Winchester Rifle and the Ambitious Groom ( )

Log entry, the catch Scarlet Queen. Philip Carney Master. Position three degrees, seven minutes north. 104 degrees, two minutes east. Wind fresh to moderate, sky fair. Remarks, departed Singapore after being guessed at unsuccessful wedding. Reason for failure, the windchester rifle in the ambitious groom.

It was the sun brilliant wind-fresh morning when we stood into Coi-Pang on the island of Timor, our port of call after a long run up from Sydney. The Steve Adores were waiting for us as we warped into the NATO lander Azeatic Company's docks.

And by the time the Scarlet Queen was riding to her horses, our cargo was swinging out over the side, guided by the gentle hand of my chief mate, Gallagher, a portly messenger waddled aboard the Queen.

Captain Kanye, uh... Yeah, I see a cable for you from Singapore, yeah. The cable was from the Singapore offices of Kang and Sun's China traders. The company under which the Scarlet Queen had set out on her voyage, and under which we were still sailing.

But the cable didn't have to do with business affairs. Let's get that stuff off in a hurry. You and I are going to a wedding! The dress to you and me says, my son, request the honor of your presence at the marriage between my daughter, Nanoa, and the honorable Yulang at my home on the 26th instant affectionately kooji kang.

Nanu. Yeah. Come on, let's go move it, shall we? Watch me move cargo. I'd miss your wedding before I'd miss hers. I want people to... Everything's fixed.

Except the expression on Nanu. I think it should have been happy, but it wasn't. Red and I followed the crowd out onto the street. The bride and groom appeared in the doorway and the ever-present shining firecracker started popping.