Chapter 69. Dining and Dashing.
True to their word, when the teens started waking they were within an hour of Newton. Steaming on through the night instead of anchoring everything was much more productive and no hardship really. When Will had checked his menu he found changes.
Menu
William Harris
Age 35 (stabilized)
Intelligence 26/50
Strength 45/50
Vitality 42/50
Stamina 42/50
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 19/25
Strength 22/25
Vitality 22/25
Stamina 21/25
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 28/50
Strength 28/50
Vitality 28/50
Stamina 32/50
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
The skill probationary sailor has been learned, able to perform most of the duties on a ship. But not all.
Hmmm, lots of increases all around. Minnie the sailor, when she looked at her menu he knew she would be pleased. Naomi too, probationary status or not, it was a nice step to make. For himself the changes were mostly physical. A bit stronger, tougher, very helpful in their hard working life. He would have to remember to let the others know to check. He wasn’t sure if they did, he didn’t so much anymore. If he had to admit it, the blue floating screen in front of him was a little odd. Gaming over the years had made him familiar with the concept as had many books, but to have it in person was a bit disconcerting at times. The thought of not being in control, that some…being or supercomputer was watching over them. Just weird. So he tried not to dwell on it. He did have to admit that whatever power it was his life had improved. Especially the aging backward thing. There wasn’t anyone to really discuss it with, that was the problem. Anyone he talked to here would think he was either loopy or be jealous. Stephen knew, as did Regina, he considered them friends though and was pretty sure they didn’t care.
Ah, he thought, isn’t dwelling wonderful. Worrying about things you have absolutely no control over. Back to the important business at hand…making tea. He was standing in the galley waiting for the kettle to boil having just lighted the stoves. Cooking on a wood stove was an art, especially the baking part. Anyone can boil or fry on the hot plates, but keeping the temperature stable enough for cakes, that’s an art.
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But the kettle was taking forever and a day, the teapot was ready.Loaded tea ball, mug sugared but all sadly lacking the hot water.Minnie was on duty in the wheelhouse, Naomi was puttering in the mess getting a light breakfast for the hungry horde that was waking now.Bacon and oatmeal today, nice and easy.Well actually fried ham, but there wasn’t much difference.Will was looking forward to some fresh food today, and a good restock for their oncoming voyage.They were going to repurpose a part of one of the storerooms into a larger pantry.That was on the to do list for today, along with a general cleanup.
And there it was, the sweet sound of the kettle whistling. Finally it was tea time.
Mug in hand he sat in the mess. Writing this and that in his notebook. Ideas for the bookseller in Newton, to do things, a reminder to check their cold gear. He knew Minnie and Naomi had bought new, but he wanted to see if they had insulated waterproof overalls in their storerooms somewhere. Now waterproof is a modern word he thought, here it will be more like water resistant, which was fine too. What else…he tapped his pen on the inkwell, make sure bunkers are full, and a half hold of coal, barrels of fresh water. It wouldn’t do to run out of fuel in a precarious spot. There was, however, always the option of going ashore to get a fill of both. The Roses engine was surprisingly efficient and so was the boiler. Very little steam leakage on both. With a cruising speed of nine knots and burning a small amount of coal per mile travelled they had a very long sailing range.
They were going to take advantage of that long range day after tomorrow. But today was a busy one. First dropping the barges to anchor in the bay outside of Newton, then the kids off at home. Back out to pick up the barges and then tug them into position on the quay. And then tie up at the end of the dock and collapse into bed. Sounds like a plan he thought, closed his notebook and poured another cuppa.
The teens came in the mess in drips and drabs, some perky and ready to go, others clearly in need of more sleep.But too bad, it was moving out day.He was greeted with a few muttered “mornings”, “hi cap”, and so on.Will filled two plates and bowls, liberally added honey to Minnie’s and went up to the wheelhouse.“Breakfast”, he called out as he entered.Minnie was quite intent on steering as there seemed to be some changes to the bay.Originally it had been a sharp horseshoe shape with east and west cliffs about seventy five feet high and nearly a hundred miles of protected coastline inside.Newton was nestled at the innermost point of the bay.Now itseemed the eastern cliff had collapsed somehow in the weeks they had been gone.The way in was still quite passable just different.It also looked as though the currents had changed as the Rose was being drawn out as they pressed hard to enter the Bay Area.Minnie was up to the task and they were safely inside the huge protected area now.Time to start anchoring off the barges.
Will whistled down to the mess, when Naomi answered he inquired I’d she could lend a hand in a while.She of course answered yes and would be up as soon as breakfast was over.In the mean time they drifted on slow and ate their own meal.“Needs more honey dad, otherwise it’s just warm goo.” griped Minnie.Will took the honey bottle out of his pocket and handed it to her, he knew her well.“Thanks dad”, she laughed, emptying the half full bottle into and over her oatmeal.“You could always add raisins, give it more texture.Or nuts, maybe dried fruit, or ham.” Will said, as he looked over.Sure enough the ham was cut up and added to the oatmeal.Somehow his fried ham also ended up on Mins plate, it was quite odd that.
Their meal over Will and Minnie prepared to drop the barges to anchor. He readied the dory, dropping it from the davits over the port side, letting it trail behind until he was ready for it. Naomi came on deck to act as lookout, Minnie started to turn a wide circle. Will jumped in the dory and rowed away from the boat and started toward the fourth barge. He met up quite quickly with it, tied off his boat and climbed aboard. He released the tow line by signalling to Naomi to cut speed momentarily, the line went slack and he could release his barge. He dropped the port and starboard anchors, they bit into the lake bottom and this one was done. Repeating the performance took about an hour and a half. Now it was time to dock and drop off the crew.
As usual the town had turned out to meet them. People on the beaches and clustered at the lands end of the quay, waving madly as they drifted up. Will stepped off the bow to the dock and tied them up to the large pilings and flipped the fenders in place. He heard the engine shut down and the Rose was at rest again. The children were crowding at the rails, waving at family. Ann and Milly made sure everyone had their bags and when Will gave the go ahead they climbed down the stairs to the dock. Everyone was still wearing their lifebelts of course. The crew was very strict about that and it was now second nature to put it on as soon as you were dressed. Minnie would collect these as they reached land. Will off loaded their wheeled carts and piled the children’s luggage in and off they went.
It was hard for some of the kids not to break into a run when they spotted their parents. But they listened when asked not to for safety’s sake and they all made it back to land in one piece. Happy cries of ‘mom, dad, how you’ve grown, I’ve missed you’ rang out through the crowd. The crew were thanked, hands shook, backs slapped, even some hugs from happy parents. All proud of what the children had accomplished. Will climbed up on a wagon…. “We’re back and you should be proud of your children. Four fully loaded barges of coal. What a hard working bunch you are. On behalf of the Rose you have our thanks for all the long hours. And for doing what no one else can…three cheers for you all.”. Minnie led them through the cheers getting louder and louder until the last “hip hip” was nearly ear splitting. Saying goodbye to the kids was hard as they were genuinely good people and it was fun being busy and working hard together. But all things end.
The crowd was dispersing a bit.Some were staying to see the crew bring in the barges to dock.This took a couple of hours of both towing in and then nudging into place and tying them off safely.Unloading them was the work of a few brave people willing to risk working over the water.Some hardy souls could do it, but only for so long.Then they would need a few hours on land to recharge, but it would get done.Will thought it would be better to beach the barges and unload them that way.In fact he was going to bring this up to the council later today.But for now, as everything was safely tied up, it was time for a good few hours sleep.They reached the boat, double checked the lines and went below to their cabins.“Good night captain, sweet dreams Minnie.”, said Naomi with a yawn.“Night Naomi”, Minnie answered, “See you later “, from Will as he and Minnie went to their cabin.As they readied for sleep Minnie remarked “I miss the littles already, especially Howard, that kids special.”.Will knew what she meant, the chatty young man had really made an effort to help and to fit in.All the children were good kids but he had just clicked.“Yeah, I’ll miss him too.”replied Will.He lay on the bed, the cabin was dark and cool with the sounds of the lake coming in the open port.Minnie snuggled behind him, still tending to curl up as she slept.“Night dad.” came a sleepy whisper.
Will was woken a few hours later. The noise of the nearby town had seemed to get louder as the afternoon progressed, animal sounds, carters calling, children yelling. It was time to get going anyway, there was lots to do today. Will chucked a pillow at the lump that was Minnie, a blob of blankets and pillows in the middle of the bed. She woke with a growl, snatched one her pillows and returned fire. “I’ll get you old guy.” She yelled and started tossing all her pillows, balled up blankets, and shoes across the room. Will cowered until she ran out of ammo then started firing it all back, she was quick and he only landed a pillow on her once before it was rifled back at him. “I surrender, I surrender.”, he called from where he was hiding in the head. “Accepted.”, came the squeaky reply. Opening the door gingerly she tackled him head on “I win, you lose, hahaha.” she chanted.
After dressing and tidying the cabin they headed for the mess. Will knocked on Naomi’s door, but got no answer. “She’s probably still sleeping, like we should be.”, Minnie griped as the entered the empty mess. There was a clatter in the galley and Naomi came out with a stack of pancakes. “Oh good you’re here, I heard you guys and thought you could use a hot meal.”, she said, “Who won by the way?”. Minnie raised her hand “Me, me…I always win.”. “Then you get the best pancakes, and the captain gets the ones that fell on the floor.”. At that Will burst out laughing, joined by Minnie, “Yup.”, said Will “That’s what the losers get, remember that Min, floor food.”. They ate slowly enjoying the quiet, such a difference from the hustle and bustle of the last two weeks. “I like the littles around, but I like it best when it’s just us.”,Minnie said. “Yeah me too Min, the kids are fun but it’s sure busy.”, agreed Naomi. They looked at Will “Oh I feel the same way guys. Sure I love the kids and I like to be busy. But on some days I just like to laze on the bow, telling a story or listening to you guys play. This is our home after all.”, Will said. Pouring another cuppa and spearing a final pancake or perhaps two from the plate he continued to enjoy their breakfast/lunch. Minnie looked at Naomi who shook her head no, so she grabbed the last two pancakes, slathered them with butter then drenched them with syrup. “Gotta fuel the machine…right dad ?”, she asked, through a maw full of pancake. Will had just finished his last jam covered morsel “Oh definitely sweetie, most definitely.”.
The Other World
Captain Jensen was walking the deck that ran the circumference of his huge vessel. Meeting and talking with guests was a part of his job, not a huge part.But when out and about in public, so to speak, he was expected to be affable and approachable. By nature he was an outgoing person, always ready for a chat over a coffee so this was not a concern.Today though he was on a bit of a mission.As he had started walking at the bow he could have sworn he smelled burning coal.He recognized the particular odour from his grandfathers farm, spending time there in the winter months.Now he was trying to track it down.All the way along the port side of the huge ship, now he was at the stern the smell came with a vengeance.Along with a quick summer squall, that seemed to come out of nowhere, lasted a minute at most and was gone.“What a weird trip this had been.”, he muttered.“You have no idea captain, there are definitely some weird times ahead.”.The words made him turn quickly and saw the speaker.That rather odd gentleman he ran into the other day.“Eli isn’t it?Nice to catch up with you again.”, Peter said, extending his hand.The other man pulled back “Sorry, I don’t like to be touched, but it is good to see you again before.”.What an odd person, Peter thought “Before…before what?”.Eli consulted his watch “A bit too soon, enjoy your day.Oh and remember me to Will when you see him.”.At that cryptic remark he turned and ambled away.Peter was going to go after him but his radio buzzed and when he looked up Eli was gone.