Chapter 36 Work Days

The next few days followed along, same as the first.Working all day loading coal, hearty meals and early nights.They all drifted along into each other, nothing really to stand out.Everyone did their part, the lake behaved.No storms, just a rain drizzle in the evening or early morn.The barges were slowly filled, each bunker heaped with black coal.Wallowing at anchor, towing them was going to be fun.

Each night Will would encourage the teens to tell a story, of their life, or what they wanted for the future.He would occasionally tell a story of his first world, some tale from there.Whatever struck his fancy at the time.

They had been loading for over a week now and the task was very nearly done.What was left to do was to fill the Roses coal stores tomorrow and start steaming home.Minnie would bring the Rose close to shore and they would load her up quickly.Without having to fill her holds to bursting it would be done in just a few hours.Then hook up the barges and off to Newton.

Will laughed, sounds easy enough on paper.

The crew had gathered on deck, beneath the stars. Tonight, the last night perhaps, Will was telling the long version of how he and Minnie had come to this world. His family life, children moving away, losing a loved one. Then trying to get along with life, going back to where they had been happy. The boat running out of gas, making his choice and meeting Elaith. Minnie’s change starting, Laketown and the heartboat. Their new life.

Some things he left out.Some things were private.He condensed parts, stretched others.But the story was listened to raptly.Even by Naomi who had heard parts before but not all.As he finished Minnie sat very close, trying her best to comfort him.“Not all my memories are sad sweetie, just a few but I have had a wonderful life even before we came here. So don’t be sad for me ok?”.Will patted her small shoulders and held her close.

The children applauded when he finished, and drifted off to other parts of the boat. Some to the mess for a final snack, some to bed, others just lounging around on deck still. The lanterns cast a warm light over, and yes…the weather was mild.

Breakfast the next day was a quick affair of toast and eggs with fried ham.Will and Minnie rose early to prep for their busy day.The boiler was lit and was heating fast, when up to pressure Minnie steered for shore while Will sounded off the bow.

They were with 30 yards when the bottom starting lifting rapidly so that was where they anchored. Will had thought of a zip line to bring ore aboard but there was nothing to anchor to on the shore. Just rocks.

So when everyone had eaten their fill it as time for one more shore trip.The Rose was easier to load than the barges had been, the hold was more convenient, her cranes were more efficient and she held less.Will made four loaded trips in the dory before he called it.They were ready to go.

All was loaded back in, tools, unused bags, picnic baskets, chairs and tables, another two trips for all this and the teens.Lunch had been eaten on shore so everything was packed up as soon as they boarded.Will pulled anchor and Minnie steamed them over to the barges.

Hooking up one, then two, then three.The water churned mightily at the stern, the hawsers tightened as the slack came off all the lines. And slowly there was forward movement, then faster and faster until they were at half ahead and hitting eight knots.The Rose was tossing more than usual as the motion of the barges transferred back to her, but they would get used to it.

For the duration of this trip, or at least while they were moving and connected, Will had stationed himself beside the tow bollard.With an axe.If there were any problems that threatened their safety, he would cut the tow rope in an instant.His strength was more than up to it, Minnie could do it too but might take longer.

He was also keeping an eye on how close the barges were.If they surged forward there could be catastrophic damage done in a few seconds.It wouldn’t hurt him to keep vigil for a few hours.Naomi was planning to keep the crew well supplied with strong tea and had relayed his order that all hands wore lifebelts at all times.Just as a precaution.

The children had gone below when first back on board for a good wash, then beef stew for dinner.Accompanied by freshly baked bread, the smell was heavenly.Alas all their milk was gone.The ice had lasted for six days but finally all the cooling was finished.It was a pity but Will and Minnie were grateful for how long it did last.

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It was too bad that ice was difficult to source.Will was sure there was going to be long cold winters at one part of the year, but there was that tricky calendar question again.Agrarian societies had three parts to their calendar, planting crops, picking crops and waiting to plant crops.Not much else really mattered.

Will yelled across the deck “Hey Minnie, what’s our speed and compass bearing?”.Minnie yelled back “I had some toast with jam, and I still have my overalls on.”.Will shook his head, “I said how fast are we going and in what direction?”, he called out.Her answer came “I am not getting fat and what’s ejecting?”.He tried once more “What’s the engine control set to, and what’s our heading?”.Minnie’s response was “We don’t have a troll with a big head!”.

I give up he muttered.He knocked on the deck to get Naomi’s attention and when she came up he asked her to get Minnie.When his little friend came down from the wheelhouse he could see she was still giggling.“You little monster, you could hear me every time!”, he laughed.“Well yeah,” she flipped her ears at him “these aren’t just for show.”.

“We are still hitting eight knots, steam pressure is good, we are heading SW.I asked Naomi to check on the coal bunkers and she loaded in a few more shovels.”, she reported.“Littles are settled in for the night, she is going to stay up with us if we need anything.”.

Will applauded her excellent report, “Nice one Min, I knew you could hear me.”, “Did not.”, “Oh yes I did”, “Nope, you didn’t.”, “I did too, I was playing.”, “Nuh uh, you were totally deaf back here.”.Will surrendered “Fine, you’re right, not all of us have long floppy ears though.”.“Just the lucky ones”, replied Minnie and with a hug headed back to the wheelhouse.

Naomi joined Will at the stern when Minnie had control again.“She’s a funny person isn’t she?”, she asked.“Oh yeah, she makes me smile every time I see her.”, Will answered.She asked him if he needed anything before she went below to sleep but he told her he was ok for now, Minnie yelled out of the window that she could us a cookie or two.

Naomi sent Ed up with Mins snack and a large mug of tea for Will.“She said you love it so and that you looked tealess, is that real?”, he asked.Will smiled, took a sip, “I think so, I feel better now, head on below and thanks for the tea.”.

The night wore on, still calm and clear.Very dark though, he couldn’t see ten feet off the side of the boat.He trusted Minnies piloting though, and they were on the reverse course of when they came this way.

He was stuck on the clock idea again.Because of where he came from he really needed to know the time.Rising with the dawn and sleeping at the dusk was ok for farmers….he was not a farmer.One way or another he had to get a clock.All the timepieces he had brought were electronic and long dead, his phone and his smartwatch.

He owned an analog pocket watch, although it was left in his trailer at the lake. His grandfather had been a train conductor in a small town in England, the same town he was from. It had been passed to him by his grandmother, grandpa Jim had passed before Will was born. But as nice as it was, all shiny and ticking loudly, it was not here.

As he mused the horizon was lighting, sunrise was coming and he planned to unhook the tow ropes, anchor the barges and the Rose. He and Minnie could get a few hours sleep and Naomi could supervise the kids while they did some fishing off the side. He called this idea out to Minnie and she agreed happily.

They steamed on for a while longer, the sun was full up, when he heard voice below.Naomi came on deck and he told her the plan and she also agreed it was a good one.They started the operation right away.As they were still moving there was a bit more to coordinate.Will would take the dory to the last barge while the Rose was at dead slow.He would tie off to the barge and slip the tow rope and anchor up, then onto the next and so on.

It took awhile and quite an appetite had been worked up.Luckily they still had supplies for a couple more meals yet, so it was fried ham and toasted bread and butter.Then Will and Minnie headed to their cabin to lay their heads down for a bit.

They could hear Naomi organizing the fishing party’s and knew she had things well in hand. “She sure is a good person dad, I’m glad we found her.”, Minnie whispered to him as they snuggled on the bed. “Me too .”, yawned Will, and his eyes drooped and he was gone.

Menu

William Harris

Age 42

Intelligence 17/50

Strength 32/50

Vitality 29/50

Stamina 29/50

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

Captain of the heartboat Rose

Navigation 3

Mechanic 3

Mason 1

Outdoor Chef

Minnie

Best dog of all

Age 5

Intelligence 13/25

Strength 17/25

Vitality 18/25

Stamina 18/25

Affinities for fishing, swimming, husbandry, mariner

First Mate of the heartboat Rose

Piloting 3

Mechanic 2

Crab Catcher

Shrimper

Joker

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 3

Homemaker 2