Chapter 11. Step One
Another busy time was starting up for the Rose. No more lazing about. That was in Wills head when he woke. Well that and his first cup of tea, and maybe some toast. He sure missed peanut butter, jam was great and Laketown made the best. But he had been having peanut butter since he was a little boy, fresh off the boat from England. Maybe one day they would find peanuts, he dredged up a memory of his first day here. Stephen had mentioned a place called FarHarbour, they had eaten pineapple. Seemed a long time ago. That was where the next trip would be, south. But getting back to today, helping another community that was in need, he hoped it would go well. Giving a mental click he saw,
Menu
William Harris
Age 35 (stabilized)
Intelligence 30/50
Strength 47/50
Vitality 46/50
Stamina 44/50
Affinities for gardening, cultivating, fishing, knitting, swimming, mariner ,
Captain of the heartboat Rose
Navigation 4
Mechanic 3
Mason 1
Outdoor Chef 2
Arborist 1
Labourer 1
Minnie
Best dog of all
Age 6 (will be adjusted for racial type)
Intelligence 20/25
Strength 23/25
Vitality 23/25
Stamina 22/25
Affinities for fishing, swimming, husbandry, mariner
First Mate of the heartboat Rose
Navigator 2
Piloting 3
Mechanic 2
Crab Catcher
Shrimper
Tinker
Joker
Arborist
Labourer 1
The skill sailor has been learned. Able to perform all duties on a ship.
Naomi 0’Malley
Age 17
Intelligence 30/50
Strength 32/50
Vitality 33/50
Stamina 36/50
Affinities for cooking, fishing, gardening, swimming, mariner
Second Mate of the heartboat Rose
Management 2
Kitchen Artist
Cooking 4
Homemaker 2
Arborist 1
Labourer 1
Piloting
The skill probationary sailor has been learned, able to perform most of the duties on a ship. But not all.
Little increases for sure but anything is good. No huge changes but that's a good thing, he thought. This world was just perfect for him and his family, thanks Elaith. “Hey you” he poked a lump enfolded in blankets beside him, “Wakey wakey.”. A slight growl was the response. “Just remember, the early bird gets the worm.”, and he started to get dressed, visit the head, morning stuff. He left the cabin and closed the door softly as not to wake her anymore. To the galley, stove lighted, kettle on. Sitting and musing about powdered milk, could that be done here, maybe in a dehydrator. But he didn’t have one of those, he knew the concept though. His wife had made jerky for years, so good. Dried fruit too, apples and bananas, pears occasionally, strawberries and raspberries worked well. He was pulled out of his thoughts by the kettle singing. “Ah, good morning to you too”, he said as he poured.
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After a short time, writing in his to-do book, Naomi came in, followed by Minnie a minute or two later. “Teas ready if you want some.” he put out there. Naomi poured a small cuppa and Minnie just poured some warmed apple juice he had prepared too. They sat for a while, waking up. Will was still contemplating the problem of the Eld staying behind, there was not an easy solution. Naomi was fixing breakfast today, oatmeal and fried ham. When Will was in deep thought he still had the habit of slipping Minnie part of his meal. It was just something he did. Habit from his old life, sharing with his little friend. “What if we gave them a poisoned apple? They would go to sleep, we’ll carry them to the new place, dump them off and they can be mad there.”, Minnie said. Hmm, thought Will, that's not a bad idea, not the poison part, but something like. “It’s still going against their wishes though.”, Naomi said, “I don’t like it but it’s their life, like dad said.”. “It’s a problem for sure, but I don’t want to borrow trouble by going against them, we will probably come back to trade one day.”, Will sighed. Another cuppa wouldn’t help, it was time to get to it.
The boiler was set to full and it started building pressure quickly, it was never really off in this weather.Fully dressed for the weather, Will lifted the folding boats to the main deck. They were swiftly assembled and lifted on the cranes, ready to drop. But they were going to go closer to shore first. The lake was pretty calm today and the weather was clear. No snow so far, just the overnight accumulation, and the snow people. Silently watching and judging. Minnie wanted to leave them up and so did Will, he didn’t know if the village people, wait a sec he thought, what was that? Village people, he burst out loud laughing. Minnie and Naomi must have thought he had lost it, Minnie said as much. “Dad, are you okay, what’s so funny?”, she said in a worried voice. Naomi didn’t say anything, just leaned on her shovel for a rest and waited. Will laughed again, “There was this band of musicians, years and years ago ,they had a hit song and dance thing. Called the YMCA, they would dance across the stage and act out the letters of the song.”. He shook his head “Their name was the village people, and for a sec I had a picture of the Eld, singing and dancing across the deck.”. Of course Minnie needed to be shown, and soon they were dancing to the misremembered lyrics.
Eventually the Rose was brought closer to the shore and they could see a group waiting by the cairn.“I wonder if they saw us dancing.”, Naomi asked.“I hope so, we were awesome.”, Minnie answered. Will was dropping the dory into the icy water, as he did the bow rope snapped, dropping the boat the last three feet.Stressed by the cold too much Will supposed.The boat looked okay, so he quickly lowered the stern rope, pulled it to the lowered stairs and checked it out.It was fine, encrusted with rime and ice on the brass works, but no problems, the snow was quickly swept out and it was ready for him.The two folders were much lighter, Will easily put one in the water for Naomi.Then the second for Minnie .Before he jumped in he rechecked the anchors, didn’t want the Rose to go adventuring by herself.
Rowing to shore took but a few minutes. They were greeted by excited villagers, piles of supplies and tools were stacked beside them. All young men and women, twenty in all were the work crew. Including two familiar faces, it was Tor and Din. “Hi guys, where’s your big brother at?”, Minnie asked. Tor snorted, “I’m the oldest brother, but Cals staying with ma and pa.”, “And the sisters, glad they’re not coming.”, Din glowered out. Naomi laughed at him “Not too happy with your sisters?”. Din shrugged, getting him to talk was like pulling teeth. Tor gave a laugh “His boots were full of snow, he wasn’t very cheery with them.”. Will nodded “Well, are you all ready, busy day for all of us. Let’s load up, don’t fear the lake, we will keep you safe.”. He directed six each to the folders, the rest and supplies with him in the dory.
As they climbed into the boat you could feel the mood change. All their lives they had feared the lake, and were now riding on it. Will could hear Minnie singing in her boat as she rowed hard for the Rose, it was still the YMCA song, drifting back over the waters. Naomi joined in, pulling just as hard, their lighter boats fairly flew. The dory was finally packed with people and supplies, Will startled them by easing the heavy boat into the surf. “Hold tight.”, fully afloat now he hopped in and started for the Rose. Just a few minutes of busy oars brought them alongside and climbing up. The young people huddled together on deck, pretty terrified. Surrounded by snow people, they were definitely nervous and unsettled. Tor and Din had been here before and knew the way down to the mess hall, so Will asked if they would lead the others down. Will lowered all their tools and supplies into one of the holds, lifted the dory to its davits and hoisted the folders aboard. Minnie was in the wheelhouse preparing to set sail. The anchors were the last thing to do, cranking them up took only a minute or two and they were ready to go. He waved to Minnie, she gave the steam whistle a blast and they were off.
After joining her, agreeing on a course, Will went below to see his passengers. “I need cookies dad, rowing was such hard work, and maybe some juice, warmed up k, oooh and a bacon sandwich, extra butter too.” Minnie asked. “Sure sweetie, I’ll bring both of our lunches up.” Will replied. As he left he felt the prop engage and the stack started to blow rich black smoke, the boat made a wide turn out to sea and headed south. Standing at the stern he saw the shore rapidly fade away until it was clear water all around.
The pack heard/felt the sound again, called all the hunters back and changed course to intercept. They had no idea of time, today, next year, didn’t matter. They would pursue forever.
Going below it was much warmer so he doffed his outer gear and boots and hung them to warm in the engine room. Hearing voices the mess was his next stop. Passing by the crew rooms doors were ajar and peeking in carefully he saw that much clothing had been left there. Just wasn’t needed in the warm boat. “Hope it’s not too much clothing.”, he laughed. No fear though, when he entered the mess everyone was decent, mostly. Taking advantage of the warmth the visitors had stripped down to shorts and sleeveless undershirts. Luckily they were only here for a few hours, it was very apparent that bathing was a luxury and rarely done. Naomi had already lit several candles. Will wondered how Minnie would react with her sensitive nose, and sometimes big mouth.
“Everything okay up top dad?”, she asked when she noticed him. The visitors were big people, mostly well over six feet and Naomi was rather diminutive. She had been lost in the crowd. “Sure is, we’re on the way. Hope it’s a bit warmer as we go, getting brisk as the wind comes up.”, Will replied. “Captain, where’s the little one, the one with ears?”, asked one of the visitors, a tall girl called Miwa. “She’s piloting the boat right now, did you need something?”, Will asked. “Oh no, she just made me laugh, so happy she is, told us a joke but I didn’t get it, til now.”, Miwa said. Tor spoke up “She said someone in the boat was really an owl, and when we all said who she laughed.”. Naomi burst out laughing too “That’s a good one.”. She had been in the galley before Will came in and had made tea, the visitors were looking at it, smelling it, some seemed to like it and were drinking it carefully, being so nice and hot. But, sadly, a couple of the lads didn’t care for it and carefully pushed the cup away. Will poured a large mug himself, sat and tried to put the nervous visitors at ease, at least a bit.
“So, is the plan to start delving right away, the rocks probably the same soft limestone like you’re used to.”, he asked. Tor, who seemed to be the spokesperson said “Yar, we’re going to start digging, it would be nice to find a cave or two for an easy start, but we have to make sure the herds are near enough first.”. Will nodded “We’ll start getting closer to shore in a few hours, after we’re past the earth quake area. It’s safer for the boat if we cruise further out, don’t want to hit any ridges.”. He finished up his tea, asked Naomi if she could prepare a tray for Minnie and was about to leave. “Captain, why were there snow figures on the boat, are you honouring your ancestors.”, the question was asked by one of the young girls. Oh oh, thought Will, did we step on some toes? “Umm.”, he started, “It was mostly done for fun, playing in the snow. Showing who could make the biggest, or the weirdest.”. “Yeah, Minnie and the snow crabs won that one.”, Naomi added. The young girl, Jeri, seemed satisfied “I was just wondering why you made them, we do as well, for enjoyment and to remember those who passed.”. One of the others, a biggish boy, asked if they could lay down, the constant rocking was making him sick, and most of them agreed. The greenish ones went to the bunks in crew quarters and tried to snooze away the sea sickness.
Naomi had quickly put snacks and a sandwich together for Minnie and Will was going to carry it up when Jeri asked if she could accompany him. “Of course, but you might want to get dressed again, still cold.”, she laughed and went to throw on her furs. Naomi beckoned him to the galley, “Watch it dad, she’s husband hunting.”. “Oh oh, how do you figure?”, Will asked. She shrugged, “She’s acting like young women do around a bunch of unmarried men. We have dances at home, I mean Laketown, all the unmarrieds go.”. Sounds fun, he thought. “She doesn’t think I’m husband material does she?”, he asked worriedly. Naomi laughed, “The heroic captain of the Rose, coming to save them all, tall, strong and handsome, just a little older than her. She’s young and pretty, not afraid of work. No, you’re not what she’s looking for at all.”. Will sighed “Great.”. Leaving the galley, where he had filled his mug again, he found Jeri waiting, carrying Minnie’s tray, looking very fetching in her winter gear, all long red hair and fur. Together they left the mess, he pulled on his thick overalls and boots. While he was dressing Jeri was talking about life at the old village and how excited they all were to be moving. He opened the lower doors, and carefully shut and sealed them behind. Very close quarters indeed. Climbing up and then opening the top doors, greeted by cold fresh air and hazy blue skies. The waves had started to lift the boat a bit more, only three or four footers, but enough to upset the visitors below. Jeri seemed to have no ill effects and stayed by Wills side with no problem on the bounding deck. It took but a few minutes and they made the wheelhouse successfully.
“Holy moly dad, did you have to grow the apples for juice, you took forever, I’m empty all the way to the top.”, Minnie complained as he entered. “Sorry sweetie, took a little longer than I thought. Oh, this Jeri, came up for a visit.”, he said, placing the tray on the map table. “Hi girlie, I’m happy to see you again, did you like my joke.”, Minnie said, seizing a sandwich and taking a huge bite. “I did, do you know anymore, that one was funny.”, Jeri answered. Oh oh, thought Will, this could take a while.
Success! The prey had been located, they were close. The sound was very loud now, the pack was many and strong, revenge for the mother was soon.