1633:The Danish Scheme (10 page)

Agnes blushed but asked, "It's been a long morning. Can you direct me to the necessary room before we go?"

Svend felt like he had swallowed a fly. Captain Foxe and Mr. Barrow were nearby and overheard the exchange. "Didn't I tell you, John? Just the other day I said we should have Mette come by to get a woman's point of view! We'll have to make provision for any female passengers we embark! Mistress Roe, I must apologize but the only one we have is for the crew. It would not be appropriate for a lady. I imagine what Svend choked on was the thought of trying to explain the head to you. Master McDermott, escort Mistress Roe to the King's Arms Inn up the street. She can freshen up there and we all can have a nice meal before you escort her back to Sir Thomas' house."

* * *

During the meal, Captain Foxe regaled the youngsters with tales from his last voyage to the New World. Two hours later, while Svend walked Agnes to her uncle's house, she stopped to admire the ship again through the curtain of snow. "I truly envy you, Svend McDermott. So many adventures ahead. I wish I could go with you." She took Svend by his hands, reached up on tip toes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for letting me see a little of your new world." She paused for a moment and then pulled him along as she headed off for her uncle’s house. "I should be getting home soon. Cook will wonder what's become of me."

Even with the snow swirling around them, Svend could have sworn the sun was shining.

* * *

That evening, after all the supper patrons had been served and the main room had cleared, Luke asked Mette to join him. “Mette, I’ve come to value your advice. I need a woman’s perspective on a problem that has come up. The expedition’s planning has overlooked the women’s needs and that could cause some serious problems. Could you take some time out from your busy schedule to help me identify what I’ve missed?”

“Of course, Captain. You’ve done so much already for me and my family; I would be delighted to help.”

When she smiled, Luke screwed up his courage to ask the other question he had been afraid to ask. “Mette, I’ve also come to value my time spent here. I’ve never really had much of a family. My wife died during my last voyage to the New World and I have no close relatives. Svend has almost become a son to me.”

“He’s spoken highly of you, too. He’s missed his father and you are such a good influence and so much like his father. The other children have enjoyed the tales you’ve told in the evenings. I have, too. You should consider publishing your journal. People would be interested in the New World. You’ve brought a joy to the house that hasn’t been here for some time.” She blushed a bit. “I’ve enjoyed your company, too, Captain.”

“Please call me Luke. This is very hard for me. I know you lost your husband to the sea and I’m not a young man, but would you entertain an offer of courtship? I’ve nothing to offer but myself and my ship right now. But if this expedition is successful, we should be able to retire very comfortably.”

Mette sat as though she were in a daze. Luke slowly rewrote Dante’s Inferno in his mind, with himself as the main character, as he waited for Mette’s reply. He had reached the third level of Purgatory when a smile lit up Mette's face. “I would be honored, Luke.” In one galvanic leap, Luke’s heart went from hell to heaven.

Mette continued, “I’ve had similar feelings, but was afraid to voice them. Let’s wait to tell the children until your plans are more settled.”

Luke took Mette’s hand and drew her to him. It was quite some time before they remembered the expedition’s needs.

* * *

The letter had arrived the day after Christmas, to announce that the miners Herr Cavriani had convinced to join the expedition were on their way to Copenhagen. Adolphus Bamberg had just enough warning to convert his warehouse into temporary quarters. When he finished, Sir Thomas and Reuben Abrabanel stopped in to check on the progress.

“Are these makeshift quarters going to be sufficient?” Reuben looked around skeptically. The canvas partitions gave little privacy. The two stoves, one at each end of the room, gave just enough heat to take the chill off.

“Once we get twenty or so people in here, it should be adequate. With all the refugees in town, they should be thankful that they have four solid walls and a roof. Captain Foxe says that he will quarter any overflow on board the 
Köbenhavn
 . Its temporary cabins are set up and can handle any families that arrive. We’re just taking the single men here.” Bamberg pointed to the door in the rear. “The sanitary facilities will be stretched, but the cold weather should help some. There was a new pit dug last summer.”

Sir Thomas gave his approval. “You did a good job on such short notice, Adolphus. Two weeks seems like a short time for a group to travel in winter down the Elbe River. Have you heard how many miners are coming?”

“No, just that they left for Copenhagen about two weeks ago, and that I should expect a large group. Herr Cavriani was very sparse on the details. I’m not sure he was even there when they left. I’ll send a note to you when they arrive.”

* * *

Late the next evening, just after he had retired for the night, a loud pounding on the main warehouse door roused Bamberg. In a heavy dressing gown and cap, he hurried to the door. The local sergeant of the watch, Karl, along with another man, covered in snow, stepped in when he opened the door. “I have a group at the docks who say you’re expecting them. They say they’re miners from Bamberg and look down on their luck. I didn’t want them wandering the streets at this time of night, and in this weather, without making sure they were who they said they were. This man is their leader, Ludwig Steinbrecher.”

“You did well, Sergeant. They are expected. The families are to go to Captain Foxe’s ship' the
Köbenhavn
 . Do you know where she’s docked?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Have the families report there. The rest are to come here. Herr Steinbrecher, how many are there in your group?”

“I have eight families and eighteen single men. We also have two wagon loads of tools and household goods. I’ll send those to the 
Köbenhavn
 in the morning. The wives are looking forward to dry, rat-free quarters.”

“Rest assured, the quarters we have are dry, rat-free and heated. While you get everyone unloaded, I’ll roust out my assistants. We will get the fires going here to warm up the living area.”

Bamberg whispered to Karl, “See me in the morning; I’ll have something extra for your help, Sergeant.”

“Thank you, sir. My men will appreciate it.”

Over the next few days, the miners and their families settled into their new quarters. The trip from Bremen had been difficult due to the weather, but uneventful. All had experience working in the iron mines of the Upper Palatinate. Leopold Cavriani had found them and convinced them to join the expedition on a shares basis. Sir Thomas and the Abrabanels were extremely pleased with the skills Cavriani had listed for the recruits in the correspondence the miners brought with them.

Adolphus arranged for the Company’s leaders to meet with the miners at the warehouse. Seating was crowded, but everyone had a place and the room soon grew warm. Sir Thomas called for silence. “The main goal of this initial expedition will be to start a colony in the south end of Hudson’s Bay, with a layover station in Newfoundland. The colony in Hudson’s Bay will initially serve as a fur trading post and provide a base for expeditions to locate and start mining operations for nickel and gold deposits. Herr Diedermann, your group of four families will be part of that effort. Your families will be housed at the fort, while your advance parties work at locating the deposits and start the initial site preparation. Yours will eventually be the largest operation but will take some time to develop.

“Herr Steinbrecher, your group will be able to start iron mining near the layover station in Newfoundland. There was a previous English expedition that located iron ore deposits on an island in the harbor we plan to use. Your group will develop that deposit. It has the potential to be the largest iron mine in the known world.” He paused to let the information sink in. “Now that you’ve heard what’s planned, are you still interested?”

The only sound in the room was from the logs popping in the fire. Diedermann and Steinbrecher turned to their groups to find out their thoughts. The discussion became quite animated for a time.

Steinbrecher’s group finished first. “We agree, but have some questions and suggestions. You mentioned a previous expedition. Will there be any problem from that and did they leave anything there?”

Sir Thomas smiled. “My father was an investor with that group. All they did was identify the iron deposit. We’ve confirmed from another source that the size of the deposit is much larger than they originally thought. Nothing was done at the site itself.”

“In that case, how many foresters do you have on the expedition? We will need some lumber for housing and a lot of timbers for the mine. Also, at least two pairs of oxen for hauling.”

Sir Thomas and Saul looked to Reuben, who was shuffling through his papers.

“Aha!” Reuben brightened as he found what he was looking for. “We have seven families of foresters amongst the refugees with seventeen adult males. Will that be enough?”

“That should be adequate. You have yourselves a mine crew.”

Diedermann’s group was still vehemently discussing their options. At first, Sir Thomas appeared concerned with the level of apparent disagreement. As he concentrated on the exchange, he realized he could resolve the issue easily. “Herr Diedermann, if I might interrupt for a moment. We realize your group is mostly experienced with mining coal. Your concerns on whether those skills can be used in locating nickel and gold deposits are valid, since you don’t know the source of our information. You will not be concerned with trying to find the deposits. We have maps and pictures from Grantville’s library, and an engineer who is familiar with prospecting. Once the sites are located and marked, you will be responsible for opening the site. We will send for a second expedition to handle the refining and transportation of the metals.” Sir Thomas sat down to wait for more questions.

From the back of the room, a voice rang out. “To the future of the Hudson’s Bay Company mines!” Steins were raised in a toast and quickly downed. The crowd surged toward the tables to sign the work contracts.

The next day the sun was bright and the southerly breeze brought the temperatures up enough to start seriously melting the snowdrifts. Captain Foxe sent John Barrow to oversee the movement of the families’ personal effects to the 
Köbenhavn 
and the tools to the 
Wilhelm
 .

John reported, “Everything’s moved and stowed, Captain. The captain of the ship they arrived on kept them in squalid conditions. The scoundrel should be flogged for treating women and children like that! And speaking of scoundrels, have you heard when we can expect to start loading our supplies? Time is getting short.”

“My latest contact from Bundgaard is that we can expect the tools, weapons, and equipment later this week. He said nothing about the food stores. I’m beginning to worry on that score. The siege at Luebeck has already driven food prices up and rumors are rampant about future problems. Thank God we bought when we did.”

John walked down the forecastle, muttering, “I hope you’re right, Captain, and the rumors I’ve heard are wrong. Otherwise that thieving bastard may ruin the whole expedition.”

* * *

The last patron had left the inn and Anna was in the kitchen, washing the last of the pots. Luke and Mette sat in front of the fireplace in the dining area staring at the flames. Luke's shirt was open and Mette was playfully tickling his gray hairs.

"Mette, how can I concentrate if you keep distracting me?"

"You need some distractions. Your problem with Bundgaard is wearing you down. You need to relax. If you don't, you might not make it to the wedding." Mette joked about it, but her concern was evident. "You've been so worried with the food problem, we still haven't figured out how to tell the children we're getting married. If we don't tell them soon, we may have the first surprise wedding in history."

"I know!" Luke looked chagrined. "I just want to make sure that we do it the right way. Your late husband was a good father to them and I don't want that memory to be an obstacle. I've never had children and, quite frankly, it scares me more than a nor'easter. I'm afraid I'll disappoint them."

"Nonsense. You're wonderful with them and they love you! I'm sure if you just relax it will come to you." Mette kissed him and then went to check on Anna.

With the expedition's departure date rapidly approaching, Luke was overwhelmed with critical issues and just didn't seem to find a moment to solve the announcement problem. During the following week, small shipments of supplies continued to arrive, but no foodstuffs were included in the loads. Mette worked with him to review the supply lists. She discovered that he had overlooked many of the small, domestic items that the housewives would need. She pointed out that not only were these items needed, but they might also be good trading items with the natives. She asked Luke to come along with her went she went to buy them. It would give him a needed break and they could discuss the upcoming wedding without interruptions.

* * *

After the eighth stop, Luke wasn't sure how good an idea going shopping had been. He was in a daze and his feet hurt. Walking on cobblestone streets seemed worse than braving a heaving deck in a storm. As Mette dickered with a clerk for needles and pins, he started to daydream. Eventually his thoughts led to the one question still outstanding about the wedding, how to tell the children. As he stood there and pondered, the answer came. "Mette! I know how to tell the children!" Mette and the clerk looked at him as though he had lost his mind.

"Just what do the children have to do with pins?" As soon as she said it, Mette realized what Luke was talking about. "Men! Can't you ever concentrate on what's at hand?" Mette finished the dickering and paid for the sewing supplies. When she got Luke outside, she asked, "All right, what's the plan?" Luke explained as they continued walking home. By the time he had finished, Mette nodded agreement. "I just hope it works."