Of Sea and Cloud (6 page)

When he had a load of traps aboard he steamed north toward home and he kept saying fuck, fuck, fuck and he couldn't see any land except a single mountaintop which rose sprawling in the western sky as if to hold sway over the seawater and he wished something so powerful would hold sway over him.

Virgil and Bill in their bigger boats caught up with Jonah as he neared the coastline. Each boat was stacked high with Nicolas's traps and flocks of sea ducks like firecrackers burst from the water and flew before the boats. Together with the birds the three boats steamed into the harbor like a funeral procession with Bill in the lead and Virgil at the tail and the three men were silent on their radios as each thought his own thoughts about Nicolas and about the ocean which was different than it had ever been before.

When the boats were unloaded they trailered Nicolas's traps to the pound and parked in the small field that backed up to the marsh. A twisting section of tidal stream ran through the middle of the brown grass and beyond it stretched a thick patch of alder. The light faded and the sea lay flat calm in the twilight. A band of eiders bobbed in the surf and far offshore the clouds and sea fell to a deep blue and disappeared.

The pound was a three-acre body of water shaped like a horseshoe. At its head stood a causeway which at one time had been only a gravel bar but now held tons of blast rock that Nicolas had hauled from the upriver quarry. The causeway led to a small island called Burnt and causeway and island together formed one edge of the horseshoe. From the tip of Burnt Island a slat wood dam crossed to the mainland and thus closed the mouth of the horseshoe like a row of teeth. The tidewater came and went through these teeth every six hours but the lobsters that Nicolas and Osmond had put in the pound were there to stay. The base of the dam was solid concrete like a giant gum beneath the teeth that held at least six feet of water at low tide.

Jonah climbed onto the trailer and didn't speak as he handed the traps to Bill. Bill stacked them five high. Virgil watched in his mirror and pulled the truck forward when they needed room for another row. When they finished stacking the traps Bill and Jonah stood next to Virgil's window and listened to the engine idle as the smooth rolling waves whapped the riprap causeway and the ghost calls of the eiders filled the air.

Chowder rose up on her ass with her front paws on the truck door.

Frigging dog, said Jonah.

Virgil eyed the gulf. He played with Chowder's ears. Bill kicked at a rock with his rubber boot and when he freed it from the ground he kicked it across the dead grass.

Jonah gathered himself and cleared his throat. I hauled a string of Osmond's out on the Leviathan today.

Bill peered at Jonah for a second then said, A whole string? Oh, fuck me.

Virgil waited.

Five footers and double baited. He must've set them yesterday or the day before. Hell, he had to average three pounds a trap.

That's a hell of a day to set a offshore string, Bill said. She was blowing a gale and them seas would've been breaking over that mountain all the day long. Bill rubbed his eyes with frustration. How in hell'd he set them, from a chopper? Don't tell me he was out there in a boat. And I'm guessing them bait bags weren't small. Fuckachrist, that's a half bushel of bait per pair.

That's right, said Jonah.

That's over a grand a day in bait alone, Bill said. He's got to be landing a ton of bugs a day to make a day's pay. He's burning five hundred in fuel easy. How's he landing a ton a day?

He sold his soul is what he done, Virgil said.

Bill worked a glaze of moisture from Virgil's rearview mirror and flicked it off the edge of his palm. I don't know how he does it, the cocksucker. But he'd be better off with forty-three-and-a-half-inch traps on that bottom. A single parlor'll fish better there.

Guess not, Jonah said. The old man's strings didn't have shit.

Bill ignored him.

Where's he at on the mountain, Jonah? Virgil said.

Off the southwest ridge.

Bill blinked. He scratched his temple. You hauled them? All of them? Oh shit. What'd you do? Don't tell me you cut them.

Don't you go fretting all over the place with yourself.

I ain't fretting. What'd you do? Fuck me, you did, didn't you? You cut off a string of Osmond's? A whole string? Of Osmond Randolph's?

Virgil lifted a single surprised eyebrow at Jonah.

Jonah couldn't look at either one. He gazed offshore and his chest smacked and he nodded once so both understood what he'd done and both took a moment to realize the ramifications.

Goddamned right you did, Virgil finally muttered. He forced a smile onto his face but Jonah could see it framed by worry like a touch of sun surrounded by cloud and even as Jonah watched him the smile disappeared.

Goddamned right? said Bill. His voice trembled. Goddamned right? Now the two of you are going to have to explain to me one goddamned right thing about cutting Osmond's gear. You think he isn't going to start a fucking war over this? Jesus, Jonah, I know you don't give a shit about your boat or gear but I got to make a living for Christ's sake. I can't afford to lose any traps, let alone my boat or any other fucking thing. And Christ, Jonah, I'm his partner now. I got to work with him.

Jonah lit a cigarette. He glared at Bill. Well why don't you tell me what the fuck it is you would've done, Captain? Because what I should of done is stuffed Osmond's ass in a trap and sent him to hell and bottom.

You do that, Jonah, Bill said. His face was red. You do that. You dumbass. You been to college and you're so fucking smart so you got options but this is it for me. Fishing lobsters and now running this pound. I lose my gear or my boat and I'm done, Jonah. Finished. If I break my damned leg it's over for me. You get that? It's fucking welfare and coupons for me. I can't be fucking around in some trap war that your highliner ass started for no damned logical reason.

Jonah held his cigarette hidden in his hand at his hip and smoke curled from between his fingers. He'd only seen his brother scared once before and that was twenty years ago. A small gust of wind rippled across the pound and a pair of eagles circled far overhead. A single bright star popped out of the western sky.

Virgil cleared his throat but didn't speak for a few more seconds. He leaned over to the passenger side of his truck and came up with a bottle of brandy. He took a swig and put the bottle between his legs and in a voice strangely humid said, Settle down, Captain. You wanting to let Osmond fish the Leviathan, that what you're saying?

Bill shook his head no. But—, he started.

Don't
but
nothing, Captain. The Highliner might've been a bit rash out there but he did what he did and that's it. Now we deal with it. Osmond fucked up and he'll pay. He started this shit, and by Jesus we'll finish it and do it together, you got that?

It took Bill a while to answer. Yeah, I got that. But fuckachrist, cutting all his traps, Jonah? Holy shit. I didn't think you had the balls.

Yeah, said Jonah and he was tempted to say,
I didn't either
. Or,
I don't have the balls
.

Virgil twisted the brandy cap back and forth with the weight of his palm. Nobody spoke for several minutes.

Well, Bill finally said. I'm going on home to rest up. I don't want to be too tired when my boat gets sunk and my gear gets cut.

It will be all right, Virgil said. Just go on home.

Yeah, you got Erma Lee to tend, said Jonah. That's some serious tending. Not much rest there.

Bill stared at Jonah and his lips and nostrils quivered. Jesus, you started a goddamned war, Jonah, and now you want to make jokes? What the holy hell ails you?

Jonah started to respond but Virgil cut in. Leave it be. Both of you.

Bill shook his head from side to side.

Erma Lee staying down to your place? Virgil said.

For now she is, Bill said. Till we get this settled.

Settled? Jonah said. She ain't a debt, Captain.

I understand that.

Well good, Captain, Virgil said. Erma Lee might be a wild one but that ain't all bad either. I'm glad to see you doing what's right. Little Slush might just surprise us all. Celeste seems to have taken a fast liking to her, and Celeste isn't typically wrong.

Yeah, said Bill. She ain't what you two think. Maybe she fucked up some but who ain't fucked up some? Sure as shit us three have.

Clifford Beal though, Bill? That's a tough act to follow.

Fuck off, Jonah, okay? Case you ain't noticed, there ain't many virgins left on this piece of coast, and I really don't give a shit.

That's right, Bill, Virgil said. We've all got skeletons. But I'm curious about something else here. Did Nic ever give you any paperwork for the pound? Did he have a will or anything?

He didn't have a will, no. But Osmond'll have the pound paperwork. That'll be easy.

Easy? Virgil gazed out to sea before continuing. What'll be easy is for Osmond to pull your pants up over that head of yours and bend you over to doomsday. You think with him intending to fish the Leviathan and his gear all cut that he's going to do anything easy? Or even without his gear cut?

Virgil's voice was hard and that surprised Jonah.

I guess he ain't going to bend me over too easy. And wasn't I just saying that the fucking Highliner shouldn't of cut his goddamned gear?

Well if he does bend you over, Jonah said, just poke him in the eye, Bill. That'll get him off you.

Shut up, Jonah. You fucked up enough shit today. Bill paused as if catching his balance then they all three turned when they heard a red pickup ease down the two track.

The truck stopped beside them. It was muddy and the man inside was old. The window rolled down and the old man stuck his bald hatless head out and looked from one brother to the other and then to Virgil.

My goddamned friend Royal James, Virgil said. Imagine that. Just when shit can't get worse, he shows up.

Boys, Royal said. His face was red from a lifetime of wind and work and liquor. He settled back into the truck cab and studied the trap pile.

Bill said, You been egging?

Royal glanced at the truck bed where a dozen fish trays were stacked full of spiny green sea urchins. It smelled to Jonah as if the ocean itself were stuffed into the truck bed.

Royal rubbed his fingers together. Uni, he said and he had to push the word from his mouth. Then he continued. I seen you boys out there today and figured you was fetching loads of Nic's gear. I put my boat on her mooring, thought might be I'd come down and check on progress.

Royal paused and stared at Virgil as if to say something more to him alone but only his big ears rose up and down. He turned his look back to Bill. His voice was deep and sincere. I'm sorry about your father, Nicolas. And sorry I missed his funeral, by Jesus. I suppose the only funeral I ever do attend'll be my own and I'd soon miss that one.

It's fine, said Bill. Thanks.

Royal nodded again and put his truck in gear but held his foot on the brake pedal. He seemed to think for half a minute then spoke. Virgil, come on by the house tonight. I got something for you. Come on by.

I don't need any of your poached deer, Virgil said.

I ain't done that for years, said Royal. His ears twitched like flags.

Virgil nodded.

Royal's eyes focused straight ahead and he let his foot off the brake and did a slow U-turn.

That there is one odd duck, Bill said.

What'd you think he wants? said Jonah.

Hell, I don't know, Jonah, said Virgil. He probably wants company. But I kind of like the old coot, don't you?

He's odd, Bill repeated.

You think anyone who ain't you is odd.

That's right. Only two good things ever come out of this town. That road right there and me. We'll see you.

Bill got in his truck without another word and left.

Jonah picked up a rock and flipped it in his hand then chucked it at the pound but it didn't go far enough and landed clattering on the riprap. He rounded the front of the truck and got in. Chowder climbed onto his lap and Virgil eased the truck down the dirt road. Jonah rubbed the dog's fat belly and her hind leg drummed.

They drove to the end of the pound road then followed the harbor's eastern shore. Silence hung like a noose and Jonah struggled to think of something to say but he kept thinking about sending trap after trap to bottom.

The road went by.

I thought Osmond was a priest, Jonah said. That just don't seem to add up. Him being such a asshole and all.

Calvinist minister is what he was. But he gave it all up for a woman.

Jonah felt himself relax but could not have said why. What woman?

Laura was her name. She was married to his brother Orrin. Her and Osmond got together while Orrin was in Korea. She got pregnant and they had a daughter, then she died of cancer not too long after. Their daughter died of cancer too, but not till she had Julius and them two twin girls.

I can't imagine Osmond Randolph and a woman, Jonah said. Or a woman with him.

We're people, Jonah. We all fall in love and it might be with a rose or a pile of bait. Laura changed things for Osmond while she was around, but then she died and their daughter died. Osmond went off the deep end. Your old man was probably the only one who knew Osmond for sure.

Jonah wanted a drink and he looked at the bottle between Virgil's legs but didn't want to reach for it. He looked out the window.

You want a bubble? Virgil said and handed the bottle to him. Jonah tipped it back and swallowed the thick coffee syrup.

I don't know how you drink so much of that shit.

Like a gorilla, said Virgil. He pulled into Jonah's dooryard and stopped the truck and they sat silent for a long moment. Then Virgil spoke. His voice was hushed. I don't like this, Jonah.

What?

Virgil swallowed. The Coast Guard finds Nic's boat out past Spencer Ledges, but no Nic anywhere. Not tangled in some trap warp or floating or nothing. Then Osmond sets gear on the Leviathan? He thinks he can do that? He really thinks he can do that to us? I don't like this.