Written by Kenneth Jackson
Kenny had just gotten off the boat when he realized that there was more work getting the boat ready to go back out then there was when they were out on the water. It was three days before he had a chance to spend any of the credits that they had earned. He decided to spend his looking. Looking for his brother and looking for others like himself. Others that didn't fit the narrow paths that they were offered. His brother for one had been a farmer and a smittie. But an accident broke his right arm and it never healed right. He could no longer swing a hammer and farming alone was not enough. He tried other things, but wasn't good enough to make a prosperous living. He just got by. Kenny planned to give him some of his credits to allow him to do something different. But first he wanted to stop by Fort Lances' cafeteria. There were dozens of people that hung around there that didn't have enough to do. Like himself there were those that didn't fit into other people's mold. Not everyone was meant for the trades or apprenticeship. Farming only took you so far and if you didn't have crops that grew from March to October, well you had to find something else to make a living with. There were some jobs repairing or building new things, but that was controlled by certain individuals and they usually gave the better jobs to their family members, so only low paying grunt work was available.
Ken stops himself from running down this path again. It was depressing. The leadership was trying and they were alive as compared to others out there. Living like animals. Here, they had food, shelter and hope. Out there it was chaos. if you tried to build something, someone else just came along and took it or destroyed it. They were some small bands, but they didn't last long and usually turned on each other when things got bad. No it wasn't great here in the colony, but it was certainly better than the alternative. Ken had to remind himself of that. Now he had a job to do. Find others that needed a change. And as luck would have it he found his first recruit. As Ken entered the cafeteria he noticed a small crowd around a table towards the East wall. They were noisy and watching something. Then they erupted into cheers. Suddenly a young man stood up and walked briskly away. The crowd kept cheering at someone still seated. Ken walked up and asked, "What going on here?"
One of the young workers turned around and said, "My man Jess just fleeced a mark for 60 credits."
"Are you guys gambling?" Ken asked. Gambling was against the rules here at Fort Lance. There were other places you could do it, but not here. This was a military garrison. However, you could challenge others to physical feets, but it was usually meant for bragging rights not credits.
"Oh, no sir." Replied the boy. "These fine people were just... I gotta go." and he ran off.
Someone else noticed Ken in his newish military uniform. It was the one thing that he did not have to turn back in when he was discharged. And with the fact that he had to perform security details on the boat, he was issued a vest, utility belt and a side arm. The cheering in the crowd died down and others started to find a reason to be elsewhere. So Ken had no trouble approaching the table where a young man sat. He was remarkably plain. Skinny one would say, and his clothing was two sizes too big and very much, just hanging on his body. The boy looked up at Ken, "Want a go?" and put his hand up, elbow on the table.
Arm wrestling. they were gambling over this table sport of strength and endurance. And apparently this skinny little kid was winning.
Ken shook his head no. "So you're strong."
The kid shrugged his shoulders and looked at the exit. If this new comer wasn't looking for a match, then he had other places to be. Credits to make.
Ken looked at the kid. He had dark skin, but green eyes. Very different from the other dark skinned people he knew. "So, besides conning people, what do you do here?"
The kid looked at Ken, "It's not a con." He said defensively.
Ken put both hands on the table and looked the boy square in the eyes. The boy looked away then back. He was nervous. Ken finally said, "You're high." Ken stood and the boy did too. He was going to run, but Ken leaped over the table and grabbed him. The kid resisted, but Ken was ready and Mike had taught him a few tricks. He easily had the kid subdued, but the kid was very strong and Ken knew that if he kept struggling he would free himself.
Suddenly two police officers came into the room. They ran up to the men struggling and ordered them to stop.
Ken told them who he was and that he had witnessed this youth gambling.
The police officers pulled out restraints and bound the boy and took Ken into custody. He was not resisting and they needed his statement. As for the boy, this was not his first go round with the law. One of the officers addressed him as Jessie and informed him that his favorite judge was sitting on the bench today.
They made their way to the station and Ken gave his statement but waited around to see what was to happen to Jessie. The arresting officer asked why he was still there.
"What's going to happen to the boy." Ken asked as he noted the officers name, “Knorack.”
"Jess?" Officer Knorack, looked to the cell, "That kid is heading out of here. He's been nothing but trouble since he was sent down from Graham." The officer looked at the door then back at Ken, "He's not a bad kid, just a bit... lost." He looked at his paperwork and then said, "He's a round peg in a square hole."
Ken recognized the frustration. It was the same expression that Mike had with him. It hit him like a ton of bricks. These men and women in charge of different areas were trying to help. They were given kids that didn't fit anywhere and tried to make them conform to what they had. And no one was happy about it. However, the alternative was worse, so they did the best they could. A mounth ago Ken hated Mike for being so hard on him and eventually putting him out. but now he could see things from the other side. Mike was doing everything he could to keep a kid from being exiled. And it was Mike that got him here. Ken looked at the officer, "When will he go before the judge?"
The officer stopped shuffling his paper and looked at Ken, "Why?"
"I may have an alternative to exile." Ken said.
"Who said anything about exile?" the office asked.
"That's where this is headed. Right?" Ken asked.
"Well.. It's not my place to say." The officer knew Ken was right, but that was up to the judge. He looked at the paper work in his hand. "It's just his second offense." but looking further at statements from his work leader and his school records, this didn't look good. "He's..." the officer didn't want to finish his statement. This kid was in trouble.
Ken said, "He's a round peg in a square hole."
The officers shoulders sank just a little and he admitted, "Yeah."
Ken used this, "Let me see the judge."
Later that day Jessie was hauled in handcuffs to the judge. He was seated on a stool in front of the judge's bench. The judge came in and sat down. She looked over the paperwork and then down at Jessie and said, "Jester Thornton. This court has no choice but to pass judgment on you for the crime of unlawful gambling, extortion and dereliction of one duties."
Jessie just sat there.
The Judge took her reading glasses off. "Any more offenses and we will have no choice but to declare you unfit to the colony and exile you." He looked down, "You have a good job. "
At that Jessie gave out a Laugh.
The judge stopped to look at him.
Jessie had had it. He stood to speak. If he was going to go, he as least, would be heard. "Good job?" He looked East to where his good job was then back to the judge, "I shovel shit for a bunch of horses and their smug riders that look down on us. I can make more in one afternoon than I make in six months shoveling someone else's horse shit." he paused to take a breath and to see if the judge would react. She did not.
"Are you finished." the judge finally said.
"I'm just sayn.. it stinks." Jessie finished.
"I'm sure it does, but we are limited and you should feel lucky to be here." She stood and soften her tone. "We don't have the luxuries we once had. But you are too young to remember that. All you know, is that this is not what you want. Well, son. This is so far from what we had that I barely recognize it. And we don't have the resources to cater to your wants." He voice suddenly turned hard. "You will yield to this court's decisions and will be placed on six months probation. Your freedoms will be limited to the barracks, cafeteria and work. If you fail to report to work on time and or have any other disciplinary issues brought against you will be brought back to this court so that we may terminate your citizenship and sentence you to exile." She sat down and looked at the papers in front of her. She did not look up when she said, "Is that understood Mr. Jester Thornton."
Jessie just sat there. He just could not stomach the torture that he was about to be put to. Once the riders knew he was on probation, they would surely turn up the taunting and pranks. There would be no holding back. He was doomed.
Then the judge said, "However."
This got Jessie attention and he looked up.
"I've been speaking with Mr. Jackson here and he tells me that he may have an alternative to your situation." The judge informed him.
To the left of the judge now stood the man that caught him. The man in the black and blue uniform. Was this a trap? Why was he here? Did he orchestrate all this? Jessie wanted to blurt out his questions, but he didn't. He needed to find out if this was staged or if it was just a strange series of events. Besides, he put himself here. The judge was right. He had a job, shitty as it was, it was work. He had food and a roof over his head. But he was bored and did not like the disrespect he got at the hands of the riders. There had to be more.
The judge spoke, "Mr Jackson represents the fishing vessel Peace. She is looking for deckhanks." She looked at Ken, "Please explain."
Ken took a stop forward and spoke to Jessie. "We need strong and able deck hands to handle the nets and sort fish. Eventually, you will be trained to do other tasks. Net repair, mechanics, refrigeration, seamanship amongst a few. It's not glorious and sometimes it smells like shit, but we are a crew and we respect one another for our strengths and weaknesses. We depend on each other to do our jobs and get us home. I highly recommend it."
Jessie thought about it then asked, "Did you set me up?"
Ken was not sure what that meant.
"At the cafeteria. Did you set that up?" Jessie asked.
"No, you did that yourself. I just saw something of myself in you and wanted to help." Ken said.
Jessie sarcastically said to the man in the perfect uniform, "So, you were a screw up?"
Ken shot back, "Three time loser and about to be kick out."
Jessis looked at Ken, how could that be.
Ken leaned forward, "What have you got to lose?"
The man was right. He had nothing to lose here. "Okay."
Once all the paperwork was signed Jessie was remanded over to Ken. he was not free and his probation was still in motion. He had to keep his affairs in order or the threat of exile would be brought up again.
Ken escorted Jessie back to the stables where he collected his personal belongings, which wasn't much and then he signed out for the last time. Ken explained that all hands stayed on the boat. They had a bunk and small locker. They had a 20 work day, with rest periods all during the day. You only got 4 hours of sleep at a time. It would take some getting used to, but it was doable.
Ken introduced Jessie to the first officer and then left him. He looked scared. The big man with brown skin took the young man below. Ken went to check on Andy and found him in the wheelhouse. He was looking at charts. He said as he entered, "Got one."
Andy looked up, "Good, get at least one more."
Ken looked surprised, they had agreed to work the new crew in one at a time. Too much change was bad luck on a boat.
Andy never looked up, "Yoshi died."
That news hit Ken. The old man in the engine room. He barely spoke english, but he always had a smile for Ken. Told him how the engines worked and how they prepared the fuel for the engines. He was a kind old man. "How?" Ken asked.
"In his sleep." Andy said as he looked up. "He will be missed. We put out in two day to bury him at sea."
"When you say at Sea..." Ken was almost afraid to ask.
"Yes, we go out. Seas calm. We go out to open waters out of respect." Andy said.
"Two days." Ken repeated.
"With the tide. It will help us." Andy said.
Ken looked at the tidal chart for Friday. That would put their departure at about noon. He looked at Andy, "What do you think of a female crew member."
"No." Andy said. "Never good. Don't have what they need and men get stupid about girls."
"Okay, no Girls." Ken repeated. That didn't seem fair, but Andy was the captain and he had been doing this for a long time. So, no girls. That's when he remembered something the officer had said. He implied that Jessie was not the only one that they were dealing with. Maybe he could persuade the officer to give him a list of others who need to get away or out or however they want to express their desire to leave the job they had and try something different.
The next day Ken showed up at the sheriff’s office. The officer was more than willing to help. If it meant that one less problem for him, then that was a win for all.
The next man on the list was a big black guy working at the furries at Fort Lance. It was one of Mikes side hustles and Ken felt bad about poaching a worker. But Francis, yes Francis was not interested. He claimed that he got sick just thinking about being out on the water. Next was Steven, A skinny little kid, barely seventeen and he could barely keep his attention on Ken as he explained the job to him. About half way through the interview Ken thanked him for his time and left. Putting that squirrel on a boat would be disastrous. He had far too much energy to be stuck on such a little boat.
It was late and Ken needed to get back to the boat. He would get an early start tomorrow. He was headed though the section known as the market when he heard a commotion. A man had a boy in his grip and was punching him. "Hey!" Ken yelled out. The man looked his way and the boy stomped his foot down on the man's. The man reacted by punching the boy even harder. Ken Ran up to them and grabben them both. "What is this? he demanded.
"The boy’s a thief." The man protested.
"I'm hungry!" the boy shouted back.
Suddenly two sheriff's officers came running into the market. One he didn't know, but the other was the one that gave him the list. The officers saw him and slowed. They looked at the Retailer and said,
"Evening Keith, what's the trouble?"
Keith shrugged his arm to free himself from Ken and looked at the officer, "This rat was stealing from me. Again!"
The rat tried to get away from Ken, but Ken did not let go. Then the second sheriff took a position behind the boy. There was no escape now and the boy stopped pulling on Ken.
Now, Officer Knorack looked at Ken, "What is it with you?"
"Right place, right time?" Ken said sarcastically.
Not turning his attention to the boy Officer Knorack started to ask a question when the boy blurted out, "She's sick again. She needs her meds and we can't afford them."
Knorack looked at the bag in Tommy's hand. He put out his hand to indicated that he wanted what the boy had. The boy compiled. The officer opened the back and looked in, "Son, these are not going to help you mother."
"They do!" the boy protested.
"No, they only help her get more addicted. And we need those for people in real pain." He handed the bag back to Keith. "How did he get in this time?"
"I think he was hiding in the bathroom. He broke one of my locks." Keith complained.
"Send for Mike's new guy, He's a genius with locks. He'll fix it." Knorack said.
Ken didn't know what to do next. Here was a kid only looking to take care of his mother being punished by a system that had no way to help either apparently. Now he had to make a decision. Get himself involved or walk. He had a long day and tomorrow promised to be as long. Besides, what could he do? The boy was not stealing for himself. Nor was he stealing something he didn't need or think he needed. This was a no win. And looking at the officers, they too felt the same.
Knorack looked at the other officer, "Stew..lock him up." you could hear the resignation in his voice.
Stew took the boy and left but Knorack motioned for Ken to stay. Ken just assumed he wanted a statement but Knroack looked worried then he said, "They are going to kick’em both."
"but." Was all Ken could say.
Knroack interrupted, "We need to get him away from her. She keeps convincing him that she needs him to steal for her. She's.. the real problem.
"What about other family." Ken asked.
"He keeps running away. He won't stay in school and locking him up with adults would destroy him. No, he needs to be taken out of here." The officer explained.
"We are not a halfway house." Ken shot back.
"No, but if he doesn't get out of here, he will be out there." Knorack made his point.
"But he will jump ship and go back anyway." Ken argued.
"Not if he doesn't have anything to go back to." Knorack said criptically. "I'm going to arrest his mother and confiscate all of their belongs." There was a pause, then he said, "Tonight."
"I don't have the last word on this." Ken was scrambling. He was being manipulated into saying yes and he just couldn't do that. "We are not your answer to all of this."
"No, just one of the avenues that has done more good than what I have to offer him. I looked you up." Knorack said flatly.
The hair on Ken's neck rose, What did that mean?
"You were a screw up..Failure. Now. Look at you. Just two months at sea and Andy is letting you pick crew members. That old man never let anyone on his ship, boat, whatever. Now you come along and he not only lets you on, but then tells you. A screw up. To go find other screw ups." Knorack looked away. "I don't know what he did or is doing. But we need him. That boat. And you are not what everyone is telling me. You found something out there. Something that changed you." Knorack was frustrated.
"I didn't do anything." Ken said.
"No, Andy did." Knorack said it. "He gave you something you were missing. Purpose, meaning. I don't know. All I know is that I have too many here that don't have that. Not here. And if that boat is his their way out, then I want to give him a chance at it."
Ken said, "It's not for everyone and it's a small boat."
"At this point, a small victory is better than nothing." Knorack said.
"I'll ask." Ken conceded.
Knorack looked him in the eyes, "Be convincing, because I have a job to do and it's going to tear that kid's world apart." The finality in that statement was death.
There were so many problems with this idea that Ken didn't know where to start. The kid, was just a kid, not a man. But if he didn't have someplace to stay they'd kick him out with his mother. But Andy didn't seem like a man that cared about such things. This kind of stuff happens and yet there are no kids on the boat. Then there is the child labor stuff. That hasn't gone away. Sure they work in the fields and do stuff for the apprenticeships but all that is limited. On the boat they don't have that luxury. He has about the only lazy job on the boat and that is usually only at night.
Ken was walking but not paying attention to where. He found himself up on the wall overlooking the bay. This once thriving place was now almost dead. Burnt out buildings along the shore on one side and burnt out warehouses on the other. The old Bridge that spanned from the city to the industry fell. The cranes that once lifted the containers their fort was made of. All but one was toppled over. Brown seemed to be the only color left as rust sped on all the steel. This was a hard place. But they were making the best of it. He looked down at the boat that saved his life and wondered how many othersit would save. Others that didn't fit the mold. We just didn't have the luxury that we once had.
Ken turned to go back to the boat. The conversation with Andy went as expected. No kids. And in the morning Ken was ready to tell Officer Knorack that he had failed. But at breakfast Andy had changed his mind. He said they could use a cabin boy. Someone to help in the gally and clean the boat. But the boy would have to follow orders. Keep his chores without being told to do them. He would have to learn his place.
By noon Officer Knorack had Tommy at the boat. Tide was about to shift and they would depart. The boy was shaking his head no, but the exchange was made. Once off the dock Ken let go of him.
Tommy looked at him, "I'll jump."
"Go" Said Ken and turned his back to leave. "The water is 42 degrees and at this distance you'lldie of hypothermia long before you reach shore."
"Then you're shanghaiing me?" Tommy asked.
"Of a sort. Yes." Ken said. "Let me show you where you'll sleep and then we can tour the boat."
Tommy didn't move. He just watched Fort Lance get smaller. His mother get farther away and the unknown eat at this imagination. What would they want him for on this boat? What would happen to his mother? Why did life have to be so mean?
Ken grabbed him and took him below. "Life is not so bad on board. You'll get used to it."
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