A scent of spice on the rising wind told her they were back. Following fate gives people a thirst and for this crew Salty Sal’s was the only joint in town. She could hear them singing from the dockside, hauling her special cargo - juniper, coriander and cassia, bitter orange, angelica and liquorice root.
They were no angels and had midnight on their minds. The Skipper was last in, her heart flipped as he crossed the bar. Her new gin was made for him, but she’d never let on. ‘Hello Sailor,’ she said, ‘good to have you back.’