Chapter 15. Ferry Tales

Will rose early the next day and started getting ready to get moving. Lighting the stove for the day, making sure there was kindling in the galley, starting the boiler pressuring, boiling the kettle. All the important stuff. Minnie was still sleeping, as was Naomi but that was okay. Sometimes it’s nice to have a lie in. Sitting in the mess waiting for the kettle he mulled over the days work. Steam to the burrows, pick up another load of people, then just as quickly back to the new site. They had enough food, but it wouldn’t be fancy, they were going to bake bread today, and from the way the work crew had loved it then it would be a hit. Apparently bread made with yeast was an unknown here, it was always unleavened bread, and quite rare. There was a very quick growing season, just four months long, and wild grains would be harvested. Used for flat breads like tortillas, however the supplies wouldn’t last. When the relocation was complete perhaps their lifestyle would change to more farming. They would have to for survival.

As he nursed his tea and thought about everything and nothing, Minnie popped in, bright eyed and bushy tailed…literally. Dressed in shorts and a sleeveless shirt, yellow hat of course and flip flops. “Planning on freezing today, are we?” Will asked. “Nah, just wanted to be comfy, I’ll toss my other stuff on over and I’ll be good.” she answered. Naomi came in right after, dressed the same, she and Minnie stared at each other for a second or two then burst out laughing. “Nice outfit Min.”, she said. “You too.”, Minnie replied. Will had poured a mug of hot apple juice for her and she drank it slowly. “Sure do miss milk you know, do you think the reindeer’s gave any when we left?”. Will shrugged, “I know they don’t give much, they probably won’t get any until they are set up.”. Minnie sighed, “I know we’ll be back at Laketown or Newton soon enough but I miss lots of things you know.”. “Me too.”, Will agreed.

“It’s going to be a long day, I don’t think we should do a layover, just pick up and head back. You guys okay with that?” Will asked after they had eaten. “Like full steam ahead woohoo quick, or trundle along at half speed and get there next year quick?”, Minnie was hopeful. “Nope full speed, the lakes not too rough I think, and we don’t get seasick anymore .”, they looked at Naomi. “It was just a couple of times and the boat was swinging around, bouncing over the waves, dipping side to side, makes me yucky just thinking about it”, Naomi said defensively. “Yeah it was a pretty rough day, I remember that.”, Will said. “Oh, did you get sick too?”, Naomi asked. “Me? No I never get sea sick, I love the rolling. If you stand on the bow and jump up as she dips it feels like your flying.” Will added. With that, seeing everyone had finished, he gathered the dishes and started washing them. Naomi and Minnie went to get their outerwear on and start the boat ready for travelling.

It didn’t take long to clean up the galley, then Will too was readying for bad weather, at least cold weather. Hmm, he thought, if it’s always cold and snowing it’s not really bad anymore. Pulling on the thick coveralls another thought hit him. “Hey Minnie”, he called. “Yeah?” she was in the engine room, just finishing up loading coal with Naomi and turning the boiler up to pressure. “Is it overalls or coveralls, I always called them coveralls, but it could be both.”, Will said. “I think that you think too much.”, Naomi said as she pulled on her coveralls, tucked them into her boots and donned her hat and gloves. “Got that right.”, Minnie was dressing too now, it had been much too hot in the engine room. Stepping in to her coveralls, and doing the buttons up, sealing the wind flap, hat and gloves after boots. “Yeah but, it’s good to get things right, isn’t it?”, Will was now talking to himself as the two had left him behind, “Well it is.”, he muttered and dressed quickly.

The wind on deck was a bit brutal, and after the boat got up to speed it would freeze any exposed flesh. He walked to the bow and quickly cranked up the anchors, had to yank a bit to release the port but the starboard was stuck fast. He waved to get Minnie’s attention, then got her to reverse engine to pull it free. It took a back and forth for a few minutes but did finally pull free and cranked up as well. “Full ahead Min, we got miles and miles to go.”. The boat surged, bow lifting and cutting through the waves easily. The waves were pretty high today, at least twelve feet so travel was going to be fun. This part of the lake was becoming more like the North Sea back on their other world, cold and unforgiving. Around Laketown and Newton it was more Pacific Ocean, peaceful with more life. But the waves didn’t bother the Rose much, she steamed along, up and over for hours, crew safe inside. And yes, Minnie and Naomi tried jumping on the bow, roped up for safety of course, it was a bit like flying.

As the hours passed the land passed by, features showing that they had missed in the dark last trip. Huge glacial rocks tumbled in valleys, like children’s toys. Small forests of fir trees, giant fir trees, from what he could tell they were at least four hundred feet tall. Untouched and always would be, living until a lightning strike or other natural disaster toppled them. In the distance behind, using a telescope, he could see more, marching up the side of the far mountains. An awesome sight. “Come look guys.”, Minnie and Naomi came out of the warm wheelhouse and were fascinated by the giant trees. “Is that a heartwood dad?”, Minnie asked after looking for a long time. Wow, Will had never thought of that. Naomi was looking through a telescope as well and pointed to a spot far far inland. “That one might be, just keep looking to the left of that grey rock, the one the size of us.”. It took Minnie and Will a minute but then they saw what she had spied. A tree, but like nothing he had ever seen. A type of fir definitely but this was a golden colour, the trunk anyway. The branches were green, but again with a yellow or gold tinge. Dwarfing the others around , it must have been closer to six hundred feet high. “The trunk must be massive, forty feet in diameter at least.”, Will was in awe of this beauty. If they had the time he would have happily gone hiking to see this monster. “Maybe when we start coming up here regularly, I’m going to go visit that tree, see if it’s a heartwood.”, he said. “Oh yeah, I’m coming”, Minnie said, “Well yeah, of course me too.”, added Naomi.

After the cold got to them, they retreated back inside, Minnie and Will anyway. Naomi went below decks to start some bread going, to was too rough for cooking much of anything too wet. “Too bad, but no stew today dad, I like it a bunch you know, not soup too much though, it slides through my teeth, unless it’s really thick but then it’s stew, weird right.” Minnie mused. “ I know what you mean. Some soups good, reminds me of years past. Tomato soup and peanut butter sandwiches, your mom and me ate that a lot. People used to call it comfort food.”, Will remembered aloud “That and grilled cheese, she liked those.”. Minnie nodded “We have those too, I like ‘em for lunch.”.

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While they talked of food Will was doodling and writing in his notebook. Thinking of a trip to see that giant tree. Huge sleds with supplies, tents, wood stoves for heat and cooking. The crew would have no problem making the trek, he only had one concern. The boat, where to leave her? Just anchoring unattended was a recipe for disaster. It looked like they would have to build a dock first or “That would be a lot of work.”, Minnie had been reading over his shoulder. “What about digging a trench from the lake and just floating into it, or go up a river as far as we could?”, she asked. Quickly drawing out what she meant. What was excellent about her drawing was that there were always people with hats, either on the boat or watching from shore. Little stick figures at first but now a bit more lifelike. Some had long ears and tails, some moustaches, and some had longish hair, it was enchanting. But her idea did have some good points but it might be difficult to dig a trench without heavy equipment. “We could find a river and block part of it, put the Rose safely there.”, Naomi had joined them, “Or get really long thick iron bars, hammer them in the ground and chain to them, we could drive them in pretty deep.”, she flexed her slender arm. “Do both maybe.”, added Will, “We might be able to talk the burrow guys into making us a dock. An easy one, rocks dumped in, make like a finger pointing in.”. Minnie sighed, took the pen from his hand, re-inked and drew exactly what he was thinking, complete with a small Minnie waving at him from the rocks.

After spending a bit in the wheelhouse watching waves go up and down and up and down Naomi went below decks. The motion was both more and less here. Cooking was impossible, couldn’t even boil the kettle in seas like this. Naomi had planned to bake but it wasn’t going to happen. There was enough bread for a sandwich for lunch and dinner, just not enough for the incoming passengers but that could be taken care of when they anchored later. Naomi busied herself by readying the two crew quarters, in case anyone was seasick or just needed a break. She made sure to put extra buckets around just in case. The mess was quickly set up, but the chairs were sliding around too much. The tables had latches to lock them in place in bad weather, but the chairs and benches were free spirits. Back on the brackets they went. Then to the galley to whip up a few sandwiches, sliced ham and cheese and the redressed to go up top again. “Not liking winter much.”, she muttered, struggling back into her overalls, boot and everything.

Carrying her basket of goodies, when she got to the wheelhouse, shepherd found Minnie napping and Will at the con. “Hey sweetie, brisk outside huh.”. Snorting a laugh, she put the basket on the map table, and then rescued it when a particularly large wave came at them. Looking at Minnie, Will said “I don’t know how she sleeps through this, it’s so much fun.”. He missed the look Naomi gave him as he tucked Minnie’s blanket tighter around her. “Fun he says.”, she laughed, handing him a thick slice of buttered bread with ham and cheese. The smell of the tangy cheese woke Minnie, stretching with a barking yawn, “Hey, it’s lunch time.”. Naomi handed her a identical sandwich and then took her own, sitting between the other two. “I haven’t seen waves like this before, even in storms, back at Laketown I mean.” Naomi said looking out. Will nodded, mouth filled with bread, after swallowing he said “It’s pretty wild, when we pick up another group we’re going to stay closer to shore, calmer there.”. Minnie laughed “It wouldn’t be much fun for them huh.”.

The hours passed on the rough waters but finally the familiar cairn was in sight. As they closed, the waters were indeed calmer, just two or three foot swells now. Much easier to deal with. The stoves were lighted, kettle put on the boil and tea finally made, along with coffee. Minnie still didn’t care for either so a pan of apple juice was warmed up for her. It was very sweet, good though and very warming after working outside for any time. During the trip up the coast Naomi had managed to prepare the bread dough and now started a few loaves baking in each oven. The smell of bread moved through the boats rooms and finally up to the wheelhouse. “Oh yum, I love smelling that, feels like home.” Will said sniffing. Minnie giggled, “I smelled that a long time ago, I was waiting to see how long it took you.”.

The Rose was anchored fairly close to shore again and Minnie laid on the steam whistle and the fog horn. Just to let people know they were here and to start getting the next group ready. “Let’s give them an hour or so, then we’ll head in and gather them up.”, Will said as they shivered their way to the stairs and hurried below. Compared to the harsh winds and subzero temperatures above this was pure heaven. Pulling off the heavy outerwear was great too, gave them time to breathe a little easier. Their felt slippers were warming cold feet very nicely and Will sank into his chair in the galley, Minnie beside him. Naomi was still busy in the galley but came in to sit while the oven cooled. She had managed to get ten loaves baked on the last leg of the trip. “Wow, that’s a lotta bread, are ya hungry?”, Minnie asked. “It’s for the next load of people, dad said they never get this so it’s a treat, and just maybe the mirror girls will be here too.”, Naomi replied. Minnie let out a gasp “Really? They’re funny.”.

They passed an hour in a couple of games of crib, Will actually won one game which hardly ever happened anymore. Finishing his lukewarm tea he went to his cabin and used the head, put on long underwear and woollen pants, undershirt and sweater. Minnie joined him and did the same, “Hope it’s not too windy dad, lucky I have fur, you’re gonna get colder.”. “Well I could grow a full beard like Dave in Newton, and long hair like Naomi, what do you think?”, he asked, posing in front of the mirror. She thought for a moment, “Nah, you’re better bald and your tiny lip beard.”. Tiny lip beard indeed, “I used to have long hair, down to here”, he gestured to halfway down his chest, “and a full beard nearly as long.”. “So why did you get rid of it, that would have been cool, like a real pirate.”. Thinking back, “It was a super hot day and we were having a yard sale, I was sitting in the driveway behind our house, just dying in the heat. I couldn’t take it so I asked mom to watch for a minute or two and I went in and shaved it all off.”. He could still remember how she screamed when he came back, she thought he was a stranger for a minute. “I’ve been bald ever since, easier for me.”, he shrugged.

Finally ready and dressed warmer the got to the stairs to find Naomi waiting. She helped them dress, patted them both on the shoulder and sent them on the way with a cheery “Hurry back.”. Climbing the stairs, each holding a lantern, they exited to a dark deck, Will hurried and lit the mid deck lights giving ample light to see bye. On the shore they could see torches and a fire by the cairn, “I think they know we’re coming.”, Will said over the wind. “I hope so, otherwise this could be awkward.”, Minnie shot back. They dropped the dory down and lowered the remaining small boat. No supplies this time, just empty to hold them all. The seas were still calmer and it only took a few minutes to row ashore.

As they landed willing hands pulled the boats up on the beach. There were at least fifty people waiting , Will hoped they didn’t think this many could go, but then he noticed that some were carrying bundles and bags, others weren’t. Without the burden of luggage, they could jam them all in, but it would be tight. Standing out from people he didn’t know were several familiar faces, the rest of the Obb family. Minnie spotted them too and went over “Hi guys, you coming now too?”. The little girls nodded, for once quiet and solemn, cowering beside their large brother and parents. Will noticed several more children in the group that was coming with. Katya saw him looking, “It’s getting worse here, food is scarce so the babies are coming now.”. There was an indignant squawk from the twins “We’re not babies ma.” said Oona, Katya sighed. “Well let’s climb aboard, we’ve miles to go and the lakes rough further out, it’ll be a trip to remember.”, Will called out. Minnie took the little girls by the hand and helped them into the dory with their parents, “You guys ride with me, I won’t let the lake eat you.”.