Okay, I'm going to start getting some POV's of the other boats too. I think it'd be a nice change of pace to know what's going on with the other boats too.
Thanks for reviewing!!
Chapter 4: Radio Transmissions
A couple weeks later, the Northwestern was hauling in pots of King Crab averaging about 85 crab per pot.
Up in the wheelhouse, Sarah smiled to herself. She had studied her uncle's maps and charts from all the years of King Crab fishing and followed her Norwegian instincts to lead them to the Bering Sea gold. She felt a rush of pride at her heritage and watched as the sun rose over the water, casting its warm rays on the cold gray sea.
Suddenly, the radio began to bleep as a call came in. She pivoted in her captain's chair to answer it.
"This is Sarah Hansen on the Northwestern, who is this?"
"Oh, just the best father in the whole world."
Sarah beamed as she recognized Edgar's voice.
"Dad! You're in town?" she exclaimed in surprise.
"Yeah, your mother and I figured we'd come spend a couple weeks here for old-times sake. You know, visit the bar where we danced and the place we first kissed? Romantic junk like that. And we figured we'd stay to see you bring our boat back home safely."
Sarah smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Thanks, dad," she said sarcastically, "It's good to know you have so much confidence in me."
Edgar laughed, "It's not you I'm worried about. It's those waves I'm worried about. How's the boat handling?"
"Everything's fine, dad. I promise. We're hauling 85 to 100 crabs per pot right now. We're gonna unload this gear and place it right back. This is definitely a hot spot."
"I'm proud of you kiddo," said Edgar with affection in his voice, "You've made us all proud. You've managed to maintain the dignity of the Hansen name."
"Thanks, Dad," said Sarah, "Is mom there? I wanted to say hi to her."
"Yeah, she's right here. Love you, kiddo."
"Love you too, Dad," replied Sarah as she waited for her mom to come on the line.
"Hey, honey," said Jack Hansen, "How are you?"
"I'm good," said Sarah, "Just told Dad that we are pulling in some pretty heavy pots right now. Looks like we'll end on time…maybe even earlier than expected."
"That's great news!" exclaimed Jack happily, "I'm proud of you, sweetheart."
"Thanks," said Sarah, "I'm trying."
"And it shows. So, have you met any guys while you've been in Dutch Harbor?"
Sarah rolled her eyes in exasperation. Jack was always asking her about boys and when she was finally going to start dating. Sarah had never had a real boyfriend. She was too independent for most guys.
"No, I haven't met any but I have talked to one on the radio."
"Oh? Who?"
Sarah hesitated for a moment, wondering what she should tell her mom.
"His name's Rick. He and I are having a competition to see who pulls the most crab in a single string."
Jack laughed, "We used to have competitions like that all the time when I was a deckhand. What boat is he on?"
Sarah swallowed nervously and took a deep breath before she replied.
"Um…okay, before you say anything, just know that things are different now. It's not the same as it used to be…"
"What are you talking about?" asked Jack, sounding confused and suddenly concerned.
"Rick…Rick is the captain of the Maverick. He's…he's Blake Painter's son."
There was silence for a full minute before Jack replied.
"His son?" asked Jack in astonishment, "Blake retired?"
"Yeah," said Sarah, uneasily, "He gave the boat to Rick."
Jack sighed.
"Sarah…you know how we feel about them and you know what happened between the Northwestern and the Maverick. You know what they did and tried to do to me."
"Yeah, Mom, I do. But it's different now. Rick's not like his dad. He sounds like he really wants the rivalry to stop."
"That's what Blake told me a long time ago," said Jack, "He and I had the same kind of conversation at the bar the day we met."
"I don't want to judge him based on his father's actions," retorted Sarah, "It's not fair to him. He deserves the benefit of the doubt."
"I don't know if I like you talking to him, Sarah."
"Mom, I'm an adult! I think I'm capable of making my own decisions. I'm running a crab boat for crying out loud. If I can do that, I can handle Rick Painter."
"I just don't want you to make the same mistakes I did," said Jack, relenting slightly.
"I know, Mom. And I appreciate that, but I have to make my own decisions and learn from my own mistakes. That's the only way I can learn. I'm stubborn just like you and dad."
Jack sneered, "Sometimes I think you're more stubborn than us."
Sarah laughed slightly.
"Okay, honey," said Jack, "Just…just be careful, okay? At least promise me that."
"I promise Mom…I'll be careful."
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Later that day on the Cornelia Marie…
Josh Harris was taking the position of skipper while his younger brother, Jake Harris, was on deck as the deckboss for this string of pots. The brothers changed these two positions frequently and worked rather well together.
Josh had just gotten off the radio with Sarah Hansen. He was slightly irritated that they were pulling up full pots, while the Cornelia Marie was literally pulling empty ones.
The Cornelia Marie was a long time friend of the Northwestern. Sig and Phil were good friends and shared fishing spots with one another quite often. Sarah had also made friends with Phil's two sons while she was a deckhand and maintained that friendship as both she and the brothers elevated their positions to skippers of their boats.
Sarah had been more than willing to tell Josh where she was currently fishing. She urged him to go further south to where she was and to drop pots a quarter of a mile away from hers. They had placed tester pots there and those were coming up with over one-hundred crab per pot. Josh did not need to be told twice and promptly began to head south in the direction of the Northwestern.
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Meanwhile, on the Time Bandit…
Spike Walker was in the wheelhouse planning the next spot to drop pots. He was a long-time friend of the Hillstrand brothers and had been asked to take the position of skipper when they had retired.
Once Spike chose his location about fifty miles northwest and plotted his course, he picked up the radio to call his best friend, Rick Painter.
The two boats had maintained their alliance since the old days when it was Time Bandit and Maverick vs. Cornelia Marie and Northwestern, much in the same way as the Cornelia Marie and Northwestern maintained their good relations.
"Hey, Rick. You there?" asked Spike.
"Hey Spike! What's up man?" asked Rick, enthusiastically.
"Not much, just plotting some new courses. What about you? Have you heard any good gossip on hot spots?"
"I heard a few minutes ago on the radio that there's a rumor going around about the Northwestern. Apparently their hauling in some seriously packed pots. I talked to Sarah Hansen on the radio this morning but she didn't mention anything in particular. We did however, agree to a little competition to see who pulls the largest string."
"You talked with Hansen?" asked Spike, in shock, "What are you doing talking to her?"
Rick tried to hold back his irritation as he replied.
"Just talking. I'm not doing the whole rivalry thing. It's stupid."
"I don't trust them."
"Why not? The Hansen's never did anything wrong. It was my dad, remember?"
"Yeah, but still man…it is what it is. And it's not going to change so I'd just end this quietly if I were you."
"And why should I?" retorted Rick, growing angry, "The least I can do is destroy this thing my father and the captain before him started. It's not right and I'm not going to let this thing continue as long as I'm skipper of this boat!"
Spike sighed and shook his head.
"Whatever you want man, but I'm telling you, this thing? It's not ending. It's been a rivalry for way too long. It's literally in our blood now. It's too late to do anything to change it."
"I refuse to believe that," snapped Rick as he ended the transmission.
But deep down he wondered if Spike was right. Had this rivalry gone on for too long? Was it too serious for people to be able to forget and to put behind them?
He sighed and glanced out his window and watched the sun as it set below the horizon. Then a feeling of determination filled him. No matter what others said, he was going to do what it took to end it. Even if he was the only one willing to do so…
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