Chapter 207: Willy’s Secret
After drying himself off, Leon put his clothes back on. Though the salt still clung faintly to his skin without a freshwater rinse, water was precious out here on the sea. He figured he could endure a little discomfort rather than waste it.
Gus had already set up a small coal stove and was frying the cod they’d caught earlier. The scent of sizzling fish oil drifted to Leon’s nose, making his mouth water. He stepped closer, glancing at Gus’s cooking. Aside from oil and salt, Gus had added no other seasoning to the thick cuts of cod in the pan.
“Sea fish have a natural sweetness. That’s the best seasoning there is. Too much spice just ruins it,” Gus said with a grin, reading the curiosity in Leon’s eyes.
“So it’s the old rule—good ingredients only need simple cooking,” Leon teased.
“That’s a fine way to sum it up.” Gus nodded, clearly liking the phrase.
“We just have to wait for the food now, Leon. Want to take a look at this directional compass?” Willy, now dressed, hooked an arm around Leon’s neck and pulled him aside. Like showing off a treasure, he handed over a small compass.
“Why call it a directional compass?” Leon asked, taking it.
He noticed two letters engraved on its casing—HS. It looked like the initials of Old Hans.
“Because it only points to one place,” Willy explained.