Chapter 23 Sailing Away

The meeting that evening was productive. There were several tasks on the boat that some were suited for more than others. Minnie was great at piloting and any mechanical repairs but not cooking, Naomi was a wonder in the galley and a general hard worker however navigating and piloting overwhelmed her, even thinking about it gave her the shivers. Will was good at just about everything but couldn’t be everywhere at once.

Even on a boat like this there were still things that must be done when they need doing.Things need filling, greasing, cleaning, descaling, pumping, scrubbing, a long list.So it was decided that everyone would help depending on their skills.One major point was that Naomi would have nothing to do with actually going into the lake, even if Will or Minnie were alongside.Her feelings might get better later on but only time would tell.

“So what’s the plan for the rest of the evening, sailing along in shifts or anchoring for the night”, asked Will “I am fine either way, but if we decide to anchor we have to look soon.”.Minnie spoke up “let’s find a safe anchor place for the night, can’t see too well at night, don’t wanna hit things.”.“Ok”, said Will, “ let’s head close to shore, but not too close.”.

As the meeting was in the wheelhouse Will spun the wheel and hit half ahead.The Rose turned easily toward the barely visible shore.After 15 minutes the rocky beach was within a 300 yards so Minnie had the wheel and Will went to the bow and dropped anchor.At dead slow it took a few seconds for the first anchor to bite, then the second.“All stop” yelled Will and could feel the engine stopping.

There was a light wind coming from land but the air was dusty with no smell of greenery. It had darkened quickly so there was not too much to do. The boiler fire was damped, coal feeder refilled for tomorrow. Naomi had started on dinner but Will could tell that her mind wasn’t on just that. Minnie was chattering with her, mile-a-minute about everything. After meals with the kids on their ore run the mess seemed very empty with just the three of them.

“By the way, did Chuck give you a reason for not coming along?”, Will asked.“He just told us no thanks, through Stephen.Not personally.”.“Yeah,” said Minnie “what a guy, thought he liked us.”.She sat beside Will, on her specially made seat, so she could reach the table properly.It had been the first thing Will had made an improvement on.

Naomi looked down for a moment, “I guess it can’t hurt to tell you two, but he was absolutely terrified of that sea serpent.Before that happened he was going to come along but…”.Will nodded “Ah, I see.I understand, but I just wish he had told me.We thought we did something to tick him off.”.Naomi looked puzzled “tick off?”Minnie laughed “like dad was when I told you he didn’t like bacon.”.

“Oh I see, tick off…”, said Naomi, “No he was really scared and when he told his mom, she forbade him to ever set foot on the Rose again.He was embarrassed and relieved, but she is really scary too so he is done with going on the lake.”.Minnie looked at Will and he could tell she was going to ask something, he tried to let her know not to.Shaking his head, hand over his mouth, pointing at her.Nope no good.

Minnie gave him a doggie smirk and asked “Is Chuck your boyfriend, or something? Cause if he was it’s not good he just didn’t come with you. Even if he didn’t like the snakey, or him mommy told him no, he should have told us. Then dad could have told him he was dumb, and I would have grrrred at him.”. Will sighed, that’s my girl he thought. No filter at all.

Naomi laughed “Not my boyfriend, we have known each other since we were babies. He’s my best friend.”. She sighed “I wish he could have come too but there was no chance, not with his mum at him.”. Will nodded, “I understand, there just might not be another opportunity like this for him.”. Minnie decided to change the subject and started dealing cards out for a game, which suited Will just fine.

Several hands later Minnie was happy because she won the most times, Will was happy because of his first mates good luck and Naomi was happy because she had fun her first night on the water.After cards and a cup of tea, milk for Minnie, they decided to head to bed.Planning for an early start Will said good night to Naomi, took a turn around the boat and headed to his cabin.When he entered he found Minnie sitting on the bed cross legged happily practicing her letters.“Hey sweetie, your doing great with this.”, said Will as he glanced over her shoulder.“There were so many books in our old world you would have loved to read.”.“Do they have books like that here ?”, asked Minnie.“Hmm, I think they must have something.”, replied Will, “Let’s remember to ask Naomi tomorrow, okay”.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

He prepared for sleep, crawled into the bed.Minnie turned off the lantern after she readied for sleep too.The cabin was very dark, sound of waves coming through the part open port.Minnies breathing beside him was soft and slow showing that she had fallen asleep already.As he lay there, drifting off, he felt Mins small hand reach over to hold onto his arm.

Next thing he knew the sun was coming in the port, and it was time to get up. Nothing had happened during the night and it was time to get moving. Breakfast was toasted bread and cheese, with coffee of course. Food was quickly consumed as everyone was eager to continue the journey.

The boiler was fired up, anchors winched in and with a toot of the whistle off they went.The rocky shore was still quiet and unremarkable, no signs of life.Well probably crabs lived there but they could have it.Mild seas, bit of a stiff breeze and a warm sun beaming down.These were the days that were made for sea travel.

The had decided to keep to their course of following the shore, fairly far out but still within sight of land. The rocky shore seemed endless, Minnie and Will could see nothing of interest through their spyglasses. Just rocks, big rocks, small rocks and sand…rocky sand. It was so odd compared to the green of the village they left. It was as if something had sucked all the life out of this area. Not even dried float weed on the beach.

They motored on, hours passed, the beach was still rocky but now there were gulls wheeling and diving on the rocks.“Probably cracking crabs”. said Will.Minnie looked shocked “they do that?”she asked.Will nodded. “good for the birdies.” said Min.“I keep telling you, if we find good sized crabs we are gonna eat them.” said Will, “maybe next time we anchor we will drop some crab pots and see what we catch.”.Minnie shuddered “yuck.”.

As morning became afternoon, then late afternoon the rocky beach had slowly started rising up and away from the water. They altered course to angle closer to shore as not to miss any signs of villages or even farms, if there were any. But so far nothing. The rocks had turned to rising hills which changed to higher and higher cliffs as they went on. Iron grey mostly but occasionally darker with a fall of shale. Plants had managed to find a foothold in places but mostly the cliffs were barren and forbidding. Will guessed the cliffs were nearly 100 feet high as evening and dinner time approached.

“If there’s anything of interest up there I think we are going to miss it” he said, passing his spyglass to Naomi.Minnie was on duty piloting and Will had stationed himself on the port side stern, still gazing at the shore.All he had gotten so far was sore eyes and a crack in his neck.“I’ve never heard of anyone going up there to see.”, said Naomi “but not many people have left our home to travel.”.“That’s what Regina and Stephen told me too.”, replied Will “They said land travel is difficult because the terrain changes too much.”.“A couple of the older boys tried to explore by using large rafts that they poled along, to go around the shore.” said Naomi “But the lake stopped them, they didn’t get too far and never tried again.”.

Will nodded, “I’ve never really asked and Stephen was kinda vague about it…but what does it feel like.I mean to come on the water without someone like us around you.” He felt a little bad asking, it seemed personal somehow.“It’s okay if you don’t a want to talk about it, I was just curious.”.

Naomi said “It’s fine, it’s just odd to have to explain to someone.It’s something we all know and we are taught as soon as we can understand that we have to stay off the lake.We can fish from the shore, even splash and play in the shallows and all the kids do that.But as soon as you get into deeper water there’s a feeling that you don’t belong.The longer you stay the worse it gets until it’s overwhelming and you panic.”.She took a deep breath. “But if Minnie or I are around you there’s nothing?” Will asked.“That’s right, when I am with you guys I feel that the waters are welcoming me, telling me it’s okay now and that I’m safe here.”, she shrugged.‘It’s hard to explain really.We just don’t go on the lake and now here I am, miles from home and on the water.”.

“Well so far you are doing great.” said Will.Time would tell, he thought, but an extra person was a great help so far.“I should go give Minnie a break, maybe find an early anchorage for the night.” he added and left Naomi to her thoughts.

Min was ready for a break and had been looking at charts to find a safe place for the night. All she had found was a chain of tiny islands about two hours ahead so they hit full ahead and steamed on. The islets were called the turtle islands and Minnie couldn’t wait to see a turtle.

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William Harris

Age 48

Intelligence 15/50

Strength 23/50

Vitality 23/50

Stamina 23/50

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

Captain of the heartboat Rose

Navigation 2

Mechanic 2

Minnie

Best dog of all

Age 5

Intelligence 5/25

Strength 11/25

Vitality 18/25

Stamina 18/25

First Mate of the heartboat Rose

Piloting 3

Mechanic 1

Crab Catcher