Chapter 22. Last Trip

Will had thought this last trip between burrows was going to be crowded, but it was the opposite. Just a couple of older children, the rest all the same age he appeared to be. After a quick meal of bread and cheese, or toast and cheese the majority went to spend the trip in crew quarters, sleeping, resting, anything to take their mind off of the waters just feet away. While anchored it was okay to use the stoves but as soon as they made steam and started back on course, the fires were put out. All the big lanterns extinguished, just a small safety lantern in each room. Everyone was told to not light any candles or oil lamps they might have brought with. Will was very specific, as he had been with every passenger trip. This one rule, if broken, would have dire consequences for the rules breaker. He didn’t say what, but the threat had to be enough, for now. “Just think of this as a long nights rest folks, when you wake tomorrow, or go on deck, we’ll be very close to your new homes.”, Will told them all, along with his no fires speech, “Minnie and I are going to ready the boat, if you need anything, any questions then ask Naomi, she’s in charge down here.”.

The boiler was turned to full, coal filled in the auto loaders from the dwindling main bunkers, everything checked below, so they started getting dressed, oh yet again, in the winter gear. “There’s a lot to be said for winter Min, but right now it’s a pain putting all this on, then taking it off, then on and off, blah.”, Will complained as they readied to face the cold. “I just want a Christmas tree, and that fat guy to give me presents, and some Christmas cookies, oh and candy canes, they sound good, maybe some new socks too.”, Minnie said, pulling her boots on, dancing on one leg to do it. “I think we need new boots too, I’m gonna see that cobbler in Newton and get us some easier, first thing when we get there.”, Will added, also pulling his boots on. They fit nicely, kept his feet warmish, but didn’t do too much to keep water out. When they got the least bit damp it was harder to slip into them.

But dress they did and went on deck. It was chilly, no, not chilly. Downright cold, bone chilling cold, face freezing cold, with numbing cheeks, even under the scarfs over their faces. Will was glad of his thick eyebrows and envied Minnies smooth facial fur, very warming indeed. He was wearing woolly gloves under thick leather and fur over mitts. A bit clumsy but dealing with wet frozen anchor chains was hard on bare hands. Together they checked the deck, everything was shipshape. Together they lifted the anchors and cranked then up, backs to the wind. The bow was open to the north wind and it was cold, the coldest part of the boat always. Heading into the wheelhouse was a relief and the wood stove was quickly lit. The kettle was slipped into its wire cradle, kept it in place, and started to heat up. Hats and gloves put on a drying/warming rack by the radiator, same with boots. She took off her coveralls, while Will just unbuttoned his to the waist, in case he had to leave quickly. Checking the compass, recording the time they were leaving, the throttle was pushed to one half and away they went. No happy steam whistle this time, Will pulled the fog horn and the deep mournful sound echoed back to the shore as the Rose made a long turn out to sea.

Deep in the burrows the Eld heard and were happy their people were safe and on their way home. Around them the ones that stayed were lying by the dying fires, wrapped in their furs. The door to this cave room had been sealed with stone to keep predators out. The torches were flickering and going out, the small room was getting darker and colder. With light hearts they went to visit the ice.

Will logged the days events as they got under way. The decision that had been made would nibble at his brain for years, but try as he might, he couldn’t think of a way he could have handled it different. He said as much to Minnie. “What else could you do dad, pick them up, carry them here and lock them in a hold?”. she said. “I know, it’s just hard not to tell people I know better, it’s their way.”, Will answered, “I guess I am just used to things being different, where we came from.”. Trying to lighten his mood Minnie had a new joke for him. “Knock knock dad.”, “Who’s there?”, “Mandy.”, “Mandy who?”, “Man de life boat, we’re sinking.”. Well that helped a lot. “Did you think that one up?”, he asked. “Yeah, me and Naomi sat around yesterday while you slept and we have a few, you tell me one now.”, Minnie said happily.

“Hmmm, give me a sec”., thinking for a bit he said, “Okay, here’s a good one. You start it.”. “Start what.”, she asked. “The joke, the knock knock joke, you start.” Will told her. “Oh, okay, knock knock dad?”, “Who’s there?”, “I don’t know you told me to start it.”. He couldn’t help laughing at her confused look, “That’s the joke, it’s on you.”. She just looked at him and snorted, “Uh huh, very funny guy. I’ll try that one on Naomi later, she won’t get it either.”.

As the boat headed away from the coast the heave was higher, at least eight feet now and the wind had picked up yet again. The only good thing was that the snow had mostly ended, just a few errant flakes being driven by the wind. Checking their course, speed, wind direction let them know how long of a trip this would be. “About eighteen hours then, sounds right dad?” Minnie asked. Will calculated the numbers and came to the same answer, “Yup, the same as the last few times, last run though, I think we’ve worn a rut in the water here.”. Minnie’s eyes grew, “Can we do that, it would be so much faster.”. “Sure”, Will said, “If the water freezes, then just slide downhill all the way to the burrows.”. “But there’s no hills on the water, that wouldn’t work dad, we might…”, she realized he was kidding and just sighed, “Nice try.”.

The kettle had boiled by now and Will poured into the teapot, carefully as the boat was climbing and falling down the unending waves. Combined with the cold, outside was not very hospitable right now and he and Minnie were stuck in the wheelhouse for the duration. They could brace themselves and head outside then below decks if needed but it was much easier to stay in right now. Ropes had been setup to help with travelling along the deck, but it was still slippery from the spray. Will blew in the mess voice tube, Naomi answered fairly quickly, “Having fun down there yet?”, he asked. “Oh yeah, the passengers asked if you could find bigger waves please.”, she replied. “Really?”, Minnie asked. “No, they didn’t, they are mostly holding onto buckets, sitting on the floor in crew quarters.”, Naomi said. Well that sounds fun, “Do you want to come up, I’ll take a shift down there?”, Will asked. All he heard was cheering, “I’m on my way.”, he said.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Looking at his winter gear, warm and dry by the stove now, he started dressing again. Minnie laughed at him, “No fun huh.”. He just shook his head, finished putting his hat on, then went out to meet Naomi. She was waiting at the top doors of the stairs. Making sure she was holding on he walked her back to the wheelhouse. “Thanks dad, this fresh air is wonderful.”, she gave him a hug and went in with Minnie. Taking a turn around deck, just to make sure everything was safe. Then going down to the the passenger deck.

It was very quiet, the motion of the boat was somehow less out of sight of the waters. If you were sitting down you would hardly notice the rocking, unless your teacup slid off the table. Will opened crew quarters, after a quick knock. The first room was very quiet, mostly dark, all he could hear was snores and breathing. The opposite room was the same, which was odd, usually when it was this rough people didn’t react well. But he would take the win. Next stop was the mess, there were a few people there. Looked like an extended family, a couple of olders, mom and pop, older kids. All just sitting at a one of the long tables, some looking slightly green though. They looked up as he entered. “Evening all, how are you all feeling?”, he asked with a smile. The older people just groaned and shook their heads, but the younger two seemed okay.

“We’re fine captain, but ma, pa and ataa and anaa are pretty sick.”, the young lad said. Will shook his head, “Sorry, not much I can do about the weather, but it won’t be too long of a trip.”. He sat down, “I’m Will by the way, Will Harris. And you are?”. The boy, around twelve, pointed to himself first “I’m Arto”, pointing around the table, “sister Sarsa, ma and pa.”. Will laughed, “It might seem weird but ma and pa have names, right?”. Arto blushed a bit, Sarsa answered “They are Kaida and Belet.”. She was obviously older and quite used to correcting her brother. Will clasped hands with Belet but Kaida just nodded at him, a wet cloth over her forehead. “And this is anaa and ataa, nice to meet you as well.”. Sarsa laughed “No this is Varsa and Otto, they are ma’s parents.”. “Oh, where I come from they would be grandparents , grandma and grandpa.”, Will said. The older people didn’t talk, they seemed very nervous, but calmed when the children sat near them.

Will could see the remnants of a meal, apparently everyone really enjoyed fresh bread with sliced cheese, something they had never eaten before. He went and poked around in the galley and helped himself to a couple of slices as well, a few pieces of cheese and a round or two of smoked sausage. “Captain,”, Sarsa had come into the galley, “Ma and pa, and the, what did you call them, the grandparents, are going to lie down, may Arto and I stay.”. He nodded, with a mouthful of cheese and bread, pointed at the chairs, waved them to it. When he came back into the mess he also brought in a jug of apple juice, with several of the wide bottomed mugs they used in inclement weather. Setting his plate of goodies down, he pointed to the jug, he asked if the children wanted some, and poured when they both nodded. “This is one of our favourite drinks, from Laketown, there’s fruit orchards all around the town.”, he said. Sarsa asked him what an orchard was, but Arto was too busy drinking. “We had some when we came on board, Naomi had it warmed up and it was so good.”, she said. Will was off and story telling, something he enjoyed. “But hold tight, the mug might slide a bit.”, he said, reaching out and snagging an errant cup. Then back to his story about apple pie and how much Minnie and he liked it.

Before he knew it they were yapping about shrimp and then shopping in Newton, Arto had passed out. Head on the table and snoring, Sarsa was still going strong though. He carefully picked up Arto and carried him to the room his parents were in, he saw an empty bunk and laid the boy down. The father, Belet, cracked an eyelid and waved in thanks, then rolled over to sleep again. As he re-entered the mess the voice tube whistled at him. “Hi guys, what’s up?”, he answered. It was Minnie, “I have to pee, so does Naomi, can you come up, like fast too?”, she asked. Will said yes, bidding Sarsa goodnight, went to the stairs where his gear hung and dressed quickly. Up the stairs and out on deck. What a difference a couple of hours made. He hadn’t noticed, being so used to the water, that the waves had actually calmed. It was like there was a bad weather line and they had passed over it into the land of small waves and warmer air.

He heard a call, turned and saw Minnie hanging out of the wheelhouse door “Hurry up guy, we gotta gooooo!”. Waving that he was on his way he crunched over the frozen spray, holding a guide rope for support. As soon as he made it up the stairs, Naomi and Minnie dashed out, with a “See you in a bit.”. Making sure they made it down he closed the door behind him and sat in the big chair. Now that the waters had calmed he put the kettle on and watched the windows until it boiled. Not much to see really, being pitch black out, not even a scrap of moonlight. Checking the log he could read Minnie’s entries.

8pm. Dad left for tea, Naomi came up to get a break, weathers cold and waves high, I miss eggs and milk. On course, half speed now.

9pm. We told a bunch of jokes, then played music, weathers cold and waves high, wish we still had butter too. Still on course, half speed.

10pm. Old guys still gone, probably talking his head off. Still cold and yuck out, but not as wavey. On course, went to a little bit past half speed, just cause.

11pm. We’re gonna call dad up, gotta use the head, still mostly horrible out, mostly. On course still, heading to the holes in the ground for the last time, I hope.

Yup, he thought, business as usual in the log. We put down what’s important at the time. Let’s see, time for a entry.

12pm. On course and speed, should be at the burrows by lunchtime. Girls abandoned me for below, good thing I can make tea here.

After the log entry he pulled out his notebook and jotted down some to-do’s, more game ideas, stories to write down. Things like that. Glancing outside from time to time, still dark and cold, but a good thing was that the waves continued to lessen until it was just the gentle heave that barely moved the boat at all. The passengers must truly appreciate it. He whistled below, first the galley, then the mess. Minnie answered finally from the mess. “Hi dad, just having a bite to eat. Naomi cooked up some fried ham and pancakes for us both, got some for you too, I’ll bring it up in a minute k?”. “Thanks Min, just be careful on deck, still slippery.”, Will replied. In fact, he threw his gear on again, grabbed the sand bucket from outside the wheelhouse and spread it on the icy path to the stairs. He finished just as Minnie opened the upper door, carrying a covered tray. She carefully put it down and turned to shut the door, Will couldn’t resist, waited until the right moment, then “Hello sweetie.”, six inches behind her.

“Gaaaaahaaha.”, was the scream he heard, running for the wheelhouse and safety. “I’m gonna get you dad.”, she called, her scampering feet coming closer and closer as he tried to get away, to no avail. She leaped onto his back, and with a handful of snow gave his face a thorough washing, laughing all the while. “That was a good one, let’s get Naomi next.”, she said, “Let’s eat first, don’t want cold pancakes, right?”, Will said, going back to retrieve his tray. “Well yeah,”, she said, trotting along beside him, “Cold pancakes are the yuck, cold ham is okay, but cold tea…sounds terrible, oh, everyone’s feeling better now that we are just bobbing along, bobbling along on the top of the beautiful briny lake.”. Will had to let out a deep belly laugh at that, her high pitched voice, sweetly singing. “Yup, we’re bobbing along all right.”.