Then they started to talk about what kinds of things were needed on pirate ships. Someone said that pickling things was a crucial part of feeding a crew. A couple of loud ladies ignored this and talked about firearms and the related technology, but no one really paid any attention to that. Most of the women just wanted to hear Mariana's funniest stories and also the most terrifying ones.
It was interesting to feel so comforted in the presence of total strangers. Mariana got warm, and the floor started to feel almost too comfortable under her soles.
She nodded to the ladies and took a towel.
"We'll see you later," an old grandmother said with a cute smile and waved at her.
"Sure!"
Mariana kept her body tightly within the robe. The fact that she was comfortable in all female company did not mean that she would ever want to meet a strange man while naked. Indeed, as she took a closer look at the pools, she realized that the watery areas were separated by gender, after all.
