We drew up to the dock, Uppsee and crew much more skilled than we had been when we left. The smell of things still burning was choking, forcing us to cover our mouths and noses with shirts, bandanas, with whatever cloth was handy. The dock was charred nearly to the water line, but the crew was not afraid to jump down on the blackened wood to tie off this ship. Uppsee barked out orders and her voice echoed against silent buildings and streets filled with ash. There was no one around.

“Do you w...