her eyes finally settled on Wembly.  It was all he could do not not to giggle like a school girl.  That women made him nervous.
    "What the hell is wrong with you," erupted Wuffy, " can't you see this poor girl is beside herself?  And you just sit there staring at her!  You have no manners, you bumbling oaf!.  The poor dear is pregnant and half starved!  You should be ashamed of yourself!"
    Wembly hadn't realized that he had been moving until the door slammed in his face.  Looking around him he realized that he was standing on the stairs leading up to the bridge.  He was very confused as to how this happened.  Walking up the stairs to the bridge he muttered to himself about this being his ship and that he was in charge and that he would be putting Wuffy in her place and that he would deal with the stowaway in anyway he saw fit...tomorrow.  Tomorrow would work just fine.


By the time Wembly sauntered down to the kitchen to get his morning coffee, he had managed to convince himself that it was his idea to leave Wella in the care of Wuffy.  he wasn't about to admit to himself, or anyone else, that he'd been chased out of his own kitchen by a crying teenager and a women who barely reached his chin.
    As Wembly sat down on one of the benches he noticed that Wella had an old apron on and was busy handing out steaming plates of food to his crew.  Bogart sat down next to him, "I like the new kitchen help.  Were'd ya get her?"
    Wembly gave his first mate a dismissive shrug.
    "Aye then," laughed Bogart, "I don't need to know."
   At that moment Wuffy walked in with a large bowl of porridge.   She was whistling a merry tune and sat down right across from Wembly.  She smiled at him.  Wembly's stomach did a few flip-flops.  He did his best to smile back, but he was fairly certain he looked like he just swollowed sterring raw.
    "Sir," Wuffy said sweetly, "I believe you met my new kitchen help, Wella, last night.  She will be with us for as long as she wants and will be receiving an appropriate share of pay after every delivery as does everyone who works on the Wingnut."
    Wembly just continued looking at Wuffy as if this conversation was perfectly normal.
    "Furthermore," Wuffy continued in her sweetest voice, "no one on this ship will harass her or ask her questions about her past.  Unless of course they wish to talk to me about it."
    Wembly just kept staring, his smile becoming slightly more strained.
   "Lastly, when we are next at port, you will be purchasing and installing a space crib in the cooks quarters that is appropriate for a young joey.  Is that clear sir?"
    "Surely," Wembly began in protest, "a fishing dirigible isn't an appropriate place for a young mother and her infant.  Perhaps we could return the young woman to her family..."
    "You either accept the conditions or so help me god," Wuffy threatened, "you can find yourself a new cook."
    Wembly sighed, the only thing he disliked more then small children was looking for new help.  And Wuffy made really good souffles.  The look in Wuffy's eye told him she knew she had won this argument before it had even began.
    "Fine,"  Wembly said, "but if that girl or her soon to be child cause any disruptions aboard this vessel all three of you are gone!"
   "Whatever you say, sir"  replied  Wuffy in a manner that suggested it would take a small army to remove either her or the girl from the Wingnut.
   Bogart snorted into his coffee again.  This seemed to be permission for the rest of his crew to laugh.  And laugh they did.  Wembly slowly, and hopefully in a dignified manner, got out of his seat and returned to the bridge.
    It was only as Wembly sat back down at the helm, that he realized he had gotten neither coffee, nor breakfast.  Wembly shook his head in disgust.  He now had two woman and soon to be a baby onboard of his dirigible.  What had he done to deserve this?