North Star Brides by Erica Vetsch

Author:Erica Vetsch [VETSCH, ERICA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-62416-441-5
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2010-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

“We’ve been over every inch of the mechanism. I can’t find anything wrong. The gears mesh perfectly, the springs are tight, no screws are loose.” Nick wiped his hands on a rag and stuffed it into his pocket. “That just leaves one thing.”

Ezra and Clyde groaned in unison. “The float.”

The lens mechanism “floated” on two hundred fifty ounces of mercury. At a pound per fluid ounce, that meant two hundred fifty pounds of liquid metal to drain and purify.

“Do we have any extra?” Nick eased his tired muscles down until he sat on the floor. He stared out at the lake, listening to the sound of waves gently slapping the rocks at the cliff base that drifted up through the broken windows. Window repair was next on the list of things to do after fixing the light.

“We have one eight-ounce bottle for emergencies.” Ezra smoothed his mustache. Earlier he’d put forth the idea that the mercury under the lens had somehow gotten contaminated. It had happened to him once before. Rust flakes had fouled the mercury so the lens wouldn’t turn smoothly. They’d kicked around the idea for a while but decided to leave it as a last resort.

Nick turned to Clyde, whose bloodshot eyes bespoke his lack of sleep. “Get two clean buckets and bring a fuel can of kerosene.”

“I’ll go get the extra mercury should we need it.” Ezra started down the stairs after Clyde.

Ezra’s hypothesis proved correct. They washed the mercury with kerosene, letting the heavy metal fall through several inches of the oily fuel in the bottom of a bucket. Impurities and rust flakes floated atop the kerosene, easily picked out with a newspaper. The entire operation took about two hours to complete.

When they finished refilling the tank under the lens, Clyde swirled the few drops of mercury left in the bottom of the bucket. “Stuff’s amazing.” Bright quicksilver beads raced and collided, merged and separated in the bucket.

Nick smiled at how young Clyde looked. The boy had done well. Responsible, polite, conscientious. A good candidate for a ship’s officer, given some seasoning.

Nick pulled himself up. How easy it was to slip back into that old frame of mind.

They tested the lamp. With the mercury purified, the beacon rotated with precision.

Nick sighed with relief and clapped Ezra on the back. “Why don’t you and Clyde get some shut-eye? The window repair is a one-man job. I can take care of it. Then I’ll come in for some food and a nap.” He swallowed a yawn. A nap sounded like heaven at the moment.

Glass, glazing points, putty. How thankful Nick was for the supplies. That, at least, he owed to Jasper Dillon. The man kept his lighthouses stocked and ready. Carrying the tools up the stairs, Nick grimaced at how he’d let the little man get under his skin. Henpecked at home. The idea made Nick grin. That explained a lot. Guess he could give the inspector a little leeway.

As he worked, Nick marveled again at the beauty of God’s creation.

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