Thanks again for reading and reviewing!! This story's about to come to a close! I think I'll do one, maybe two, more chapters and then an epilogue. After that, snowymistyriver and I are teaming up to write a story based on the brothers on the Cornelia Marie.
Enjoy!!
Chapter 17: Turn and Burn
"Let's speed it up over there, Andrew!" barked Jake irritably from the rail.
They had been dropping and hauling pots almost non-stop for the past three days. The constant work made the deckhands even more tired and irritable than usual.
They only had two days left to reach their quota and return to Dutch Harbor and their deckboss, Jake, had no patience left in him.
He mumbled something angrily under his breath as Andrew turned and gave him a nasty look.
"So why is it I have to go and do the greenhorn baiting job?" complained Andrew as he stuffed another bag full of chopped up herring.
"Didn't you hear Sarah earlier?" barked Alex, walking over to stand with Jake, "She told you to shut up and fish! Stop complaining and just get it done, alright?"
Andrew fell silent at the retribution from his once-best-friend. He stomped angrily over to the next pot on the launcher and hung the bait without another word.
Jake raised an eyebrow and shot Alex a look.
"Can you teach me how to do that?" he mumbled as he picked up the line to throw over the rail.
"Teach you to do what?" asked Alex as he tossed his burnt-out cigarette into the Bering Sea.
Jake nodded towards Andrew who had gone back to stuffing bait bags.
"Make him listen to me. He seems to take orders from you rather well."
Alex smirked, "I don't think its something that can be taught."
Jake nodded in agreement and tossed the shot over the rail. Alex grabbed the buoys and tossed them after the lines of shot.
"So do you all think we gotta chance?" asked Jon as he sauntered over to them.
Jake sighed and shook his head, "I don't know, but I sure hope we do. We went through a lot to get here so I hope it was worth it."
Amy turned the corner coming out of the galley and nearly ran right into Andrew. He gave her an angry look and muttered as he stalked past her.
Amy gave the other deckhands a startled look as she approached them.
"What the heck was that?" she exclaimed as she pulled her hood over her tangled hair.
Jake and Alex shook their heads and spoke at the same time:
"Don't ask."
DCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDC
Later that evening, up in the wheelhouse, Sarah was preparing to line the boat up with the string they set right after the storm.
Suddenly, a bleeping noise from the radio jerked her from her thoughts.
"This is Sarah Hansen of the Northwestern," she said, giving the formal greeting, "Whose calling?"
"Sarah! Hey, it's Rick!"
Sarah beamed instantly at the sound of Rick Painter's voice.
"Hey! How are you?"
"How am I?" exclaimed Rick in disbelief, "Um, how about how are you? I tried to call you earlier but you were in that storm. Is everyone okay up there?"
Sarah hesitated for a moment.
"Um, yeah we're fine. It was a close call, but we're okay."
Rick sighed in relief.
"Well that's great news! So what happened?"
Sarah took a deep breath before she relayed all the dreadful events of that long dark night. She told him all about plowing through wave after wave and the horrible noises the Northwestern made each time she was struck. Finally she told him about the colossal rogue wave that nearly swallowed them whole.
"Oh my…Sarah you could have all…"
"Yeah, I know," said Sarah with a sigh, "It was scary. I just hope it was worth it. I'd hate to take these guys up here, make them go through all that, and then catch nothing."
"I'm just glad you're okay," said Rick with relief in his voice, "So when are you coming home?"
"In two more days. We're running this one till the last second. Why? Are you already back in port?"
"Yeah, the Maverick had good luck this season," said Rick, pride in his voice, "Not too shabby for a greenhorn captain, eh?"
Sarah laughed as she pulled the boat alongside the first pot.
"Congratulations Rick! I hope I can have the same results once this is over. I'd like to be known as one of the great captains, like Sig, instead of the crazy one that nearly got her whole crew killed!"
Rick could not help but laugh at that.
"Oh don't worry," he said, reassuringly, "Even if they all hate you, I'll always love you."
Sarah felt a warmth spread throughout her entire body. She smiled to herself and shook her head.
"You never cease to amaze me, Painter. I'll see you back at Dutch in a couple days."
"Take care, Hansen."
Sarah ended the transmission just as an excited shout sounded from the deck behind her. Sarah whirled around and leapt out of her chair. She rushed out of the wheelhouse and flung open the door. Leaning over the railing, she held her breath as the first pot cleared the rail.
The pot was overflowing with Opilio crab. Several crabs hung onto the sides of the pot, desperately trying to find a way inside to the bait.
The deckhands cheered happily. Jake and Alex exchanged victorious hugs while Jon nearly broke down into tears of joy. Even Andrew had lightened up a bit and was talking excitedly to Amy.
Sarah felt relief spread through every fiber of her body. She had not realized how tense and nervous she was until that moment. She suddenly felt weak and exhausted, but the sight of those crab and the cries of joy from her crew were enough to keep her going.
In only two more days, they would be back in Dutch Harbor, safe from the terrible storm systems, and with a boat full of Opilio crab.
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