Pistoleer: Invasion by Smith Skye

Author:Smith, Skye
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: best, cromwell, winchester, marlborough, robert blake, henrietta, chichester, 1642 1643, bridlington, colonel william waller
Publisher: Skye Smith

Chapter 16 - A Blizzard in the Fens in January 1643

The fisherman's cape he was wearing over all else had made all the difference. It was made out of waxed sail cloth so that it would shed water when the fishermen were working the nets. Today it was keeping the wind out of Daniels winter woolen cloak. Not that this cape had every been used by a fisherman, because it did not stink of fish. Two of the local women had been sewing them out of the scraps of old sail cloth, in hopes of selling them in Lynn's market come spring. Under the cape and the cloak he wore a woolen tunic and britches, and under those, his silk nightshirt was smooth and comfortable next to his skin.

His feet and hands were feeling the cold, and his legs were not warm, but from the thigh up, he was toasty warm. He wondered how long it would take the same women to whip up something similar for over all his britches to keep his legs warm. He would ask them later. Right now he needed to find Cleff and ask him how much colder it would get and for how much longer. He walked along the edge of the ship's pool and tested the ice with his boot. Solid. The ice was already so thick that there was not even the telltale sound of the ice cracking under his weight. He stepped out further.

"Get back to shore, fool,” Cleff's voice came from behind him, "that is the stupidest way of testing the strength of ice. Even the kiddies know that."

With a sheepish grin, Daniel returned to the shore. "It looks solid enough."

"Aye, but there are currents underneath so the ice is thicker in some places than others.” Cleff stood beside Daniel and together they stared at the two small ships that were high and dry and waiting for their bottoms to be sealed. "I hope Anso had the good sense to hole the Swift up in Holland. It'd be a bitch trying to sail her in this cold."

"Do you think it's cold enough to freeze sea water yet?"

"Not yet, but it's likely cold enough to strengthen ale and wine,” Cleff replied. "We should roll out some kegs and teach the kiddies how to do it.” It was simple enough to do. Just pour the wine into a clean wooden half-barrel, let it sit and then skim off the water that turned to ice and floated to the surface. Each time you did a skim, the remaining ale or wine became stronger. When you re-melted the skim in a pot, it was the cleanest and most delicious of drinking waters. "There's not much work anyone can do in a big freeze, but that is one of them."

Two boys came up to them wearing every bit of clothing they owned. Over their shoulders hung some pairs of schaats that Anso had brought back from Holland a couple of years ago. The cunning

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