“What’s wrong dear?” asked Mikkel’s wife, as she stepped
into the small cottage. She could see the concern on her husband’s brow. “Nothing love; everything’s fine,” replied Mikkel, unconvincingly.
“Is it the whaling commission again?” his wife probed.
“They just won’t do anything,” he began. “There’s another crew leaving tomorrow; they’ll be gone for at least six months and only two thirds of the men are likely to return.”
“Everyone knows the risks,” she said, reassuringly.
“What about their families? There’s no compensation for the lost husbands and fathers,” sighed Mikkel. “I know I’m the union rep but without the commission there’s nothing I can do.”
“So it shouldn’t rest on your shoulders then.”
“I just don’t understand why they’re so stubborn. It’s 1610; we’re not in the 1500’s anymore.”
“You know the commission only cares about getting more fleets out there. They’ll probably end up whaling our oceans dry.”
“Whaling our oceans dry?” said Mikkel, in disbelief. “Men are out there in thirty-foot wooden dinghies hunting creatures twice that length. The world will never be free from that giant beast.”
“Sorry dear, I was only trying to help,” his wife added, before leaving the room.
“Whaling our oceans dry,” said Mikkel, shaking his head. “Stupid fucking women.”
“Is it the whaling commission again?” his wife probed.
“They just won’t do anything,” he began. “There’s another crew leaving tomorrow; they’ll be gone for at least six months and only two thirds of the men are likely to return.”
“Everyone knows the risks,” she said, reassuringly.
“What about their families? There’s no compensation for the lost husbands and fathers,” sighed Mikkel. “I know I’m the union rep but without the commission there’s nothing I can do.”
“So it shouldn’t rest on your shoulders then.”
“I just don’t understand why they’re so stubborn. It’s 1610; we’re not in the 1500’s anymore.”
“You know the commission only cares about getting more fleets out there. They’ll probably end up whaling our oceans dry.”
“Whaling our oceans dry?” said Mikkel, in disbelief. “Men are out there in thirty-foot wooden dinghies hunting creatures twice that length. The world will never be free from that giant beast.”
“Sorry dear, I was only trying to help,” his wife added, before leaving the room.
“Whaling our oceans dry,” said Mikkel, shaking his head. “Stupid fucking women.”