It was dinner time, and James had eventually joined the others after clearing his sinuses repeatedly. Bullet stayed in the dining room as well, and a dish was prepared for him as well.

Angela sat next to her husband Bill Lightfoot. Bill was a well-built man and apparently had loved sailing. He seemed like a generally happy man, and was apparently belonging to some important company as well.

"We should be fine 'ere in the middle o' the ocean!" he bellowed when being asked who was keeping the ship on its course. "I got me a jee-pee-ess system here that'll tell us where ta go!"

He talked like he was always drunk, but perhaps it was just his happy demeanor showing through. He smiled in between bites of chicken and offered some to Bullet, much to West's objection.

Lance Lipson was a friend of Bill. He worked almost at as high of a status in the company as Bill, and was an interesting contrast to Bill because he was generally quiet, but outgoing, which was in itself an interesting contrast. Lance had slightly long dark hair for a man, but looked far more professional than Bill could ever hope to look. He was using contacts during the cruise in place of his glasses because they were more convenient at times, or so he said.

"You sure?" asked Lance. "Wouldn't want us getting lost again after that last trip..."

Sitting at the end of the table in slight isolation was Vic Caverns. He smiled and nodded when someone asked him to pass the bread or salt, but was almost eerily quiet. Of course, that may have been because no one had talked with him in the first place. Vic was a little overweight and bald. He gave the appearance of a clown with no make-up, actually. He was invited by Angela, but...

"Do you see that?" asked Shin'ichi.

James was sitting next to him as Shin'ichi motioned his head quickly and clandestinely toward Angela Lightfoot. She had shot Vic a kind of strange glance... a most indescribable glance... But it was momentary, and it was possible that it was all in their imagination.

Madison Carolina was a friend of Angela from work and looked rather tired, actually. Her blonde hair was combed, but most untidily, and strands stuck out everywhere. Her eyelids carried bags under them, and her eyes hinted at the tiniest suspicion of being bloodshot. She was bigger than Angela, to say the least, and she acted as if she were permanently tired.

"I suppose," she said after Angela offered her some bread.

"Cheer up!" said Angela. "We're on a cruise now! No more worrying about work and such!"

Madison managed a faint smile and took some bread.

The conversation continued between the adults about investments and such. It was quite boring, actually, and especially to Vic, whom everyone seemed to be trying to keep out of the conversation.

Dinner consisted of chicken, bread, and mashed potatoes along various vegetables and the like. An odd meal for being out on the sea.

"How come we're not having fish?" asked Shin'ichi as he looked out the window into the sea. His question caused a hearty laugh from some, though not as hearty of a laugh as Bill Lightfoot's.

"You see," he roared, "we're gonna be on this ship fer a while, so I figgered we'd start with land food first!"

Everyone let out a general laugh, and even the social oddities of Vic's presence seemed to die down, for it was no secret that Vic was constantly alone on the ship.

"So Vic," said James as the others continued conversation, "why are you on this boat?"

"Me?" he asked innocently. "That's an odd question."

"Well, it's just... it seems like no one wants to talk to you or something..." James trailed off.

Vic just smiled. "That's okay. I'm used to it from work. I've no doubt that I'll have fun on this cruise, anyway."

But suddenly his face turned cold. Vic said, "Listen here, though, kid. I dunno what's really going on with this ship, but I gotta tell you something... if you can keep a secret..."

But just as he was about to speak, Angela rushed out of the room and came back in with chocolate cake for dessert. Everyone roared in delight as the cake was sliced and given to everyone. As Angela passed the pieces of cake out, she had to crack a strange smile to Vic. Shin'ichi observed closely as she set the plate down on the table.

"Something's strange about her," Shin'ichi whispered to James. James nodded.

"What were you going to tell me about?" asked James to Vic.

"I'll... I'll tell you tomorrow," he said, starting to eat his cake.

"Well, let's all be merry!" shouted Bill as he held up his glass of wine that was poured to everyone, save James and Shin'ichi. Glasses tinked and everyone drank up.

"Wow!" shouted West Courier. "That's some good wine!"

"Sure is," admitted Madison quietly but with a genuine smile. Everyone had genuine smiles now, and perhaps this cruise wasn't as foreboding as the atmosphere suggested.

"Uh oh..." said Bill Lightfoot.

It was a quite sudden interjection and everyone looked under the table to where Bill had to find Bullet eating a bit of chocolate cake.

"Now how'd that get there?!" asked Bill with a sense of alarm.

James let out a silent shriek and leapt under the table, dirtying himself as he pushed Bullet away from what remained of the chocolate cake and made sure he wouldn't get any more.

"Oh, dear..." said Madison.

"That's no good," said Angela. "Looks like he's gonna be sick..."

It was true. Bullet had less vitality than usual. His usually hyper-active tail was drooping now, and he looked as if he was about to fall. James scooped up the beagle and walked off with it.

"I hope he'll be all right," said Lance.

---

After dinner had adjourned, everyone returned to their rooms except West Courier and Shin'ichi, who had both gone to James's room to see how Bullet was holding up. They walked into the dark room to find Bullet sleeping and James stroking him. The beagle's breathing was slow and its heartbeat was fast. West Courier and Shin'ichi approached James.

"He'll be all right," said West without life in his voice. "He's young. It'll pass through his system quickly."

James didn't raise his eyes to look at his companions. He just looked out the window. Evidently, he had been scared that Bullet might have died by the incident.

After a few minutes of not saying anything, West gave James a hug and left the room, motioning for Shin'ichi to follow. He nodded, but before leaving, turned back and said, "I measured how much cake's in his system and how much cake was on the ground in total. The cake would not have been enough to kill Bullet anyway, but..." Shin'ichi hesitated. James continued staring out the door, and reached for a tissue to blow his nose. Shin'ichi didn't finish his thought. He closed the door. James blew his nose.