"Ha! There she is! I
said that we will make it in time, didn't I?"
"I'm glad I have a sound sleep, captain, so I don't have to find out whether you repeat that every half-hour through the
night as well! Still, your enthusiasm is appreciated - thanks."
"All part of the service for our Northern crew members, Barbro!" Apart from a bit of bluster, the captain's words were entirely serious. People living way up North were rather rare among the ranks of the cleansers, for entirely practical reasons: the further South their campaigns took place, the later into the year
phase 2 would extend; but the further North someone's home is, the sooner the means of traveling back there shut down for winter.
A couple times,
of course the first time right during basic training, Barbro got stranded in the South, having to spend a good part of the salary for some cheap lodging and hope for better luck in the next autumn. The situation got better with actual field campaigns, of course - as soon as the CO would have a personal problem with troops refusing to renew their contracts. In this particular case, the captain even had taken Barbro to Skutskär on horseback to get aboard the
Pingvinen in time, while the rest of the company was heading straight to the train line on foot, most of the equipment on their backs.
I guess they're busy organising a betting pool as they march, Barbro thought,
on how many trains will "miss" them trying to flag it down. It's as if the conductors don't really like stopping their trains in the Silent World, cleared and fenced area around the tracks or not!They had arrived at Skutskär with hardly a minute to spare, though. The ship's crew was already busying to cast off as they rode onto the jetty, and by the time the captain got back into the saddle and went to return to his men, Barbro had to stand at the stern and wave across a fast-widening stretch of water. While what seemed to be the ship's freshman was going on and on about how
all passengers (and that means
you) are required to be shut in below deck before the ship moves as much as a hand span to sea.
"A cleanser, eh? And yet livin' up in, what,
Skellefteå?", another sailor droned at them as he watched Barbro and the freshman finally enter the cabin. "
Trundön, actually. I'll get off at Luleå, it's closer."
"No mind to move closer to work? Granted, I'm one to talk, with my workplace travelin' home with me ..."
"Married to another local, with large, firmly rooted families on both sides, I'm afraid."
"Yeah, that be quite the anchor ta hold one in place, I guess ..."
Quite firmly so, sailor, Barbro thought while stowing what little personal luggage cleansers had on a field trip.
As if Algot alone wasn't enough of a reason. Have a nice fire going for my arrival, love. I'm on my way home!To be continued...
