After a few intense chapters lately, I feel we could use a silly chapter as a change of pace.
Chapter 32: The Boatmill Mishap
Five Years Later
Berk
May 13
Hiccup looked down at a large, rectangular-shaped sheet of metal which reflected his thin but handsome fifteen-year-old face.
Of course, he wasn't admiring his reflection (which was something Snotlout would do). He was measuring the size of the sheet with a measuring strap. This was all for his latest idea.
"Yeah, I think this might be the perfect size," he murmured to himself.
He looked up at Gobber who was pressing the bellows in front of the hearth, enlarging the fire.
"Hey, Gobber, you're not gonna believe what next idea I've come up with," he said aloud.
"Let me guess," Gobber said unenthusiastically. "Another dragon-catching weapon?"
"Nope, even better," Hiccup replied. "And for once, I think this is gonna do some good for the village."
Gobber stopped pressing the bellows and looked up. "All right, laddie, let's hear it."
Hiccup picked up his journal and showed Gobber the drawing of his next big idea. It looked similar to a windmill.
"A windmill?" Gobber said disbelievingly.
"Nope," Hiccup said.
He turned a page which showed a drawing of the windmill-look-alike attached to the bottom of a Viking ship.
"A boatmill," Hiccup said.
"A boatmill?" Gobber echoed, confused.
"A device that you attach to a ship," Hiccup explained. He pointed to different parts of the device. "There's the mill underwater. Attached to the mill is a long spit-like handle which goes from the underwater blades up to the back of the boat right through a small hole on the side. All you have to do is turn the handle which makes the blade spin and that helps the ships to go faster."
"Hmm, fascinating," Gobber admitted.
"And with Dad's permission, we could test it on his ship and if the boatmill is successful, he might allow me to make more mills for the ships," Hiccup continued. "After all, the regatta is coming up next month and the boatmills speeding up the ships will add a little excitement to the race."
And Hiccup kind of had a point about the boatmill hopefully adding some excitement to the regatta. Berk held the annual boat race every first day of summer but it wasn't one of the most exciting events what with the ships floating ever so slowly above the water. On account of that, nobody in the village looked forward to the regatta. But Stoick insisted on holding it every summer anyway.
"Well, personally I'd like that, Hiccup," Gobber said. "But your father might not approve of your boatmill. You know how traditional he is. He might not want one of your modernized devices to be part of an ancient boat race. He's the only one who's satisified with the boats floating slowly and steadily. Not to mention that he likes keeping our ships in good condition and might not like the idea of a hole – even a wee one – on the back of the ship to hold your mill-thingy."
Hiccup's shoulders slumped. "You're right, Gobber. He never approved of any of my ideas in the past and he's not going to approve of this one now."
Gobber put his good hand on Hiccup's shoulder and tried to smile encouragingly.
"That doesn't mean we can't ask him anyway," he said.
"I think we both know that he's going to say no," Hiccup said bitterly.
"Maybe you're right. But you just leave that to me. I'll convince Stoick to let you test the…uh…the…"
"Boatmill."
"Boatmill. I'll convince Stoick to let you test the Boatmill on his ship on a few conditions."
"What kind of conditions?" Hiccup asked, dreading to hear the answer.
"You'll find out when I tell them to your dad," Gobber replied.
Hiccup gulped.
"And if your dad agrees to these conditions," Gobber continued, "I'm sure he'll switch his answer from no to absolutely!"
….
"Absolutely not!" said Stoick in his firmest voice.
Hiccup, Stoick and Gobber were seated at the kitchen table of the Haddocks' residence. Hiccup and Gobber had just informed Stoick about testing the boatmill and just as Hiccup predicted, his father said no.
"The regatta is an ancient Berkian tradition and it's fine just the way it is," Stoick continued. "I won't be having any gears and what-nots attached to our ships to speed them up. We've always been content sailing steadily and we're not about to stop that today."
Hiccup turned to Gobber disappointedly. "See, Gobber? I told you he'd say no."
"Stoick, be reasonable," Gobber said insistently. "Why don't you give Hiccup's boatmill a chance?"
"I've given him one too many chances on all his inventions in the past and in case you've forgotten, Gobber, either they didn't work or they caused some damage to the village. Therefore, I'm not taking the chance on this…this…uh…"
"Boatmill," Hiccup piped up gloomily.
"Boatmill," Stoick echoed.
"Don't you think you're being a wee bit unfair?" Gobber pointed out.
"Not at all," Stoick said. "I think I'm being perfectly fair."
"Well, I for one, am willing to let Hiccup build a boatmill for your ship and test it out on two conditions," Gobber announced in his firmest voice. Then he added encouragingly, "If you'd be willing to hear them."
Stoick glared at Gobber for a moment then said, "And what are the conditions, may I ask?"
Gobber held up a finger. "Condition one: Hiccup will build the boatmill and he will be the one to spin the handle for it."
"Me?!" Hiccup exclaimed, his eyes popping. "Why me?!"
"Because it's your invention plus turning that handle will be good exercise for your arms," Gobber explained.
Stoick said nothing but the disappointment in his eyes was enough proof that he disapproved Hiccup's still-spindly arms despite years of blacksmithing and inventing.
"Condition two: On the day of testing, Astrid Hofferson will be joining us," Gobber continued, holding up two fingers.
"Astrid Hofferson?!" Hiccup's eyes were practically bursting out of his sockets now. "Why?!"
"Because you spend more time with me and less time with kids your own age," Gobber answered. "You need to start joining the younger group and I think Astrid would be perfect company. Besides, you'd better get moving to have her at your side before she decides to be with someone else. Even Snotlout."
"Astrid doesn't need me or Snotlout or any other boy," Hiccup moaned. "She'd rather stay single for the rest of her life."
"That may be true but I insist we bring her along anyway," Gobber said. "Besides, if the boatmill ends up working after all, she might be impressed. "
Gobber's words gave Hiccup some newfound hope. He kind of liked the idea of Astrid being impressed with him doing something successful for once.
"Well, if you say so…" Hiccup said slowly.
"I do say so," Gobber said.
"Well, I guess I'm game," Hiccup said with a shrug.
"Me too," Gobber said. "Stoick, how about you?"
Stoick pondered again, then sighed heavily and said, "Fine. Hiccup, you will get started on the boatmill first thing in the morning. When it's ready for testing, we'll attach it to my ship and you will do the turning of the handle while I do the steering."
"And bring along Astrid Hofferson," added Gobber.
"Yes, and bring along Astrid Hofferson," Stoick said, shooting his friend an annoyed look. "If the boatmill works, I'll think about using it for the regatta or not."
This put a hopeful smile on Hiccup's face.
"BUT," Stoick continued, "if it doesn't work, then we won't use it for the regatta. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly clear," Hiccup said, frowning again.
"Then it's all settled," Gobber said enthusiastically. "I don't know about the rest of you but I'm looking forward to this."
"Me too," Hiccup said unenthusiastically.
At that moment, Hiccup was hoping against hope that the boatmill would work and please Stoick and Astrid and at the same time, dreading that it wouldn't work and displease Stoick and Astrid.
…
Berk
May 15
Within two days' time, the boatmill was completed and ready for testing.
Hiccup, Astrid, Stoick and Gobber were now standing on the deck of Stoick's ship. A small hole had been made in the back of the ship and the boatmill's spit-like handle was sticking through it while the large windmill-like contraption rested underwater. Stoick wasn't too happy that there was a hole in the back of his ship but it was the only way to have the boatmill attached to it.
Gobber was looking all excited for the testing. Hiccup tried to look excited but deep down he was nervous and full of dread. Stoick was looking stoic as usual and Astrid looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Astrid, I can't thank you enough for accepting my invitation and coming to witness the testing of one of my young apprentice's latest inventions," Gobber said politely.
Today he had an oar attached to his left arm.
"I don't know why I let you talk me into this Gobber," Astrid said briskly. "I should be out in the woods practicing my axe throws."
"You're just like your uncle, Astrid," Gobber pointed out. "Always spending time on your own, training yourself. You need to learn to have a little fun for once in your life and I think the sea air will do you some good."
"Not as good as axe throws," Astrid muttered.
"I'm sure your axe will be fine without you for a couple of hours," Gobber assured her.
"Gobber, if she wants to practice her axe throws, then let her go do that," Stoick insisted. "Astrid, you don't have to come with us if you don't want to."
"No," Gobber said firmly. "I insisted that we have Hiccup's boatmill tested on two conditions: one, for him to turn the handle and two, for him to get better acquainted with Astrid." He turned to Hiccup. "And speaking of which, Hiccup, I haven't heard you say a single thing to Astrid since she arrived. Talk to her, give her a compliment, anything."
"Uh…" Hiccup uttered, turning to Astrid who looked back at him with an unimpressed look. "How nice that you could join us, Astrid. Did, uh, did anyone tell you that your eyes are as blue as the sky itself?"
Instead of responding, Astrid just continued to shoot that unimpressed look at him.
"Thank Hiccup for that wonderful compliment he just gave you, Astrid," Gobber encouraged.
"Thank you," Astrid muttered.
"All right, let's get this over with," Stoick announced. "Astrid, help me remove the tethers from these pilings. Hiccup, start turning that handle. We're moving out."
"About time," Gobber said, rubbing his hand and oar together excitedly.
Hiccup nodded and knelt down beside the boatmill's handle. He placed his hands on the handle and watched his dad and Astrid remove the ship's tethers from the pilings. Once the ship was untethered, Hiccup placed his hands on the handle and with all his strength, began to turn it around and around…around and around.
He could feel the ship moving forward under his weight and unlike boats without boatmills, they were going a little faster than usual.
"Hey, it's working!" Hiccup said excitedly.
"See, I told you it would work," Gobber said proudly.
"Let's not celebrate yet," Stoick said. "This is only the beginning and we still have a long way to go."
"Right, Chief," Gobber replied. "Keep turning Hiccup, old boy!"
"Oh, I'm turning all right," Hiccup said. "Turning, turning, turning."
He had only been turning the handle for two minutes and already his arms were getting sore but he wasn't gonna let that stop him. He and his boatmill were gonna earn his dad's approval if it killed him!
They had sailed forward for a while until Stoick announced, "Hiccup, stop turning."
"Why? What's wrong?" Hiccup asked, pausing from his turning.
He could feel some worry fill his heart. Has Stoick decided not to use the boatmill after all? Even after seeing how well it was working?
"I want to steer us towards the left a little," Stoick replied.
"Oh, right." Hiccup managed a weak chuckle as relief returned to him.
Stoick walked towards him, placing his hand on the steering lever. Slowly, the ship began turning to the left.
"All right, now start turning again," Stoick instructed.
Hiccup nodded and began turning the boatmill's handle again, despite the soreness of his arms increasing. Any more turning and his arms might fall off but he had to keep turning. He had to impress his dad, and Gobber and Astrid.
"Now that's what I like to see," Gobber said proudly. "A father and a son working together just like they should. Just look at them, Astrid. Isn't that the sweetest sight."
"I can't even bear to look at it," Astrid said, her back turned and her arms crossed.
"Aw, why not?" Gobber asked.
"Well, isn't it obvious, Gobber?" Stoick announced. "It reminds of the things she did together with her uncle Finn and you know how she feels about reminders."
"Yeah, well, that meadow Valka loved so much reminds you too much of her but you still took Hiccup to see it anyway," Gobber pointed out.
"Gobber, if she doesn't' want to see it, then she doesn't' want to see it," Stoick said firmly, acting as if he didn't hear his friend.
"Fine," Gobber said, holding up his hand and oar. "Astrid, you don't have to look at it."
"Thank you," Astrid murmured.
The steering and the turning continued without a problem. But after a while, a strong sea breeze blew in the air, making small waves. The ship began to bob up and down a bit.
"Hmm, water's getting choppy and we're getting to close to the sea stacks," Stoick said observantly. "Hiccup, I'm gonna steer us back to the island and whatever you do, don't let go of the handle."
Unfortunately for Stoick, Hiccup wasn't hearing him. Still turning the boatmill handle, he looked over at Astrid who was resting her forearms on the rail, looking out at the choppy waters. He noticed that her eyes were beginning to sparkle with tears. He figured those reminders of her uncle were getting to her.
Seeing the usually brash and invincible Astrid look so sad just broke Hiccup's heart. He had a sudden urge to take care of her. Luckily, he had a handkerchief in his vest pocket. He could give it to her and maybe, just maybe, she would drop the tough girl act and graciously thank him.
Just as his dad was speaking, Hiccup let go of the handle, got to his feet and started to walk towards Astrid.
"Uh, here you go, Astrid," he said, reaching into his vest for the handkerchief.
"Hiccup, I said don't let go!" Stoick shouted.
"What? Ah!" Hiccup shouted, forgetting Astrid and the handkerchief and heading back to the boat handle.
Hiccup tried to turn the handle but the roughness of the small waves were too strong for a small handle. The bobbing of the ship on the waves accidentally caused Hiccup to jerk forward. Still holding onto the handle, he moved it forward along with him, making an even bigger hole on the back of the ship.
"AH!" Hiccup screamed, realizing his mistake.
"Hiccup, what have you done?!" Stoick scolded.
"I-I-I didn't mean to do it!" shouted Hiccup in a panic.
"Keep turning, lad!" Gobber shouted.
"I'm trying!" Hiccup shouted, struggling to turn the handle despite the rough waters.
Speaking of the rough waters, a series of small waves under the ship caused it to bob a little higher than before causing Hiccup to bounce and let go of the handle. He watched in horror as the handle slipped through the now enlarged hole. Getting to his feet, he watched the handle splash into the water and disappear.
"NO!" Hiccup shouted, starting to climb on the railing.
He couldn't lose the boatmill now! Not the one of the few inventions that actually worked! But before he could jump in, he felt Stoick's rough hands clasp around his waist.
"HICCUP!" Stoick shouted as he pulled his son back onto the deck.
"LOOK OUT!" Astrid shouted.
CRASH!
Everyone struggled to keep their footing as the front of the ship crashed into one of the Viking-shaped seastacks just a few yards down in front of the island. And now the front of Stoick's ship looked like it had been crushed.
As Stoick, Gobber and Astrid turned to look at Hiccup, their stunned expressions were replaced with death glares. All Hiccup could do was show them a big, toothy, embarrassed smile.
Fortunately, the front of the ship wasn't too damaged that it would sink to the bottom of the ocean. It still remained buoyant but just the same, the sight of the front wasn't very attractive. So, Stoick steered the ship back to the docks…without the boatmill.
As Stoick and Gobber looped the tethers over the pilings, Astrid climbed over the rail and onto the dock.
"If anyone's looking for me, I'll be in the woods practicing my axe throws," Astrid said briskly.
And with that, she started to walk across the dock before breaking into a run. As Stoick, Gobber and Hiccup climbed onto the dock themselves, Stoick made his decision.
"We are not using the boatmill for the regatta," he told Hiccup.
"I figured," Hiccup muttered.
"Do you realize you could've gotten us killed out there?" Stoick continued, holding out his hands towards Hiccup. "Please, Hiccup, from now on, no more of…uh…well…well, no more of…this."
"You just gestured to all of me," Hiccup pointed out.
"Well, he kind of has a point you know," Gobber said. "Maybe you should give those ideas and inventions of yours a rest."
"More like a permanent rest," Stoick added.
"But…it's the only thing I'm good at doing," Hiccup said, his face melting into sadness.
Gobber looked at Hiccup sympathetically then turned to Stoick. "Stoick, you shouldn't stop Hiccup from doing the things he's good at doing."
"He needs to learn to be good at doing other things," Stoick replied.
"Well, in that case, let him help you repair your ship," Gobber suggested. "If he's good at breaking things, he should be good at fixing them."
What Gobber said did not help Hiccup's mood at all.
"No," Stoick said. "It's my ship. I'll fix it myself. Just go, both of you. I need to get to work."
Gobber sighed. "Very well, Stoick. Come on, Hiccup."
Hiccup followed his mentor with slumped, dejected shoulders, leaving his dad alone to fix his ship.
"I'm sorry the boatmill didn't work out, Hiccup," Gobber said.
"Not as sorry as me," Hiccup muttered. "I really hoped I had created something that would bring some good to the village."
"True, but the trouble is your trying to bring some good to the village only brings bad to the village."
"You don't have to tell me twice."
"All I'm saying is that the only way you can bring some good to the village is to not try to bring some good to the village."
"But if I can't invent a good invention or help to fight dragons, then what good am I?"
Gobber thought for a good long minute before he finally shrugged. "I don't know."
Hiccup's face fell even further. "That's what I thought."
Hiccup began to walk a little slower, allowing Gobber to continue his walking ahead of him. As Gobber walked further ahead of him, Hiccup stopped and looked out towards the horizon. From his spot on the steps against the stone wall, the sky and sea seemed to go on forever. He looked up at some squawking seagulls flying about over the seawater.
"You birds are so lucky," Hiccup murmured. "You don't have to worry about whether you're a failure or not or trying to bring good to your own kind. Your only worries are finding your chick's next meal and where to migrate to for the winter. Other than that, you can fly wherever you want, whenever you want and feel free to just be you."
Then Hiccup started to pick up the pace to catch up with Gobber.
…
Dragons' Nest
May 15
Toothless sat on a stone ledge overlooking the sea surrounding the dragon's forbidden island. Five years had passed since he settled here and it still looked foreboding even in daylight as a light mist hovered over the area.
Despite the mist, Toothless could still see a flock of seagulls flying overhead, squawking to each other.
"You birds are so lucky," Toothless grunted. "You don't have a queen to control you into feeding her and threaten to eat you even if you bring even the largest amount of food. You just have to worry about feeding yourselves and your chicks."
He looked up at the tall mountain where the Queen rested inside. Her muffled but audible inhaling and exhaling were a sign that she was taking a good, long rest which served as a temporary relief to him and all the dragons of the island…until she woke up for her next feeding time, whenever that would be.
"But that worry is nothing compared to the worry of your Queen escaping the confines of her nest and eating up everything in her path. And if we're gonna prevent that from happening, from the looks of it, we're stuck feeding and avoiding her until the day we leave this world. And hopefully that day won't end with most of us disappearing into her mouth."
Spreading his wings, Toothless took off for his daily lap around the island. Flying always took his mind of these worries. He wished he and the other dragons could do something about the Queen even though it seemed there was nothing to be done about her.