Toru
------------------

I looked at her with narrowed eyes. Why was she so willing to help me? And could I even trust her? To go to Africa... And what did that have to do with the Norse creation story?

"I'm Jada, by the way." She held out her hand. I knew this was how foreigners met one another, but I did not accept her hand. That was too intimate of a motion, I did not feel comfortable with it.

"Why this Gin place and Africa? Why does this gap become so suddenly Africa?"

Jada thought about it for a moment, but again I did not leave her time to answer. "Anyhow. I have no... what is the word? Okane? Uh, payment?"

Jada crumpled her brow. "Money?"

"Yes, money. I have none." I did not bother to tell her I could probably get free passage on a ship for helping on board. "My sister cannot be at this place. No slaver would want her."

"And why is that?"

It would dishonour my sister to tell a stranger that she was mentally ill, so I simply said, "She has... ah... bad disposition for a slave."