Chapter 64. Sorrow on the Lake

Bidding the council farewell Will untied and started rowing back to the Rose.He hadn’t known Matt all that long but had considered him a friend.Just one of those things, you make a connection with someone and it feels like you have known them forever.Will had lost people before and it was never easy, time didn’t heal wounds, just kind of blurred them.He had a problem now.Tell everyone that Matt had passed and deal with the fallout, or wait until they return and then tell the bad news.He supposed that when it came down to it that he had no right to keep it back.

The oars were bowing as he pulled hard to rendezvous with the Rose, and there she was. Still steaming along dead slow, barges neatly bobbing behind. The steam whistle ripped out and he knew Minnie had seen him and would adjust course. He caught up to her, grabbed the lines that Naomi tossed to him and secured the boat. Jumping aboard and cranking up the dory only took minutes and just like that he was back home. “Thanks for the help Naomi “, Will said. “Anytime captain “, she answered. Seeing his rather down expression she asked “Is anything wrong?”. It didn’t seem she expected it when he answered “Yes, could you gather everyone on deck here please…”. Saluting she quickly went below to gather the crew. Will went to the wheelhouse, he found Minnie practicing her penny-whistle. “Hey sweety, want to rope the wheel off and join me on deck? I have to make an announcement.” he asked. Her ears drooped as she picked up his mood, “Okay dad.”. She quickly tied the wheel on course and the stepped out and down to the main deck.

Naomi had gathered everyone quickly and they sat in a couple of rough lines, waiting for Will.When he saw their worried faces he knew this wouldn’t be easy.“I have some bad news to tell you, and I have found that the best way is just to say it.”.Sighing he continued “When Matt and I left to take him home, he passed away on the trip back.Very peaceful and very quickly, he said it was a great way to end the day.”.As he spoke the words several of the children started to cry, being comforted by the two older girls.Minnie asked “Why did he die dad, was he sick, cause he looked sick, not just old.”.Will nodded “He told me before he had what they call the wasting sickness.I think it was a cancer , a bad disease where we come from.Thousands of people die every year, it’s an awful thing.”.She looked very sad, and asked “It was just his time then?The wasting thing took him.”.“I don’t know, but the way he talked with me earlier…I think he knew this was coming.” he answered.He raised his voice “I know this was a shock.We’re going to keep travelling for a long while yet though.The crew will anchor us and the barges later this evening and we will have a memorial dinner in his honour.Take the afternoon to relax and come to terms with the news.I’m sorry to have to tell you this way, but you deserved the truth.”.

Minnie and Will went back to the wheelhouse, it was all right to leave the boat on autopilot for a little while, but a hand on the wheel was needed.Looking back he could see Ann and Milly still talking with the other children.Naomi was there too giving comfort where it was needed.Some of them were hit harder than others, maybe there was a family connection.They could talk about that at dinner, later tonight.

Minnie was a little quieter than normal. “You okay Min?”, Will asked. “Yeah, just sad he’s gone now, he was nice.” she answered. She went on “I remember you saying something a while ago. That we are going to live a long time, longer than anyone. Does that mean we are going to see all the littles die, like Matt did?”. Ah, I see what’s bothering her, he thought. “Elaith did say that we would live very long lives. Until we don’t wish to anymore.”. This was difficult, but he went on. “And that will mean seeing people we like and love pass from us…that’s hard.”. Minnie appeared to sadden more, the usual glint in her eye was gone, her happy ears were down. Will knew that there wasn’t much he could say to ease her mind, she would have to come to terms. “I think that might have been why Magnus kept apart from everyone, he didn’t want to make attachment’s.”, he said, “I like making friends, in the towns. I hope to make more.”. Minnie nodded “Me too, we have memories of people though, we’ll always remember them. No matter how long goes by…right dad?”. “That’s right sweety, no matter how long, we’ll be the ones that remember.”. They stayed that way for some time, sitting close, guiding their way across the endless lake, lost in memory.

Below Naomi had a bunch of glum teens to muddle along with, she had brought them down for a easy lunch.She had asked for two volunteers to help with kitchen duty and get out of digging coal.Rose had stepped forward, she had helped on the first trip.The second person to say yes was Howard, the talkative young lad from the tea house.Naomi had thought his sister Sally would have wanted to to, but she had managed to whisper that she had enough cooking at home.Well that makes sense thought Naomi.

As lunch progressed the teens mood gradually improved. Yes the word of Matt’s passing hit hard, but these teens were resilient. It wasn’t exactly a hard life for them, Newton had a high quality of living. Stores, physicians, restaurants and even dentists….shudder. However everyone worked, children helped with the family business and were proud to do so. Child labor didn’t exist but after a certain age you contributed in some way. Dangerous jobs were done by adults with only one exception. And they were doing it now.

After a while Will came in for tea and to load a plate for Minnie and himself.Seeing the captain enter Howard leaped into action.He seized a plate and began loading it “Hello captain, are you and Minnie hungry now, we have some very fresh bread that is excellent with this lovely butter on it, and some nice sliced ham and oh yes, this cheese is so good too, my uncle has a farm and brings milk to the cheese man, oh and some pickles and I know Minnie likes milk so let me pour one but of course tea for you.”, he finished by pouring milk and tea, put both on a tray with the piled high plate and handed it all to Will.Helooked at the small lad, who had such an earnest expression that all he could say was “Yes?”.

Naomi was doing her best not to laugh, but her shoulders were shaking a bit suspiciously.Will caught her eye and pointed to the corridor.Carrying his tray of goodies he left the mess and went to his office.A few seconds later Naomi came in,“What on earth was that?”, he asked her.She shook her head “I just asked for kitchen help and he volunteered, I didn’t know he was going to act like that.”.Will was still a bit stunned “Do you want to have a word with him, let him know that he doesn’t have to wait on us hand and foot…or should I?”.Naomi put her hands up “Nono, I’ll talk to him.If you did he would probably sulk for a week, and honestly he’s a great help.Used to helping his mom and dad in their tea house and farm.A very hard worker..”.She went to leave “I better get back to them, you know what devilment they can get up to.”.Will knew indeed, there had been incidents, on previous trips.Pepper shaker lids undone, sugar swapped with salt, little pranks like that.

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“Okay, good luck.”, he said.He picked up his tray and they left together, Will heading up and Naomi to her galley.Climbing the gangway to the deck and entering into the afternoon sun felt good.As cosy as things were belowdecks Will preferred the open deck above all.Seeing him dawdle a bit Minnie laid on the whistle.When he turned to look at the wheelhouse she pointed to her mouth and belly.Laughing Will climbed the few steps upand entered with his tray.“”Here we are, with my compliments.”.Having no idea what he meant Minnie simply nodded and began eating.Preferringthe ham and cheese over the bread, but not ignoring that, just three or four slices slathered with butter.“Pickle?”, offered Will holding a dish of large dills out to her.“Are you out of your mind, you can have all the green yuck things you want, I wouldn’t eat that if I was starving..”, she snorted at him.But did take the offered mug of milk and drank half, giving a happy burp.

“Things okay below?”, she asked after they had eaten.Munching on a soft jam cookie that had been slipped on the tray, wrapped in napkins, “It’s looking better, moods lifting a bit.”, he answered, “By the way Howard loaded this tray up for us.”. “That’s the chatty guy from when we had tea, I saw he was one of the new crew.Is he helping Naomi, cause he’d be good at that.” “, Minnie said.“Yup, he is.”, said Will, “Both at helping and good at chatting.”.“Nothing wrong with talking you know, helps keep you busy.”, replied Minnie.Will had his doubts but kept them to himself.He checked their course, bang on, checked the barometer and that was okay, squinted outside at the weather and that was holding fair and figured they would stop in a little while for the evening.It would take a little while to anchor off the barges securely, and then the Rose.

Minnie left to take a short break, she wanted to use the head, drop the dishes off and change her clothes.Will took advantage of the quiet to log the events of the day, with all the usual details.That didn’t take too long.Then it was finalizing his plans for two washing machines to replace their tubs.Large wooden barrels set sideways on a stand, large door cut in the side to load in water and clothes and a crank to turn the whole thing.He had seen this design years ago and it had finally bubbled up from his memory.He and Minnie were going to work on it tonight so all the extra clothes wouldn’t be too much work.Yeah, right, he thought.Laundry not too much work…what a joke.The drying and hanging and taking off the lines and folding…made him tired just thinking about it.Maybe Minnie had been right when she said just buy new stuff every week.

The boat steamed on, barges following like baby ducks, all in a row.Will called Naomi up to give a hand with anchoring and releasing the barges for the night.Minnie had returned a short while ago wearing her usual ensemble of overalls, leather boots and yellow hat.She said she felt more comfortable wearing this when was working on the boat rather than steering.“Good idea, at least you’ll be dry if you get splashed.”, commented Will.“Yeah, I usually do get splashed somehow, especially when I’m around you.”, she accused him.“Well…that’s true enough”, Will admitted.

The sun was getting to the western horizon when they stopped and started dropping off the barges. The water was very deep here and for a moment Will thought the anchor chains were too short. But they did hit bottom and bit in hard, holding tight. It was only an hours work and all of the barges were at anchor and safe. They did the same for the Rose but left pressure in the boiler in case.

“In case of what dad?”, Minnie asked.“I don’t want to borrow trouble by guessing, but I like to be prepared, like a Boy Scout.”.Now that took a while to explain.“Why only boys though?” Minnie asked.“Oh there were things for girls too, the Guides, Brownies and Pathfinders.They did the same things, weekly meetings and camping trips.All sorts of things.” Will said.“Well that's good then, but what’s a Brownie?”. she asked again.Will thought for a moment.“A kind of elf, a little creature that lives in the woods.”.Minnie looked a bit confused “So like a rabbit or a bear then?”.“Umm not really, I don’t know if they really exist, just a myth or a legend.Like the stories I have told you, Santa or the Easter bunny.”.She seemed to think about this “I like the Santa story, the Easter bunny is weird cause rabbits giving candy to kids…yup weird.”.Will laughed “Yeah it is, some stories are odd.”.He checked the watch, hanging in a case on the wall, “oh my, it’s time for dinner, I’m hungry.”.

Apparently Minnie was too as she was off like a shot.Sighing Will closed up the wheelhouse and followed.A surprise was waiting on deck for him.Naomi and her helpers had set up tables and chairs and had the start of a fine dinner going. “Hi Will, we thought to eat up here today, if you feel like barbecued burgers…cheeseburgers that is.” Naomi asked.Minnie answered for him “He always feels like a cheeseburger..he dreams of cheeseburgers..sings about cheeseburgers when he bathes.”.Will had to admit she wasn’t wrong about that.“She’s right…let’s get cooking.”, he laughed.Minnie was carrying a large tray of raw burgers over to the grill that Will had just lit.Followed by Rose with another and Howard with the cheese slices and chopped onions to fry.Will opened the special case attached to the bulwark beside the grill.He took out the sacred tool, clacked it twice and got to work.

Fragrant smoke rose from the frying beef accompanied by the tang of onions in butter with garlic.Will could also make out the aroma of camp potatoes that Naomi had set baking earlier.A meal fit for a captain, and maybe the first mate too, was nearly ready.

“Soups on.”, Will shouted from the bow, taking the last burger off the grill.He hard several confused voices “I didn’t think we had soup, what kind is it, I don’t like cheese.”, and so on.“Just a phrase to mean dinners ready guys.”, said Will as he set a tray of burgers on the tables, followed by Minnie with another tray.Howard hurried over with the pans of onions to set beside the large roaster full of potatoes.Buns were cut and slathered with mustard, butter or the mayonnaise Will was still making.Eating and talking, eating more as the sun slid down.Will and Minnie lit the large round deck lights and the deck was flooded with their warm light.

As dinner wound down, stomachs were full and groaning.Naomi had brought up apple pies and clotted cream, fresh from Newton.Unfortunately there was no more ice this late in summer but they could deal.The cream was for special occasions and would be gone before it spoiled.Will stood and motioned for quiet.“Here we are again, working together.It’s a different trip this time, starting on a sad note.”, he took a sip of tea and continued.“Matt’s passing was sad, but not unexpected.He had made his peace and wanted one more trip on the Rose, even though he was terrified of the lake.Tonight we celebrate his long life and all he had done with it.”.He raised his mug “To Matt, I wish I had known you longer.”, the teens stood and did the same with their glasses…”To Matt.”.

After dinner cleanup didn’t take long with so many willing hands. The stars had appeared while doing this along with a full moon. That told Will it was near the end of August, according to his old worlds calendar. Minnie was standing beside him, at the bow. Naomi came to join them. The teens had gone belowdecks to sleep, or talk and visit. Will trusted Ann and Milly to make sure they slept soon and well. “What an incredible sky tonight.”, said Naomi. Minnie looked up again “You think Matt’s up there now dad, with mom. Looking down at us?”. Will looked up at the glittering stars and they seemed to shift into a beloved face. “Oh yes Minnie, they sure are.”.