Chapter Fifteen
Sortland – where the sky meets the sea on the walls of the town.
After breakfast, Henry started his day sitting by the window of his terrace cabin watching a crew safety drill. Simon’s morning message included information that during the drill no action was needed by the passengers, the instructions given over the PA system were for crew only to follow.
‘Code Bravo,’ Simon announced, ‘all crew to proceed to emergency stations and muster as required!’
Henry made himself comfortable as several crew members in high-vis wear and lifejackets mustered at the station in front of his one-way mirrored sliding doors.
Unaware that they were being observed, the three engineers flirted with two pretty girls from housekeeping.
When a sharp blast of the general emergency signal was heard, it silenced their small talk, and they stiffened into a military posture as the drill began.
As he watched, Henry sipped his coffee and wondered what the day would bring.
The ship had docked in Sortland, and having crossed the Arctic Circle, the sun would no longer rise above the horizon.
Within the circle, winter brought a strange phenomenon known as the polar night, and Henry knew that darkness lingered for weeks and even months, broken only by a brief, twilight-like blue light that appeared around midday.
It was one of the reasons he’d chosen the cruise: to witness a daytime darkness, unlike anything he could ever experience at home.
Henry intended to join a walking tour. The brochure described Sortland as a charming town known as the Blue City because of its distinct, blue-painted buildings, and he was looking forward to strolling around and learning a little about the Arctic way of life in a place that has a frozen landscape for at least half of the year.
Despite the darkness, there were bound to be excellent photo opportunities, and he would ensure he took plenty to share with Audrey.
The crew outside had finished their drill and moved away, and Henry saw that a light snow was falling. Draining his coffee, he slid the door open and took a deep breath of the sharp icy air.
‘Morning, Henry!’ a voice called out, and he turned to see Jack in his regulation T-shirt and shorts, pounding down the deck.
‘Good morning,’ Henry replied, and noticed that hot on Jack’s heels came the Deck Mile Club with Judy at the helm, arms pumping like pistons.
‘You should join us,’ Judy barked as they passed. ‘Being cosied up in the ship all the time isn’t healthy!’
Henry watched them go, their walking boots thudding rhythmically against the decking.
As he studied the members, he thought that one or two looked cold and tired and might benefit from being cosied up in the ship, with their feet up and a warming mug of hot chocolate.
But with Judy in charge, there was little chance of escape from the morning routine.
Henry moved back into his cabin. There’d be no boot-thumping on the deck for him. His cardiovascular commitment, he decided, would be better spent on his upcoming walk around Sortland, at a leisurely pace. Gathering his things, Henry opened the cabin door and was startled to see Jennifer.
‘Good sleep Mr Henry?’ she asked, her duster hovering over the brass railing.
‘Splendid Jennifer, thank you, and how are you today?’
‘I always happy when I see you,’ she beamed.
Henry looked down at the woman and thought how pretty she was, with smooth olive skin, bright eyes, and a kindness that lit up her face.
‘Thank you,’ he said, his smile softening.
Jennifer shrugged and resumed dusting. ‘You go sightseeing?’ she asked.
‘Indeed, I am. I’m going on a guided walk and may even look out for a couple of souvenirs for my friend Audrey.’
‘You have friend?’ Jennifer’s eyes narrowed.
‘Yes, my neighbour, she’s quite old and doesn’t go on holiday anymore.’
‘Ah, old neighbour, can’t move.’ She nodded. ‘That is good.’
Henry frowned. ‘Not so good for Audrey, but she’s had an interesting life.’
‘You go enjoy. I’ll keep everything nice here for you.’ Jennifer reached into her trolley for fresh towels and neatly folded sheets.
Henry buttoned his jacket and began to move away.
‘See you later, Mr Henry.’
Henry gave a wave over his shoulder. ‘Have a good day!’ he called out.
But as he made his way to the Triton Lounge to join the walking tour, Henry was unaware of the smile that tugged at Jennifer’s lips and the eyes that lingered before she shook her head, as though chasing away a thought before carrying on with her work.
Seated in the Triton Lounge, Joy studied a large screen on the stage that listed all the tours about to commence.
Many passengers would travel to Vester?len to experience everyday life in a region whose history spanned from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day.
It would include a visit to a herring factory followed by a live music concert.
She’d heard all about the tour from Leticia and knew that, together with Jim, they were looking forward to their enjoyable day out.
Joy noted that there was a Sámi experience, too, which offered a daytime opportunity to meet a Sámi family and learn about the reindeer herder’s way of life.
She thought of the tour that she’d booked later in the week.
It was for an evening event at a reindeer camp, with the possibility of sightings of the Northern Lights, and although expensive, Joy felt that the cost would be justified, and she was looking forward to it.
The lounge was filling up, and when she saw Barbara and Kenneth enter, Joy sank low in her seat and began to fiddle with the strap on her rucksack, hoping to avoid the couple. But she was too late. Kenneth, with a walking pole in each hand, had seen her and began to make his way over.
‘Morning, old girl,’ he said, ‘off out for the day?’
Joy bristled at his greeting. ‘Er, yes, I’m going on the walking tour of Sortland.’
‘Bit tame if you ask me.’ Kenneth was scornful. ‘One can go on a walkabout at home. Babs and I are off on the snowshoe adventure under the polar night, and a midday twilight ice fishing experience. It’s not for the faint-hearted,’ he added.
As she studied Barbara’s pale face and tired eyes, Joy thought that she looked extremely faint-hearted and more suited to a morning relaxing in bed.
Had she been burning the midnight oil? Joy wondered how Barbara was going to cope with a torch-lit snowshoe hike through a blackened snowy landscape, and the thrill of blindly casting her line into an Arctic ice hole to wait for a fish to bite.
She hoped that Barbara had doubled up on her thermals and that her mood would lift during the drive to the winter camp on the island of Hadsel?ya.
Kenneth nudged his wife with his elbow. ‘We can’t wait, can we, Babs? We’re both winter sports enthusiasts.’
Barbara scowled and adjusted her fur headgear. Her expression suggested winter sports involved sipping glogg by a roaring fire, not an icy hike, trudging through the snow.
Before Barbara could reply, Henry appeared. ‘Morning everyone,’ he said cheerfully. ‘It’s bitingly cold out there, and the forecast is for heavy snow and a thick mist adding to the darkness.’
Joy looked up. ‘Morning Henry,’ she said. ‘Kenneth and Barbara were just telling me how much they’re looking forward to their Hadsel?ya excursion.’
Henry rubbed his hands together and gave a theatrical shiver. ‘Well, good luck with that. I’m surprised it hasn’t been cancelled, given the impending weather. Dangling worms into Arctic water doesn’t appeal to me but do let us know how you find it.’
Barbara’s grimace indicated that she’d rather undergo root canal surgery without anaesthetic and was about to open her mouth to speak when Kenneth shot her down.
‘What’s on your agenda, old boy?’ Kenneth asked Henry. He bobbed from one foot to the other, his walking poles poised as though he was about to attempt Mount Everest rather than shuffle over a snowy landscape.
‘I’m taking a walking tour of Sortland,’ Henry replied. ‘It may be less energetic but equally as interesting, I’m sure.’ He turned to Joy and asked, ‘What are your plans today?’
Joy sat up. ‘This old girl is also going on the walking tour, and as I’ve heard that Sortland is a charming town, I’m looking forward to it.’
‘Excellent!’ Henry beamed. ‘I hear that coffee and cake is included at a café where there’s a roaring log fire.’
Joy noted that Barbara’s eye twitched. Coffee. Cake. Henry’s words had registered.
‘Joy,’ Henry rattled on, ‘I hope you’ll have a few moments to walk with me and share all the details of your dinner at the captain’s table. It must have been an interesting experience.’ Henry paused. ‘I’m sure everyone on the cruise would have traded places with you, wouldn’t they, Barbara?’
Barbara’s stance stiffened. Taking hold of her husband’s arm, Barbara’s voice was crisp.
‘I didn’t realise that they drew names out of a hat for places at the captain’s table,’ she said, her eyes fixed on Joy.
‘Still, I suppose the dining experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a schoolteacher.’ Lifting her chin, she glanced at the screen on the stage.
‘Come on, Kenny, our excursion is being called.’
And with that, Barbara and Kenneth marched off like soldiers going into battle.
Joy and Henry exchanged glances. Joy was trying not to laugh. ‘Do you think a walking tour of Sortland is suitable for schoolteachers?’
‘Absolutely,’ Henry nodded, ‘especially for those who’ve dined at the captain’s table.’