Bored out of her mind, An Li came every day to watch the little greenskins repair their ship.
She squatted on the beach, watching the sailors hammer steel plates, weld cracks with welding torches, and wrap tape around pipes and cables.
She understood none of it, but she found it fascinating.
She had talked to every goblin.
The captain told her about the Goblin Empire's history, the achievements of its successive emperors, and the rise of the Supreme God's Court.
The first mate told her about navigation: how to find her bearings, avoid storms, and survive at sea.
The engineer told her how engines worked, how fuel burned, and how energy was converted.
The scientist told her about the mysteries of the stars, the orbits of planets, and the light of stars.
Jim stayed by her side, explaining things and taking notes for her.
An Li asked Jim, "Why are you always writing things in that notebook?"
Jim said, "I want to record everything here and take it back for my people to see."
An Li toured their ship.
It was small, but packed with instruments and equipment. Dozens of buttons and knobs covered the console, and the instrument panel held more than a dozen gauges and indicator lights.
The sight left An Li dizzy.
Jim pointed out the instruments, introducing them one by one.
"This is the speedometer, this is the temperature gauge, this is the pressure gauge, this is the energy indicator, this is the communicator, and this is the radar."
An Li wanted Jim to demonstrate them, too, but interference from the island's strong magnetic field had rendered almost all of them inoperable.
Over the next few days, An Li grew increasingly eager to visit the Goblin World.
There were televisions, ice cream, cars that could drive,