The making of a sailor 4/10

Fern went aboard the Black Cat early next morning and made herself a comfortable space in the sail locker. Then she went ashore to thank Norman for letting her go on such an exciting trip.

"You'll be going to Wales to pick up a cargo of empty dragon food tins for re-processing and some anthracite to take to the dragons in the other world. It seems young Cyril and his parents have acquired quite a taste for it."

Jonah came down to the quay with a kit bag slung over his shoulder. "Right then apprentice Fern, let's go and make sail."

He led the way across the gangplank, but halfway up his foot slipped and he fell into the water between the boat and the quayside. A goblin sailor was standing by the rail with a long line in his hand, which he threw down to Jonah as he spluttered to the surface.

All the crew smiled as he was pulled from the water. Fern realised that the sailor had been waiting in case Jonah went overboard and that this must be a common occurrence.

Jonah went aft to the wheel in his wet clothes with a broad smile on his face. Catastrophes of one sort or another never seemed to upset him. Fern had never seen such a happy goblin before.

"Mainsail, jib and foresail," called out Jonah and the crew started setting sail.

"Cast off fore and aft."

The Black Cat began to drift down the creek towards the sea on the ebb tide. The headsails went up hand over hand and started to draw, then the goblins struck up a shanty to help raise the much heavier mainsail.

The schooner headed out into the estuary without any further mishap. Jonah looked at Fern. "Feel you can go aloft and help cast off the gaskets on the topsails?" he asked, "real sailoring square rig is."

Fern was delighted at being included in a real sailoring job so early in the voyage and she went up the weather rigging with the rest of the crew who'd been told to loosen the square sails. She found it a bit awkward on the yard arm, because the footrope that the goblin sailors were standing on was too close to the yard to suit her longer legs, but she did the best she could and helped untie the gaskets which were holding the sail furled against the yard.

When she had finished her share she had a look round. The view was incredible. The deck below looked very small and far away and she could see Jonah looking up to see how she was getting on. Looking out over the estuary she could see for miles, with all the human steamships making their way along the coast. Other than a few yachts there was no other sail in sight.

She was starting to edge her way back along the yard towards the mast when the schooner rolled as she met her first real wave in the open sea. Her foot slipped from the footrope and she fell straight off the yard. As the goblins on the yard shouted, 'man over board", she opened her wings and made a long gliding turn which brought her back to the deck just beside the wheel.

Jonah was staring at her with his mouth open. "Now that's something I never thought I'd see," he exclaimed. "Perhaps there's something to be said for fairy sailors after all."

"That's the first time I've flown except for fun when I was a child," said Fern. "As we get older we get too heavy and all we can manage is a steep glide."
"Well that saves getting the lifebuoys wet," laughed Jonah, "we haven't lost a minute having to try and pick you up and you've learned why a sailor is called a hand."

"I certainly forgot to use the one for myself then," said Fern and joining happily in the laughter she went forward to help the crew sheet home the topsails.

Strangely that was to be the last accident on the voyage. The Black Cat picked up an easterly that took her all the way to Wales, the wind veering slightly for an easy reach up the west coast. Fern settled down into ship's routine working with Jonah's watch so that he could keep an eye on her.

Then on the third day, Jonah headed in to the shore reducing sail as he went and just before nightfall, let go his anchor in five fathoms just off sandy beach.

"You can row I suppose?" he asked. "Good," he said as Fern nodded, "we're going to need a good strong crew for this next bit."

Two of the bigger goblins and Fern lowered the schooner's long boat and rowed Jonah ashore. On the beach Fern could see two large eyes gleaming in the dusk.

"Fairies now is it Jonah bach?" said a voice from under the eyes.