Chapter 2. Model Trains Are Fun!

  Will returned to find his tea ice cold. He figured why not start breakfast, the smell of fresh eggs and bacon will wake the rest of the family. So into the galley, Ron’s galley now he sighed. The lad was doing an amazing job and took to being head cook like a duck to water. All the meals were great, even when he had assistants nothing left without him checking it out. This morning though, Will had things in hand. Taters starting in a big black fryer, bacon in two…they like bacon, a lot. Toast started on the top burners and kettle on. A pan waited for eggs but they were a quick fry, last of all to ready. And if Minnie’s yolks weren’t runny it could ruin her whole day.

  “Now where did you get eggs from”, came the familiar voice behind him. “It’s a secret, a magical secret.”, he replied, wiggling his fingers at her, magically. “Come on, where’d you get them…wait a sec…I smell…Howard! Did he drop them off?”. Hmmm, he’d forgotten her superior nose, “I was on deck drinking tea, saw a farmers cart and thought hmmm, turned out to be our lad dropping off at the cafe.”. “Good for him!”, she cheered, “and good for you too, I dearly missed eggies. Now remember, I like my.”, he joined her, “Yolks runny.”. They laughed, she went to wake Uma, he continued cooking. Soon everything was coming together. Hash brown taters were brown and crispy, bacon was nice and crispy too, toast was warming in their racks and he started the eggs. This time Uma rang the dinner bell outside the mess hall, just to wake Ron and Percy, who had somehow managed to sleep through everything. Not the clanging bell though. One minute later they both came stumbling in, but brightened at the sight of a full brekky. Minnie took one look at Percy’s hair and couldn’t contain herself, full out laughing. Will tried to hold back a smile, but failed. The little lads hair was every which way but right. Ron helped by telling him he looked like a used pot scrubby. Percy didn’t seem to mind, he smoothed it back, tied in a rough pony for now and attacked his food. As they ate a plan was made for the day. A lot of shopping in the morning, meet up with the council to see their railway plans, then the resupply wagon would be showing up. Then either leave with the tide or wait and go tomorrow morning. “We’ll see how it goes, okay?”, Will received nods and thumbs up.

  After they had eaten their fill, everyone left to get ready for town. Will gladly washed up, it gave him time to think while performing a simple job. And it still gave him pleasure to see order come from chaos. Hanging the tea towel to dry on the still warm oven he went to dress.

  “A bit cooler today by the way.”, he called out by the others doors. Minnie was getting ready in their cabin, a very practical outfit. Her favourite coveralls, with a thick sweater over, tool belt and boots, plus nice warm wool socks of course. Will looked at his sock collection and sneered. He despised socks, even while recognizing their use. Sighing he pulled on a fresh pair, one of Ron’s Christmas gifts to him. They fit perfectly and held his foot like a glove, which considering that’s exactly what they are, was good. “Foot gloves.”, he muttered. Minnie laughed at him, “That’s a weird way of thinking, I like it, feet gloves! I gotta tell Uma. Meet you up top..”. And she was off to check Uma was dressed appropriately. That girl would dress in her furs, if she could get away with it, but Minnie was on it. There had been several discussions on what was appropriate, when and where. “At home you can wear what you want, around family, but not when there’s others around.”, Minnie had told her, “I don’t want any incidents of you being taken advantage of by, well by anyone.”. Will didn’t think anything of the sort could or would happen, but best not to take chances.

  So he was waiting on deck, just doodling in a notebook, several story ideas were running though his head. Then a couple of game ideas, he never did make that dartboard. Maybe he’d pick up something for it today. Ron came up top first, “Hello father, I guess we wait longer now, Perce will be a while,”, he said, “His hairs not cooperating, I told him to wear a hat and he chucked a brush at me.”. Will snorted, “He does love his hair.” They waited a while longer, playing a game of cards…double solitaire as usual. Minnie arrived, Uma in tow. Then a moment later Percy showed, hair sleek and braided down his back, he looked very fierce and fine. “Right,”, Will said, “First stop is the carters, I need to get two push carts to replace the ones I left at Iceland.”. “Yeah pop, we remember that.”, Minnie laughed as the set off down the pier. Oh yeah, Will stopped, “And remember Rule one, stay together, okay?”. They saluted and nodded, they all knew the reasons.

  Reaching land they heard a piercing whistle behind and a rumble of hoofs and wheels. There he was, cart bouncing, horse’s galloping, waving like mad. “Hey Ed.”, Minnie said as he pulled up in front, in a bit of a dust cloud, “Thought you took the day off.”. He looked very serious, “Oh no miss Minnie, when you’re here this is my job.”. Jumping down he opened the side doors for the crew. “What’s your job when we’re not here?”, Percy wondered. The young man laughed, “I do carters work when your off gathering, short to medium hauls only. But if I’m not sure when you’re returning I just do in town deliveries.”. Will nodded, “Never the long haul though? Like off to the mountains or cliffs?”. Ed looked uneasy, “No, I don’t like being gone more than a couple of days. I worry about mom now, you know.”. While they talked about…everything, they had loaded up and made their way to the well in the centre of the roundabout. The one that supplied the Rose with sweet fresh water when they needed a fill up. “So where to first?”, Ed asked, pulling the reins to hold the horses. “Cart shop please, we need new push carts.”, Will said. “Yeah, dad left the others outside the inn, at Iceland.”, Minnie added helpfully. Ed laughed, “That’s it, they were left behind…you need more of a story.”. They worked on it the entire trip, and decided the carts had been either been trampled during a fight with wild boars or destroyed when sharps attacked.

  A big business just to the west of Newton, and a very busy place but the owner, Steef, was happy to see to the needs of the crew. “Aye captain, I’ll have those dropped off at the pier today,”, the large happy man said, “Did the others break somehow?”. Will covered his eyes as, once more, the tale was told. This time the carts were chewed up by a huge sharp, while the crew fought them off. “How awful, but I’m glad you all survived.”, Steef said, a bit shaken by the violent end of the carts. Percy nodded solemnly, “It was a pretty close call.”.

  Saying good day the owner it was load back up into the carriage and clop off back to Newton. “Now that’s taken care of, where can I take you?”, Ed asked. “Shopping please, book sellers, boots, candy, the physicians too, spices and new plates, and then the council house.”. The answers came fast and furious but Ed nodded, “Got it, we’ll start at ship street, then straight up the shopping districts.”. He gee’ed the horses into a canter and it was back to Newton in a cloud of dust.

  The town was bustling away when the carriage reached the low end of the shopping district. Ed guided the horses to a hitching post and jumped down. Opened the side doors, “There we are, I’ll be here waiting for you.”. Will sighed, “No, come on with us my friend, you’re not a servant to be waiting on us.”. “Yeah,”, Minnie agreed, “You’re kinda like a long lost cousin, we found you in the forest being raised by wolves and now here you are. The fearless cart driver!”. Ed laughed, “My pleasure miss Minnie, always my pleasure.”. While they walked and talked, the stopped in this shop or at that kiosk. Viewing the wares for sale. Picking up the spices Ron had on his list, or at the general merchandise store for new plates and bowls. A wonderful store it was, with a huge variety of goods. But some things were lacking, such as the spices Ron had bought a couple of stores back. When Will mentioned this Ed had the answer. “We don’t let certain places sell very much of another store’s livelihood.”, he said. “If one place had everything the others would be out of business and that’s not good…for business.”. Will could understand that, “Makes sense, you don’t want anyone to have a monopoly. Then the prices go up as they’re the only game in town.”. Ed nodded, “I’m really proud of mom, she takes care of that, in the council. Keeps her pretty busy, I help out a bit when I can.”.

  They were strolling on now, the clerk at the merchandise store promised to have their order delivered to the pier at end of day. That still made Will shake his head. This order, their new carts and anything else purchased today would be carefully stacked in, or beside a small hut at the end of the pier. Especially made for this purpose. No one would dream of rifling through or stealing from there. Not just because it was for the Rose, but because it simply wasn’t done, ever. While the others went in to the candy shop, Will stayed outside. Minnie knew what he liked and he knew they’d be a while. The reason for staying outside? He’d spotted his elderly friends, Paul and Richard and wanted to visit with them for a while. Will might look thirty five or so, but inside he was, sometimes, a old codger just like them. When the other crew came out, half’s an hour later and laden with bag after bag of candy, Will was just finishing off the story of the blizzard. “Now if not for that stone house, well… I don’t know if I’d be sitting here telling you all about it.”. The small crowd clapped, “Well told captain, thanks for setting with us.”, Paul said, “Looks like you’re families ready to move on though.”. Bidding his friends farewell they set off again.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  “That’s very nice of you, to spend time talking with the granthers.”, Ed said to Will. Will nodded, “It’s easy to overlook the old ones, too easy sometimes. They have had a pretty interesting life, pity it won’t be remembered after they pass.”.

  Ed popped back to bring the team closer, again hitching on the side of the street. They loaded their treasure on the carriage and continued. The booksellers was next, Will had business there, Minnie too. With Naomi leaving there was no one to describe Minnie’s fine sketches. She had tried but didn’t have that talent, not to narrate the reason or the meaning of her picture. She’d tried but nope. Will offered but found he was a bit bland at it, luckily Percy had the gift. He could blather on and on about where and when, why and who as well. So the latest sketches accompanied by his narration were dropped off, and the ones saved previously that Naomi had gotten around to. Will picked up new notebooks, new logbooks, a raft of blank paper, ink, nibs for his various pens, pencils, every stationary supply he could think of. Still no erasers though, not as he remembered. There were sticks of wax that served and Betty had shown Minnie a trick a while ago. Use a piece of bread, slightly moist, that would work too. Until rubber trees were discovered, or if they even existed, this was what they had to work with.

  Leaving the bookshop Will checked the time, furtively as not to garner attention. He found it was close to the noon hour so the next stop was council house. “Then the tea house, right? Cause we’re starving.”, Minnie pleaded. “Of course, I promised Howard we’d stop by.”, Will replied, “Then finish our shopping and leave on the tide.”. The others nodded, As the carriage wended it’s way through the busy streets to the highest point of town. The business district. Only a few large buildings here, but pretty important ones. Away from the noise and bustle of the rest of Newton. If the shopping district was the heart, then this was the brain. Hitching up and unloading the passengers took a minute but they had been noticed and a young lady came out to greet them.

  A familiar young lady, Greta had been a chaperone on a couple of voyages, until she aged out. “Hello captain, welcome all of you. The council’s waiting.”, she said with a smile. As she escorted them in and up through the large building, Minnie talked her ears just about off. Asking about her life, plans and so on. Greta answered happily. They had been chums while she was aboard and missed when she couldn’t travel anymore. Eventually they ended up in a large well lit room, with several skylights. A large table held what Will could only gape at for a moment. A well built model train setup, an oval of track travelling over different types of landscapes. Several open cars being pulled by a model of a very primitive steam locomotive. Very like the early efforts of George Stephenson, first was the ‘Blutcher’, the ‘Locomotion’, and then the much more powerful ‘Rocket’. The miniature track ran across several different types of land and hazards like rivers, or gullies, up hills and down the other side. Learning how things worked by trial and error. “Oh this looks fun!”, Minnie said, “Can I have a go?”. She leaned forward, examining the setup with a gimlet eye, “That flywheel is too small for the proposed load, you want to haul at least thirty tons right?”.

  The three councillors sitting around the model just looked at her wide eyed. “How on earth did you figure that?”, John asked. Minnie shrugged, “If these are to scale, then the dimensions would work out to holding six or seven tons each, then their own weight added in. It just looks that way in my head.”. Dave and Gemma looked very interested in her knowledge. Will was not surprised, he knew his little companion had hidden depths. So for the next hour, she rolled the little train around to each obstacle or hill. Showing that no amount of braking would hold a train on a straight downhill, the train had to spiral slowly down. Or the fact that uphills were just as dangerous if the grade was too high. Bridges needed to be designed to hold under the constant rumble of the iron wheels. Any small shift would lead to greater and greater movement, then the whole thing would be tumbling. The other three crew were happy to roll the little train around the tracks, making chuffing noises. Actually the other four, Will was having as much fun as the others. He’d built many model train setups over the years, nothing lately though.

  After Minnie had given as much advice as she could think of it was time for lunch. “Let me know if I can help more.”, she said as they headed out. Gemma shook her hand, “You’ve helped so much, but we’ll have more questions soon.”. Dave nodded, “We’ve started surveying the proposed line, laying track will begin in the spring.”. The same young lady was waiting to guide them out, a good thing too, the building was a labyrinth. Halls leading every which way, they’d have been lost for hours, if not days. Finally reaching the front doors, Ed waiting patiently, they climbed aboard and headed for…. “Where we headed?”, the young driver asked. Everyone answered at once “Martha’s, the tea house, Big Blue, Howard’s, anywhere.”. “Looks like majority rules, to the tea house please Ed.”, Will asked. Snapping the reins, Ed started the team towards the far end of town.

  The ride consisted of many stomachs rumbling, nearly as much as the wheels on the cobblestone streets. “Railways coming along huh?”, Minnie asked as the carriage waited to cross a side street full of sheep suddenly. Will nodded, “There’s a ton of work ahead, they’re pretty dedicated though…we’ll see.”. Sheep cleared out, the trip resumed. A few minutes later they pulled up in front of the tea house. Busy as usual too. Ed was going to wait at the carriage, Percy told him not to be silly. As they entered the doors a cry came from the kitchen area, “Welcome welcome captain, welcome all of you!”, Howard came bustling out.

  It took a few minutes for greetings and ‘how are you’s’, but eventually the five of them were sitting at a nice shady table in the back garden. “Sally’s beau just finished cutting the grass,”, Howard pattered on as they sat, “I hope you don’t mind the grassy smell.”. Will looked over at Percy and Ron, Minnie too…they were taking huge sniffies, looking like they were about two seconds from rolling in the grass. “I think we’ll be okay.”, he laughed. Howard nodded, “I’ll be right back with drinks, the usual okay?”. Hardly waiting for Wills okay he was off. Taking a deep breath of the air, heavy with that fresh cut smell, it was pretty nice. Reminding him of so much, so many times cutting the grass then surveying his work, master of his domain. Howard was back with a full tray of tea, apple juice, a couple of growlers of ale. “Are you all lunching today? We have a very tasty soup of the day, a fine corn chowder, or a nice beef and vegetable, fresh bread and new churned butter to go with. I’ll be off a fetch a tureen of each.”. And he was gone. “That lad hasn’t slowed at all has he.”, Minnie laughed. “I don’t think he ever will either.”, Will replied.

  The soup, when it arrive was very good, Will had a bowl of each and several slices of bread and butter. Before long the table was empty and tummies were much happier. “So we’re off today, for Laketown?”, Percy asked. Minnie and Will nodded at the same time, laughed and Will went on, “We’ve been gone a while, but we’ll take it easy on the trip.”. Then he realized the holds were empty, just ballast, “I think we need to pick up a trade load or we’ll be bobbing like a cork.”. Minnie shuddered, “That’s not fun, takes forever to reposition stuff.”. Ed had been following the talk, “I’ll talk to mom after shopping, she can talk to Evelyn and arrange a load, but it will probably be tomorrow.”. Will shrugged, “We’re not in any kind of hurry, we can wait.”. They were preparing to leave but Howard came to the table once more, this time carrying a three level silver tray of cakes. Minnie’s eyes widened at the sight, “Ooh, look Percy, look Ronnie…cakies, get some quick Uma dads gonna eat them all, Ed start grabbing!”. Will smiled and waved his hand, “Save me one Min, you know what I like.”. She sighed and placed the last almond tart on a plate in front of Will, she sighed again hoping he’d notice, then even heavier…nope nothing. “Fine, but only cause I love you.”, Minnie finally said, taking a cherry custard something, and shoving it in her maw. The tray was decimated but everyone was happy and full. It was time to get a move on, the supply wagons would be at the dock soon, not the trade goods but another day wouldn’t hurt them. “Goodbye Howie.” Minnie called, “See you soon!”. He stuck his head out of the kitchen doors, “Bye shipmates, safe journey!”.

  Feeling a bit heavy from lunch Will decided to walk instead of riding, Minnie too, she just didn’t like the smell of the horses. Percy, Uma and Ron took advantage of being the only passengers and stretched out on the comfy seats. Ed kept the horses at a slow walk as he headed back to the ship, this time taking a roundabout road instead of going through town. A very pleasant walk along the lakeside, the salt wind and rush of the water on the rocky beach was music to Wills ears. The pier was visible ahead and the Rose was at peace at the end, just bobbing away. Several groups of children were shore fishing, trying to get floaters for dinner. A sharp drop off in the lake bottom here usually gave the ones strong enough to cast to it a good reward. A few children were running up and down the beach, terrifying the sea birds. They didn’t feel the miasma yet, but were still a bit wary of the waters. One bunch of children were sitting under a small grove of trees that managed to grow near shore, crouched close together, examining something. When the cart rolled near they looked up and started shouting, “Is that the captain, is miss Minnie there too?”. They had missed seeing Will and Min, they were walking on the other side of the carriage. Ed hauled on the reins and stopped the team, Will walked in front…”Hey kiddies, what’s up?”. The oldest girl approached, holding what turned out to be an exhausted pigeon in her hand. “We found him on the beach, poor things so hungry, I was feeding him some seeds when I saw this.”, the young lass said. Will took a closer look at the bird, looked where she pointed and saw something on the birds foot. A small silver cylinder was tied on, not too tight but very securely. He reached for it and was able to twist it off. Examining it he found he could pick open an end, revealing a small slip of paper. A cool wind seemed to run up his back, giving him the shivers. This was something he’d known from his old world, but not here. Looking over Ed was as interested as the others, so he’d obviously never seen it before either.

  He squinted at the note but the printing was much too small, handing it to Minnie, she whipped out a magnifying glass. “Captain, I hope one of these reaches you.”, she read, “We’re sending out a couple of hundred…”. Minnie looked up “Wow dad, have you ever seen anything like this before?”. Will nodded, “Called a homing pigeon in the old world, used for sending messages, like this.”. He motioned for her to go on. “And I hope you get one eventually. You need to come to Iceland as soon as you can.”. Minnie read on, then covered her mouth in shock. Oh oh, Will thought, what the heck?