Chapter 6. Reunion Worries

  Two days rest did wonders for morale. Catching up on chores and just relaxing after the harsh voyage so far. On the morning of the second day they went ashore for a bit of sight seeing, there was however not much to see. Trees, snow, ice, driftwood covered with snow and ice. “This land is better in the summer.”, Minnie groused. “I don’t know what to say,”, Will answered, “There’s a certain charm to it, but I do like summer better.”. This was the place they’d found the water supply but a storm prevented them, coming on quick and heavy. Cutting through the tree line then up a gentle incline, when reaching the summit there it was.

  It’s sometimes difficult to find the words to describe something. Using those words to draw an image in people’s minds, to find just the right phrase to evoke that picture. Will wasn’t a writer by any possible stretch of imagination, he had never sat and wrote chapter after chapter. Building a world, giving people life and taking them on adventures, never been able to do anything like it. But he and the crew tried to share their lives with the townspeople, to give a look into other places. They’d never be able to go but he felt it was important to know there was more than just the fields of the family farm. Naomi had been the one to do the writing in her and Minnie’s annual book. She was able to write a few paragraphs about each sketch, to put the image in perspective. Where it was, when they were there and so on. That was his duty now and only time would tell if he was good at it or not.

  All this flashed through his mind as he and the crew looked over the view from the hill top, how on earth could a person do it justice? “Wow, still pretty amazing.”, Minnie said. And it was. “What caused this father?”, Percy asked. “I think glaciers did laddie, during the last ice age.”, Will replied, “A huge build up of ice, snow, dirt that moves slowly over the land, pushed from behind. Scouring whatever’s in front flat and smooth, like this.”. A pretty standard explanation, he thought, but it didn’t bring it to life. “And the rocks are left behind when it melts, is that right?”, Ron spoke up next. Will nodded, “Must be a heck of a thing to see huh?”. “How deep is the ice in the ice age?”, this time it was Uma that asked. Will laughed, “I’ve read that it could be up to two miles deep. Can you imagine that? A slow moving wall of ice crushing everything in front, no way to stop it. All you could do is to get behind or on top, try to survive.”. The crew shivered and not just from the cold but from the thoughts of a glacier sweeping across the land and leaving this behind. “Time to go home I think, I’m hungry.” Will decided. No argument there, time to leave this desolate place.

  Fifteen minutes later they were in the Happy and pulling for the ship. “I’m sure glad we live where we do, can’t imagine living here.”, Minnie said. Everyone agreed with that, including Uma. Being aboard the Rose for the past months was her dream and spoiled her for life on land. It was no secret she wanted to stay forever. Her plan didn’t change after hearing the tragic news, if anything they were firmer than ever.

  Reaching the ship and carefully climbing aboard, then lifting the Happy up out of the water. Percy, Ron and Uma scampered below to start supper. Locking her in place and replacing the cover, only then could Will and Minnie relax. “I’m going to take a long long bath pop, I’ll grab the little one too.”, Minnie said as they hung their gear up. “Good idea, get that deep chill out.”, he replied. They headed to the mess. When Minnie mentioned hot bath Uma said yes right away. But she did finish her task first, chopping a couple of onions up. Then the two headed for the bathing room. Will stuck his head in the galley, “Anything I can do?”. Ron looked around, he did have things under control, he shook his head, “No thank you father, we have this. Go for a snooze until supper.”. You didn’t have to say that twice, “All righty, come get me if you need me though, okay?”. He headed to his quarters, changed into a light robe then went to lie on the bed. Still able to hear the wind blowing, a bit of talking coming from the mess, even further away laughter from the bathing room. All these sounds helped him sleep, next thing he knew Percy was knocking on the door telling him dinner was ready.

  Baked ham, buttery fried potatoes, roasted carrots in syrup, fresh bread. That was what greeted him when he got to the mess a few minutes later. The other four crew were already in their places, “Took you’re time huh pop? I’m wasting away, and look at Uma…just bones, walking bones clattering around the ship.”. This tirade made the young girl giggle, “Auntie we just got here.”. “Shhhh.”, was Minnie’s reply. Taking his place at the head of the table Will looked at his little family, “Let’s eat.”.

  Being only a week away from Iceland was good. For some reason this trip seemed quicker. Was it because it was just the five regular crew? Or that they knew the route fairly well? Didn’t matter really Will supposed, what mattered was what the plan was when they got there. So after dinner it was time to have a talk with Uma about what happens next. Will was trying to be as gentle as possible with the young lass, he didn’t want to upset her. Over the past two weeks she had gone through many changes, and who wouldn’t? Parents are anchors to children, the constant in their lives. When that’s gone, taken too early as hers were, a vast chasm is left. That gap needed filling, the crew had filled it. Minnie as the one who comforted and cared for her needs, Percy as a teacher who helped her learn numbers and writing, Ron as the work buddy, and Will as the absolute boss of all things. These four took the place of parents and as far as Uma was concerned, it was a done deal.

  She had made choices early in her life, years in the making. The choice to become part of the Roses crew any way she could and worry about the consequences another time. Through no fault of her own, not directly, a tragedy occurred. Then, due to Mason and Arnold’s heroic efforts, that tragedy was reversed. Her parents gave their permission to go voyaging, to either get it out of her system or…join up for as long as possible. Katya and Therd confessed to Will they hoped Uma would tire of life on the ship and want to come home and rejoin the family. “And if she doesn’t?”, he asked, “If this is the life she wants, at least while she can?”. Katya had just smiled sadly “She has our blessing either way.”. Happily sailing away, having adventures that were scary and exciting. Living the life.

  They were sat around the table in the mess hall, dinner was over and all the dishes and clean up done. Uma was between Minnie and Percy looking a bit nervous. “So, before anything else is said or decided I want to make this clear.”, Will started. “You are part of the crew of the steamship Rose. This is your home for as long as you want. No one can take you from us, we won’t allow that.”. He didn’t get much further as the little one had jumped up and hugged him, tears soaking his shirt. “I was so worried, I don’t want to leave here.”, she managed to say. Minnie came over and joined the hug, “Dad won’t let anything bad happen, like he said, you’re one of us.”. “You can’t leave anyway, who’s going to help me plant the gardens?”, Percy added, “And Ron needs you in the galley.”. Will laughed, “See? You lost part of your family and I’m so sorry that happened, so sorry. I’m not saying we could take ma and pa’s place. No one can do that, but if you let us, we can be part of your new family.”. He knew that children of this age could accept death as permanent and understand the consequences of moving on. But he didn’t want to pile on responsibility, she was still a child and needed to be one for a while longer. To have splash fights in the bathing room, not to be doing laundry. Reading stories and eating cake, not baking it all the time. Kids need to be kids, even in this different world.

  “What if Tor says I should come and live with him and Savva?”: Uma asked , “He’s head of the family now.”. “Your wishes are all that really matters to us.”, this time Minnie answered, “Tor can say whatever he likes, Katya gave you permission to come aboard.”. Another thought she had was her sister, they hadn’t parted on the best terms but still…sisters. When she brought that up, “Depends on where Oona is too.”, Will mused, “I can’t see Din or Cal stepping up. Nice guys but not the parent type.”. Bringing up her twin opened up even more questions for Uma, but any answers would have to wait til they got there. One thing was certain, Oona never wanted to come aboard the Rose.

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  Ron was making tea, he brought the pot in and a plate of cookies, molasses with raisin today and some leftover shortbread. “Tomorrow’s oatmeal, if it’s not too rough to bake.”, he said as he poured. Will laughed, “It’s always rough this far, maybe you’re getting used to it.”. They all considered this, at first it seemed impossible to do anything with the way the boat moved. But after a while you didn’t really notice it, you just went on with your day. Shovelling coal into the loaders or sweeping and mopping the deck, cleaning the heads, washing laundry, stuff needed to be done and it couldn’t all wait until a safe harbour was reached. “I don’t envy you, up there in the wheelhouse all day.”, Percy shivered, “Too cold for me.”.

  Later on, just before sleep, Will was on deck. Doing his usual check up. It was brutally cold tonight. A high wind spitting icy snow, damp and horrible. He didn’t spend much time up there, enough to make sure the ships safe and sound then hurrying below. Minnie was waiting for him at the stairs, shutting the lower doors quickly to keep the cold out. “Yuck huh?”, she asked as he doffed his gear. “That’s one word for it.”, he answered. The other crew were already down for the night, they quietly passed their doors and reached the main cabin. Just a lantern was on, mostly shaded and giving just enough light to get ready for bed. The usual routines took a few minutes and then it was light out. “Is everything really going to be okay, when we get there?”, Minnie’s voice came through the darkness. “Cause if you tell me we’ll be fine it’ll be true, I can’t stand to lose her pop, I can’t, it would rip my heart to pieces.”. Will reached for her, and snuggled her close, “If Uma wants to stay on board, then that’s what will happen. If her sister want to join us that’s gonna happen too.”. He could feel her heart besting hard, first Naomi leaving, now this…the possibility of her losing another sister. Nope, that’s not going to happen. “Even if her family is against it?”, her voice was tiny, like if she spoke too loud it would make things worse. Will startled her by laughing a bit, “Her family’s against it? I’m not, her brothers Percy and Ron like her being here, that leaves you…her sister, mother, friend. Are you against her staying?”. That made Minnie laugh, just a bit. “Nice one pop, nice one.”.

  The morning came, Will was up first as usual. Starting the stove and then the kettle. Dressing warm and heading up, steaming mug of tea in his gloved hand. Crunching ice and snow, the upper door took a bit to open, but finally did. The air was cold, very very cold. Not a lot of snow, but a good thick coating of ice on everything. Polished by the high wind to a shiny gloss, pretty but unsafe as heck. Sighing he took the sand bucket from beside the door and started sprinkling, downwind of course, he didn’t need a face full of sand. Without that he would probably slide from stairs to wheelhouse in one step. The ice wasn’t as thick in the covered walkway as it was on the exposed deck but it was bad enough. On the open deck it was many inches thick in some places. Paying particular attention to the stairs he unblocked the door, cracked the covering ice and went inside the wheelhouse. It was much warmer inside thanks to the radiators, he turned those up higher. Drinking his tea while he checked the course, the chart showed they were just under a week away. Seven days from reunions with old friends and ship mates, seven days from any kind of confrontation. Tapping his fingers on the table top, just gazing out the frosted windows at the water. Feeling the ship bobbing gently here in this cove, soon to be pounding their way over the waves. He shook his head, yup time to get this day going.

  Returning below he found Minnie and Uma in the mess. Both looking quite sleep rumpled still. “Hey pop, so did summer show up overnight?”, Min asked. Will nodded, “Yeah, I’m going to change into shorts, maybe go for a swim before we get moving .”. A gasp behind him, then Percy’s voice, “You’re going swimming in the icy water?”. Minnie laughed, “Nah, we’re just kidding around, unless you want to.”. Heading to the galley to fill his mug and start some taters frying Will said “There’s people that like to take a dip in icy water like this, cut a hole in a frozen lake and jump in.”. “No thanks.”, Ron’s quiet voice came behind him. “Morning Ronnie, mind if I start brekky?”, he asked. “Go right ahead father, I’ll have a cuppa then.”. That’s my boy, “Hey, you all want bacon too or just taters and eggs?”. Absolute silence greeted him, looking back at the table he saw the others just staring at him. “Does he even know us?”, Minnie asked Percy, he shrugged, “I guess not.”. “Maybe it’s not father, but a shapeshifter from the bottom of the sea.”, Ron decided. “Don’t you throw salt on them, to get rid of the horrible thing.”, Uma added. “Fine fine, bacon it is.”, Will replied, “No salt today, thanks anyway little miss.”.

  Nothing like cooking on a wood stove. Will had been here for more than three years now and still marvelled at how fine this cast iron gem was. So versatile with a variety of cook tops, baking and roasting ovens, hobs to keep pots warm, griddles to fry on. And solid, so solidly made with polished silver filigree along the sides and edges. He thought they were hand made, built to order and perhaps even made right here, in place. Well, whichever it was, he loved them. Same with the cast iron pans, no flimsy aluminum non stick crap, these were built to last. “Sure is easier to cook for just the five of us, over nearly twenty.”, Will thought aloud, cracking the eggs into a greased pan. Taters and bacon were warming, as the eggs cooked he took a pile of plates and hot plates to the mess. “One minute guys.”, Ron followed him in and made a fresh pot of tea, brought that in as well. Percy had run below and brought up a demijohn of apple juice to the table. Serving out the ice cold juice as Will brought in the hot pans. “Enjoy!”. One of Minnie’s favourite meals, she could eat this anytime. It was especially nice on cold mornings, camping in tents under the stars. Those weeks building the pier, cutting the ironwoods, hunting in the vast forest. Some of the best days of her life.

  With healthy appetites the food didn’t last long, Ron gathered the dirty dishes, and with Percy’s help they had that chore done in just a few minutes. “Well, time to get moving.”, Will said and headed below to fill the coal and turn the boiler up to travelling pressure. Uma decided to come to the wheelhouse this morning, she and Minnie gathered supplies. “Don’t forget to pee before you go up top, it’s a long way to come back.”, Percy reminded her. “Or you could take a bucket?”, Ron suggested with a laugh. “Icky.”, was her reply. Minnie had her sketch bag, and Ron handed her another loaded with snacks. “Just a couple dozen biscuits and some bread and cheese, oh and some dried fruit.”. “That’s nice, thanks uncle Ron.”, Uma said to him. They left to get dressed in the thick coveralls and boots. Will climbed up from the lowest deck, and joined them dressing. “Careful when you get up top, decks iced over. I spread sand but stay in the walkway.”, he said, tugging on his boots.

  If anything it was colder and windier, getting out of the stairway and into the icy world was a shock. More sand needed to be spread before it was safe but they got there safely. Checking the steam pressure showed them the boiler was ready. Will hadn’t removed his outerwear yet, waiting on this. Going out to lift the anchors was easier since they started covering the windlass. The flexible cloth cracked the ice off easily and Will cranked first port, then starboard up and locked into place. Covering the mechanism again he waved at Minnie. She blew the whistle and started the Rose out into the main lake. Will stood at the bow until the spray started up and then he ducked into the wheelhouse.

  While they were waiting on him Minnie and Uma got comfortable, removing the heavy outer clothes. No shorts yet though, they were both wearing bib overalls and a light shirt, and the big felt slippers everyone wore below. When Will entered in a blast of icy wind and blowing snow the tea of the little room dropped fast. “Pretty bad out there guys,”, Will said. He started removing his thick snowsuit and boots, hanging it by the radiators to X-ray and warm. Turning around he burst into laughter as he noticed what the others were wearing. He too had the same overalls and plaid shirt, and slippers. “We’re triplets today for sure.”, he settled in to his chair.

  As the Rose passed by the protective rocks the waves started growing, Minnie turned the engine to three quarters to speed away from the dangerous rocks. She didn’t want to get swept back into those. Keeping an eye on the compass Will noted the time, speed and direction as the ship started on the last leg of the trip. “Two days travel, then a break on that little island, remember?”, he said. “Yup, grouse island, right?”, Minnie replied. He nodded, then was measuring with a compass, marking how far and so on. “If all goes well, we’ll be tied up at the Iceland pier Friday afternoon.”. So many emotions flittered across Uma’s face. Happiness, sorrow, anticipation, anger, fear, Minnie noticed of course and slung her arm over the little girls shoulder, “We’ve got you, and if dad says your crew and you’re staying then that’s that.”.

  Five days later the quiet of dinner time at the town of Iceland was disturbed by the shriek of a well known steam whistle. The Rose had arrived.