Arrival at the Island (3) – Ferry

(Another change of tack)

The ferry was not quite as Jim had been expecting. If he was honest with himself, he wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but this wasn’t it. It didn’t have a distinct front or back, or stem and stern. Instead, both ends of were ramps which could be lowered. Along one side there was a cabin in which passengers could shelter. There were only a few cars and vans an most of their drivers stayed in their vehicles. Jim noticed that they all seemed to know the crew.

The loading ramp was raised and the ferry set off with a lurch. The sound of the diesel engine was noticeable in the cabin. Jim was approached by a young woman wearing waterproofs and asked what ticket he wanted. Jim showed her a printed document he had been sent, she nodded, gave him a ticket and said that it would be charged to the company’s account. She asked if Jim knew where he was going on the far side, because it was “a canny walk and the weather’s not good”. Jim said that he had been told that he was being met at the ferry slip. She said that in that case it would almost certainly be a green Landrover. Jim thanked her and continued looking out of the window.

There was a swell on the sea and the beginnings of white-horses on the wave tops. From time to time the ferry would give a lurch in response to the waves. The sky was grey and clouded over and droplets of rain or spray ran down the outside of the window. Jim could see the island getting closer. The seemed to be entering a small bay but Jim could not look directly ahead.

Suddenly there was a change in the diesel note and a new sound which Jim associated with the loading ramp being lowered. They had arrived!

 (Part of the “Tyson” project: 2nd February 2017 – 385 words)