When we left off, Following Dr. Ocenavine’s funeral, the elderly Wizard Candle had manipulated College junior Elinor Jennings (and descendant of Oceanvine) and grad-student Sixtus Hardisty into a Summer afloat on board the world-famous yacht, Maiyim Bourne. After a bit of sailing around they began a visit to the island some of Ellie’s distant relations lived on…
Seven
Earl Merrald was not keen on the idea of a contest, but Candle kept giving him reasons why it would be good for Medda as they rode back to the city. Privately Elie agreed with him. If nothing else it would probably be very good for the tourist industry.
They stayed on Kern for another week during which time Jollin made it her job to show Elie and Six around town and around that entire part of the island. As promised they started out that same afternoon in Norrentown.
Elie enjoyed Jollin’s tour of the Smithy, where skilled machinists were manufacturing custom parts used to repair various engines and other machines in town. In one corner was a small forge with an anvil and a large set of tongs, hammers, chisels and other blacksmithing tools.
“Do these actually get much use?” Six asked, looking interestedly at the smooth anvil face.
“Every once in a while,” Jollin admitted. “Would you like me to make you a horseshoe?”
“You know how to use a forge?” Elie asked wonderingly.
“Of course,” Jollin replied smugly. “Grandad always insisted all the kids know how. It’s fun actually. If you’re here long enough, I’ll be glad to give you lessons. Not today, though. We’d get all dirty and Aunt Hola wouldn’t be very happy with us if we tracked coal dust into her parlor.”
After the Smithy, Jollin dragged them around the old neighborhood where Oceanvine had been born, showing them where the home of Master Sunbear, Oceanvine’s first teacher, had been and where Elie’s and Jollin’s common ancestors had lived.
“Did Oceanvine know about all these bronze plaques?” Elie asked. “I’d have thought they would have embarrassed her greatly.”
“They did,” Jollin laughed, “but she always said they weren’t the worst things written about her, but she would never tell me what she meant by that. Do you have any idea?”
“None at all,” Elie laughed.