8:20

The last of the water drifted slowly below him, and up ahead the rolling hills of the eastern coast presented their colours for inspection. A few more minutes and he should be able to see the mooring towers.

Thanks to Albert’s precociousness, the beaver had a pretty good idea of how this was all going to work. It seems Albert was already an accomplished snoop and with very little urging had wormed his way into the gruff captain’s good graces. Whenever he wasn’t asleep or eating, Albert had been splitting his time between the bridge and watching the waves slowly pass by with the beaver.

Much to the beaver’s surprise, the captain wan’t the only gruff personality Albert seemed to have charmed. It had been a long time since the beaver had stopped and talked to someone at least to someone who wasn’t just trying to get in his way, and it had been a rather pleasant experience.

In fact, the beaver was trying very hard not to acknowledge the fact that he would miss Albert. They’d said their goodbyes a little over an hour ago. Albert was now in the observation blister with his family and luggage waiting out the let moments before disembarking to continue his family’s journey to the western mountains. They would be on an express by lunchtime and it was  unlikely they two would ever meet again.

But the beaver was almost positive he would be hearing about young Albert in the years to come. Too much energy and too much trouble in that boy; they’d either hang him or make him prime minister. And, the beaver smirked to himself, if they tried to hang him, they’d better watch their wallets because, like as not, Albert would lift them on his way down from the gallows.