Pier

Colonel Clapperton was late.

He overslept. Well, who wouldn’t? It was in the middle of summer but the breeze was remarkably comforting. Thank goodness it was Sunday, and the naval officer had no official duty.

But he thought he had to do something. After thirty years of daily exertion, it had become his habit to go to work everyday. He quickly went to the garage and got into his Land Rover, and, in no time, he was by the shore. To be specific, he was at the pier of Plymouth. As the general manager of the port, he felt home by simply sitting there and watching the boats sailing in and out.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It has the familiar hue of saltiness.

"Em..." a voice appeared from his back.

Colonel Clapperton opened his eyes and turned around. There was a middle-age stranger with a curious smile at the entrance.

The stranger hid his smile and said, “Sir, let me introduce myself. I am Y, the Professor of Alternative Science from the University of Munchausen. You may have heard of my achievement from the local news..."

(See http://ccszeto.blogspot.hk/2013/10/village.html)