Chapter 9

  The first part of the trip comes to a close. Minot and Velophine return to the leisure room to prepare for reaching the Gate and passing the Frontier. They are surprised to see an emotional looking Iv silently chewing on some bread and handing some over to Minot. She is avoiding eye contact and on her purplish skin something resembling a blush seems to be on her face. Her hair antenna wiggles nervously.

  The ship docks at Gate 5 on schedule. The loud bell is tolled to announce its arrival to both the crew and the Gate operators. The group gets on deck to observe the place; it's their first time so close to the Frontier. Minot looks up and the wall of clouds seems to extend forever upwards. He finds it hard to imagine how a barrier of white fluffy clouds can hold off an entire storm.

  As he is thinking that he notices that it's eerily quiet. There is hardly any wind now that the ship has stopped moving. The birds from before have not followed them to the Gate. The clouds move slowly, they flow into one another and change their shape. The only noise is the chatter from workers, machinery squeaking and whatever the sailors are doing on the Cloudbreaker. This is quite literally the quiet before the storm, he thinks.

  “Oi, Minot”, Iv grabs his attention. “Look closer at the Frontier. You see that?”

  Minot focuses his sight on the gigantic wall. Despite it being around 50 meters away he sees it. Thin strands of gold flow across the Frontier, in and out of clouds. The pattern they trace appears like a repeating diamond-shaped tiling. It's faint but it's there.

  “So this is the Frontier?”, Minot asks. The question is directed at Velophine, too, who nods in confirmation.

  Minot looks down to observe the Gate. It's a small platform extending slightly into the cloud wall. It's split in two so ships can move in between. The ground is stone with iron plates running across the edges. It's way less decorated than Porto Branco, but even from atop the ship he can see some Hesforian carvings in the stone. There are 3 small buildings split on the two halves, each made of stone, wood and iron. They resemble a smaller and more function-oriented Rosavento. Rods and disks made out of metal and Cinzite are placed on top of the buildings. Minot assumes they are for communication and surveillance.

  The largest structures at the Gate are the two enormous arcs which are directly on the Frontier. It appears to be made out of either bronze or copper and has Cinzite ornaments and coils on them. A large “5” is welded onto the gate. As Minot looks closer he sees that the golden pattern seems to be absorbed by the arcs, specifically the Cinzite on it. This must be why the Gates create a passage for ships to pass through. There is no barrier in between the arcs and clouds spill out from the opening and quickly dissolve again.

  “Quite the sight, no?”, Velophine asks.

  “It's so huge!”, Iv replies excitedly. “How do they even build that?”

  “Well”, Velophine begins the explanation, “People build the large structure with Cinzite coils and lining around it, place it on a fitting island and move the entire island closer to the Frontier. That's done via large ships with large claw-like attachments at the front.”

  “I'd love to see one of those ships!”, the fairy comments with greed in her eyes.

  Velophine smiles and adds: “Once those arcs make contact with the barrier it opens up and allows passage. There are 6 main Gates across the habitable world with some smaller ones that are only used by nearby islands. The main Gates are for international use.”

  “Kinda funny”, Minot scoffs. “All this work to erect a barrier and stop the storm, yet we make holes to go in intentionally.”

  “Human ambition knows no barriers”, Velophine responds to his remark, more to herself than to him. Before they could ask she answers: “The fish and salvage items beyond the Frontier are a lot more valuable than what you can get inside. It's high risk and high reward.”

  “That's how the Cloudbreaker made its name and fortune”, Iv proposes.

  “Correct!” Velophine pets her head, much to the fairy's delight.

  Down on the ground the towering stature of Captain Loi is seen interacting with the Gate operators. After a short talk he turns around and waves at a sailor in the cabin. Shortly after the bell tolls again.

  “Time to enter”, Minot exhales quietly. The others nod and they go back inside.

  The Cloudbreaker moves again. It slowly proceeds towards the two massive arcs and the waterfall of clouds between them. From the windows of the leisure room Minot observes the passage. He sees the small buildings and the workers. They monitor the ship's movement to make sure it passes without issues. A few moments later the first hints of clouds pass by his window. White, soft and semi transparent. More and more clouds appear. The giant arch passes by. It's even bigger from up close through the small window. The clouds get thicker until the world disappears behind a sheet of white. The eerie quiet of the whole process adds to the uncanniness.

  Right now, only the inside of the Cloudbreaker exists. The outside world feels like a distant dream moments after waking up. This is it, Minot thinks. While still being excited, seeds of doubt and unease are sprouting roots in his mind. He is leaving everything he's known and enters what is widely described as a steep drop in life expectancy for sailors.

  Iv sits by him at the window. Her expression tells Minot she is thinking about the same things. Velophine sits across from him at the table, not even looking outside, but deep in thought.

  As they slowly advance the white clouds turn more and more grey with a bluish tint. The outside is getting noisier as the wind picks up and smashes against the ship. At first it sounds and feels like a regular stormy night at home, but the wind gets louder and the first signs of turbulence appear. Like an eagle's screech the outside storm is screaming, as if enraged over the ship's intrusion. Not even 10 minutes past the Frontier the eagle's screech has become a dragon's roar. The ship noticeably sways. The storm demands the ship to move, but the ship stays its course in defiance.

  The world outside has become as dark as night. The sun has been wholly swallowed by the gigantic storm, yet it's not so dark nothing can be seen. The lights inside the ship get dimmed which allows for a better view of the outside. Minot sees fast moving blurs of clouds. Despite the darkness some shapes and differences in color and contrast can still be made out. He doesn't know how, but the Storm creates some form of illumination. It's just enough to see.

  “You know”, Iv breaks the silence that has persisted ever since they entered, “my mother once told me a story about the Storm. She said that the Storm steals the sun's light to keep raging. Maybe that's why there's some light out there. It's the leftover light from the sun.” No one replies to that. They all think about the possibility and implications. Velophine appears even deeper in thought, as if that tale has triggered some memory. “It's just a legend tho, she used to say.”

  The wind doesn't battle the ship alone. Now the first drops of rain pelt the window. Soft metallic patter is heard all over the Cloudbreaker. A few drops land on the window. They are as black as the Night Ocean. They swiftly run down the glass, mix with other drops and slide until they disappear from sight.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Minot reminds himself about Schalk’s briefing:

  “First and foremost, wear this jacket. It's lined with Cinzite threads and protects against the rain. At least most of it.”

  “What if the rain hits us?”

  “It's not good for your health, trust me. Next, IF you go on deck, wear this belt and harness. It's attached to a strong cable that will keep you from falling off the ship and down into nowhere. Ya ain't coming back from that. Also, you can press this button on the side and trigger the mechanism to pull yourself back. We can do that on the ship, too. If you fall, we'll reel you back in like a lousy carp, haha.

  Also, just don't go on deck while we're still sailin’. If you absolutely have to, which you don't, don't do it unsupervised. Even the most seasoned sailor respects the violent storm outside and knows better than to needlessly go out.”

  These are the more important points. Schalk told them about how to handle the harpoons, the door locks, what to do in an emergency and how to treat so-called Rain Fever. That happens when one is exposed to too much rain. It drains people's health and influences their decision-making and personality. Schalk shared a story of a shy and polite sailor on a different ship who got a bad case of Rain Fever and started tinkering with the machinery. Apparently the man liked to build things and planned to properly study engineering. Him feverishly messing with the ship's equipment caused a small explosion that scarred the man's face, cost him three fingers in his left hand and his job. The first signs are grey/black sclera, irrational and obsessive behavior and in some cases a discoloration of the skin.

  “Weird rain”, Minot commented. “Sounds like Iv on rum.”

  “Oi”, Iv snapped at him.

  “I guess that comparison works”, Schalk agreed.

  “Oi!”, Iv snapped at Schalk, louder.

  30 minutes of sailing. The turbulence has become manageable to the passengers. The initial surprise and novelty is gradually wearing off. The Storm is still raging outside and will be for the entirety of the trip. The restlessness of the storm is making Minot restless, too. He really wants to go on deck to feel the Storm. To know what has forced him and his parents to run away. What has swallowed their home and that of others. What the Frontier has been holding off for centuries. What Velophine is so determined to overcome to reach that island.

  “Minot! Don't do anything stupid without me!”, Iv threatens him. She, too, wants to go out and see what she's up against. Her dream ship has to be able to weather this ancient storm.

  “It's really not a good idea to go out…”, Velophine tries to stop them. The two sailors are way too eager to risk their lives for the experience.

  “Schalk said we can be on deck for a short amount of time. So we'll just go out for a short breath of fresh air.”

  “I'll look after this oversized ship rat, so don't worry, Velo!”, Iv reassures her. “We'll take every precaution. Also there’s something on deck that's been bugging me.”

  “I have the worst of feelings about this”, Velophine sighs in defeat. She requests the two to at least get Schalk to accompany them.

  Schalk tries to protest, but eventually gives in and takes the two outside. Minot puts the belt and harness on. Iv tucks herself into a chest pocket of the jacket because there is no fairy sized protective equipment on the Cloudbreaker. She fights back a single tear.

  The door to the deck opens with some difficulty. Not because opening is difficult, but not letting it open too quickly is. The pressure of the wind outside is pushing hard against the ship on all sides. The howling is loud and resembles a giant whistling a dreadful tune. Minot fights against the wind as he exits, Iv holds on to dear life. With great effort he gets on deck and holds himself on the railing. The door gets closed. Now that he is outside he struggles a bit less. The wind is still strong, but he can stand. He just shouldn't run or jump too much and he should be fine.

  The experience is way different from inside the leisure room. Minot lets himself take in all of the Storm's energy, the cold wind tugging at his clothes, the noise, the soft drops of rain hitting his face, the darkness, the gloomy glow, the masses of clouds speeding past them. The feeling is otherworldly, quite literally. This doesn't feel like the same world. He feels like he has been transported into an universe where chaos is the only order, rain the only comfort.

  “Over there!”, Iv yells over the howling wind and points forward. “Snap out of your trance and walk to that harpoon cannon!”

  Minot only hears half her words but understands. He walks over to the cannon on port side with arms held in front of his head to block the rain and wind. A sailor is doing maintenance on the device, even in this weather. He is turning bolts at the base as if he is desperate.

  “Ahoy!”, Iv screams to get his attention. "What's the deal with the cannon? I saw you trying to fix it yesterday! Is it still not fixed?”

  The man doesn't look away from his work but responds: “Stupid… cannon won't stay… attached! I tried different bolts and… nuts! Still… cannon ain't behavin’!” He seems to struggle to talk.

  “Can't ya wait with maintenance after this trip?”, Minot asks trying to get his voice through the wind.

  “Cloudbreaker… must be in… tip top shape!”

  “This guy is nuts!”, Minot complains.

  “No”, Iv corrects him. “This must be Rain Fever! Look, his eyes!” Iv points at the man's eyes. And indeed, the sclera has changed from white to grey. Closer to the pupil it even looks black.

  “What is this fishbrain doin’ out here?!”, Minot asks in disbelief.

  “No idea! Let's get him back!”

  “Aye!"

  While Minot wrestles the sailor off the cannon, Iv takes a look at the device. The heavy movable head of the cannon is attached to a sturdy looking shaft. It is split into three parts that allow for upwards extension. It is attached to a metal base with several bolts. Still, in the strong winds the machine is shaking around, especially at the base. She notices that it's not the bolts that are the problem, but the whole plate that attaches to the ground that is poorly secured. A strong enough impact could rip the whole device off the deck. No bolt will secure that.

  “Oi! It's not the bolts! The whole base is not fixed in place!”, she tries to inform the sailors.

  “Forget it, Iv! There’s no reasonin’ with him now!”, Minot cuts her off. He is still trying to pry the man off the cannon, but he fights back.

  “Must… fix…!”

  “Minot! Iv! What's going on!” Schalk has been quickly checking the cables that hold the sailors on deck and has just returned.

  Minot gives up and stands back. ”That guy is hit with Rain Fever! Can you help me get him off the cannon?” As Minot looks back he gasps. He notices the man has no cable attached.

  “Quick! Get a cable!”, he yells.

  “What?”, Schalk asks confused. He has not yet grasped the dire situation. He does the moment he looks down on the sailor. “Fuck! Keep the guy there! I'll be right back!”

  Minot steps forward to grab the man again, but in that moment a strong wind front hits the ship and makes it turn suddenly. Everyone on deck loses their balance and get an uncomfortable feeling in their stomach.

  “Shit!”

  “What in the rotten grass was tha-”

  Minot, Iv and Schalk see that the man has finally released his grip on the cannon. And is now several meters above deck and rapidly moving off it.

  “Ship… must fix…”

  “Rui!”, Schalk yells. He is too far away to catch him, and he is still catching himself from the sudden shake.

  As if time ran a hundred times slower they see the man ascend, get further away and slowly descend. Each second feels like a year, and with each they distance themselves more from sailor Rui. He descends until his body vanishes behind the bulwark. The only thing they see are his blackening eyes, obsessively staring at the cannon he tried to fix. It's still attached, barely.

  Without a second thought Minot leaps off the ship towards the sailor. The air rushes past him as he dives. The clouds try to obscure his vision, but his eyes are locked on the falling man. Iv screams obscenities in his chest pocket, but he can hardly hear her. Only the wind, the blood rushing in his veins, and his heartbeat in his head. With arms back and legs straight he accelerates down until he is within arm's reach. Rui has one arm extended towards the ship, specifically the cannon. Minot uses this to grab his forearm. He holds on tightly to the man.

  The Cloudbreaker corrects its course and turns starboard. The cable reaches its maximum length and a mechanism triggers. Instead of suddenly stopping it slows the speed the cable comes out until it halts. This is to prevent powerful forces from hitting the body during a sudden stop.

  Still Minot feels like his hip is being ripped from his body. He keeps holding onto Rui. The motion of the ship makes him swing around. Using the momentum he presses the button on the side of the belt and the cable starts being reeled in. Quickly he is pulled closer to the ship. Now the air rushes past him in the opposite direction. He is feeling a little lightheaded from the fast changes in speed and the cold stormy wind, but he won't let go.

  “Fix…”

  “Shut up!”

  “AHHHHH, YOU STUPID SEA PIG!!”

  The ship gets bigger as Minot approaches. The swing has launched him high above the deck and now he is descending again. This time onto safer grounds. He sees Schalk looking shocked and worried at the flying sailors.

  “Prepare for impact!”, Minot yells. He places the sailor in front of him, turns sideways and readies himself to roll on the ground.

  The two men land with less harmful speed on deck and roll and tumble until coming to a halt. They didn't accelerate much so the impact was manageable, still it hurt like abyss. Both are grasping for air. The cable has stopped reeling in. The stormy wind and rain continues.