Chapter 5~ Dead of Winter
Northwestern knew she couldn't resist the Bering Sea's call as it sounded for opies. It was like a siren to a sailor. She had to answer, she had to go and her muscles tensed in anticipation of the season's beginning. Beside her, her new mate Big Valley yawned and stretched out his muscles, happily soaking up the early morning sun while it was still there. "Patience darling." He said. "We'll be off and catching those eight legged suckers soon." She laughed. "I know but I don't wanna wait." She protruded her lower lip in a fake pout. He chuckled. "I know something that will take you mind off it." He said. "Oh?" She asked. "What?" In answer, Big Valley leaned forward and kissed her gently. She laughed. "You rascal, Valley." She teased and kissed him back.
"Sweet, I can't believe I got that shot!" cried a voice. Northwestern groaned. "Oh great, so you're back hmm?" She hissed. "Oh come on, North. Is that anyway to treat an old friend?" The cameraman asked. Northwestern bared her teeth at him and getting the message, the guy ran off, still squealing happily about his shot of the pair. She groaned. "The whole fleet will hear soon." She sighed. "It is what it is." Valley said. "I don't mind." He nuzzled her. She purred. "You endless flirt." She scolded lightly. He chuckled.
Soon, Sig and the others arrived, climbing aboard her. "Did you enjoy your season off?" Sig asked knowingly. Northwestern blushed and answered "Yes, I did." She exchanged a glance at Big Valley as she said this. Sig noticed. "Ooh." He muttered but said nothing more on the subject. Northwestern sighed in relief. The last thing she wanted was her captain going all crazy over her and another boat. In another dock nearby, a bright blue boat with golden stripes on her hull awoke with a yawn. "Hiya, Northwestern. Getting ready to depart I see." She said. Northwestern nodded. "Yes, will you be heading out soon as well Cornelia?" She asked. "As soon as I can." Cornelia replied. "Say, if we leave together how bout a little friendly competition. First to the ground gets 2 grand." She said. "You'd lose, I am faster than you." Northwestern reminded her. "True that. Alright then, a little ship's wager then in addition to the captain's wager." Northwestern leaned forward. "I'm listening." She said. "First boat to catch 30,000 pounds earns 6 grand." Cornelia replied. "Time Bandit and Maverick have already agreed to the challenge and they've put in a thousand each. I just need two more boats." "Done!" Northwestern said. Big Valley grinned. "I'm game." He said. "When can we collect?" He asked. "As soon as we get back to town." Cornelia replied. "What are we waiting around here for. Let's go catch some crab!" He yowled. Northwestern grabbed his stern as he turned to go. "Hold your horses there mate." She said. "We can't catch anything until the season opens." "Grr. Bother the Fish and Game and their damned rules." He grumbled. "Those damned rules preserve our fishery." She replied. "Yea, I suppose you're right." He admitted and settled back beside her. "Besides, waiting this year is not so bad." He pressed close to his mate to prove his point. Cornelia chuckled. "Big Valley, whatever am I going to do with you?" Northwestern groaned. "Nothing, cause I ain't going anywhere." He purred, nestling into her side like a shipling. She laughed. "You'd better not my love." She whispered and curled around him tightly.
At last, Northwestern was free to leave Dutch Harbor. Big Valley followed her out. Northwestern would stay true to her name and fish close to the Russian border while Big Valley would stick fairly close to the peninsula. They touched noses when it came time to part. "You come back, Big Valley. Alright?" Northwestern growled. "Of course I will." He replied. Northwestern purred as he kissed her and the two reluctantly went their own courses.
On her way out she passed another boat heading into port. "Catch enough crab already Lady Alaska?" She asked. "No." The other ship grumbled. "Something's gone wrong with the electricity and I'm having a hard time seeing right now so I have to come back into port." "Bad luck." Northwestern said sympathetically. It sucked to return to port at all, even more so with an empty tank. "Hope you get the problem fixed soon." She said as she continued on. "Thanks Northwestern, I'll see you out there." Alaska called. Northwestern flicked her flag in response.
Arriving on the northwestern edge of the crab grounds a few days later, Northwestern set her first string of pots. Sig was listening to the fleet on the radio. "Russian, Russian, and well Russian. Everything is in Russian." He complained. "Well, we're only a few miles from the border." Northwestern said. "I can't say I'm that surprised." "Damn it I'm Norwegian, can't they at least speak Norwegian." He whined. "It is what it is, Sig." She sighed. Sig flipped through the channels, hoping to find something in English or Norse when he heard a frantic Coast Guard call. "Uh oh." He muttered. "Someone in trouble already?" Northwestern asked. Every year, there was always some poor boat that was either severely damaged or sunk out here, usually the latter. King Season always had at least three calls but Opilio was worse due to the winter conditions. "Yeah, they're saying that EPIRP has gone off from another boat and no calls are being answered." Sig said. "Now that's not a good sign." Northwestern said. "This early in the season and what with the weather being all rowdy down on the main grounds, I'd say the most likely culprit is a capsize." She said. Sig nodded. "That's exactly what I was thinking, only…" He paused, listening to the radio for another few seconds. "Oh my god." He whispered. "What, what is it?" She asked. Almost fearful now, she whispered "Is it-is it someone we know?" Sig sighed. "Someone that I don't know very well but you do." He replied. "Big Valley." She whispered.