A shallow inland pool sheltered from the direct beating of the tides served as the village harbor. Several piers with posts from oak tree trunks extended into the water; hundreds of fishing boats were moored with thick ropes. Small row boats rested by wide sailboats. The nets of the smaller vessels were compacted into piles at the corners and were worn from exposure. Some of the larger vessels had masts, boxes for the fishing equipment, and deep hulls suitable for a heavy catch. A few large vessels were loaded with rusty lobster traps. Teams of small boats nearby shared shrimp nets. Barnacles clung to the sides of their hulls and their equipment sat in salt-stained piles.

A three-sided building directly behind the center of the piers had fish piled for cleaning, salting, and weighing. It was empty as the early morning sun glistened against the remains of yesterday’s work. The huge table had gouges from knife and cleaver work. A balance scale had rocks piled on one side. Rolls of woven flax sat around numerous clay jars filled with herbs and salts. Fresh blocks of salt waited on benches. At the far sides of the piers were piles of driftwood, broken oars, ripped sails, torn nets, and other damaged items left for anyone who could find a use for them. Men gathered at the piles in the early morning twilight to pick through them, while others tossed unwanted items.

As the sun reached halfway above the eastern horizon, Josh found himself confused because it rose over the eastern side of the beach; instead of above the ocean, as it did in Jersey. Then again, this place was different. He thought there were places on earth where the sunrise might be like this. A light burn developed over his arms, face, and neck yet gave way to a subdued tan that complemented his muscular build.

Lord Nostrum was leader of the fishermen in this village, practically all the larger boats were his, and most of the fisherman worked solely for him. Eighty percent of the village’s catch belonged to him. That’s where Josh came in, he was hired to load the carts that hauled Nostrum’s catch from the harbor to wherever it was to be taken. He cleaned the chopping station by scrubbing out guts and bones that were ground into the floor. When that was finished, there wouldn’t be much work until the boats returned, so he planned to go relax. The harbor foreman hollered for him just as he started for the inn. Josh pointed to himself.

“Yes, you. You’re sailing with Lord Nostrum. Consider yourself lucky.”

“No way. I can’t go out on the water, not my job description.”

The foreman laughed, “Wants to work for a boat, yet he’s afraid to go out on the water. If that’s how you feel then find work elsewhere, and see if they’ll build you a boat.”

“I’m not afraid of the ocean.”

“Then there’s no problem,” the foreman grabbed Josh by the arm. “Come along now kid.”

“Wait, if I go out to sea, then Nadia has to come with me. The inn is less than half a mile away. Let me go back for her. I’ll be back in five minutes or you can have my job.”

The foreman squeezed Joshes’ upper arm. Josh pulled from the foreman’s grip before backing away.

“Keep your distance.”

“Listen foreigner. The boats are no place for women, so if you want to keep your precious lungs free of salty water, I advise you not to entertain such loathsome thoughts.”

“Give me a break, it’s not like she’s bad luck.”

“That’s exactly what she would be. I’ll tell the Lord you don’t wish to sail with him. You can beg for his mercy later.”

“No way,” Josh outpaced the burly man, “I’ll tell him myself.”

Folded sailcloth hinted of a colorful pattern as it hung from the rigging of a large fishing boat at the end of the central pier. The sturdy hull was scoured of barnacles. The interior had a highly polished finish. A short plank formed a bridge. Lord Nostrum wore a pair of old linens torn around the knee while leaving his feet and torso bare. There was another aboard in similar fashion, except with the addition of a faded red bandana around his head.

“This is the one, right?” the foreman stayed on the pier as Josh crossed the plank.

“He’s the one. Welcome aboard the Quagmire.”

Nostrum bowed heartily. Josh was struck funny by the name and the greeting, so much so that he never noticed the foreman pull the plank or untie the mooring rope.

“You’re kidding me, right?”

“I don’t have any children,” Nostrum said.

“I mean you’re joking. Why would you call your boat the Quagmire? You might as well call it the Lead Weight, or the Leaker.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Ah, but you’re not thinking like I’m thinking. You’ll get the idea when we go sailing though. I’m sure of it. I can tell a strength when I see it, so I’m sure you’ll make a fine fisherman.”

“That’s the problem. I have to refuse. Nadia asked me to stay on shore at all times, I have to be available in case she needs my help.”

“Your woman is well protected; I can assure you that nothing bad will happen to her at my inn. Don’t tell me she makes your rules for you!?”

“Wait a s-sec…”

“At least for the time being, you’re both working for me, so I’m sure she’ll understand. I’m shorthanded today, and in desperate need of a third man. What harm could possibly come of it?”

As the sails came down, they revealed a school of brilliantly colored fish sewn into their fabric.

“Mardela sewed that pattern into these old sails. It’s been torn and repaired countless times, but I can’t bear to part with it. My father used to say: the best way to get to know what’s in a man’s soul is to fish with him. I hope you’ll consider that.”

“How far out do we go?”

“About ten nauts, if the weather’s fair.”

“Fine, I’ll go.”

“That’s grand,” Nostrum laughed, “I thought you’d have a change of heart; after all, I wouldn’t want you to have to swim back.”

Josh then noticed they had already set sail. The boat was the first to leave the natural jetty protecting the harbor. Not far behind, other vessels of various sizes competed to woo the ocean. A man in a red bandana, his face blotched by sun, stood atop the mast. He licked his finger to gauge the wind before checking the sails. Then he climbed down, jumped in front of Josh, and introduced himself with a toothless grin. His odd name was Deagle, and for the next hour, he worked by adjusting the sails. There were large oars attached to hooks at both sides, but they were unneeded because the wind was favorable. Josh laid in the shadow of the boat’s side. He avoided the harsh sun because he didn’t want the sunburn that gave fishermen their leathery complexions. Nostrum eventually asked Josh to help him ready the nets. They pulled them from their box and stretched them across the ship. They each unfurled nets carefully to avoid tangling the wide laced mesh.

“I was wondering a bit; from where do you hail? Why do you wish to go to Tramen?”

“That’s our concern,”

“But you come from someplace. Certainly, you come from someplace: a village, the Sapline coast, the great twin cities of the northern republic, the forest of Nomphler, or maybe you hail from distant Lothalos.”

“I’m from a little village called Trenton. Nothing to talk about.”

“Where would this place be?”

“Far to the west of here.”

“And the girl?”

“I haven’t a clue. I’m hired to help her find something, that’s all I know.”

“I hope you’re accompanying her of your own free will. My sources tell me that your companion is a powerful enchantress, who forces men to do her will as mere puppets.”

“Did that old fart tell you that? If that was the case, she wouldn’t have to work so hard to get across the ocean.”

Nostrum smiled, “Yet the men tip her so generously.”

“They don’t get to see a one-woman circus delivering their food too often; besides, they’ve already gotten bored with the act. You don’t have anything to gripe about though, we’ve given you everything we got.”

Nostrum clenched the net and winced at the sky, “Still, there’s some truth to what’s been said. She’s a gifted warrior, and I believe she has some power in the way of healing. It’s too bad Mardela couldn’t benefit, but if an experienced sage like Bradox can only barely keep her alive, then a young lass shouldn’t go so far as to think of attempting to help.”

“She can heal your wife. I know she can.”

“Nonsense, pure nonsense. Keep her from getting ambitious ideas. I won’t risk losing my Mardela.”

The sails folded so they would drift with the tide as they cast their nets. Deagle checked the ropes used to pull the nets. They were tied to stubby posts at the edges the hull. With luck, the net would trap many fish as it folded during the return.

“We’ll leave it ad it id for a few minutes,” Deagle explained, “Brin it up, and do it all ower again till the boat id full up with the fish.”

There was a pause, Josh laid face down again; he enjoyed the sound of the water against the wooden hull. The gentle rocking made him somewhat sleepy. For the first time, he couldn’t hide himself in the shade, and the sun started to bite the back of his neck. He knew he was getting a sunburn anyway, so he decided to let it tan back there where the flesh was less important.

“Time to pull her up,” Nostrum declared.

The net pulled up with little resistance until the bottom folded over the top. The two ends of the net were laced together and tied shut before they hauled the catch. It was too heavy, so Deagle checked the lines before briefly opening the ends of the net to allow some fish to escape. Each pull chaffed at Joshes palms, but as the task came closer to completion, he could see that they had trapped a decent load of fish.

“A great day to be livin’, that id for sure! We don’t oftener get thad many on the fird haul.”

“Keep pulling,” Nostrum said.

The left section of the net pulled inside the boat and reopened. The fish were hauled inside one small load at a time, until the net emptied and the vessel’s bottom was half full. Fish flopped about at their feet.

“A fine assortment of flatfish, if I do say so,” Nostrum brimmed with delight, “Let’s get the net ready for another go. If the next catch is as good, we’ll have to unload.”

As the net was prepared for the second haul, Josh felt something like the hot ends of automobile cigarette lighters being drug across the backside of his arm. He winced as they threw the net back into the water, then he went to the backside of the mast and took a quick glance. A dark rash had developed where he felt the digging burn. With one arm, he clung to the mast. Dizziness overtook him. The sun pounded relentlessly. The heat seared exposed skin. With the coming of noon, there was no place to hide from the rays directly overhead, so Josh laid against the stern and intentionally tucked his right arm under his stomach.

“What’d the matter? Feelin’ a bit weewick already? A fine good explorer you’ll make out.”

“Leave him alone,” Nostrum commanded, “We weren’t all made fit to deal with the sea,” He turned to Josh with a disappointed look. “You were doing so well for a while; doesn’t the smell of the catch agree with you?”

“The sun doesn’t agree with me. Don’t worry though, I can still help you pull the catch in.”

When Nostrum called for the nets to be brought in, Josh checked the rash on his arm. It hadn’t spread. He sighed thankfully, then readied himself for the next haul.