< previous page page_5 next page >

Page 5
abating. I already had me some indication that that be the case because of the way the old girl was a-temperin' her protests. I grabs me bundle and gear and goes topside with Bellows. Aye, it was somethin' to see, alright. It was a white ice world, hoar frost everywhere and everything coated with ice fog and sea mist. Couldn't see more'n twenty or thirty feet in front of me."
"Then what, Captain?"
"We put ashore. I wanted to find out what was happenin'. We was still under wraps; no radio, no news, no orders. Choker Point was a smoke station."
"Let the record show that Captain Cartwright is referring to a Canadian radio contact point. Smoke signal does mean designated communications point, doesn't it, Captain ?"
"Aye, I'd put into Choker a number of times afore the war. That's how I knew about them shallows. It weren't much but a handful of Lutes, a supply depot for fishermen and some Kiska kids."
"Kiska kids?"
"They be Lute orphans, sir, some seven or eight of 'em. All in all, ain't more'n twenty, twenty-five people total at Choker."
"Please continue, Captain Cartwright; tell the panel what you found."
"It was deserted, sir."
"Completely deserted?"
"Aye, sir. Nary a sign of a livin' soul."

 
< previous page page_5 next page >