Exploring the Third Land Mass…
“We’ve got to be close to land, Jack,” a man on the front deck called out. It had been several days of island hopping, then a long stretch of open sea. They had kept an easterly track towards the morning sun knowing the land mass was even with Port on its southern edge. The maps found in Utopia had confirmed that.
“Can’t see any out there, what makes you sure?” Jack Muldoon replied.
“I just caught a Green Dandy before it fell in the water. He is one tired bird but a young one.”
“That’s a good sign. They aren’t usually seen this far out. Must have been learning to fly and went too far. Land can’t be too far off.” The brightly colored bird was native to Higgins and a common songbird in all three settlements. The small ships were running low on water. As several of the men remembered, the last islands they passed did not have fresh water or did not have a place to beach and load the barrels. They had small solar desalination units so drinking water was being rationed.
The next day, a haze on the horizon gave way to high, black rock cliffs. The sailors who had sailed with Captain Julie identified it as the third land mass. They changed course to sail along the rugged coast. There was some discussion as to whether the beach they had used before was north or south, but north won out. As the day waned, north proved correct as the cliff revealed the break where they had harvested a new ship’s mast. Just before dark, a wide black sand beach crossed by a swiftly flowing stream became visible. It was not a river, but it was a strong flow. The ships anchored close in with plans to go ashore in the morning. They had made it.
***
The Port sailors rowed the small dory to the beach and began filling the water barrels from the two small ships. While the barrels were filled, Jack Muldoon led a small group up the bank of the stream to see what the land looked like. A cut in the black cliff led to a collapsed cave and a waterfall off the wall of cooled lava. It was a dead end, but a beautiful one. One of the Port crew saw some wild fruit he recognized from home, and they gathered several ripe fruits. It would be a nice addition to their sea rations.
“Well, at least we got the barrels filled, Jack,” the man gathering fruit said. “I have never seen these sugar balls get this big back in Port. We’ll need to eat them before we sail because we’ll all need a swim. They are really messy to eat but good.” Jack laughed and helped carry the large golden fruit back to the beach.
After a meal of mostly fruit, and a swim to wash off the sticky residue of the sweet treat, they hauled anchor and headed farther north along the black cliffs. The men were getting discouraged when a watcher up on the mast of the lead ship noticed an end to the cliffs. He advised the man on the rudder to head out away from the coast since there were rocks where the edge of the lava had spread out. As they rounded the rocky peninsula, a cheer went up from the sailors on both ships. A wide black sand beach fronted heavily wooded low hills. The volcano responsible for all the black rock loomed in the distance but snow covered the top of the tall cone. It appeared quiet and may have been for quite a while from the quantity of snow. The beach past the rocks was narrow but soundings showed it extended quite a ways into the sea. The ships anchored and began planning for a search inland. They had work to do.
***
In the morning, they found a flat, but tree covered area just past the sand and began cutting down trees to clear a place to sleep. However, it was quickly apparent that the insects of the area would require hammocks. Jack Muldoon found some of the insect repelling plants and showed the rest how to rub the sticky sap on skin. “In Utopia, we collect this stuff and make a salve out of it. It’ll discourage the bugs,” Muldoon said. “It takes them a while to start biting but you don’t want them to start. We’ll need to either sleep on the ships or in hammocks. If you rub the sap on the ropes of the hammocks, they won’t get to you.”
“Man, am I glad you came along, Jack,” Jack Little was swatting the small insects climbing up his legs. “Hope we can find enough of this stuff as we go inland.”
“No problem there, Jack. Fat grass is one of the most common plants.” In spite of the insects, the people soon had some frames rigged to hang their supplies out of the way of the bugs. They kept many of the larger trees as supports for sleeping hammocks. By sunset, a camp was established. On one of the trips to bring supplies out, they had caught a large edible fish in the shallow water, so supper was fresh fish grilled over the open fire.
“One thing I can tell you,” Muldoon said, “is the dirt that will grow fat grass will grow about anything we raise as food.”
“Fat grass, that’s what you call this bug repellent plant?”
“Just look at it, it’s supposedly shaped like Terran grass, but is it full of sap and puffy. It’s clear why the first settlers gave it that name. It took a while before they figured out a use for it. The local grazers showed the way. They roll in it when the biting fliers are out in the summer.”
“Is that the same green slimy stuff they use in the baths in Refugio? We got some in trade when we went to Refugio looking for buy-out on those Pins we caught.” A man who had sailed with Blackie Okapie spoke up.
“That is one more thing we can use to trade when we settle here,” Jack Little said. “Right now, I am ready for my hammock and some sleep. We’ve got a lot of walking to do tomorrow.”
***
Jack Muldoon swung out of his hammock as the first light of day touched the snow on the top of the volcano. The song of the Green Dandy bird was distinctive and dominated the morning chorus. He stopped to listen. It was a welcome noise. He knew from Utopia that if the birds lived here, there was food humans could eat. The much-loved berries of spring feasts and the sugar balls were only two of the edibles eaten by the bright green birds. The settlers would have something to eat until they got the fields cleared and crops planted. Another of the renegades saw him and cupped his hand over his ear. He recognized them too.
“The birds aren’t the only thing I recognize, the fire trees are here too,” one of the other renegades said as he got the fire going again. “They’re not as thick as the ones up in the north. It looks as if the other trees are crowding them out. I wonder why that doesn’t happen up there.”
“I’d venture a guess that those trees that are crowding out the fire trees won’t survive in the heat,” Jack said. “From what I saw, the only plant that discourages the fire tree is those prickly bushes and those discouraged us!” The other man laughed as he put a pot of water on to make first meal tea and swamp root. They planned to try and clear a path along the stream to see what lay closer to the hills. This looked like an excellent place for first landing.
***
The trees the explorers found along the stream may have been small, but they were tough, and the many kinds of bitting bugs made it an uncomfortable hike. Jack Muldoon called a halt when they reached a set of rapids that marked a rise in the land.
“That cloud bank over the mountains look ominous,” Jack said. “I’m for heading back to the beach. Anyone else?”
“My weather sense is not great, but we’ll make some good time back to Southmost even if that wind doesn’t hold.” One of the Utopian volunteers said.
“I think we’ve got a good idea of what we’re up against, Jack,” Jack Little said. “We know we can find things to eat and wood to build shelters. I think we should take advantage of the weather and head back.” Several of the group voted by finishing their food and gathering their gear. The winds were changing directions and blowing strongly offshore when the explorers returned from their hike up the small river. The clouds were dark when they pushed the rowboats off the beach and returned to the ships. The sails were hard to raise in the wind but once up, the small ships rapidly left the black sand beach behind.
They had good news for both Utopia and Port. There was water on the way out and seasonal food when they got to the new land. Now, to get the migration started.
***
The trip back to Port took longer than the one out. The wind changed direction shortly after the storm blew over. The small ships had to tack, turning into the wind, and zigzagging to keep on moving. It was hard on the sailors but the only way to make progress when the winds were blowing the wrong way. The trip took more time, but they had loaded up with the sticky fruit and a couple of big fish were caught so they had food. The weather cooperated and several quick rainstorms refilled the water barrels. The leaders had time to gather the opinions of as many as possible so the report to the settlement would be as complete as possible.
“Muldoon, problems in Port,” a man with contacts at home called to the leader of the excursion. “One of the volcanoes off to the west of Port is erupting. They are evacuating the outer settlements.”
“Can we skip a stop at Southmost?” Muldoon asked.
“I think we’d better. It’s a good thing we are on our way back,” Jack Little said.
“My wife said so far, they don’t have any casualties but they’re short on drinking water. She said if we can fill our barrels before we hit Port, we should,” the man who was in contact with his wife said.
“Moving to the new land may be sooner than Utopia wants,” Jack Muldoon said.
| ← Chapter 29 | Chapter 31 → |
Should you want to read the whole story…
Book One
Book Two
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