Chapter 60. Prepare to Log in

  They had arrived back at the boat quite late last evening so it was straight to bed for most of them, Will had to do his usual check but afterwards went to his cabin. Minnie was already in bed looking very cosy and warm, “Everything good for the night?”, how well she knew him. “Yup, all secure and safe. Looking forward to tomorrow?”, She nodded, “Oh yeah, lots of fun with the youngsters, and nice hard work, I get kinda bored sometimes you know?”. “Me too sweetie, me too.”. Hitting the head, changing in to his sleep clothes he was getting bleary indeed. If needed he could go for a couple of days without rest, but that needed to be pushed. Normally a day like today was enough to guarantee a goods night sleep. Slipping under the warm covers, feeling that heavy quilt was very comfortable. Finding Minnie’s hand reaching for his own he fell into that place, the one just before the nothingness of a dreamless sleep. A feeling of utter contentment came over him and he was gone. Next thing he knew was a hand patting his arm.

  “Father, father, are you awake?”, it was Percy. “ I am now, what’s up?”, he whispered. “I…I had a bad dream. Can I sleep in with you, just for a minute, I didn’t want to bother you, but Ron was snoring and I didn’t want to wake him either,”. He could tell the little guy was very upset and felt/heard that tears were close. “Come here.”, and he lifted him up and over and placed him between Minnie and himself. “There we are, all safe and sound now.”, he rested his arm over the small figure and was happy to hear his breathing slow down into sleep in just a few minutes. Not long after he fell asleep again as well. The next time he woke it was still dark, but something had changed, in the air, maybe the weather. Sighing he quickly threw on a robe and left the cabin as quietly as he could. Closing his door he was surprised by Naomi in the open doorway to her cabin, “Did you feel that too dad?”. “Yeah, but I don’t know what it was that woke me up, just something had changed. Going up on deck.”, he yawned. “I’ll come along too, it was a weird feeling.”. Climbing the stairs up to the deck and cracking open the door, Will didn’t really know what to expect. Heavy snow, or ice, maybe rain and high winds. But there was nothing, just the glorious stars sweeping over their heads. He checked the dock lines, davits, everything was secure. The village was dark and quiet, no lights in windows. The Rose was just rocking gently, nothing crazy, in fact nothing at all was happening. They sat for a moment, just sitting and looking at the heavens, an occasional shooting star was flitting over for a second or two. “Well I dunno what it was, but I’m back to bed.”, he muttered. “Me too, it’s pretty late.”, Naomi agreed. Headed back down, a whispered good night and Will was climbing back into his still warm bed. Minnie opened an eye, “Everything okay?”. He should have known she’d pick up on it too, but noticed Percy was clutching her hands in his sleep. “It’s all good, just a gremlin I guess”, he whispered back. And quickly fell back to sleep.

  Next time he woke light was streaming in the open porthole, the wind was whistling in and through the cabin, bring those wonderful scents. Salt and sun baked wood, tar and fish, just all the smells of their life. Minnie and Percy were gone but there was still a bit of warmth left so it hadn’t been long at all. Today was a busy day so he had a good wash, shave and clean work clothes on. Prepared to face his day he entered the mess to find all hands present and looking good. Naomi popped her head out of the galley, “Morning dad.”, the others three had their heads together, plotting maybe. But when they noticed Will was there they greeted him happily, “Hi dad, morning father.”, a wave from Ron. There appeared to be no changes to the lads this morning so it seemed they might have settled now, perhaps a slight refinement in the face. Not so catlike maybe, he pondered. Percy seemed to still be complaining that he wasn’t taller than Ron, “I could get a bucket of nice fresh lake water, splashy splashy, make you grow!”, Minnie asked him. “No thank you.”, Percy answered, not sure if she was serious .

  Oatmeal today, with bacon of course. It seemed the two new recruits hadn’t had porridge before and were not sure about it. The bacon, well that went down no problem,. The oatmeal was another story. Minnie liked hers thin, more gruel like with syrup, Naomi’s was thicker but still had syrup. Will like his thick with a tiny dollop of jam. Ron was fascinated with dropping it from spoon to bowl with a plopping sound, but did eventually have it the same as Naomi’s. Percy however liked it thin, and dipped his bacon in, to Minnies horror. Will had his usual strong sweet tea, Naomi and Ron joined him in enjoying it too. But the other two had warmed up apple juice, “I dunno dad, it’s like Perce says, I can taste and smell the dirt and the plant bits and the bug poop, it’s just so ewww.”, Minnie informed Will. He took a big drink and smacked his lips with delight, “Busy day for us, supply wagons coming with extras for the gatherers. Gotta check their coal equipment, boots and stuff. Then we have to make sure saws, axes, hooks, wedges and so on are sharpened, I think Minnie and I’ll do that, it’s pretty dangerous. “We have to plan the route too,”, Minnie added, “We’ve gathered here a few times, but I don’t remember if there were much trees near the coal shore.”. “Don’t forget we have to pull the barges offshore too dad.”, Naomi said, “That’s a new thing for Laketown, pretty proud of them too.”. Will laughed “Yup busy busy. First thing we’ll pull them both out and anchor them, easier to pick up when we get going.”. Minnie was excited hearing that, “Yay, so much fun jumping to them, don’t trip sis.”. Seeing everyone had finished up Ron started clearing the table and washing dishes, Will lent a hand and in a few minutes the galley was sparkling. Minnie had gone to start the boiler, Naomi was figuring where to stick the extra supplies. “Even with my management skill it’s pretty tough to put it all away, especially the fresh stuff.”, she sighed.

  Getting out on deck you couldn’t ask for a better day, water nice and smooth, just a bit of a heave. Not much wind, blue sky and warm sun, yeah, thought Will, lower west coast for sure. Minnie popped up on deck, trailed by Percy, who was asking what the gauges on the boiler represented. She was telling him about psi, boiling temperatures, water purification, scaling and how bad it could be. “All ready to go pop, boilers up.”, she told him on the way to the wheelhouse. “Okay, I’ll untie and you take us out.”, Will replied. He hopped to the dock and waited for her to signal on the whistle and untied fore and aft lines, gave the Rose a mighty shove and jumped aboard. Minnie pulled away and started the Rose heading to the beach where the barges had been constructed. The beach was sand and mud where the two brand new barges rested, having been built right there. There was a good drop off seven or eight yards from shore so Minnie could get the boat quite close, one of the reasons this spot was chosen. Will rowed over bring a tow line with him and connected to the first. The Rose turned until her stern was to shore and started pulling the barge into the deeper water. Unwilling to move at first, it took Will braced on a rocky point and shoving the barge with all his considerable strength. It moved a few feet, then a few more until it finally dipped into the water and was finally floating. Minnie towed the first out further and slowed to a crawl while Naomi leaped the few feet and pulled the tow line off and dropped the anchors. She jumped back as the Rose passed by at dead slow and Minnie steered for shore to get the next. The second was hooked up much the same but was refusing to move, stuck not on friction alone. More mud under this one had created a suction effect and it was not budging. Will managed to get a beam under the hull and using a boulder as a pivot point, broke the suction and it finally slid out to sea. There was a cheering behind Will and, turning, he noticed quite a crowd had gathered. Giving a friendly wave he stepped back into his small boat and shot towards the Rose. The second was anchored a good distance from the first and the Rose steamed back to the quay, waiting for the wagons and the crew.

  “Time for a cuppa I think.”, Will stated when they were docked. Percy and Ron had been poking around the deck, exploring the wheelhouse, generally finding their way around. Spying the grill and smoker on the bow Ron seemed quite excited to be able to cook outside, “Seems like a lot of work, and there’s a perfectly good galley downstairs you know.”, Percy whispered to him. Will had gone below to make his tea and arrived back on deck with a nice hot mug for himself and one for Ron. Just sitting and enjoying the tea and biscuits before getting to the other chores.

  Will and Minnie sought out the logging equipment. He knew it was in a certain storeroom as he had inventoried it months ago, but wasn’t sure of the shape it was in. It was where he thought it was, but in rougher shape than he liked. Dull and rusty were too words that sprang to mind, “Old and crappy are two more.”, Minnie grumbled. After a couple of hours however, the axes had been filed sharp again, so had the crosscut saws. Long two person ones. Naomi had set Percy and Ron checking the gathering supplies and bringing up the coveralls out of storage. Checking boot laces, gloves for holes, hats weren’t moth eaten, the straps on the canvas bags and a dozen other details.

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  Minnie and Naomi were having a stare contest but there was quite a bit of cheating going on, water being splashed around, things being chucked at each other. Will could see how it was going to end and it surely did, Minnie lost her temper and launched at Naomi, who handily dodged and took off down the quay. Followed by an irate first mate. “Are they really mad again?”, Percy asked, cowering behind Will. “Nope, just having fun. If you watch they’ll end up in the water to cool down in a minute.”, Will replied. Sure enough two splashes on the side of the quay and happy shouts and laughter. “Is swimming fun dad?”, Ron asked, his usual whisper a little better from the strong tea. “Oh it’s wonderful my man, we often jump in and have a cool off. After a long day working, or if we’re gathering everyone has a splash around in the shallows.”, Will continued. “Won’t our fur get all icky and clotted.”, Perce asked with a shiver at the thought. “Minnie had the same problem at first”, Will started, but then was interrupted by the little girl herself, “What problem was that?”, she asked.

  All three jumped a bit at her unexpected question. “How did you, weren’t you just over…never mind.”, Will stammered. “I was asking if your fur got matted from the water and father said it did at first.”, Percy answered for him. Minnie nodded sagely “Yes my young apprentice, back in the old days, way back in the early times, I was a bit of a mess.”, then burst out laughing at his gobsmacked expression. “I think my fur is shorter and thinner now, still beautiful and shiny, but feels different than it used to, more like the old guys hair, when he used to have it that is. Being in the water changed me, will you too you know, won’t be so stubby, or so…round hmmm?”. Giving a mighty shake she spattered lake water all over. “”Hey, hey you guys, the wagons and kids are coming,”, Naomi called from the quay. She had been drip drying near the end but came on board now and gave Minnie a shoulder punch, “I still won by the way.”. Minnie looked doubtful, “I dunno, we better go again.”, she scrunched her eyes up and glared at Naomi. “Sorry guys, hate to interrupt but we have to get to work.”, Will said, pointing at the incoming horde of teens, parents, what looked like the council, and two overstuffed carts.

  With a whoop Minnie took off down the quay greeting everyone in her high pitched voice, Percy and Ron looked at each other for a moment then scampered after her. Will held his arm out to Naomi “Shall we?”, and together they walked a little more sedately towards the crowd. Minnie was already organizing which cart went first and sat up with the massive Owen to escort him. The two lads were sitting on top of the load, just watching all the goings on. Will met the cart, while Naomi continued towards land. “Morning captain, beautiful day for a voyage.”, the large man said, shaking Wills hand. “That is is my friend, that it is. Any family coming with us this time?”, Will asked. Owen nodded “Rosie is but not Larry, he’s learning on the wagons now. Dave’s little one Bree’s coming along too, thick as thieves those two are, better watch out.”. Will laughed “The more the merrier.”. Pulling over a crane he started off loading the skids and nets of supplies, then dropping them on deck. It didn’t take long to empty and then just wait for Owen to leave and Dave to back up, again escorted by Minnie, who was talking a mile a minute to the rather quiet man. Asking about his family, the town, driving a cart, he just answered with nods and shrugs. Again, it only took a few minutes to unload this cart as well and he was on the way back, this time with all the crew catching a ride.

  There were close to a hundred people waiting for the crew to show up at the lands end, and when they dismounted the cart a cheer rose up. “Everyone seems more excited usual today.”, Minnie whispered to Will. Naomi overheard “It’s the barges, we’re going to be gone much longer, and bring back so much more.”. The two new third mates were sticking very close to Will as the people surged and talked over them, to them and it seemed, through them. Noticing the hesitation, they all stepped back a bit, taking advantage of the people’s natural timidity at nearing the water, and gaining a bit of clear space. Stephen also noticed and began his, as he had called it a day ago, speechifying. “It’s not that I mind, and my wife always says I can yap on and on about just about anything, but I worry if people get sick of hearing me.”, he had explained. “Well folks, here we are again. Our children are picking up where we cannot. Sacrificing a couple of weeks and going into what could be dangerous…all for the good of our town and people. We trust the good captain and crew with our future, for what else are our children but that. So let’s hear a good cheer for the children, the crew, oh and as importantly the craftsmen and women who worked for months building these barges. Well done everyone, very well done.”. As he finished the townsfolk did indeed raise a cheer.

  The twelve teens said their goodbyes to their families, the two older chaperones, Wilbur and Grace, started taking up their duties right away and started herding everyone on to the dock. Minnie handed out the yellow lifebelts that they would all wear for the next couple of weeks, simple tied on over vests with cork in the front and back. Everywhere they went on the boat, above deck, below deck, sleeping, taken off only to wash or when ashore. Will made a point of wearing one, as did Minnie and Naomi. Percy and Ron were already in the habit too. The crews were more of the PFD type and were colour coded now, bright red for Will, Minnie and Naomi. The two lads were had been given yellow at first, but it was a putrid faded yellow that did not go well with their orange fur, especially Percy. So Minnie had relented and given them red as well and, serious for once, had instructed them to always wear them, always. “Why don’t you guys wear them too, when it’s just family on board, why just us?”, Percy had asked earlier. Will answered that one, “We should, and if the weather worsens we will. But we are all very strong swimmers and could easily catch up to the Rose if we had to, and yes if we did get knocked out and thrown in it could be bad.”. Minnie jumped in “We’re pretty tough, a big sharp couldn’t bite dad enough to hurt him when he jumped in to save Naomi, hmm did we tell you about that yet?”. Ron shook his head slowly so for the next hour Minnie had regaled the brothers with tales of the sharps, pointing out the gashes in the deck where the huge fish had been killed.

  “So when the gathering crews on board we all wear them, to set a good example. After you learn to swim, and I mean swim well, it will be your decision. But only in good weather, bad weather pops up then on they go.”, Will concluded.

  So the teens donned the jackets they were handed and started the walk down the quay towards the Rose. Cries of “Good luck, hurry back, we miss you already.”, followed them. Led by Minnie and Naomi you could tell which children had gone before, the old hands were excited to go. The first timers, while just as eager and ready, were noticeably chary of the waters. This was the forbidden zone, the place their parents had warned them of since they could remember. A few had braved the dock at night, a bit of a rite of passage. Who could make it out the furthest, who could scratch their initials on the ironwood pilings. Sneaking out in two or threes, thinking they were rebels, doing what no one had done before. But even the most foolhardy among the towns teens realized one thing, that if there had been any kind of accident, there could be no help. And besides, the fun had gone out of the game for most when the bravest of them had made it halfway out, a crowning achievement, the envy of his peers. He had pulled out his pocketknife to mark his name into the tough wood and discovered his fathers name and his grandfathers scratched there. It had been an eye opener, that the old codgers had been there and done that, long before he was born. Sighing he had made his mark and returned to shore, told his friends what he found and went home.

  So as they walked down the long quay to the waiting ship that would be home for weeks it was a moment these people would remember forever. A growing up moment, one of those times when you realize that the world is much bigger than you thought and you just might not be the centre of it. Reaching the Rose Minnie asked them all to have a seat and started laying down the law as deck boss. What you can’t do, where not to go, that sort of thing. Naomi added her rules and asked for two volunteers to help with kitchen duty, “It’s not easy work, keeping different hours. But there’s seventeen people to feed three meals a day to, not the usual three of us, I mean five of us now. So who would like to be my helpers?”. The two girls, Rosie and Bree looked at each other and raised their hands, “We will, our pa’s said to give you a hand if you asked.”.

  Will had talked to the parents for a couple of minutes after the others left. He assured them that he and the other crew would take care of the children as if they were their own. He concluded with a cheery “See you all in a couple of weeks.”. After a quick word with Stephen about how wonderful his speech had been, they shook hands and started for the boat. He could see Minnie and Naomi had made their usual impression on the kids. Everyone looked eager and ready to go. “Okay crew,”, he started, “And yes that’s everyone of you from now on. Crew, a funny word but it’s family, friend, matey all rolled into one. For the next while we’re in this together, succeed or fail, it’s on all of us. Some of you have come before, gathering or fishing. This time we’re logging too, more dangerous but your town needs to grow so we do what is asked of us. There’s a bit to do on board, then we leave. So all hands on deck! Let’s go.”.