As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War

6- ☾☾☾

A month doth come and go upon the Sea

of travel to the North by day and night

by Pilgrim's piloting at light of sun,

and our Pariah's by his Luna's glow,

and though they rest on islands when they can

to find repose and food and potables,

majority of time is in the boat

to keep them ever travelling to goal

whilst Author fills the missing gaps within

her manuscript when our Pariah speaks                10

in answer to the questions that she asks.

But on this night a month into their trip

across the Middle Sea, Pariah's th'one

to ask the first of questions whilst he steers

and Spouse doth sleep, so Author navigates,

and what he asks of her is summ'd as such:

"I've given ye the stories of my nights

t'explain how body that you see's awake

for longer hours than what's usual,

but what I'd like to know is how you keep                20

your eyes from shutting oftener than most,

for I cannot imagine that you meant

to sail 'cross the Sea and hope to sleep

within this skiff upon the crashing waves

without another person standing guard,

nor can I figure out how much you watch'd

mine actions carried out without a way

to keep a hold of consciousness e'en with

the help of other Scholars you've reveal'd,

but did neglect to mention when we met."                30

The Author reaches in her pouch and pulls

a package out, revealing t'him a block

of powder. "This I sniff to stay awake

and active longer than the common man.

And with my secret open, I would ask

how much you know of what is going on

inside your mind, for obviously you

are sep'rate from the Pilgrim, yet it seems

that you recall th'events occurring by

the day, and for a while he could not                40

identify the things you did by night,

but now, it seems whilst sailing with the man,

he's starting to remember things you've done,

for though he dothn't say it all aloud

there's guilt and pensiveness upon his face

when of his journey do I queries pose."

Pariah's countenance now hardens here

and when he says these words his voice is flat: