The Viking Seal

CHAPTER 19 - Roughing It

The investigation of the two harbours revealed nothing of interest, and they all agreed that as far as they could tell, neither matched the contours on the map copy with any accuracy.

"You know," Arny began, "the changes over the centuries could mean we never find anything that closely matches."

"Amazingly enough the basic shape of the coast doesn't alter as much as you think." Mel suggested. "Take a look at the map alongside the specimen. See these inlets and then the curves where the land juts out; it's not so different."

"If we can match any of that coastline with this route on the map and the poem scraps, we might just get lucky." Gretta put an arm around Arny and hugged him tight. "Think positive, lover."

Captain Eddie came down from the bridge and announced that Arvil had lunch ready, and they would have to clear their stuff off the table. Arvil had provided a delicious combination of cooked sausage and rice, with a covering that tasted suspiciously of wine and barbecue sauce. They all ate heartily and tossed around theories about the hunt.

"I've been thinking about the river's wealth bit in the poem," Mel said.

Stone looked at her and grinned. "Here she goes." The others smiled curiously and waited.

"He means that I have a penchant for worrying little things to death."

"Hey, any insights are more than welcome," Gretta encouraged her with a gesture.

"I think it means fish."

"So?" Arny dripped sauce on his lap and swore under his breath.

"They had to eat. So do all the rivers along the coast contain fish? I don't know, I'm asking."

Captain Eddie sipped his coffee and muttered a long, "Hmmm."

"There's char." Arvil said. "Lots of them in Labrador."

"Vicious buggers," Captain Eddie stated.

"Are they edible?" Mel asked.

"Hell yeah. Find me one and I'll cook it up for you." Arvil rubbed his hands together enthusiastically. "Not a good time of year though, they like deeper waters."

"Well the poem mentions dense forest or something, that wouldn't be winter time would it?"

"Nope. And who knows what the fish back then were doing anyway, or even how big the rivers were." Arvil grinned and looked about the table.

"That could be more astute than you think," Gretta said. "For that matter, who knows what kind of fish were there?" She nodded at Mel. "You could have something there."

"So then we only check inlets with rivers." Stone said. "Does that make it easier?"

Captain Eddie set down his mug. "There's the St. Lewis at Mary's Harbour, where we were today. Headin' up, you've got the Alexis at Port Hope Simpson. Then at Hawke Harbour is the Hawke, and then there's the Paradise, and the Eagle way up at Sandwich Bay."

"Any of those suggest the kind of terrain we're looking for?"

"I like the Alexis," Arvil grinned. "Went with a girl by that name once."

"That or the Hawke," Captain Eddie added. "Dated one like that too, didn't you, Arvil?"

The humour continued for a moment or two and then the lunch was over with everybody carting dirty dishes and garbage to the galley. Gretta followed the Captain to the bridge and discussed a schedule for covering the inlets brought up at lunch.

"We were doing them anyways, Miss Lawrence, but I guess now you'd like more time at those two."

"I would . . . and the sooner the better."

He looked out the bridge windshield and flexed his jaw. "See them clouds?" She nodded. "That's a storm buildin'. Doesn't mean we'll get it, but I hafta consider the possibility. Reports say it will skip across the top of Belle Isle, but that's plenty close enough to cause us some bother."

"Are you saying we shouldn't be going out this afternoon? That's a lot of wasted time."

"I'm responsible to CONGA for this boat first, Miss Lawrence. You folks make your own decisions about your business. All I'm sayin' is, storms out here aren't put off with an umbrella."

Gretta smiled and looked down at her feet. If he only knew some of the storms she'd been through. "What about putting us ashore for the night and picking us up in the morning."

"You mean you'd camp overnight?"

She smiled at his surprise. Obviously, Cheesy had never shared her résumé with Captain Eddie. "We have the gear on board. If Arvil could take us in to the harbour, he could come right back, then get us again tomorrow."

"It could be quite rough if we do get that storm." He sounded doubtful.

"We can manage, I promise." She waited while he went through a series of chin pulling and head shaking before finally agreeing.

"Overnight!" Arny looked around at the others. "In a tent?"

"No, we thought we'd book in to Odin's Garden Club and Spa. Yes, in a tent, Arny." Gretta sounded more exasperated than usual and he got the uncomfortable feeling it was because of Stone, who just stood there accepting everything with maddening equanimity.

"Not me," Mel suddenly piped up. "I didn't come along to do winter camping. I'll stay on board and keep the coffee hot with Arvil and the Captain."

"I was going to suggest that anyway, Mel." Stone said. "I think you should be by a radio in case there's any news about the Professor."

"Wouldn't be a lot I could do about it out here, Stone."

"No- but . . . well . . . you know." He glanced at Arny who was giving him the fish eye.

"I'll stay and keep Mel company. You two can play the Arctic explorers."

"It's hardly the Arctic, Arny." Gretta laughed briefly. She walked over and took him by the shoulders and whispered. "Are you sure? I might need some cuddling in the cold night."

"Since I'm not going, you better not." His serious face melted away as he watched her struggle to keep her own as straight as his. "Just, for God's sake, be careful, okay?"

"Promise." She boldly kissed him in front of the others and then stoodup clapping her hands. "Right. Let's get the gear aboard, Arvil. We want to makecamp before your storm comes if it does."