Year of the Boar, Seventh Month, Day 27.

The gods have not forsaken me... at last I can write enough to report that the pains have gone and the motion of the ship seems to have settled down considerably. I am not completely well but I have managed to eat some plain food and I have only been sick once in the past day or so. A considerable improvement. I cannot bring myself to return below decks just yet although Kyung-Ah says that she has had my cabin cleaned. We manage to communicate reasonably well now; I have picked up a fair amount of the traders' language and the Chief has been teaching some of them mine so our conversations are much easier than when I first arrived at camp.  Since I took up residence on the deck, Kyung- Ah has been telling me about the land from which they hail and it sounds most interesting; one day, I should like to travel there although I am not convinced that I could cope with another journey by ship. If I can find a map, perhaps I will be able to find a way to travel there over land.
I have sent a letter to let Nanami know that I am on my way North and that things are unfolding as planned; I have not given her details about the traders or the Chief but she does not need to know. The other bird, I have sent back to Pale Twilight in the hope that Shikiko can ascertain the state of my network's pay roll and discover what Mother knows about my whereabouts. I have wrapped myself in a blanket as a defense against the bitter wind that sweeps across the sea almost permanently and I shall huddle against the mast to try and sleep a little until I feel brave enough to try and go back to the cabin...