Chapter 18 Fishie Fun

The day started well.Waking up to the smell of breakfast, everyone gathered in the mess.Pancakes and bacon today, to Minnie’s delight.Breakfast was always a good time, laughing and chatting with each other as they looked forward to the day.Will looked at the kids, such hard workers he thought, such a pity that any of them couldn’t stand to be on the water after they aged.

He knew there were other no heart-boats, his foreknowledge tod him as much. Given the size of this monster lake there was a lifetime of voyaging ahead for them, but remembering what Elaith had said…live as long as we want to.Perhaps they would be able to explore as much as they want to. He had misty vague memories of other places here, but mostly of the boat. Couldn’t grasp them. He became of Minnie insistently poking him in the side, looking at him with worried eyes. “It’s okay, just thinking ahead.” he said. Min rubbed her head against him, “lots to do again huh”, she asked. “Oh yeah” replied Will, “and we better get to it.”. Tossing back the rest of his coffee, he thanked Naomi for a breakfast and he and Min headed on deck.

They winched the folders down and readied them for the kids. Again Will crewed one and Minnie the other and they headed for shore to finish their ore run.

Bucket after bucket was loaded into the boats and Will, with a couple of helpers, would run it out to the boat and unload it.He was still amazed at how easy it was for him to load the heavy canvas bags onto the crane hook.It’s one thing to see he was getting stronger on his menu, but another thing to be able to straight arm 200lbs of ore.

Checking the hold he was happy to see the ore was level at the full mark.

As he headed back to the beach he could see the tired workers sitting in the sand, or in the other boat resting. Minnie was still chasing the icky crabs, looking for big ones to eat, no luck tho.The news the hold was full was welcome for sure and the waiting bags were emptied back on the ore piles for next trip. Rowing back to the ship, the sun was starting to drop below the horizon.Another night anchored here, then homeward bound tomorrow, slowly and fishing all the way.Hopefully they would find a school of floaters or sharps on the way.Floaters were closer to shore and sharps further out.The float weed that was used for so much grew in huge mats that travelled the lake.

But that was tomorrow, tonight was to rest, relax and wash off the ore and coal dust. A fine meal and a long sleep. Unfortunately there was still work to be done.

The folders had to be dismantled and stored below again, that took Will and Minnie a short while.The ore bags cleaned and replaced in the store room.Crane gears greased, lines checked…and so on.It was a weary Minnie and Will that entered the galley and sat at the captain’s table.Stew was on the menu today and they fell to. The kids had been eating for a while but their meals had been saved in the galley. As the teens left to bathe or just relax for the evening Will and Min were mostly alone, the galley was still busy as dishes were washed. Several cakes had been baked and iced and they enjoyed a slice or two.

Devouring their dinner they talked of the day to come.The icky fishies, was Minnie’s worry, she was sure they would touch her and spread the goop on her fur.Will was looking forward to fishing , he always had in his old world.Maybe even dropping a crab pot while they were drifting.He was sure Minnie would love crab if she ever had a chance to taste it. Will took a mug of tea to the wheelhouse to relax and watch the stars. Minnie stayed in the galley to visit with Naomi and Chuck. The most became very quiet as the night came on, and Will headed to bed. Finding Min curled in her blankets he slipped under the covers and let sleep take him.

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Waking the next morning he could hear the kids excitement, they knew they would be home this evening.As exciting as the trip had been, the work was hard and they were young to be away from home.Fishing would not be as strenuous, either would gathering float weed.He still wanted to talk to Naomi and Chuck about staying on too, but he would see how things went today. Will stopped in the engine room but found the boiler lit and warming, the coal feeder was full too.Minnie has been busy he thought.He then headed into the mess and found it full and busy.Minnie was at his table and he sat beside her.“Good job in on the boiler Min” he said.Her mouth was full so she gave a happy nod.Seeing that porridge and sausage was for today’s meal he quickly loaded up a bowl.

Pouring honey on top he dug in.

“I think you are going to be piloting all day Min,” he said when his mouth was empty, “I will be running the drag nets and crane, after we eat we can go over our course.”.Minnie was very happy that she was in the pilot house and not fishing.So after a final coffee and sausage they climbed up to the wheelhouse and pored over the maps.

“The village is due east from here, about 8 hours medium speed,” Will pointed out.“Yeah but if we are slow slow, we will be longer for sure”, said Minnie.Will agreed, “Let’s go ahead slow, if we pick up a wind we will adjust ok?”.Minnie gave a salute and stood on her box in front of the boats wheel.Will headed out to lift anchor so they could get underway. He could see more smoke coming from the stack as the boiler heated fast. Will pulled the port, then the starboard anchors and tied them in travelling position. Min gave a toot on the whistle and the boat started to make way.

The teens had gathered on deck and started to unroll the drag nets, Will hooked them to the crane and started them unfurling from the stern.Rods were brought up, baited and casted.However trolling was a bit boring, just watching the rod for that twitch to show fish on. So card games were started, musical instruments brought out, relaxing until it was time to bring the net in.

Rods were bringing in a few fish but Will could tell by the drag that it was net time.Starting to winch in the net it was obvious it was heavy with fish.The several hundred pound net was lifted high over the deck then lowered into the fish hold to be sorted. Minnie brought the boat to drift speed and they went below decks to start the sorting.The smell of fish was stronger below in the hold, even with fresh air from above. The net was overflowing with fish, floaters mostly but an occasional sunfish as well.Not a good fish but could be ground for feed or fertilizer.Large swatch’s of float weed were put into barrel as were the fish.Will noticed part of the net was moving, twitching more and more violently.

Suddenly a sharp lunged out, shredding the tough net like it was paper.Wide tooth filled mouth snapping at everything. “Ahhh” screamed Min, “help help, it’s gonna eat me.”.Will scrabbled back, picking up Minnie out of harms way.He grabbed at a harpoon hanging on the nearby wall and plunged it into the sharps head, nailing it to the floor.Surprisingly this did not kill the 4 foot fish, but two more harpoons to the brain did. Luckily this was the only sharp in the net. Will tossed it into a waiting barrel, hoping it was the only surprise.The other barrels were quickly filled with the floaters and weed, then Minnie scampered to the deck to lift the net out.Looking at their haul he figured that one more net would do it.

When he returned to the deck Min had the Rose moving ahead at dead slow while he deployed the second net. The rods had not been forgotten about and several fish had been put in the deck barrels. Games were resumed while waiting for fish on. This net did not fill as quickly, there must have been a deep school the first time, but it did fill eventually. Luckily when this net was dumped it was just floaters and weed. Will sighed with relief as nothing tried to eat his first mate this time. The barrels were filled to the brim and Will decided it was time to set back to dock.

He went on deck and announced they were heading home…a cheer went up from the fishy teens. Minnie announced it was time for a bath as her fur was quite icky with fishie, as soon as they hit the quay. Will sat in the captains chair, pulled the throttle to full ahead and steered due east, stack belching smoke.