Chapter 30: The Return Voyage
The joy of harvesting was matched only by the mess of handling the catch.
These lively sardines and anchovies weren’t big, but each one was bursting with energy. As Leon hauled them out of the fishing net and tossed them into the tank, they thrashed and wriggled enough to make it a real struggle.
It took him and Willy over half an hour to get the last of them secured in the tank. By then, both men were drenched in seawater, their clothes clinging to them and covered in silver scales. Under the sunlight, the strong fishy smell radiating from them was so pungent it made their eyes water.
Still, when Leon saw the tank brimming with sardines and anchovies, he had no reason to complain. Such a bountiful haul was worth a little discomfort.
“I’ll split the catch with you fifty-fifty once I sort it out,” Willy said with a grin after estimating the quantity in the tank. “It’s a good haul, and right now the market for live anchovies and sardines is great. They’ll sell fast.”
“Half seems a bit much. I only provided some bait—your boat, your nets, and you found the school,” Leon replied, pleased but unwilling to be greedy. He would take what was his without hesitation, but never more, and he wasn’t about to jeopardize a good relationship with Willy over short-term profit.
“No, no. You’re not wrong, but don’t forget—you were on board. Without you, I couldn’t have pulled them in, let alone tossed them into the tank while they were still alive. Alone, I couldn’t do it. So you take half. You worked for it, and that’s how it’s done at sea.”
Willy shook his head, then laughed when he noticed Leon looked just as bedraggled as he did. “This might be your first time on a boat, but you handled yourself like an old sailor. If I didn’t know you were a farmer, I’d be asking you to join my crew and roam the seas with me.”
Leon thought privately, You want to be Pirate King too? but he kept his words polite. “It was the least I could do, especially with such a great opportunity. It’s been a whole new experience.”