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just don’t understand it. How can we load twenty thousand cases in three days, and it takes them twenty days to unload it? Are they lazy?”
    “Not as I understand it, Cap’n. Just cautious.”
    Peder grumbled as they passed the chicken. “It still grates on me. An idle ship is a ship not making money.”
    “You’ll be busy with customs, paperwork, and the agents, anyway. You should take advantage of the time—take the missus and Kristian out on a holiday. Enjoy yourself.”
    “Let’s pray!” Kristian said, folding his hands and looking at everyone else expectantly.
    Elsa smiled and Riley said, “The little mite’s on the right track, I’d say.”
    “Good idea, son,” Peder said, and proceeded to give thanks for the food.
    “Amen!” Kristian echoed the adults, clearly as proud of himself as they were.
    As they began to eat, Elsa ventured, “It would be lovely to see some of the sights, Peder. I’ve been reading Keeling’s guide, and he describes some wonderful excursions.”
    “Perhaps,” Peder said noncommittally. “As Riley said, I’ll have my hands full for some days with the ship’s business.”
    “I do wish you would hire an agent for some of that work sometimes,” Elsa said.
    “And hand off five percent of my profit?” Peder shook his head.
    “Ramstad Yard is doing fine. Why not enjoy some of the exotic ports we visit? And your family? It would be good for Kristian to see them too.”
    “We will see.”
    His tone irritated Elsa. “You will see to our business, husband, as always. But I will see to our son and myself. I want to at least see greater Yokohama. It sounds too delightful to pass up.”
    Peder looked up at her sharply, his fork poised in mid-bite. “You will not go alone.”
    Riley shifted in his chair. Elsa willed herself not to do the same under Peder’s gaze. She hated when he took the captain’s tone with her. “I will hire a guide.”
    Peder continued to stare at her. “We will see. I am uncomfortable thinking whom you might meet.”
    Elsa frowned, confused. “The Japanese are purported to be some of the most respectable, genteel people on earth.”
    “No. I am uncomfortable with whom you might meet.” The repetition of his sentence finally caught her attention.
    “Surely, you don’t believe that Mason Dutton—”
    “Would follow us here? Why not? I—”
    “Mason Dutton!” Riley exploded. “Where did you see that scum o’ the earth?”
    “Hawaii,” Peder said briefly.
    “That explains all sails set,” Riley said, chewing thoughtfully. “You might’ve let me—”
    “Peder,” Elsa interrupted, “we cannot live in fear of the man. It is one thing to avoid Dutton, another to run from him. Let us go to the authorities.”
    “I am still mulling it over. I’m not afraid to tell you that the uniform throws me off. Now, he might be an impostor, or he might be the genuine article. Perhaps he’s even a decorated officer. This far from home, who would the authorities listen to?”
    “Well, at least we three could identify him. Why not take him on? It is unlike you to run from a fight.” The words were out before she could stop them.
    “I cannot explain it. I could find no peace over the idea of staying in Hawaii and confronting the …” he paused, glancing at Kristian, “and all I could think of was how I nearly lost you to his henchmen on that island, and how I now have
two
of you to protect.”
    Elsa was silent, considering his dilemma. The drama of that West Indies night when Mason Dutton and his men attacked the
Herald
came flooding back. Mason Dutton and his crew had swarmed the
Herald
, weapons drawn, in a brazen attempt to take over the ship and kidnap Elsa. Peder had indeed nearly lost her; he
had
lost his best friend, Karl Martensen, in the process. She could understand Peder’s urge to flee rather than fight in Hawaii. But how long would it haunt them?
    “What do you think he has up his sleeve? Do you believe he was an officer five years