Chapter 21. Visiting the Ice

As he slept the dreams came, from his life before. He knew he was dreaming, which was odd, like an observer watching from afar. Driving the long motor home years ago on a trip to Niagara Falls. All the things they had seen, clouds of grasshoppers in South Dakota, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse mountain. That had been a wonderful trip, just the two of them for nearly a month, well three including their little dog. Campsites and resorts, always with a swimming pool or close to a lake to have a cooling dip after travelling. A truly good time. Then fast forwarding to more trips, Oregon, Washington. After a few years the driving was over, for several reasons and they had started resort living, a beautiful beach, boating and fishing, visiting with family and friends.

But all things end and so did their camping life and as Will was watching things faded out until with a lurch he woke. Not knowing where he was for a minute. Thinking he was back in their little condo, fallen asleep watching tv, again. He reached for Minnie who always slept on his lap, but found nothing. “Min min, come to daddy, where are you sweetie?”, he called , beginning to blink awake. “Right here dad, geez you sleep like a log sometimes.” the familiar voice brought him around. There he was in the wheelhouse, Minnie at the wheel, sitting cross legged on her padded stool. Seeing her happy face always made his heart glad, “Thanks for the snooze, I just dropped off.”. She laughed “You sure did, we’ve had some busy days, you needed to recharge huh.”.

Checking the kettle had water, he stoked the embers to start it boiling. Everything was under control, any problems and Minnie would have woken him. “Hey is Naomi still sleeping too?”, he asked. “Nah, she whistled up a while ago. Baking more bread while the waters still calm, doing other stuff. We yapped for a while too, it’s fun talking through the tube things.”, Minnie answered. As they chatted the sun dropped and it was full dark out now. They would be travelling for the next ten hours at least before they arrived at the pick up spot. Will truly hoped this was the last trip. He was determined to get everyone aboard. They had lucked out with the weather so far but that wouldn’t last much longer, sooner or later winter would hit hard and stay. Getting frozen in was a real danger.

Now that Will was awake Minnie went below for a break and to ‘say hi to Naomi’, but she had an impish look when she said it. “What’s going on then?” Will asked. No answer, just a laugh. She carried a lantern with her, for safety, the deck was very dark and Will watched her bob along. Oh no, that tune! Quickly he started humming one of his favourites, anything to block it. No bobbing along today. Minnie hooked her lantern to the stairs and went down with a wave. About an hour later the voice tube whistled off. Picking up, it was Naomi letting him know they were bringing up dinner and to make sure he was awake. “Har har, I nod off one time and everyone’s a comedian.”. “What’s a comedian? Never mind, tell me in a minute”, she said. Capping off he sighed “I gotta learn to watch what I say.”.

A few minutes passed, then Minnie and Naomi came up with several dishes, plates and silverware. Shivering a bit from the cold outside but warmed quickly inside the toasty wheelhouse. As Naomi unpacked their dinner she asked “So, what’s a comedian then?”. Will did his best to explain but the concept of paying someone to make you laugh, she just didn’t see the point. “You mean some guy tells you knock knock jokes for a couple of hours, doesn’t seem much fun dad.”, Minnie remarked as she filled her bowl with a large helping of stew. “I guess it just doesn’t work here, maybe in a few years.”, Will said. The idea of leisure time, entertainment hadn’t really come to this world yet. At least where they had been so far.

After they had all eaten, Will gathered up the dishes and took them back to the galley. He needed to get moving for a bit, to stretch his legs. Washing up the bowls and utensils gave his hands something to do while his mind was free to imagine this or that. Changing clothes was next and as he headed to his cabin he saw that the mess and crew quarters were prepped and ready for the next load of people. Again he hoped it was the last. Not that he was tired of helping but it was the weather grating at him. They could operate in these harsh conditions, the past few weeks had shown that, but he didn’t like it much. Having to put on all this gear just to go outside, it used to be shorts and flip flops. He sighed, as he dressed in exactly what he had been complaining about.

The deck had iced over when he got back outside making walking very interesting. The sand buckets were precisely for this, he carried a bucket in one hand and a lantern in the other. Casting sand in front as he walked it was still a bit slippery but better than before. As he got closer to the bow the spray was getting pretty bad, wind picking it up and blowing it back, where it froze nearly instantly. Good thing the wheelhouse door was on the side and not the front. Otherwise they would never get out out without breaking something. He finally made it back inside the warm room, Naomi and Minnie were playing together. The sounds of the fiddle and penny whistle complimented each other perfectly, the sounds in tune with the wind.

Unfortunately it seemed the weather was not going to cooperate any more. The water was getting rougher the further north they cruised. First just the gentle heave the lake usually had, quickly turning into two, three then four foot waves. Promising more and worse to come. Wind gusts were coming hard and fast, nothing they couldn’t handle but the oncoming villagers were a different story. Not much could be done about the weather, complaining never changed as much as a single rain drop. Never stopped anyone either though. Minnie was definitely not happy with the freezing spray all over her boat, “It gets everywhere dad, works it’s way through the smallest hole and when it freezes it cracks.”. “I know, but there’s not much we can do about it, just repaint when we can, fix the cracks.”, Will said, “I’ve been making a note of everything so we can just have a couple of fix it days when we get to Newton or Laketown.”. As he said that the rain changed to sleet, peppering the boat with ice, “Maybe three or four days.”, he sighed.

As the miles piled up behind them, the hours marching past they did eventually get to the pickup spot at the old burrows. Just as the sun was rising. The swells had peaked at ten feet but with little chop, so it was a relatively easy trip. When they reached the cairn, which was unlit, Minnie let loose on the whistle to let the remaining villagers know it was time. Anchored forty or fifty yards off shore they would be able to see if anyone lit the pyre inside the cairn, or even waved a torch. Nothing so far. Safely anchored Minnie shut down the engine, Will went below and released most of the pressure in the boiler. No reason to hold it, they would probably be here for a few hours.

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While waiting for a sign from shore they had moved down to the mess. Looking out of the porthole every few minutes and still seeing nothing, Will wondered what the heck was going on. “They knew we were coming back didn’t they.”, Minnie asked. “Sure they did, we told them two days ago, just about anyway.”, Naomi answered. Will figured to go ashore in a little while and see what was what. But first to finish his tea. “Hey there they are.” Minnie called from her spot at the port, “Not too many though.”. Putting their dishes away the crew went to get ready. All the outer gear on, yet again, to face the ice and wind. Will didn’t know if he was getting used to it but it wasn’t all that bad out now. The slippery decks had been strewn with sand and guide ropes in place to help with footing. The two boats were dropped into the water, Minnie and Naomi in the smaller and Will in the dory. Quickly rowing to shore to meet their passengers.

As they hit the beach the ice and snow crackled under the hulls. The boats were pulled nearly all the way out of the water, tipped on the side and roped to a stake driven into the frozen ground. You don’t really want to lose your only way home. The villagers had seen them arrive and quickly came to meet the crew, there were only about forty people this time, quite a few bundles of belongings and supplies, but Will had expected more. “Is this all of you now?”, he asked, “I thought there were a few more.”. A tall man stepped forward, he couldn’t recall meeting him before. “Sorry captain, this is all that is coming, the Eld are still planning to visit the ice, as are a few older folk.”, he replied, “They told me to take care of our people on this last trip.”. He seemed saddened by the idea of them staying. “What does visit the ice mean, and who are you?”, Minnie asked. “Sorry, I am Jase and it means they are not going to come with us.” he answered with a sorrowful shake of his head. Will sighed “I tried arguing with them before, it’s their life, let’s load up guys.”. With that said he started the boat into the water, so did Minnie and Naomi. Holding it fast while ten people were in each and the bulk of the supplies in the bigger boat.

With a “Hold fast please.”, they pushed off of shore and began to row to the Rose. It was deathly quiet, the visitors were terrified of the water. But equally determined to get to a better place. Not too many little ones, none under six years, it seemed most of the children had already made the trip. It was just a few minutes and then the boats were unloading the people onto the deck. Minnie and Naomi stayed aboard to help the visitors below and get settled for the trip. Will returned to shore for the last of the villagers. There were only ten left, waiting patiently with their bundles and bags. “The Eld still not coming then?”, he asked. “That’s right captain,” answered a young man, “They and most of the olders are staying, to visit the ice soon. My ma and pa too.”. Tears running down his cheeks and freezing as he said it. “They can’t go on the water, it’s hard for us, even with you here I’m feeling it. Pa said to be strong for the family.”. Will sighed, this was their life, how could he force it. Did they have the right to end their life on their own terms? Especially faced with the prospect of travelling on the lake. He knew the Eld felt that they had failed the people and that was the reason to stay, let a new generation take over.

Decision made, “All right, I am going to say goodbye and them we are off, could one of you lead me please?”. A young lad of around sixteen stepped forward and headed off, Will followed. The snow had started falling heavy now and the foot steps of the previous travellers were nearly filled in all ready. It was just a few minutes to the burrows from shore and soon he was going down the spiralling steps. There was warmth in the air, but not as much when the village was full of life. No sounds of children playing, people living and cooking meals, nothing. The Eld were seated in their same circle, with about thirty others with them. All older people, just sitting close to each other, talking quietly. As he entered the grotto the all looked toward him.

“Welcome captain, and many thanks to you and your family.”, the oldest sad, followed by the nodding from all. He continued “Our people have been saved, for now, but still threatened by the changing weather.”. Will nodded “I know, this has worked for you for many years but not any more, change is needed.”. Another of the Eld spoke up “We know, that is one reason we are staying, we were unable to see.”. The next added “and we cannot go on the water, even around your soul, and your daughters souls, the waters would change us.”. Shrugging Will said “I am not going to force you, or argue with you, any of you, if this is your way then do be it. I came to say goodbye. We won’t be back here again.”. As he spoke you could see people relaxing, shoulders slumping down, fists unclenched aside they had been ready to fight. “Glad we are to hear you understand, I can see you have faced loss in the past, loss of loved ones.”, the oldest said. “He knows, he respects, he understands”, it was taken up as a chant, just barely audible over the wind from outside, drifting down the tunnels.

As Will stood in the cave, all the Eld and the old people came and circled close. Reaching out a hand to pat his shoulder or shake his hands, still chanting “he knows, he respects, he understands.”. Bowing his head “I promise to come twice a year, to trade with and take care of your people, for as long as I am around.” he said. With those words the people took their seat again, with smiles and nods of gratitude. Slipping his woolly hat and gloves on,he prepared to leave, “Goodbye, I am glad to have met you all.”. And he left. Climbing up the stairs that last sight would last in his memory forever. The people sitting around the dying fire, in the dimming light. Preparing to go to sleep, satisfied with their life, happy knowing the children and grandchildren would be safe. What more do you need, he thought.

Returning to the surface was eye opening and brisk after the caves. The wind was blowing snow hard and visibility was quite low, his guide was sitting in the wind break of a large boulder. “Good thing your back up captain, full on blizzard coming I think.”, the lad said. “Well, let’s get to shore quickly then.”, Will replied. The walk back to shore was easier with the wind at their backs and the waters were reached in a few minutes. The waiting villagers were in a circle in the lee of the dory, keeping out of the wind and stood when he came into sight. “All aboard then”, Will called and pushed the boat halfway into the cold water.

Gingerly the people climbed in and sat low on the floor of the boat. Keeping the middle seat clear for rowing, Will placed their various bundles around the passengers. As it was fully loaded he gave the boat a mighty shove and jumped in as it slid fully into the lake. A wail rose from two or three people as they realized they were the last and would never see this part of their world again. As quickly as he was able Will rowed to the Rose, through the wet snow. It was still windy but a bit warmer on the lake then it had been on shore. Still cold though. Minnie was waiting and caught the line Will threw and guided them to the waiting stairs. Carefully and slowly guiding the passengers up and onto the deck, then below decks. The dory was brought up and tied to the davits for travel and the stairs secured.

Minnie and Will stood at the rail, looking over at the rock cairn that marked where the village had been. “The old guys not coming then dad?”, Minnie asked. “No sweetie, they wanted to stay in their homes, til the end, to sleep in their beds.”, Will answered. “It’s their life I guess, it’s just sad.” she said with a sigh, leaning against him. “I know, all we could do was offer to help, and we did help lots of them.”, Will said, “Just think of all the ones below, eating all the biscuits Naomi just made.”. That made her think, “We should go help her with that, and the kettles on too, if you want tea, and biscuit’s, you do want tea, don’t you, and those yummy biscuits.”. He laughed, “I always want tea and biscuits Min.”, and they went below, leaving the desolate coast behind.