横浜市鶴見区に密着した地域型のスワンアカデミー英会話教室。未就園児から大人まで、3人までのグループレッスン、個人レッスン、セミプライベートレッスン、オンラインレッスン

MacDonald walked about the ice inspecting the dark wooden hull of the SHY LADY, his eyes a squint and his breath coming out like puffs of smoke. It was his habit every two days to walk completely around the outside of the whaling ship, taking note of anything unusual. As of yet, they had been fortunate, the old girl was holding up well. But MacDonald knew that that could all change very quickly, they had been lucky so far. They were stuck in the pack ice and though they weren’t going anywhere, they were safe for the time being. The pole party had been gone for three weeks and since that time, MacDonald had had his share of worries and problems. The weather, the ice, crewmen not used to the environment they found themselves in. Already, three fights had forced MacDonald to move all the liquor and keep it under lock and key. Two more men were blind from drinking the alcohol they had brought for the cook stoves after which he ordered the ship’s carpenter to section off that section of the hold which once done was locked down. He could do nothing for the blind men except make them as comfortable as possible. It wasn’t the first time, nor was he sure it would be the last that he wished that they had carried a doctor aboard on this trip. Normally, a whale ship wouldn’t carry a physician, the captain or mate taking care of any physical ailments that the men had, but now… Finishing his inspection, he began to walk to the midships gangplank when he saw Ahnah walking towards him. He stopped and waved a heavily gloved hand, a gesture which she returned. He continued to walk to the gangplank, stopping when he arrived and waited for her. “Hello Ahnah.” “Hello Aesop,” she said. “The men will leave soon.” MacDonald nodded. He’d almost forgot about the hunt that had been planned. “When are they going?” he asked. The young woman thought for a moment. Her English had improved over the last few weeks with the help of young Tim Reiner but sometimes she still had to search for the right word. “Tomorrow?” she said questioningly. “Yes, tomorrow they leave.” “Do you know when they will return?” asked the acting captain. Ahnah shrugged her shoulders. “I do not know. They will come back when they do.” He knew it would depend on how far the hunters would have to travel to find game. Lately they hadn’t seen much around and for some reason it gave MacDonald an uneasy feeling. “You look troubled Aesop.” The man frowned and nodded. “Mason, Dunn and my brother?” she asked. The black man shook his head. “No, it’s not that, though I am concerned. No, this is something different, I can’t really explain it…” “Like we’re being watched,” said Ahnah. MacDonald looked at the Inuit girl. “Yes, that’s right, how long?” Ahnah shrugged her shoulders. “I think five sleeps.” Roughly a week, “How many others know?” he asked. Ahnah shrugged again. “All of my people,” she said in a matter of fact way. MacDonald nodded, of course they would know, this was their home. “Does anyone know who is watching us?” “No,” said Ahnah. “Do your dreams still speak to you?” Ahnah looked at the snow and nodded. “Keelut’s image is strong and it frightens me.” “Have you told the others of Keelut in your dreams?” he asked. “No, it would do little good.” MacDonald sighed. “Good point. Look Ahnah, after the hunters leave, let’s get everyone back aboard the SHY LADY.” “I don’t think we have to do that Aesop,” her people wouldn’t welcome the close confines of the ship again after being on the ice. “It’s just a feeling.” “I do,” he said. “It’s a bad feeling and I would feel much better if everyone was aboard.” “I understand, after the hunters leave tomorrow. I’ll tell my people to prepare.” She turned and walked to the shelter she shared with Sedna, Allawah and little Tah. MacDonald walked aboard the SHY LADY and after lighting a cigarette went to the starboard rail. He’d played this scene before and was lucky. God, he hoped his luck held out on this one. “How’s the hull look Aesop?” MacDonald looked to his right and saw Higgins leaning on the rail. “It looks alright Danny. How are Braun and Schultz?” he asked referring to the two blind men. “They’re…resting,” said the third mate. “I mean, what else can I tell ya Aesop?” “Yeah, I know Danny, I know,” said the first mate. Higgins turned and looked over the rail. “I’ve never seen anything like this. I still can’t believe we’re here,” he said observing their almost virgin like surroundings. MacDonald smiled. “Few people have Danny and believe me we are here but I don’t mind telling you, I’ll be glad when we’re out of this God damned place.” “I hear ya Aesop,” said the young third. “How are the men holding up?” “Good,” said Higgins. “They’re being kept busy.” “No trouble then?” The third mate shrugged. “Some of ’em have been puttin’ their liquor ration aside, there’s been a few hangovers in the morning, but Denhard, Smith and Black,” he said in reference to the boat steerers, “have been keeping ’em in line.” “Any problems with the crew and Eskimos I haven’t heard about?” Higgins shook his head, “Naw, not really. Things have been pretty quiet for the most part.” “Good, because tomorrow they’re coming back on board,” said MacDonald. “Do ya think that’s wise Aesop? We’re crowded enough as it is here.” “Yeah, I know Danny, but it can’t be helped so we need to make room for ‘ em again. Another thing starting tomorrow, we’ll have armed watches on deck. I’ll explain later.” “You’re the Captain,” said Higgins “That I am, Daniel that I am.” He tossed his cigarette butt over the side into the snow. “I’ll be in my cabin. Notify me if there are any changes, ice or otherwise.” “Aye, aye Captain,” said Higgins. MacDonald grinned and walked aft to his quarters, stopping at the galley to inform Ed that the Inuit would be aboard tomorrow. “All of ‘em, Mr. MacDonald?” said the cook a bit surprised. “Yeah, Ed, all of ‘em, ‘cept the hunting party. Do you think there will be a problem?” “No sir, we got the room of course and them women folk is welcome to use the stove if they got a hankering to, we can just go back the schedule we set up before, but…” the old cook looked a bit concerned. The feelings of the crew as he saw it were part of his responsibility as well. “…is anything wrong Mr. MacDonald?” MacDonald looked around and saw that no others were about. The first mate had served too long with the old cook and knew it would be pointless to try and deceive him among all people. “I don’t know Ed, It’s a precaution. I know this is gonna sound silly, but I got a feeling that someone is watching us.” The cook shook his head. “It ain’t silly Mr. MacDonald and if ya think it’s better that everybody’s aboard so be it. The men are gonna ask sir, what do ya want me to tell them?” MacDonald looked up and sighed. If there was a question, he knew the crew would come and ask the old cook first. “Tell ‘em the ice is unstable, better for the Eskimos to be onboard with us.” Ed nodded, “Yeah, most of ’em have don’t have that much experience up north and none of ’em have been this far before. I think if I tell ’ em that, they’ll believe it.” “Another thing Ed, starting tomorrow, we’ll have armed watches on deck, we’ll tell ‘em it’s cause of Polar bears. Make sure we got plenty of hot soup in the pot,” said MacDonald. “Mr. MacDonald them bears ain’t gonna climb on the ship.” “Ed, I know that and you know that but the crew don’t know that.” “I get ya sir,” said the cook. The black man patted the man on the shoulder and proceeded aft. Though Mason had said that MacDonald was at liberty to use his quarters, he only did so during the workday and continued to use his own quarters which were comfortable for him and offered him a familiar privacy. Opening the door to his small cabin, he entered and removed his peacoat, hanging it on a hook attached to the back of door. He sat down at his small writing desk and rubbed his eyes. He disliked being frozen in like they were, it made him feel helpless. He wished they were out hunting whales but under the circumstances he knew that wasn’t gonna happen anytime soon. He wasn’t worried so much what the crew might think, Ed would be able to convince them in that conspiring tone of his, after all if anyone on board had a question the old cook always had an answer. The armed watches were another matter. He decided to resort to a half truth for the time being. Lack of game might encourage the white bear to attack their people working on the ice, it was better to have men with rifles on hand. At least it sounded good to him. MacDonald rubbed the side of his face and thought of Bess. That at least was something of a light in this otherwise dismal area of darkness. He wondered what she was doing at that particular moment. She was a good woman, better than he deserved and he felt fortunate. The money for this expedition would set them up well and he had no intention of not being there and missing time with her. He figured seven more years in the trade, ten at most and then he would retire. Damn, he wanted out of this place. He wondered about Mason and the others and hoped they were alright. He’d wait as long as he could but Mason had given orders that if the ship were in danger and if it was possible, they were to sail to Ellesmere Island and wait two months. After which, if Mason’s party had not returned than MacDonald and the crew of the SHY LADY would set sail for New Bedford and he would explain to those in New York what had happened and why the expedition they had spent so much money on had failed, it was task that MacDonald did not wish to carry out and hoped it would not be necessary. And so while the first mate wanted desperately to be rid of this place, he didn’t want it to be at the cost of his friend’s lives and those of the polar party. It was something he didn’t even want to consider. He was still thinking about it when he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. There were four of them, Anga, Kalut, Omoo and Tama waiting on the ice with packed sleds and rifles. It was “morning” or at least what passed for it time wise where they were at. MacDonald and Ahnah met them before they set off. “Listen,” said MacDonald with Ahnah translating his words. “If the ice weakens and the ship isn’t here, make for Ellesmere Island,” he pointed to the chart he’d brought with him. “Ahnah has told me you share my suspicion of being watched. I don’t know who is out there but I want you to be careful. If there is any sign of trouble, you are to return to the ship, either here or at Ellesmere Island, understand?” Anga and the others nodded and Ahnah spoke. “They understand Aesop.” MacDonald nodded, “Be on your way then, be careful.” The crack of a dog whip broke the morning silence and a scene very familiar in the arctic showed itself, departing Inuit hunters setting out to feed their people. MacDonald like the others watched the sleds become smaller in the distance and with a sigh turned toward the Inuit woman standing with him. “Ahnah, let’s get your people aboard the ship, the quicker, the better.” Ahnah nodded and walked to the Inuit encampment. She silently agreed, the quicker the better.