Wrought Iron, Book 1 of Merlin's Message

Chapter 14 - Peasants

"You know, there's a smaller cove and town off to the left a few miles," Taeko observed.

"Yeah, you're right. I see it," Gavin looked through his monocular. "Doesn't look anything like the city over there." He gestured towards their intended destination, then pointed at the smaller town. "Everything looks run down. Lots of small boats, beached, no pier. I see nets hanging. Must be a fishing village."

Mike joined the conversation. "Yeah. You know, if you want the straight skinny on a place, start with the poor people."

"Dafydd, what do you think?" Gavin wanted agreement.

"Reasonable," he frowned, apparently in thought.

"Okay," Gavin made up his mind. "Hannah?" She was steering at the moment.

"Yes?"

"Steer us over to the left. We're going to check out the smaller town first."

"Okay," she called back.

The cove was about a half of a mile wide. The water was clear, and the sand was white. Yet, unlike the clean stone and tile they'd seen in the distant city, this town was built of grey, weathered lumber and brown timbers. The wood-shingled roofs were half-covered with moss. The stench of fish filled the air. Dirty smoke rose from mud-brick chimneys. The air stung their eyes and nostrils.

"Whoa. This place reeks, dude," Mike groaned. "Man, my eyes are burning."

"Yeah," Gavin tried to joke. "Breath deep. Clears the sinuses."

"Not funny!" Hannah cried. She held a hand over her mouth and nose.

"I think they're burning peat," Dafydd said. "Why can't they burn wood or coal?"

"Okay, guys." Gavin faced everyone. "Let's step easy here. We'll find out what we can."

They drove their ship right up to the beach until the bow crunched into the sand. Dafydd put the anchor out. They all hopped out over the bow without getting their feet wet.

"Should somebody stay and watch the ship?" Dafydd asked.

"Looks pretty quiet," Gavin answered. "Let's just try to keep it in sight."

A few men were mending nets on the beach.

"Those guys barely looked up at us," Hannah murmured. "Aren't people usually interested in strangers?"

"Yeah," Gavin didn't have any feeling of danger, but there was definitely a bad vibe. He went up to the net menders. They were gaunt with unkempt hair and beards. Their breeches were ragged, and they were bare-chested. Not an ounce of fat softened their features. Both were sunburned and tanned as if they lived outside.

Hannah sniffed. "Poor things. You can count their ribs."

"Good morning," he started. The two men looked up with smiles and vacant eyes.

"Good morning," one said.

"What town is this?"

The men looked confused. "What do you mean? It's our town."

"I mean, does your town have a name?"

Both men shrugged.

"Uh, how's the fishing been?"

They shrugged again.

Trying a new tack, Gavin asked, "Is there any place where we can buy some food?"