Pandora Gets Lazy by Carolyn Hennesy

question.”
    â€œCan’t you say ‘I have a question’?”
    â€œDon’t change the subject.”
    â€œOkay. Prunes. What was the question, again?”
    â€œYou’re being obdurate and obfuscatory!”
    â€œI’m not! I don’t think.”
    â€œYou’re keeping something from me.”
    â€œDried dates! Now I’m mad!”
    Then both would simply stop speaking—until one or the other started praying or crying about Pandy.
    But on the afternoon of their fourth day aboard, Iole was being more persistent than usual.
    â€œI’m one of your best friends, in case you weren’t aware! Don’t even think about denying it. And best friends are supposed to confide in each other.”
    â€œYou don’t have to know everything. Can’t I just have a little secret to myself?”
    â€œFine,” Iole said, then she paused. “I know what it is anyway.”
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œNever mind, I just know.”
    Alcie was so disconcerted by this that she chased Iole all over the room, until the two girls began to laugh wildly. It was almost exhilarating to finally be able to release some of the anger and tension of the past few days, that Iole didn’t even mind when Alcie ultimately tripped her, sending Iole sprawling onto one of the pallets, where Alcie sat on her back until she turned pink.
    â€œYour hair is getting really long,” Alcie said.
    â€œSo is yours. And you’re getting heavy. Really heavy.” Iole’s words were muffled because she was facedown in the pallet linens.
    Alcie began to absentmindedly braid Iole’s dark brown hair while she sat on her, when suddenly the ship gave a tremendous lurch, followed by a long shudder and (they thought) a groan. Then silence. Then the old wood, all the beams, sidewalls, and floorboards at once, began to creak incessantly. Then silence.
    Alcie leapt off of Iole’s back. They both remained stock-still for a minute. Then they heard heavy footsteps in the corridor, which stopped just outside the door to Homer’s cabin, directly across from theirs. Homer had been out all day, Alcie was sure of it, and was just now returning to his cabin. Waiting a full ten seconds, Alcie opened the door and collided with Homer, standing in the doorframe. She felt the most astounding and unusual electric shock run through her body.
    â€œUh—”
    â€œUh—”
    â€œOkay,” Iole said from behind, “our cabin. Hurry before anyone sees!”
    Alcie and Iole picked the cushions off the floor and sat on one of the two small pallets in the cabin while Homer sat on the other, after turning it right-side up.
    â€œDo you know what just happened?” Alcie asked.
    â€œYes, do you know why the boat just lurched so violently?” Iole followed.
    â€œWhy is everything overturned?” Homer asked, unaware of their questions. “What were you guys doing?”
    â€œOh, that. Uh . . . exercising,” said Alcie. Iole just rubbed her sides.
    â€œWell,” Homer whispered, “you know I’ve, like, basically been in only two places since we were kidnapped: my cabin and the captain’s quarters.”
    As Homer was talking, Alcie noticed that he wasn’t really looking at them . . . his gaze was focused just past her and his voice, even in a whisper, seemed to catch in his throat.
    â€œNow, I know Jealousy and Vanity are already in the box, that is if Pandy is still alive, and the box didn’t get smashed or something.”
    â€œMay I just say that you have the most delicate, sophisticated, and urbane way of putting things,” Iole said.
    â€œBut you also said something,” Homer went on, completely oblivious, “about having to find some lesser evils. And you didn’t know where to look for them?”
    â€œCorrect,” Iole said.
    â€œWell, I was just looking at some scrolls in the captain’s cabin, and