20q

For a puff piece, I once asked the Captain what were his favourite bands, who did he admire most, what was his ideal breed of dog, his happiest memory, favourite book, colour, restaurant, person, place, historical person he would most like to have dinner with....

We just looked at each other. Skip spoke not a word. But I swear, I swear people, there was a tear in his big eye.

We all need somebody to hold onto

For me it's the Captain. Yes, I know you may laugh at me for saying so. I know, I know, I can hear your sniggers from here, snigger snigger but bear with me. For all he was wrought and plundered, for all his vanquishing of the Infeasibles (stinkers!), it's his quiet moments that attract.

Like the night in the forest. Remember, the Gathering. Oh how with one line the Skipper shut up all those old farts!

"... consider if we have all the light of old in our hands, what would happen if we close them...?"

Coming in spirals...

... they approach from the South. Dust rises from the desert floor. They wish to settle now but they know they cannot.

Their leader is a desperate man; the years in the wilderness have made his plans grotesque. They all want to live in cities but we stop them at the gates.

We are over there yet they are not here.