Chapter 35. Fill Ore Bust

Will had been right with his estimate of their arrival at the ore shoals. Just before their evening meal the Rose had steamed up to the huge drifts of rock. Slowly emptying into the lake like an avalanche of rock. Again he marvelled at the way this world provided. No need for dangerous mines, the ore was here for the taking, mind you it wasn’t that easy to take.

He remembered Matt talking about getting coal overland and how difficult it was. “Lucky for them we’re here.”. he remarked to Minnie. “Yup”, was the answer. “Going to be a busy day tomorrow, those kiddies better get a good nights rest.”, he added. “Yup.”, said Minnie. Will turned to her “Hope Naomi has a good breakfast planned.”.Will asked. “Yup.”. Narrowing his eyes, he looked at his little friend…”Is that all you can say?”. Minnie edged toward the door of the wheelhouse, opened it, turned to Will, “Nope.”, and ran out laughing. Will cranked the engine control to stop, roped the wheel in place. Only then did he start to chase Minnie down. He thought he saw her at the bow, hiding beside his bbq, but she wasn’t there. He dropped anchors while he was there, to stop drifting, even though they were very far from shore yet. He continued searching the deck for her but still no sign.

Hearing the laughing from below decks he thought he knew where she had gone.Down to the main deck and into the mess, he finally spied Minnie.Sitting in her usual spot at the captains table she gave a happy wave as he came in.“Hey dad, good job finding me.”, she said happily.Will looked over “Yup.”.Laughing she ran over and hurled herself onto his arms, “Love you captain dad.”.

Leaving dinner prep to Jens and Sally, the crew went back up to the main deck to start the process of unhooking the barges for the night and anchoring them safely. Again the practice showed and they had the barges safe for the night. As Will climbed back aboard he was definitely ready for a good meal.

They headed down to find things under control, Al and Greta had the children occupied with cards and story telling. In the galley Jens and Sally had finished all the dinner prep that Naomi had left them. Now that she returned they got on with finishing up. Today was a hearty stew and fresh bread. Apple crumble and whipped heavy cream for afters. The first time Minnie had tried whipped cream had been amazing. Between licking the beaters and her bowl clean she had been in heaven.

After the meal was over Will made the announcement that they had reached the ore shoals and operations would start tomorrow.All would leave the Rose tomorrow and break into groups on shore.Naomi and her aides would be supplying snacks and meals as the day wore on, this was not easy work and she let them all know this is no uncertain terms.

After his announcements Will and Minnie helped clean the mess and galley.Doing dishes and tidying counters and cupboards was relaxing to him, bringing order to chaos.The teens had shifted to various places on the boat, their cabins, on deck or still in the mess chatting and so on.Will tried to make them feel at home and they were all polite and well behaved children.

The Rose was a peaceful site, smoke drifting from her stack and from the galley stove.The sound of laughing and talking on deck, the splash of gentle waves and the seabirds heading for land for the night.The sun was dimming as evening turned to night, so Will lit the deck lanterns so everyone could enjoy staying up awhile longer.

The crew sat in their usual chairs on the bow and played a few hands of cards supplied with tea, milk and cakes. Stories were told and plans for the future made. Songs sung and tunes played, a good night, ending with all heading to their cabins for the night.

The next day dawned bright and clear.Once Minnie had asked Will why he always mentioned that and why he worried about the weather, Will reminded her about their first storm a few months ago.How quickly it came upon then and lucky they had been to find safe harbour.“The weather can turn fast, we always have to be aware, always.”.

So, as Will wrote in the log, the day dawned bright and clear. The barometer was steady and no clouds on the horizon. Water was mostly still, just the usual heaving. A few fish were jumping, catching early flies, but not the fat wide floaters that were so valued, or the fierce sharps, just sunfish. A few sheets of bubble weed were floating near but that was not what they had come for. Their cargo was waiting for them on shore.

Breakfast was noisy, chattering about the days work to come, the occasional remark about the lake but mostly about the food coming out of the galley.Large cast iron pans of egg cakes, plate after plate of buttered toast jugs of milk and pots of tea.A special treat in the form of jars of jam, strawberry jam that had been kept back for these days.

Naomi had been hard at work in the galley, aided by the two teens Jens and Sally, and by Minnie. Will stopped in for cleanup again and enjoyed chatting about absolutely everything, from egg cakes to fishies, a thing called movies, books, stories, different kinds of cheese and why coal burned. A very good time.

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After breakfast all hands were on deck to watch the crew deploy the folding boats and start ferrying the teens to shore.Will had brought up the large ore bags from storage and had loaded them onto the boats.Each boat carried five teens and at least one crew member.They were still keeping Naomi’s possible immunity between them until they could test it, by themselves.

As the boats grated ashore Will could see they were in a good spot to load coal.There were piles around them just waiting to be loaded up.They had brought the first barge very close to shore to make loading easier but still it was going to be an arduous time.

Work crews were sorted out, shovels and picks distributed, Will ensured there were work gloves and hats, water bottles and boots, bandanas and over sleeves. A snack area set up, with tables from the boat, umbrellas and chairs. Work commenced.

Heavy canvas bags filled with ore, taken to the dory and then rowed to the barge. From there winched up and dumped into the ore bunkers, rinse and repeat. Now the first time Will said that he, of course, had to explain what it meant but he enjoyed doing that. That’s how young people learn and how old people show off.

So the morning progressed, coal shovelled and loaded. There was no particular hurry, they had a vague timetable to keep, but this was not slave labor. Everyone was a volunteer and they were teens. A certain amount of skylarking was expected and several times they had breaks to go exploring or have a splash fight in the shallows.

But the barge was sinking lower as more and more coal was loaded. Will knew the pace would pick up over the next few days, so he figured about a week to ten days for an absolute full load. An adventure the teens would never forget.

Lunch was eaten, then back to work.Minnie was working hard, her strength had increased to the point where she could lift the ore bags into the dory unaided.But as she toiled she saw movement out of the corner of her eye, could it be? She slowly moved toward the rock where she had seen something, creeping, crawling then finally pouncing on a tiny crab.

“What you got Min?”, asked Will.“Another tiny one dad, are we ever going to find big ones.”, sighed Minnie poking the crab with a piece of driftwood.“Maybe one day, or they just don’t get big here.”, replied Will, “We might even come across lobster too, but maybe not this part of the lake, not cold enough I think.”.As they talked the teens had gathered around to listen.

“Are you really from another world captain?”, asked Ed, “I heard mom say that you were, but.”. Gesturing for the others to gather around Will sat on a nearby rock. “It’s true, Minnie and I are from a different world, where we came from is very different than here.”. Several children asked at once, how, tell us, can you tell us please. Will nodded “It’s a pretty short story of how we got here, but to tell you of our old world, that’s a very long tale.“.

“We came here, helped by a being called Elaith.When I recall that day, I think I was dying.He helped us travel here and become who we are now, Minnie and I that is.We found Laketown, joined with the Rose and this is our life now.”.

He answered a few questions about Elaith, told them what little he knew about that person, what he could remember.What the road had been like, changing as they walked it.But he didn’t mention menu or that he was getting younger, some things needed to remain private.Standing and stretching he said “Time to get back to it guys, we will talk more at dinner tonite, about our old world, okay?”.

Shovels were picked up once more and worked started up.“You are very good with them.”, remarked Naomi.Will smiled “Lots of practice, I have had children and grandchildren.I love the little guys, so much energy.Keeps me young.”.

Seeing the full bags beside the dory he turned back to work, swinging the bags onto the boat easily. This was how the afternoon went…until he asked Minnie to ring the dinner bell she had brought, to signal end of day.

A quick wash in the shallows, rinsing the coal dust out of their hair and hands.Then packing up and into the boats to return to the Rose, for a hearty meal and a real bath.

Will had thought on this and had set up a shower and bath in the empty ore hold, for now that is. Warmed salt water to wash with and a fresh water rinse. Will would keep an eye on their fresh water supply and, if necessary, would find a spring to top off at.

Dinner was ready, a combination of left overs from the previous day and of thick sandwiches with fry potatoes. All the teens were tired out from the days work, so all they could manage was to wash, eat, then slip off to bed. A routine would set in but first days were tough. After making sure the boat was secure for the night, Will,Minnie and Naomi played some cards while waiting for the teens to settle. Then they hit the hay as well.

Menu

William Harris

Age 42

Intelligence 17/50

Strength 30/50

Vitality 28/50

Stamina 28/50

Affinities for gardening, cultivating, fishing, knitting, swimming, mariner ,

Captain of the heartboat Rose

Navigation 3

Mechanic 3

Mason 1

Minnie

Best dog of all

Age 5

Intelligence 12/25

Strength 16/25

Vitality 18/25

Stamina 18/25

Affinities for fishing, swimming, mariner

First Mate of the heartboat Rose

Piloting 3

Mechanic 2

Crab Catcher

Shrimper

Naomi 0’Malley

Age 16

Intelligence 18/50

Strength 15/50

Vitality 14/50

Stamina 15/50

Affinities for cooking, fishing, gardening, swimming, mariner

Second Mate of the heartboat Rose

Management 2

Cooking 2

Homemaker 2