Chapter 6
The ninety-minute trip to Bell Island took about two hours with the weather.
The crew seemed pleased with the time they were making, but it made Harper uneasy as she realized exactly how cut off the island was from the mainland.
The Bell Island harbor appeared in the distance as Harper drank her third cup of terrible coffee and watched from the mid-deck windows.
“Don’t get many passengers this time of year.” A voice from behind her made Harper jump. It belonged to a crewman with a thick red beard wearing the water thermal overalls. He must have been six foot five.
“I’m meeting the research team on the island, I’m with BSI,” Harper replied a bit defensively.
“Are you going to tell me scary stories about the island?” Harper tilted her head up to address him. “That seems to be everyone’s first inclination.”
The man chuckled. “It’s just a place like any other place. Scary is as scary does.”
“You’re the first one who has been so blasé about Bell Island. Everyone from my academic advisor to the BSI Team Lead at the dock has been warning me about the place since I got this gig.” Harper let herself smile a bit as she returned her gaze to the steadily approaching dock.
“I grew up there, so it’s lost a bit of its mystique,” he replied, then held out a rough hand. “Einar. Nice to meet you. …”
Harper started at the unexpected gesture and took his hand. “Harper. Your name is familiar. You aren’t from Iceland, are you?”
“My grandparents are, and my family is solid Viking stock, you’d never have guessed it, right?” He grinned at Harper.
“Shocking.” She relaxed a bit at his easy energy. “So is there anything I need to worry about?”
“On Bell? Eh, the locals keep to themselves. It can look unfriendly, I suppose, but they just like their privacy. Once you get past Outer Brewster and The Graves, you’re all by yourself out here.” He looked back out at the water.
“The Graves was the last island we passed, with the lighthouse?” Harper replied.
“That’s the one. Used to be no one much went past that point except for the ferry. But research from the university draws attention to Bell, they don’t love that. It’s not really you personally, it’s the idea that there will be more of you.” He weighed his response. “If that makes sense.”
“It does. No one wants to be a curiosity,” Harper said softly.
“Well, we’re getting to that place. I’m pretty much always on this run, so if you need a friendly face, don’t hesitate to come on down to the dock and say hi—Harper of the Mist.” He turned to head up on deck.
“I think you mean BSI.” Harper returned his smile.
“I know what I said,” Einar replied, his dark green-brown eyes locking on hers for a long moment. “My folks are on the island, anything comes up, stop in, tell ’em I sent you. Ask at the grocer for Hedy and Sven.”
“Will do, Einar of the Ferry,” Harper said softly as Einar disappeared up the steep steps leading to the deck.