IC - Chapter Five - Onto The Ice

[amarriner]

Isugtag nods in agreement at McRaven, and then remembers the leather pouch he found in the drawer as well. He'd been so focused on the key, he'd almost forgotten about it. From the sounds of it there was money inside, but he can't be certain. Isugtag doesn't have much use for coin at the moment--and certainly stealing from the dead is not something he's apt to do--but on the off-chance there's something else in there he tugs on the small strings to open it up and peek inside.

[Raiko]

Isugtag tips the contents of the pouch out onto his hand, it does indeed contain coins, but rather usual ones. There are eight gold coins in all - the markings on the coins are unfamiliar and each coin is different, but they all seem to depict strange sea creatures.

[amarriner]

These are interesting, Isugtag says. The designs are unfamiliar to him, but otherwise it looks like ordinary currency. Possibly from some country he's not familiar with. He has no idea as to their worth and doesn't really care, but he wonders if it's worth taking them. He shows them to the rest of the group to get their thoughts. Should we take them? Stealing from the deceased isn't all that appealing, but do we need them?

[Decrepit]

"I can't imagine what good coins are going to do us on the ice," Jack says. "I could always take a picture of these if you'd prefer that we not be seen as looting the dead. Not that these fellows are going to make much use of money where they went, but maybe there are family members. Might be a good idea to take a picture or two anyway, for identification purposes."

[Raiko]

Nobody recognises the creatures depicted on the coins, or the origin of the coins themselves. Several of the creatures feature tentacles, either as their main limbs or sprouting from their faces.

There are also letters or numbers marked onto the coins, but not in any language that anybody recognises.

[Steerpike]

"At the very least we can pass them on to the mans family" Says McRaven wondering if the lock to the small key Isugtag found is in fact hidden also in the room.

[Decrepit]

"Sure, I guess," Jack says. He's not strongly committed to one course of action regarding the coins, as long as it doesn't involve profiting from the dead--which he has no reason to believe McRaven is planning on.

"Let's get a picture of them, anyway," Jack says, "for the record. I've document most everything else in this crypt."

[amarriner]

Isugtag starts to put the coins back in the drawer, but then McRaven mentions trying to get them back to the man's family. The Inuit thinks on this and eventually argrees. He nods and pockets the pouch.

[Raiko]

Inside the SS Walleroo:

A further search of the captain's cabin doesn't reveal any hidden safes, or anything else that the mysterious key might fit.

Jack snaps a photo of Captain Willard's body.

Looking back at the previous few pages of the captain's log reveals that all but three of the crew were planning to head north in a boat due to supplies running perilously low. The three who weren't leaving were the dying captain and two others too injured to move, both of these passed away before Willard took his own life (Bowers was the last to die).

"Poor bastards," says Turlow sadly, "they never made it to safety."

On Deck:

John leads the way onto deck - accompanied by Starkweather and anyone else who's checking the holds. The Walleroo has three holds - the heavy cargo hatches of each hold are closed, but they accessible through small access hatches on deck.

Opening any of the hatches will require either ice scraping, or more salt.

On the SS Gabrielle:

Anyone remaining on deck can now see John and Starkweather leading some of the boarding party back onto deck.

[Dave Syrinx]

"If we get into one we, might see if there is a crate for the key..." John gets the ice pick ready. "If we´re not better off heading our way?" He looks at Stakweather and watches if the sea dog shows signs of fatigue.

[OrionUK]

James ponders on what the coins could mean, where they came from & why the captain of the SS Walleroo had such unusual items?? he heads, quietly in thought, after the others back onto deck to see if they can get the hatches to the holds open.

[amarriner]

Isugtag heads up on deck to help with the holds, too. He doesn't mind working the ice, but certainly if there's any of that salt left it would be handy.

[Steerpike]

McRaven takes one last look around the cabin, then heads up with others, keeping his thoughts to himself.

[Decrepit]

Jack tags along, hoping there won't be anything else awful to take photographs of.

[Dave Syrinx]

Hacking away without salt available John quickly gets fatigued and has to take a breather. He watches the Gabrielle moving up and down and starts to fantasise about a cup of steaming hot tea and perhaps tiffin.

[Raiko]

SS Wallaroo - The Cargo Holds.


Isugtag soon arrives to help John with the hatch, he still has some salt and makes short work of opening the access hatch.

This first cargo hold is the ship’s main hold and contains the frozen remains of several dead whales. The bodies have been harvested and barrels a fat and blubber, skeletons, meat and various other items of independent value have been stacked neatly around the hold.

The room is about half full, and smells faintly of dead flesh. Although everything is frozen solid, the closed hatch has kept out the ice that covers everything on deck.

The second hold appears to have once held much of the Wallaroo’s general supplies. It is empty now save for a few open crates that once held canned food.

The final hold is much the same, but in one corner is a strong box - still closed and secured by a heavy padlock.

[amarriner]

Isugtag moves slowly through the hatches, searching as he goes. Nothing too unusual thus far, alas. Presently, though, he spots a box sitting back in the corner ... with a padlock on it. He hurries over to try the key he found in the lock ...

[Dave Syrinx]

John follows the arctic guide and studies the strong box.

[Raiko]

SS Wallaroo - Down in the hold.

The key fits perfectly and Isugtag quickly removes the padlock. Members of the boarding party gather around as the Inuit guide lifts the lid of the strongbox, revealing Captain Willard’s priced treasure: twelve bottles of Rye whiskey.

Starkweather chuckles, “Not so mysterious as those coins.”

“I don’t think we can do much else here. All that remains is to decide what to do with the bodies.”

[amarriner]

Despite himself, Isugtag had been a bit excited about the prospect of what might be in the box. When the liquor was revealed he couldn't help but be a little disappointed. Still, at least that's one mystery solved.

He considers Starkweather's comment about the bodies, but he's not sure what can be done. Obviously they all can't be given a burial.