---

Panel 1 [Back on the other side of the curtain, Ezra is chatting with the other whalers. Bastien and Joseph, framing him, are asking questions]

BASTIEN:
Curious, sir, why you ain’t eating with the Old Man. That’s the table for officers. China plate and good ham aft.

JOSEPH O REILLY:
Curious if he might get ornery at your fraternizin’ here, too.

Panel 2 [Ezra looks up, unbothered]

EZRA:
I think, if my fraternizin’ makes for a crew in good spirits that’s good at killin’ whales, he won’t give a damn for where I eat or talk.

Panel 3 [Ezra nods over at Josué with a smile, who glances down casually at him]

EZRA:
And I got friends over here.

Panel 4 [Pulled back shot of the focsle, closed in by bunks in the foreground, as Bastien poses a question to the room]

BASTIEN:
Have of you ever sailed on this ship?

Panel 5 [James Barnard glances up, as he scratches the ship's cat under the chin.

JAMES:

Aye, I spent the last two trips whaling from her. Scupper here, too, fine little shipmate. Eher keep.

Panel 6 [Josué looks up at James, leaning his shoulder against a beam]

JOSUÉ:
Is what they say true then? Is the ship lucky? Will we be rich at the end of this?