09-07-2021, 01:46 AM
Upon seeing Viktre’s gesture, Ayyen shakes his head. “Really? If that is so…” with a measure of doubt, “ then we owe each other steak dinners.”
Ayyen watches as Viktre disappears over the gunwhale. The captain follows Viktre’s movements using the looking glass. Musing, It won’t be a good omen if he goes overboard this early.
When their captain climbs aboard the Blue Ocean, Ayyen shouts, “Raise the anchor and prepare to follow the Blue Ocean into the harbor.”
The captain steers along behind the other ship. When it signals to stop, he commands, “Trim the sails and drop anchor. We’re almost there…”
Ayyen watches as Captain Viktre is rowed to shore by Moody. When Moody returns with docking instructions, issues orders to take the Blue Sky into dock.
Addressing the crew, “Time for house cleaning boys. You know what to do… If you don’t… come an see me for a talk.” showing sarcasm in his voice. Musing, It will be tidy before they get to see their shore leave…
The captain returns to his own quarters, seeing to his own mess. Thinking, Everything has its place and a place for everything… Straitening up his quarters doesn’t take long.
Then he pauses to write the recent events in the ships log. This ensures that a record is kept and also gives his crew time to clean. Then he grabs up a clip board to take the tally and heads out to the main deck. He sees that his crew are already taking up their assigned cleaning duties.
Maks and Tolya, who were swabbing the main deck, seeing the captain approach, quickly stand up with a ready “Captain?”
Ayyen looks at them, “I will be inspecting the other ship. Tolya, you’re in charge in my absence.”
The captain goes ashore to cross over to the Blue Ocean.
Ayyen sees the crew already cleaning and decides to make a tally of the supplies to give them time to clean. After a while, he comes out of the hold to conduct his inspection. From stem to stern, everything is looked at for damage and wear. The nets would be inspected and repaired after the crews came back from shore leave.
Later, Ayyen returns to his own ship. When he arrives on the main deck, the crew is ready for him. “Tolya, ready?”
“Aye, captain.” Tolya replies, gesturing to indicate that he would follow.
He stops by the crew quarters first. Seeing that, as expected, it was nice and tidy. No clothing strung out for drying.
Tolya points out a few spots in need of attention and Ayyen jots them down with his pencil after closely inspecting them for the severity and what it would take to effect repairs.
The Blue Sky is inspected from stem to stern. The inventories tallied. Everything is noted.
As Viktre had not yet arrived with the fish offloading crew, he gives the crews a break. When the time comes, they will be expected to work long hours in the cold holds, packing the fish.
Ayyen watches as Viktre approaches the Blue Sky with an old man and his crew with the equipment. Waking up both crews, “Look alive lads, its time to earn your keep. Open the hatches and prepare to unload the fish.”
The captain muses, life aboard a ship was hard rewarding work. Excellent pay if you survived the voyage. Looking at the clean deck, thinking of the comfort knowing the ship would be ready soon to face whatever the sea throws at them.
