Ballad of Clear Sky

Bart,
 
I sailed through the expanse. The wind cut and howled and the rain was like knives on my skin. It hurt. It burned in its own bracing icey way. Most on the damn boat have barely been under a sail let alone captained a boat. There is an ITC vet here that seemed to know some things but -- *words here are scratched out*
 
But the Expanse tested me, like you'd said it would. We fought rigging and slept barely 3 hours a night, if that. I swapped the booze for coffee and felt clearheaded for the first time in a long time. You really - *more scratched out*
 
Anyway, I just wanted someone to know I'd beaten it. We fought the storm for days and then found theeye, rode that hole to the next island and let the storm pass. Did just like you always said.
 
I thought about you again. Before we sailed the eye, I had the nightmare while I bled out on the deck of this barely-not-pirate vessel. It could have been my last day and did I see mother or picture home? No. But I saw you again. I saw you and the hell I am bound for.
 
If this one finds you, I soon may be more close to the wheel than the brig on this vessel - The Golden Vixen. We sail for Flamingo Kay and then past to the next job. I leave a trail that should be easy to follow if you would have words again someday.