Dwellers of the New World Chapter Ten ( Pt 3 ) Lives of the Ocean People

After leaving Ben and Jay, the two brothers made their way down to the beach, they could have taken the cliff top path around to the next cove, but preferred to cut across the rocks. The brothers were ocean dwellers and knew the rocks well, they clambered over the great boulders with no difficulty at all, aware of dangerous – deep crevices they could fall into, it was no problem and a journey they could make even when they were drunk.

Reaching the next inlet which was bustling with life, was where the ships were built and people from the other coves congregated, it was the largest bay along the ocean front and held many cottages and caves.

Some men and women were gutting fish and some were preparing hemp, which was stored in bundles within the caves. Hemp was used for many reasons, not only to make clothes, but also to make rope and the sails for ships, it was also used to insulate the cottages. Shampoo was also made from the hemp oil, as were soaps. Some women made jewellery from the stems, which they knotted in shells collected from the beach.

Alcohol beverages were also made and brewed inside the caves, where they were stored in wooden barrels until needed. Before people had built cottages they dwelt in the caves, but now they were just used for storage. The Brew Cottage stood in front of the huge cavernous entrances. Men and women would gather to chat – drink and make merry, it was the height of activity.

Varg and Jason made their way over to where men were still working on the ship belonging to Bracus. Some children were playing on some of the empty fishing boats, pretending they were fishermen or sailing the ocean waves.

The brothers were anxious to let Bracus know of the two men looking for Evelyn and Nathen, knowing that the couple were already on Wild Whistling Isle. Bracus planned to own the Isle one day, he wanted to be master of his own chosen people, feeling he could do as good a job as Gregor, if not better.

The two brothers had been informed that if they did as they were told and could be trusted, then they would become their leaders right hand men and given more responsibility.

Varg was the first to approach one of the ship builders. “Ave yer seen Bracus? Me and Jason's been lookin for im.”

The man who's name was Kai, stopped what he was doing, wiping his forehead he looked towards Varg. “I ain't seen him either, he ain't sleeping in his bed, so he must ave set off earlier.”

Bracus had made sure his sleeping accommodation on board the ship was the first part to be completed, this was his ship and he wanted to be on the premises at night, in case anyone had any ideas about sabotaging his vessel, though after a drinking session, nothing could wake him, but at least he had his own bed.

Kai went back to his work, as the two brothers wondered what they would do till Bracus got back. Not having any idea where he'd gone, they decided to make their way up to Brew Cottage for a drop of ale.

Upon entering, barrels stood on wooden benches along the walls. The two brothers took a couple of wooden tankards off a shelf and helped themselves.

Many of the ocean people grew their own hemp, as well as hops and vines too. The locals would pick their harvest and give it to the couple who ran Brew Cottage, this meant that people could help themselves to a drink whenever they wanted. Everyone supported each other and would never abuse their neighbours.

Hops were spread out on tables outside the caves to dry in the sun, then taken in at night. Many of the ocean people also had plots of land further up near the moors, where they had plantations of hops – vines, fruit trees and hemp, they tried to be as self sufficient as they could, though food other than fish wasn't in abundance, which was why they welcomed travellers for their meat and furs and for the forest people with their trees for wood.

The caves were also a good place to store collected seeds ready for sowing the next year, it was hard work, but everyone pulled together.

When the brothers left Brew Cottage, they had the choice of timber benches and tables to sit at, but decided to sit on the stone wall, watching the tide drifting in and out.

The wind and rain from the night before were all but a distant memory, as the sun peeped out from behind clouds, although there was a chill in the air, it had been a long time since the ocean people had seen any sun with all the fog, wind and rain lately.

The two brothers were quite happy to sit there all day in the warmth of the rays, just lost in their own thoughts.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Ten ( Pt 4 ) More Sad Farewells | ABCtales