Stavanger Bay life is like a box of chocolates

Wrap this up?

Aesop offered a solemn nod to Charon's statement. "Sometimes it's more in the seein'. Ain't always a whisper, sometimes it's spelled out, you just gotta know how to read it," he explained, statement blessedly devoid of any of the foul language that usually colored his speech. Seeing and reading the messages in the stars was long and wearying business, as it meant seeing and comparing and squinting at the ever-rotating sky through the early hours of the morning. And sometimes messages lacked clarity or detail, because no shit Mars is in retrograde, but what exactly is going to go wrong?

It was a vexing task, but one that Aesop reveled in, as he loved a challenge.

Rather, some challenges. They had all had a long day, and by now Aesop had the beginnings of a headache, a pressure at his temples. With a tut and a gentle prod of his nose, Aesop tried to stir Charon into action. "That," he began, "I can tell you later. I think we're all due for a nap, so why don't you scamper on home, kid? The stars have been there for a long-ass time, I'm sure they'll wait until nightfall." Because Charon seemed to need a nap, and Aesop wouldn't mind one either to relieve the growing pressure in his skull.