The sun started to sink over the distant horizon. The red arrow on the dashboard compass pointed around 35 or so degrees between North and East. I yawn, and decide to drop the anchor and call it a night. I head down to the galley and cook a dinner of salmon and dragonfruit.

“Liam!” I call “Dinner!” Liam comes in, carrying a large fishing net.

“Where’d you get all that?” I ask.

“I spent the whole day fishing.” I start unpacking the fish when I hear something

“HEY!”

I turn to Liam “What?” I ask, assuming it was him

“What?” he asks, surprised

“Didn’t you just say ‘hey’?” I ask

“No?”

“Then who was it?” I ask

“Beats me” Liam says. I head to the storeroom and grab a torch before I head up to the wheelhouse. I lean out of a window, scanning the torch beam onto the brilliant blue waves. Then I see it. Someone flailing around in the water! Liam has just reached the top of the ladder, when I pelt down it and onto the deck.

“HANG ON!” I call out to the person. I throw off my jeans and t-shirt and dive into the water. The water is icy and deep, but I keep going. I haul the stranger through the water as Liam casts a rope to us. He hauls us up onto the deck, and the stranger splutters and coughs.

“Thank you. Thank you both.” she splutters, sitting up. Her wavy blonde hair is plastered to her pale complexion as the wind blows it across her evergreen eyes.

“What happened?” I ask.

“My boat capsized.” the girl replies “I was heading home”

“Where’s your home?” Liam asks, handing her a towel

“Australia.” the girl replies.

“Australia?” I ask

“Yes.” the girl starts to cough again. Liam turns to me

“Don’t worry, I got this.” he turn back to the girl when I’m about to ask him what he’s doing.

“G’day, Skipper! Really ace we picked yeh up! Unfortunately, there’s not ambo around, but Ebony here knows some ace first aid.” he says in a really strong Australian accent

“What are you-?” I ask, but he cuts me off.

“Unlucky yeh weren’t in yeh bathers, or the swim might’ve been a bit better. Guess yeh used to billabongs. Come down to the galley, we’ve got some bikkies and avos. If you’re of age, you can have some grog if we’ve got any. Mind you, the cockie might be around.” The girl looks at him, bewildered.

“Excuse me?” she asks. Liam’s smile fades.

“I was just, um. I was speaking what I thought was Australian.” he said, sheepishly. The girl groans

“Why does everyone foreign think we talk like that?” she asks herself. “Where are you from?”

“England.” Liam replies

“Oh, Good evening to you. I guess the sea is different from your vast, great British countryside, isn’t it? And your jolly holidays to the sea-side? Spiffing good weather over there isn’t it, during Spring and summer? Bit of a downer during winter and autumn. Really comes down then doesn’t it?” she says, in a very posh, British accent.

“What?” Liam asks.

“See, it’s weird isn’t it.” she replies.

“Well, sorry!” Liam says, raising his arms in surrender.

“Come on. Come have something to eat.” I lead her down to the galley.