The Pond Part 17

It took three days to reach the port at Sankt-Peterburg, where the steamship waited to take them to America. The closer to the city they got, the quieter Katrinka became, almost as though she was having second thoughts.

But Katrinka was easy to control, and there was no way Izolda was going to let her back out now, not when she was so close. It took very little power to make Katrinka happy again, and to erase the misgivings her father had at sending his beloved daughter into the unknown.

While Fyodor, Katrinka’s father, talked to the ship’s clerk, Izolda looked over to where the steerage passengers were waiting. She could not imagine being squeezed in amongst them. Thanks to the money Nikolai sent and the generosity of Katrinka’s family, the girls were to share a first class cabin.

“Have you ever seen anything so enormous?” Katrinka asked, clutching at Izolda’s arm.

Resisting the urge to shake the other girl’s hand off, Izolda glanced at the ship they were to take. “It is quite large, isn’t it?”

“You could fit our entire village in it three times over!”

Izolda ground her teeth together to keep from snapping at Katrinka. This is who Nikolai was being forced to marry? It was a good thing she planned to save him from such a fate.

The clerk motioned another of the ship’s crew over and Fyodor turned to the girls. “This is one of the stewards on the ship. He will show you to your cabin. “

The man tipped his hat at them.

“I want you girls to go straight to your cabin, no loitering on the deck. And stay there as much as possible. Nikolai will be there to meet you on the other side and will take you to the home he has built. From what I have heard, he is doing very well for himself.”

Katrinka threw her arms around him and squeezed. “I will miss you father, and all the rest of the family too,” she said tearfully.

“You will make Nikolai a fine wife,” he said gruffly, eyes moist. “And you, Izolda. A pretty girl like you will have no problem finding a husband.”

“I hope so,” she murmured, suffering herself to be hugged as well.

There was a blast from the ship. The steerage passengers began picking up their belongings and forming a queue.

“Write as soon as you reach your destination,” Fyodor said. “And God go with you both.” He hurried away before he was reduced to tears.

Katrinka made as if to follow him, but Izolda laid a hand on her arm and together they turned to follow the steward. He led them to a different ramp than the steerage passengers were taking and they boarded the ship. Having been given his instructions, he led them straight to their cabin, pausing only long enough to point the way to the dining hall on the way.

Their trunks were already waiting for them. The steward told them what time they would be expected for dinner, and then left them alone. Izolda looked around their room with a critical eye. It was a little small for two, but would be just perfect for one.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

For the first few days of the voyage the seas were calm. But after the fifth day the water grew rough and Katrinka grew seasick. She grew worse and worse, until Izolda sent for the ship’s doctor.

After a cursory examination, the doctor, a rotund little man sporting a goatee, told Izolda, “It looks worse than it is. Trust me, my dear. No one has ever died of seasickness.”

He might have been less light hearted if he’d seen the thoughtful look on Izolda’s face as he turned his back and left.

The seas calmed and Katrinka grew better. She developed the habit of taking an evening walk along the rail of the deck and of course Izolda accompanied her for propriety’s sake. They became a common sight, the young bride to be and her faithful companion.

The ship was forced to change course to avoid a typhon and there was speculation at dinner that night about how many days they would be behind schedule.

“And I would suggest you young ladies forego your walk this evening,” the ship’s clerk, who was at their table this evening, advised. “Though we have only caught the tail end of the inclement weather, the winds can be quite strong.”

“I agree,” Izolda said quickly. “It is far too dangerous to walk on deck.”

Katrinka looked like she was going to say something, but subsided and merely smiled.

That evening, a rain-soaked Izolda burst into the first class salon. “Help, oh, someone help!”

“What is it child?” the doctor said.

“It’s Katrinka! I fear she has been swept overboard! Oh, someone help!”

The purser sent for the captain, while the doctor led a sobbing Izolda over to one of the club chairs.

“Now tell us what happened.”

Izolda took a sobbing breath.

“I thought I’d talked Katrinka out of taking her evening walk, but she slipped out of our cabin when my back was turned. I followed, thinking to talk some sense into her.” Another gasping sob. “I could see her just in front of me, near the bow of the ship. There was a gust of wind, and then a wave, and then—and then Katrinka was gone!”

She buried her face in her hands and began to cry in earnest.

The doctor looked over her head and exchanged a glance with the purser. They would check the deck, just in case, but the other girl was as good as gone.

When Izolda finally retired to bed that night, it was with a smile on her face.