Chapter 63. Farewells
The warm weather broke and there was definitely a storm rolling through the Newton area.“Sure glad we went shopping early, we might have gotten all our new stuff wet.”, Minnie remarked, looking out of the mess porthole.”.“Oh yes,” agreed Naomi, “We might even have had to skip the candy store”.This made Minnie gasp in horror.“No sweeties?”.“It’s all right, we got everything we wanted…and more.”, Will looked over all the boxes and bags.Spread out on the tables to be admired then put away in their cabins.
Will had finally cleared out all the clothes in his and Minnie’s room, loaded them into a couple of big barrels and put in a storeroom.Now they had much more space to put Minnie’s new clothes, and there was a lot.One wardrobe was all hats and shoes, another held jumpers and shirts, yet another was for pants, shorts, skirts, and kilts.Their new fall and winter gear was in a locker at the bottom of the main gangway.Hopefully not to get used yet, but ready just in case.
The cabins of the Rose were heated by hot water radiators, fed from the main boiler. Will had taken a couple of hours today to open the main valves and cycle water throughout the system. To check for leaks and clear out any sediment or deposits. The water came out nice and clear, and it sure warmed things up fast. They would be safe and warm until things got very cold, up around the minus 20 mark. Then the windchill on the open water, the water freezing up on the surfaces would make conditions too unsafe to work in. They would have to find a safe protected harbour or retreat to their covered dock for the duration. “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worse “, Will muttered as he tinkered with the doors at the bottom of the stairs. They would be swung closed when the cold weather showed up, doors at the top of the stairs could be closed off as well, making the stairs area change room of sorts. That stopped rain from running down inside, but both would keep the cold air out.
With all their new purchases put away it was time.They needed to get ready for the incoming crew.The cabins for them had been cleaned up, it was just a matter of unrolling mattresses into the bunks and sorting out bedding. This all took a little while but when it was done they had a late meal on deck, enjoying the clearing weather.“Shopping like this was fun dad, going to all the stores for stuff, let’s do that again.”, sad Minnie.“Oh yes, but did we spend too much.It’s hard to know if I did.”, asked Naomi.Will smiled and said“I like shopping too, not too often or it’s no fun a anymore.And as for spending too much…we have enough credit to last us a long time.Even if we stopped helping.”.Reassured Naomi relaxed and brought out her violin.
Will dug in his pocket for something he had found when going through clothes.In the pocket of a jacket he had first worn here, then never again.“Here Minnie.”, and he handed her something he had bought the first time in Newton.“What’s is it?”, Minnie turned the small tube over in her hands.“Blow in the small end.”, Will said.As she did a piercing whistle came out.“It’s called a penny whistle, if you cover the small holes with your fingers you can blow different notes”, he explained, “I bought it last time and it got left somewhere and I just found it.”.Minnie was experimenting with it, making different sounds and notes.“It will take practice but you’ll be making music before you know it”, Will added.“Thanks dad, I love it, gonna practice all the time til I’m good.”, Minnie gave him a tight hug, rested her head on his shoulder as they sat together.
Next morning they were up early.Minnie and Will fired up the Rose and started pulling the barges out to sea and anchoring them in place.Naomi was able to help with this too as she didn’t need to be protected anymore.With much yelling of “Full power, now reverse, hold her there”, the crew got all four barges out and ready for towing.Then back to the quay for supplies and the coal crew.As they tied off Will could see wagons waiting, full of foodstuffs.Behind them were the carriages that councillors usually arrived in.There was also quite a crowd of teens, many more than the twelve that usually joined them.Minnie and Naomi jumped down to the quay and walked down to meet wagons.Will stayed back at the Rose and readied pallets to make loading quicker.
The first wagon began backing down the quay reaching him in a couple of minutes.Rudy was driving this one.And as it stopped Minnie jumped down to help load the supplies.As they started piling onto the first skid Rudy’s eyes widened.“What the….why would…oh I see now “, he stuttered out as the now full pallet was craned up and over to the boat, then down into the hold.“Yeah, it’s something we worked out.”, Will explained, “Much quicker and easier.”Rudy nodded and you could see that he would be using this idea very soon.
This wagon emptied out and was driven back.The next one backed down , this time driven by Ed.Naomi had escorted him and there didn’t seem to be any tension between the two.Again the supplies were loaded onto waiting pallets then loaded aboard to be stowed away later.Now it was time to get the kids.They were milling around at the lands end and, as the crew neared, a cheer went up.Seeing Dave was near Will asked “You know we only have room for twelve right?”.Dave laughed, “Yeah, but it’s a school day, so everyone came to see their friends off.”. Now,as Will looked closer, he could tell the ones coming along.Carrying a bag, or backpack there were a few familiar faces.Two stood out right away…it was Howard and Sally from the tea house.
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Minnie was wandering through the crowd greeting all her friends, she loved the little ones so and truly enjoyed their company.It seemed that everyone knew her too, from the tiniest tots to the oldest, they all went up to say hello.Naomi wasn’t as outgoing as Minnie, but really no one was.Teens her age had gathered near her and they were all talking at once, but that happened in any world.After a few minutes thechildren who were going along made it to the front of the crowd, looking ready to go.
Matt, looking very tired again, wheeled his way to the front. “Well here we are again. Saying goodbye to you brave children. We thank you for doing what we cannot. To keep our town going. Work hard and stay safe, listen to the captain and crew, learn lots and make memories. I went on gathering trips when I was a boy and I can still feel that salt wind singing to me at night. Say your goodbyes and get aboard, good journey to you all.”.
“Let’s go gang!”, called Minnie and set off.With her in the front and Naomi in the rear they escorted the teens down the quay to the Rose.Climbing aboard the ones who had voyaged before showed the new ones where to go.Holding to tradition there were two older teens, on the cusp of adulthood, to help with the younger ones.This time it was Ann and her sister Milly.They were to make sure everyone had enough to eat,brushed their teeth, no bullying, proper bedtimes and so on.
Will had stayed back with the crowd to have a talk with the councillors.But he addressed the parents first.“I’ll take care of your children, have no fear.They’ll be safe as I can make them.Minnie and Naomi will make sure of that as well.We’re all gonna work hard but there will be fun too.Look for us in two weeks.”.The people were used to children working on the heartboat, even if there had been a few years without.So some were sad, some happy but all of them were resigned to the fact.After all, they didn’t have to go.This was a great opportunity for the teens.
Councillor Dave was first to step forward to see Will off.“Good trip captain, I hope the weathers fair and the lake calm.”The others came forward to shake hands and wish him well.“I wish I could come along too Will.”, said Matt “One last trip on the Rose before I sleep.”.“What about right now Matt, come with while we load up the barges”, asked Will.He could see the longing in Matt’s eyes and knew the lure of the water.“You’ll be safe with us, we promise.”.Matt’s eyes kept moving to the Rose….”Yes…yes please Will.Let’s go.”.
Will pushed Matt’s chair along the long quay.As they walked Matt was telling him about when he travelled on the Rose.When it was under sail, going to get coal and iron ore with the captain and his crew.As they got to the boat Will carefully lifted Matt aboard and rolled him to the bow.He used the voice tube to call the mess and when Minnie answered he asked her to come up.She came up and greeted Matt happily.“Hi guy, you coming along too?”.Matt laughed “No, just around the harbour while you pick up the barges.”.Minnie nodded “Sounds fun.”.
“Let’s get to it Min”, said Will.The boiler had been fired up earlier and was ready to go, Will untied and Minnie hit the throttle to quarter speed and they pulled away from the quay.As they did Matt let out a laugh of pure pleasure.Pulling up alongside the first barge Will used a gaff to pull close and jumped aboard.Again the teens lined the rails, fascinated by what was going on.He threw the heavy line to Minnie who tied it to the massive tow bollard.Will pulled the barge anchor and hopped back to the Rose.Going dead slow Minnie pulled ahead until the tow line went tight and started moving the barge.For the next ones Will had to row onto the barge to hook up the front and get the rear line ready.But they had practice doing this so it was not difficult. When they got to the last one Will went to check on Matt .The older man was sitting in his chair, several of the teens sitting by him.Listening as he told them of his times on the Rose, the sights he had seen, places they had been together.
The last barge was close and again, Will rowed swiftly to it . Climbed aboard, pulled anchor, hooked it up and was ready to go back. Minnie had a good hand on things and didn’t let the lines go to loose to prevent banging and pulling. Empty like this there was not much effort to move them, when full they were a little more of a pain. Will climbed into the dory and pulled up to the boat, tied off to the davits and climbed aboard. It only took minutes to hoist the smaller boat up and lock it in place.
The weather was perfect, the wind in their face smelling of salt and freedom, Minnie was pulling on the steam whistle trying to play a tune.“Sounds like the unicorn song” Will laughed.You couldn’t ask for a better day.
Returning to the bow he saw Matt was tiring.“Time to go back to land I think.” Will said.Matt raised his head “Oh, sorry captain, I was off with the fairies for a minute…didn’t really know where I was.But yes, it’s time to go.”.Will didn’t really want to pull the Rose to the quay with all the barges.“I will run you back in the dory, it’s a little easier.”.Matt nodded.Will wheeled him back to where he had just locked the dory, unlatched it and called Naomi to sit with Matt in the small boat while he lowered it beside the Rose.
As Will pushed off from the boat and started pulling for shore Matt seemed to shake himself awake and turned to look at the sight of the boat steaming along slowly behind them. Pennants flying, stack belching smoke…the children sitting by the rails waving. “Thank you Will, what a perfect way to end the day”. His head fell to his chest and his arms went slack. Will knew what had happened but checked anyway. He gently checked Matt’s neck for a pulse and found none. Passing his hand over his friends face he closed his eyes. “Rest well Matt, rest well.”.
He returned to the oars and hit them hard, and was at the quay, close to shore, in a few minutes.The councillors were still there, waiting on Matt’s return.As he roped off and carefully lifted Matt out, they bowed their heads.Matt’s partner John had been waiting for him to come back.“Thank you Will, he felt he was going to pass soon, and doing this for him..I have no words.”.Will placed Matt gently on the seat of Johns carriage “He was very happy at the end, I just wish I had known him longer.”.
Looking back at the lake and the Rose steaming slowly by, he had a hard task coming.