Chapter 5 Part 1

STORMS OF CHANGE

The noon meal had just been served when the first signs of Marlena's predicted storm appeared as a dark line on the western horizon. Armegon had no doubt that it would appear. Marlena was never wrong about weather. He had known it was but a matter of time.

The captain stood to his right as he guided the ship steadily on its course. The first mate and she were discussing the possibility of outrunning the line of dark clouds.
"We be still two hours from th' next port, cap'n." Gronak said while consulting a chart and comparing it to the now distant outline of the mountain range that ran parallel to their course.

The captain of the Strip Runner nodded. "We may yet be able to make port," she said. "We’ll make the attempt in any event. I don’t favor the thought of being caught out here by a storm." She turned and glanced back at the first mate. "Stay on watch, Gronak. If the winds change and you don't think we will make port, turn into the wind, set the brakes and furl the sails." Then having given her orders, the tall woman left the deck.

"Hold yo course, halfelf," the first mate said to Armegon. "Hit's goin ta git ruff. If th's wind slams our broside, we'll star to tip. Keep th' bow pointed inta th' wind jus enough ta keep level."

"Aye sir," Armegon replied as the first mate strolled forward bellowing orders as he went.

Marlena was cleaning up after serving the crew the noon meal when the captain came down from the poop. "You cook well woman," Zailya said. "It is hard to believe that we were eating the same supplies I have been purchasing for the past five years."

"I just added a variety of spices to the food," Marlena informed her. "You should try it. Spices are not usually expensive nor do they take up much space."

"I will keep that in mind," Zailya said. "It is good not to be getting complaints about the food for a change." She smiled. It was the first smile Marlena had seen on the captain. "I suggest you get these things," she indicated the pots and pans Marlena was cleaning, "below as soon as possible. It's liable to get busy up here soon."

"Yes, captain," Marlena said and watched the captain enter her cabin. Then she started collecting her equipment.

Marlena was in the galley putting the cooking gear away when a cry rang out. She felt the deck lurch sideways and tilt to the port side. She ran to the door. She could hear shouts and orders from the deck. As she opened the door, she felt the ship right itself.

Opening the door revealed a black sky and a crew in motion. Armegon was standing at the helm with his teeth gritted as he carefully trimmed the ship's course to keep it level. The wind whipped his long white hair giving him a frightening appearance. Above her, Marlena saw several crewmen, including Avery hauling a sail up to get it out of the wind. The first mate stood on deck holding onto the railing. He was watching the sails being furled.

The captain came out of her cabin. "What happened?" she demanded.

"A vortex gale hit us," the first mate answered. He had reason to be upset. The approaching storm had been pushing against a high pressure area. When enough force had built up behind the high, it had slipped over the mountains leaving a partial vacuum. Now, the storm rushed in faster than fast. The result was a surprising surge in the storm, catching everyone off guard. In less time, it seemed, than it took to walk the length of the ship, the storm front had leaped from the horizon to overhead.

"You see to the sails," the captain yelled. "I'll command the helm." The first mate didn't reply. He was too busy directing the rigging crew. They had to get the sails out of the wind before the mast broke or a hard gust tipped the ship or sheared a runner.

The captain ran up to the poop deck. "Steady as she goes, helm," she said encouragingly. Even if the halfelf was new at the task he was learning fast. If she could get him to sign on for a more permanent basis, she would have a more experienced helmsman for the effort.

Armegon kept the nose slightly upwind. Every time he felt the deck tilt a little, he turned the nose more upwind until it leveled off. The captain stood to his right. She rested her hands on the braking system. On the deck, the first mate watched as the last sail was rolled out of the wind. He waved his hand and signaled the captain.

"Bring her into the wind, Mr. Armegon," the captain barked. Armegon turned the helm slowly at first to keep the ship level. As less and less of the Strip Runner was broadside to the wind, he felt the ship stabilize and he increased the rate of turn. When the nose came into the wind, he straightened the ship's steering mechanism.

Now riding into the wind with no sail to provide tacking motion, the ship slowed to a stop. Just before the wind began to push the ship backwards, the captain jerked the braking lever. In the hull of the ship, four doors snapped open and out dropped four heavy sandbags. Each falling in front of or behind the ship's main runners thus impeding their movement.

With the ship's motion halted and the sails furled, the captain ordered most of the crew with the exception of the first mate and the helmsmen to clear the deck.