Chapter 8. New Beginnings

The long boat held them all easily, and with a “Hold still now please”, the captain pushed the loaded boat back in to the water and started rowing, faster and faster. The space between the Rose and shore was covered quickly. The children, even the grown boys, were very quiet on the short trip. Gaining the side of the boat the captain called out “Toss a rope if you would.”. A shorter figure appeared at the side and threw a line, the captain tied off the dory securely and then reached up snd flipped the side rail down, revealing stairs. He assisted all to the stairs and they were met by the shorter person, dressed much the same as the captain, except their warm woollen hat and gloves were bright yellow. Leading them to a covered set of stairs they were invited to go below. Going down these stairs was like entering another world.

Below the snow covered deck, was a warm corridor of polished wood with yellow lit lanterns on the walls. “If you would like to leave your outer gear here to dry please, boots too, we have extra slippers.”, the captain said. He was taking off his gear as was the smaller figure beside him. He was revealed to be a tall man of about thirty five, bald with a large bushy moustache, dressed in blue woollen pants, tucked into thick socks, and a yellow short sleeve shirt. The other figure was something that none of the family had ever seen. A short person, about half the size of the hulking Cal. Covered with short black and white fur, long silky ears, large sparkling brown eyes and a slight muzzle, and a tail poking out of the back of her yellow coveralls.

Minnie saw them staring and suddenly said “Boo.”, in her squeaky voice and laughed gaily as they jumped back. “Don’t worry giant guys, I’m friendly. First mate Minnie, of the Rose.”, and gave a snappy salute and walked down the corridor and entered the mess hall. Will laughed. “Shall we”, and he gestured to the door Minnie had gone to. Everyone was more than a little overwhelmed by their surroundings. The warm felt slippers they had been given were very soft and held their feet snugly. Everywhere they looked was warm and hospitable, as they passed the other doors in the corridors one was slightly open. Uma peeked in to see three comfortable beds stacked on top of each other in a cosy room. “That’s where the work crews live, while they’re aboard”, explained Will, noticing her looking. “Work crews?”, Oona asked. “I’ll explain over dinner”, Will promised. Ushering them into the mess there were some very interesting smells going on, bellies rumbling and much sniffing. A young woman came out of yet another door, this one apparently a kitchen. Dressed. Much the same as Will and Minnie, but with long pants and a light shirt. Dark curly shoulder length hair, but tied in two ‘tails’ on the side. Much shorter than Will but taller than Minnie, she looked about eighteen to Katya.

“Welcome aboard, I’m second mate Naomi”, she said in a light voice, “I hope your all hungry, the captain asked me to go all out on a dinner for us all.”. At that moment Minnie came into the mess from the galley and stopped in her tracks.”. “Dad, dad,”, she whispered urgently, “Why are they the same, those two over there, the little ones, they’re the same, are they the mirror people?”. Mirror people, Will thought, what is she on about. The Obbs didn’t know what to make if it, so they stayed silent, the girls in question hiding behind their brothers. “They are twins Minnie, two babies that grow at the same time, born right after each other. Some times they can look alike.”,Will explained. Minnie took a closer look at the cowering girls “Okay then, if you’re not the mirror people we’re okay, do you guys want some yummy apple juice, littles usually like the juice, but we have grape too, and dads yucky weed water, and regular water, but no milk, so do you want something, hey come sit with me and tell me everything, maybe you could draw me a picture of your life.”. And with that she took the little girls hands and led them to her raised chair and showed them her sketchbook and pencils. The littles loved this right away and were soon chatting about their world.

Katya released a breath she didn’t know she had been holding and sat down heavily in a chair. Therd was at her side as were the three sons, “What’s wrong ma”, asked Tor. “I’m just relieved that we can eat tonight, and be warm.”, she replied, then asked “Can I help with anything, I’m not used to just sitting while there’s work to be done.”. Naomi smiled at her, “Oh yes, I can always use a hand, dad or Minnie are usually in here but they’re kinda busy now, come on in.”, and she led Katya in to the galley. “Well that just leaves us”, said Will, “Shall we sit?”. Taking his usual spot he gestured for the others to join him. After a bit of shuffling and adjusting the four men sat at the table. They were not up used to this, usually meals were taken sitting at a low table on the floor, eating communally. But this was comfortable enough, just different.

Will poured a cuppa and added a generous amount of sugar. Offered the same to Therd and his boys who all accepted, willing to try something different. Tor and Din loved it, Cal didn’t mind it but Therd didn’t care for it and politely pushed his mug away. Seeing this Minnie laughed “Yup, yucky weed water, bleargh.”, Offering juice, warmed and cold Will began. “It’s been years since the Rose visited hasn’t it?”. “Yes”, said Therd, “My father was a boy then, she came just for a short visit. Brought us iron tools, knives hammers axes, things like that, we gave furs in return.”. He took a drink of the warmed apple juice this time, gasped in delight and quaffed it fast. Will smiled and poured him more, gesturing for him to go on. “That captain said they would return regularly but never did, never came back til now.”, Therd said sadly “What happened?”. Will shrugged slightly, “We have memories, of the captains before me, it seems she just died of old age, then the next and the next didn’t know or bother to find out. They in turn passed. There were a few years while the Rose sat at dock, waiting for Minnie and I to come.”.

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“Will you forget about us too?”, Uma asked. Minnie held her hand “Dad never forgets anything, he writes it down.”. Naomi laughed from the galley door “He writes everything down.”. She and Katya began bringing dinner platters in, large baked hams, fluffy mashed potatoes with butter, baked carrots dripping with syrup, gravy and fresh bread. The boys eyes nearly popping out of their heads at the quantity of food in front of them. Therd’s and the twins as well, they had never seen food like this. Minnie enjoyed sitting with the littles, as she called them, and talking about their lives. Will laughed inside to see this, even if the parents were hiding something, the children couldn’t. There wasn’t much talk from anyone as food was the main thought on everyone’s mind, for the next twenty minutes it was mostly quiet.

Will had been finished for a while, sipping his tea and chatting with Therd and Katya about children life in general. The twins had gone with Minnie for a tour of the boat, with much giggling. The three boys were finishing up, thanking Naomi for the wonderful meal, with shy glances and smiles. “Your mom helped too you know.”, she said with a grin. They nearly fell over themselves thanking their mother who just smiled indulgently. “So, tell me if your life, do you have any needs we can help with?”, Will asked. Therd glanced at Katya, who shrugged as if to say why not. “Our village is dying.”, he began, “The herds that feed and clothe us have changed their migrations to the south, too far for us to hunt.”, Katya broke in, “We need to move, all of us to the south, but we can’t get through. That land is impassable now, the herds were there when the earth shook, and they’re trapped and so are we.”, she clasped her hands over her face and sobbed. Therd tried to comfort his wife as best he could, the brothers looked lost. “Well, there’s only one thing then”, Will said, “Let’s move your village then, to the south.”. Minnie had just entered the room gave a cheer hearing this “About time dad, my tail was getting too cold here, my hands too, and my nose and ears, also my feet and toeses, maybe my butt too, oh and my knees and elbows, the top of my heads a bit chilly, and my teeth hurt from the wind, let’s go okay.”. She look surprised when the twins gave her a hug, and gently hugged them back. “Yeah Min, we’re cold too, let’s skedaddle out of here.”, Will said.

Naomi was a bit confused “What’s a skedaddle.”, Tor shrugged as did Cal and Din, “We’ve never heard of it either, pa have you, ma?”, he asked. Both Therd and Katya shook their heads, Will sighed. “Let’s talk over afters and more tea.”.

Afters turned out to be carrot cakes sadly without eggs but still very good, and fruit preserves on top. Peaches and pears from Laketown. Again the family had never had the like and inhaled two or sometimes three helpings. While they were eating a plan was hashed out, to call a village meeting on the following day. Introduce Will and let him show how they could help. Leftovers were wrapped and placed in a hamper for the family for later and everyone started pulling on their outer gear. Therd marvelled at the thick warm coveralls the crew wore, with layers of warmth underneath. Their own furs were warm and protected them just fine but the wind always found a way.

The weather had cleared when they climbed on deck, a clear black night sky studded with gloriously bright stars. Will still marvelled at how clear things were. The wind was just a shadow of the gale before, the midships light was welcoming as they stood on deck. Still cold, but not as bitter as before, it seemed they were being given a break, but for how long no one knew. Again it was just Will who rowed them back to shore. His presence made the lake less threatening and for the first time they felt safe near the water. That was until Uma started telling stories that Minnie had told her, about sea serpents, huge sharps attacking, monster waves tossing the boat around. Yup, that definitely changed the mood quick and when shore was reached, they all scrambled off the dory. Will passed the hamper over “”I’ll be here when the sun is highest, until then good night.”. In the dark the dory was quickly gone and just the rhythmic clack of oars could be heard. The adults were overwhelmed by the hospitality they were shown and the offer of help. The tales of the Rose didn’t do justice to how good and kind the crew really were. He couldn’t wait to spread the word tomorrow morning, but tonight it was to bed for all, including the sleeping twins being carried by the doting brothers. The headed to the village and their home.

Will reached the Rose and secured the dory with a line, not bothering to lift her up tonight. Another check on deck, and all was well, he went belowdecks. He was greeted by an eager Minnie and Naomi. They sat in the mess and discussed the events of the day. “Can we move them all down south dad, they might freak out.”, Minnie asked. “We wouldn’t want that, but a short trip should be okay. We’ve had company on board before and they didn’t go boom”, added Naomi. Will thought for a bit, “That’s true, it should be okay as long as we’re all here with them, maybe only thirty or forty at a time, that’s a day and night steam for us, then the same back.”. Minnie said “We could have the whole village in a couple of weeks, maybe take the littles and old folks first, and some big guys to watch them.”. Will agreed and a plan was hatched out, but only if all the village wanted to move. They didn’t know what to do if some held out. But that was a tomorrow worry, tonight was a cleanup and an early bed, it had been a long day.

The pack sensed a difference. A sound that had been followed and tracked for weeks was gone, the rhythm that had pulled them to the cold north waters. Scouts went out to find the sound again, revenge must be had.