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LJIdol Week 8 - Bycatch
Sep. 4th, 2024 10:47 amShip's Log: Hemingway's Folly, 07/07/2024
Commercial Seiner, Salmon Fishing Craft
Captain: Marshall Tanner
Crew: Marcus Andrews, Russell Barnes, Yevgeny Sokolov
0700: Underway from Crescent Harbor, Sitka, AK
Winds 7.5 Knots
It's a gorgeous morning for fishing. The winds are coming in softly from the south. Snow melt is almost complete and the sweetvetch is blooming all over the yard in sprays of purple. Emily and I drank our coffee together on the deck this morning before I headed to the wharf. The sun - a magic sight after all those dark months - cast a golden light on the porch and her smiling face. She hates the laugh lines around her eyes now, calls them crow's feet, but they are beautiful and crows are wise and I am lucky to have her. The boys were already at the boat when I got down to the water, setting up the net and checking the engines. They are fine young men and I am lucky to have their help too.
0900: Leave Inside Passage, enter Gulf of Alaska.
Winds 10.8 Knots
Water has been smooth across the Passage. Saw Ahab's Revenge headed NW across the sound just as we hit big water. Neil must have a bead on a big haul out that way. Old son of a bitch and his soothsaying wife seem to find some of the best salmon runs. She's an odd one, with her masks and amulets but Neil swears she can see things. Russell said one of them necklaces she wears has an actual TONGUE in it, but he's one for telling tales if it'll get a laugh or a gasp. I should ask Em to take up the bones and see if she can conjure me a good catch too, ha!
1100: Set boat for drifting, Andrews and Sokolov unspool seine net
Winds 20 Knots
Made our mark just after 11. Feel like I manifested Neil and his weird wife because he radioed the Folly just before we dropped net. He told me through static that his wife got a "nervous feeling" about me today and that maybe I should just head back to shore. To hell you say! Conditions are perfect right now and with the storm forecasted later this week, I gotta get this catch in before I'm grounded. Told him thanks but no thanks and had Marcus and Soko drop the net. Time for lunch while the net sets. Looks like Emily packed me a turkey sandwich with the damn low sodium, baked chips again - that woman is so worried about my heart! Can't a man just eat some salty chips in peace?
1200: Barnes and Sokolov pull in seine net. First Haul Of the Day
Wind 20 Knots
First load was a good load. This shoal of salmon is proving fruitful. Love to see the sparkling scales shine as the fish flop on the deck. If they stay this dense, I may be taking Em out for dinner this weekend! Put on a dress, girl! It's been a while since I spun her around a dancefloor.
1300: Andrews and Sokolov unspool seine net - Drop Two
Wind 25 Knots
Winds are picking up a bit and the sea has some chop. Soko cut his hand as he was dropping the starboard side of the purse. "Don't bleed on the fish, man!" I yelled at him but it was too late. Blood on his boots, blood on the net. Sent him down to the cabin to patch himself up. Not that it mattered, but the sight made me feel a little uneasy after that warning from Neil earlier. I'm sure it's fine. His damn witch-wife getting in my head. Haven't got time for this shit. I want to get in three drops this afternoon so hopefully the winds stay sane for a few more hours.
1400: Andrews and Barnes pull in net. Second Haul of the Day
Wind 25 Knots
Well I'll be goddamned. I've pulled in some crazy things in my net but this beats all. I was up in the cockpit when Marcus and Russell pulled up the catch. Heard the splash of the fish on the deck and then they both started hollering. When I looked out I had to blink twice because, laying on the fiberglass, smack in the middle of a sea of scales was a WOMAN. She was naked and so pale she was practically blue with a curtain of blonde hair pooled around her. The long strands had a green tint to them, like she'd spent too much time in chlorine.
As I rushed down the stairs from the crow's nest I thought surely she was dead, laying there with her eyes closed and salmon flopping around her still body. her lithe body shimmered in the sunlight too, it was unreal. Marcus was dazed so I pushed him back and knelt down beside her. There was no way she could be alive, so far from shore - and in 40 degree water - but I placed my fingers on her throat to be sure. Her skin was so very cold but I could feel a pulse beating below the chilled surface.
"She's alive!" I yelled and Russell ran for the cargo hold, returning with a fleecy blanket. She still hadn't roused so we toweled her off roughly and I carried her below deck to the cabin. Soko was sitting on the couch nursing his bandaged hand when I stumbled in and he stared at the woman, agog. "What in the hell is THAT?" he asked incredulously.
When I said it was a woman he looked shocked and argued that it was "amikuk," Yu'pik for a shapeshifter. I had no idea Soko went in for that supernatural shit. She had to have hypothermia and there was no way I was going to let her die on my watch so I left her below deck with Soko keeping an eye on her where it was warm. Emily's never gonna believe this!
1500: Returning to Crescent Harbor, Sitka, AK
Wind 30 Knots
Russell and Marcus were folding the net as I took off like a shot for Sitka. Winds have really picked up now. Looks like that storm has rushed in earlier then planned. They got the fish in coolers and everything lashed down in record time. I sent them below deck to buckle up for a bumpy ride.
I radioed in to the harbor that we had pulled someone out of the sea and they thought I meant a body. Told me I was full of shit when I insisted she was alive. Neil hopped on my frequency and asked if I'd been drinking. Asshole. I knew he wanted to say "I told you so."
The Folly galloped across the wake and I called down to Soko to see how our mystery lady was doing. No answer. Then I yelled for Russell and Marcus and was met with silence too. What are they up to? I slowed the motor to trolling speed and headed below deck.
The door to the cabin was closed and there was a smear of red across the porthole. What the hell...Was that blood? Within I heard a thumping sound that set my senses on edge. I peered through the glass and discovered carnage within.
Soko lay on the floor, pale as a cod, his eyes wide and his throat ripped open. I could see Marcus' legs tangled in a pool of blood beneath the table. Russell sat on the couch, head lolled back, as the cold woman squatted over him, vile lips clamped to his throat. His face was a rictus of pain and pleasure as she drained his blood, his restless leg tapping out the slowing beats of his heart.
When the tapping ceased she pulled back, a tongue like a moray eel flicking out to lick the blood from her lips. To my horror I noted her color was much healthier now that she had devoured the lives of my comrades. She turned toward the cabin door and her hungry eyes, the deep blue green of the Alaskan gulf, found mine through the glass. Wheeling backwards, I shoved a metal fish cooler against the door and prayed it would be enough to hold her in.
1600: Running With Stern Toward the Waves off coast of Sitka, Alaska
Wind 35 Knots
The storm rose up before me, all purple clouds and crashing waves. I've had to change course, back toward the sea, to avoid the lashing rain of the gale. She is trying to get out, the cold woman, battering herself against the door and walls of the cabin below to get to me. It's only a matter of time before the wood splinters and she escapes with her hungry mouth and terrible tongue. My options are limited. If I stay on board I will have to face her. If I try to swim I surely freeze. I have a flare gun and plan to make a stand as best I can. Looks like Neil's wife was right after all...I should have just gone home.
Please, if you find this, please tell Emily I love her always. And tell her to stay away from the water!
Final Ship's Log Entry, Hemingway's Folly, 07/07/2024
Commercial Seiner, Salmon Fishing Craft
Captain: Marshall Tanner
Crew: Marcus Andrews, Russell Barnes, Yevgeny Sokolov
0700: Underway from Crescent Harbor, Sitka, AK
Winds 7.5 Knots
It's a gorgeous morning for fishing. The winds are coming in softly from the south. Snow melt is almost complete and the sweetvetch is blooming all over the yard in sprays of purple. Emily and I drank our coffee together on the deck this morning before I headed to the wharf. The sun - a magic sight after all those dark months - cast a golden light on the porch and her smiling face. She hates the laugh lines around her eyes now, calls them crow's feet, but they are beautiful and crows are wise and I am lucky to have her. The boys were already at the boat when I got down to the water, setting up the net and checking the engines. They are fine young men and I am lucky to have their help too.
0900: Leave Inside Passage, enter Gulf of Alaska.
Winds 10.8 Knots
Water has been smooth across the Passage. Saw Ahab's Revenge headed NW across the sound just as we hit big water. Neil must have a bead on a big haul out that way. Old son of a bitch and his soothsaying wife seem to find some of the best salmon runs. She's an odd one, with her masks and amulets but Neil swears she can see things. Russell said one of them necklaces she wears has an actual TONGUE in it, but he's one for telling tales if it'll get a laugh or a gasp. I should ask Em to take up the bones and see if she can conjure me a good catch too, ha!
1100: Set boat for drifting, Andrews and Sokolov unspool seine net
Winds 20 Knots
Made our mark just after 11. Feel like I manifested Neil and his weird wife because he radioed the Folly just before we dropped net. He told me through static that his wife got a "nervous feeling" about me today and that maybe I should just head back to shore. To hell you say! Conditions are perfect right now and with the storm forecasted later this week, I gotta get this catch in before I'm grounded. Told him thanks but no thanks and had Marcus and Soko drop the net. Time for lunch while the net sets. Looks like Emily packed me a turkey sandwich with the damn low sodium, baked chips again - that woman is so worried about my heart! Can't a man just eat some salty chips in peace?
1200: Barnes and Sokolov pull in seine net. First Haul Of the Day
Wind 20 Knots
First load was a good load. This shoal of salmon is proving fruitful. Love to see the sparkling scales shine as the fish flop on the deck. If they stay this dense, I may be taking Em out for dinner this weekend! Put on a dress, girl! It's been a while since I spun her around a dancefloor.
1300: Andrews and Sokolov unspool seine net - Drop Two
Wind 25 Knots
Winds are picking up a bit and the sea has some chop. Soko cut his hand as he was dropping the starboard side of the purse. "Don't bleed on the fish, man!" I yelled at him but it was too late. Blood on his boots, blood on the net. Sent him down to the cabin to patch himself up. Not that it mattered, but the sight made me feel a little uneasy after that warning from Neil earlier. I'm sure it's fine. His damn witch-wife getting in my head. Haven't got time for this shit. I want to get in three drops this afternoon so hopefully the winds stay sane for a few more hours.
1400: Andrews and Barnes pull in net. Second Haul of the Day
Wind 25 Knots
Well I'll be goddamned. I've pulled in some crazy things in my net but this beats all. I was up in the cockpit when Marcus and Russell pulled up the catch. Heard the splash of the fish on the deck and then they both started hollering. When I looked out I had to blink twice because, laying on the fiberglass, smack in the middle of a sea of scales was a WOMAN. She was naked and so pale she was practically blue with a curtain of blonde hair pooled around her. The long strands had a green tint to them, like she'd spent too much time in chlorine.
As I rushed down the stairs from the crow's nest I thought surely she was dead, laying there with her eyes closed and salmon flopping around her still body. her lithe body shimmered in the sunlight too, it was unreal. Marcus was dazed so I pushed him back and knelt down beside her. There was no way she could be alive, so far from shore - and in 40 degree water - but I placed my fingers on her throat to be sure. Her skin was so very cold but I could feel a pulse beating below the chilled surface.
"She's alive!" I yelled and Russell ran for the cargo hold, returning with a fleecy blanket. She still hadn't roused so we toweled her off roughly and I carried her below deck to the cabin. Soko was sitting on the couch nursing his bandaged hand when I stumbled in and he stared at the woman, agog. "What in the hell is THAT?" he asked incredulously.
When I said it was a woman he looked shocked and argued that it was "amikuk," Yu'pik for a shapeshifter. I had no idea Soko went in for that supernatural shit. She had to have hypothermia and there was no way I was going to let her die on my watch so I left her below deck with Soko keeping an eye on her where it was warm. Emily's never gonna believe this!
1500: Returning to Crescent Harbor, Sitka, AK
Wind 30 Knots
Russell and Marcus were folding the net as I took off like a shot for Sitka. Winds have really picked up now. Looks like that storm has rushed in earlier then planned. They got the fish in coolers and everything lashed down in record time. I sent them below deck to buckle up for a bumpy ride.
I radioed in to the harbor that we had pulled someone out of the sea and they thought I meant a body. Told me I was full of shit when I insisted she was alive. Neil hopped on my frequency and asked if I'd been drinking. Asshole. I knew he wanted to say "I told you so."
The Folly galloped across the wake and I called down to Soko to see how our mystery lady was doing. No answer. Then I yelled for Russell and Marcus and was met with silence too. What are they up to? I slowed the motor to trolling speed and headed below deck.
The door to the cabin was closed and there was a smear of red across the porthole. What the hell...Was that blood? Within I heard a thumping sound that set my senses on edge. I peered through the glass and discovered carnage within.
Soko lay on the floor, pale as a cod, his eyes wide and his throat ripped open. I could see Marcus' legs tangled in a pool of blood beneath the table. Russell sat on the couch, head lolled back, as the cold woman squatted over him, vile lips clamped to his throat. His face was a rictus of pain and pleasure as she drained his blood, his restless leg tapping out the slowing beats of his heart.
When the tapping ceased she pulled back, a tongue like a moray eel flicking out to lick the blood from her lips. To my horror I noted her color was much healthier now that she had devoured the lives of my comrades. She turned toward the cabin door and her hungry eyes, the deep blue green of the Alaskan gulf, found mine through the glass. Wheeling backwards, I shoved a metal fish cooler against the door and prayed it would be enough to hold her in.
1600: Running With Stern Toward the Waves off coast of Sitka, Alaska
Wind 35 Knots
The storm rose up before me, all purple clouds and crashing waves. I've had to change course, back toward the sea, to avoid the lashing rain of the gale. She is trying to get out, the cold woman, battering herself against the door and walls of the cabin below to get to me. It's only a matter of time before the wood splinters and she escapes with her hungry mouth and terrible tongue. My options are limited. If I stay on board I will have to face her. If I try to swim I surely freeze. I have a flare gun and plan to make a stand as best I can. Looks like Neil's wife was right after all...I should have just gone home.
Please, if you find this, please tell Emily I love her always. And tell her to stay away from the water!
Final Ship's Log Entry, Hemingway's Folly, 07/07/2024
