Two Fingers knew the captain of the Dirty Secret, not that either myself or Bea were in the situation to be too picky about who knew what. Two Fingers knew I was a top knotch navigator and would pass that along; and he was fully capable of stretching the skills of a new crewmember such as Bea.

Bea needled me a whiles longer, while we waited upon Two Fingers.

"Yeah, I saw the outfit but you were being such a natural in it..." "Ouch!" All right, so my efforts at dissembling were in vain. I let her accuse me, if the accusations didn't pass muster, she'd no doubt be safer ashore. I was concerned about her safety.

"I'm coming with y', but I want some answers, first," she insisted.

Sigh. I had to find my attraction to someone who is bright. "The whore outfit was great. Yeah, though, it would have lead to trouble aboard ship, but some of us menfold don't cotton to understanding this right away. What you got on now is good for shipware. East to work in, won't make y' a target for passes as much as that other outfit. Y' could pass as a man if ya wish. The hair though, you need to tuck that back."

Two Fingers came back during the conversation.

"Looks good. I think I got the three of us a berth. The captain owes me one. Or two. Don't ask, at leat not quite yet."

I sighed with relief. We were not good for Tortuga for much longer.