Page 20
Got real confused parsing all that ship rigging but I do love a nighttime harbor scene.
↓ Transcript
Panel 1 [She deflates a little, bracing one hand on the table as she looks over at her son, still speaking firmly. Ezra is looking over at her with a frown, his fingers now locked together, speaking quietly.]
MA:
There’s nothin' more in bein’ a whaleman, either.
EZRA:
There's a captaincy.
Panel 2 [Ezra’s mother sinks down in her chair, exhausted and exasperated, as if they've had this conversation many times.]
MA:
Ezra.
If every man who went whalin’ ended up a captain there’d be a forest of ships in that harbor with only masters and no one to crew ‘em.
Panel 3 [An overhead view of moonlit ships, quiet in the harbor. Ezra's voice is overlaid]
EZRA:
You don't know how close I am, ma. I talked to this new captain I’m shippin’ with. I’m no harpooner anymore. I was brought up to second mate.
Panel 4 [Ezra speaks to her almost pleadingly, and she’s still wearing a tired frown as she looks off to the side.]
EZRA:
And one day I'm gonna haul up a mansion for you both. And neither of you will have to work with the baker. You won't have to work at all. And Lizzie can just go to school.
MA:
We'd do better with you here than with a mansion.
MA:
There’s nothin' more in bein’ a whaleman, either.
EZRA:
There's a captaincy.
Panel 2 [Ezra’s mother sinks down in her chair, exhausted and exasperated, as if they've had this conversation many times.]
MA:
Ezra.
If every man who went whalin’ ended up a captain there’d be a forest of ships in that harbor with only masters and no one to crew ‘em.
Panel 3 [An overhead view of moonlit ships, quiet in the harbor. Ezra's voice is overlaid]
EZRA:
You don't know how close I am, ma. I talked to this new captain I’m shippin’ with. I’m no harpooner anymore. I was brought up to second mate.
Panel 4 [Ezra speaks to her almost pleadingly, and she’s still wearing a tired frown as she looks off to the side.]
EZRA:
And one day I'm gonna haul up a mansion for you both. And neither of you will have to work with the baker. You won't have to work at all. And Lizzie can just go to school.
MA:
We'd do better with you here than with a mansion.
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