Gneechee's Quest

Gneechee ran a tight ship. Her exploits out on the sea were legendary. Other crews envied the success of the Gnayahmah, one of the largest and most respected fishing vessels of the Gnogarian fleet. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, Gneechee brought the Gnayahmah back into port full of critters from the sea. Gnettlefish, Gnerka and Gneon crabs, lobsters and gnuppies were just some of the more prized catches that threatened to swamp the Gnayahmah when overloaded on a return voyage. Sometimes, they even teamed up with other ships to pull a Gnucklehead Gnourami back! This was the ultimate goal of each ship that weighed anchor and set sail from Gnovaloma, the capital city of the Gnogarian Empire.

With it being late spring, the gnogres knew the Gnuckleheads would be in the midst of their migration to their northern waters. Mouths watered and hands trembled in excitement as the crew made final preparations to set sail with a dozen other ships. The tide was just beginning to go out to sea as the sun was setting on the auburn horizon. A nice land breeze was picking up speed and Gneechee knew this all portrayed good omens. She grinned and laughed as the docking planks were pulled aboard. “Weigh anchor,” she bellowed from the helm to the crew below. Mooring lines were cut loose as the anchor was heaved aboard.

Gneechee loved the initial leg of every journey and took the first shift of the voyage. She knew too that most would not be sleeping this night in anticipation of the early morning fishing. Gear was being double checked. Harpoons and spears were being sharpened and positioned. Sights, smells and sounds of the sea delighted her senses. Wind filled the sails and the ship lurched forward. Gneechee guided the ship away from the dock and out of the harbor. As the ship eventually hit its maximum speed of seventeen knots, she grinned again when she heard the infamous chanting:

Hi - dee - ho! Here we go! We’ll have fun when the Gnucklehead run
We’ll have fun when the Gnucklehead run
Come along, everyone. We’ll have fun when the Gnucklehead run
Hi - dee - ho! Cheer-ee-oh! We’ll have fun when the Gnucklehead run
We’ll have fun when the Gnucklehead run

Now that’s Gnomazing!!!

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Dawn broke over the eastern waters of the Gnorthumbarian Sea. A favorable breeze had blown the Gnogarian Fishing Fleet into position. Six ships flanked the Gnayahmah on the port side while only five remained on the starboard. One of the ships had started taking on water, lots of water, unexpectedly and had to turn around. It was unclear to Gneechee whether or not that ship had managed to make it back to port, beached itself or sank. Yet, she did know that each ship was equipped with sufficient rowboats to accommodate emergencies like that. Furthermore, they weren’t that many hours away from shore and would be able to make it back most, if not all, of the way. Therefore, all the sailors would be fine and be able to fish another day.

Returning her thoughts to her own situation, it was time to get fishing underway. She noted the flags indicating all crewmembers were topside. She gave the signal for the red flag to be hoisted up. Upon seeing the flag, all ships but the Gnaryarka began letting the wind out of their sails thereby allowing the Gnaryarka to take point and begin tossing chum into the sea. Slowing to nine knots, the sea turned red between the two sets of ships as the Gnaryarka pulled out ahead and all ships began tossing chum. Within moments, numerous dorsal fins protruded above the sea’s surface, some following the trail left by the Gnaryarka while others began a feeding frenzy on the chum. A few arrows were shot into the fray wounding a few fish. But, the gnogres didn’t stick around to see the fates of those fish.

Over the years, the gnogres had learned not to fish in the midst of the frenzy for the wildness of the gnucklehead gnourami was so unpredictable that ships could easily be smashed by a tailfin or capsized by a wake. Thus, they sailed onward matching pace with the gnuckleheads following the Gnaryarka’s trail. The goal was to thin out the fish as much as possible as they began feasting.

It took a minimum of four ships per fish. Since these particular guckleheads were very enormous, only two fish were marked. Ships flanked the fish and hapoons were thrown. With the ships and gnogres holding ropes attached to the harpoons, the fish couldn’t submerge. The ships increased distance from one another pulling the lines taut on the struggling fish.
The fish, knowing they had been injured swam as quickly as they could to get away from their feasting comrades. The gnogres directed this action back toward land so that they could take advantage of the energy expended. So far, it was smooth sailing. No lives lost and no ships wrecked. Securing her position at the helm, Gneechee grinned and sang, “Come along everyone. We’ll have fun when the gnucklehead run!”

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After a few hours, the two gnucklehead gnourami that were pulling the Gnogarian Fishing Fleet began to tire. Gneechee sent the signal for the ships to begin transferring to pulling the fish versus being pulled by them. By this time, the Gnaryarka, which had taken point in dumping chum into the sea to lure the fish to the surface, had caught up. With six ships on one fish and five, soon to be six, on the other, the gnogres were making good time.

Yet during this transfer of being pulled to pulling, the convoy slowed and another school of gnuckleheads surfaced near them. One of these fish managed to get close to one of the captured fish and nearly took a good sized bite out of it. However, the gnogres had been ready for this attack. Numerous arrows and a couple harpoons found their mark. The gnogres dumped their remaining chum and that fish quickly became fish food as a feeding frenzy began.

Unfortunately, the Gnaryarka, while maneuvering around the frenzy, didn’t make quite a wide enough berth. A surfacing gnucklehead came up under it and it was almost capsized. The tail of the fish connected with the ship’s rudder and snapped it off. Additionally, some of the crew was swept overboard. Lifelines were quickly thrown to bobbing crewmembers. But, the Gnaryarka, having no way to steer and on the edge of a feeding frenzy with a bruised and battered crew, was in trouble.

Gneechee signaled for the fleet to continue while the Gnayahmah severed its connecting lines. Gneechee brought the Gnayahmah around. Once the Gnayahmah was side by side with the Garyarka, all the crew was aboard and accounted for. The two ships threw mooring lines to one another and the Gnayahmah towed the Garyarka away from the gnuckleheads. However, some gnuckleheads did begin to break away from the frenzy and head toward their captured fish. Archers aboard the two ships again assailed the leading fish with arrows putting a quick stop to that pursuit.

Initially, the two ships didn’t trail too far behind the others as they were pulling heavy cargos of their own. While there had been a bit of excitement and there were some severe injuries aboard the Gnaryarka, everyone was safe. Lookouts in the crow nests of the leading ships reported sighting land just before sunset. They raised appropriate flags to let the Gnyahmah and Gnaryarka, which had fallen farther and farther behind, know. With spirits lifted, all cheered and chanted:
Hi - dee - ho! Here we go! We’ll have fun when the Gnucklehead run!
We’ll have fun when the Gnucklehead run!
Come along, everyone. We’ll have fun when the Gnucklehead run!
Hi - dee - ho! Cheer-ee-oh! We’ll have fun when the Gnucklehead run!
We’ll have fun when the Gnucklehead run!

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The lookouts on both the Gnayahmah and Gnaryarka waved flags to one another and then yelled in unison, “Land ho!” It was not only custom but fun for the lookouts to announce this to their crews. It was one of the benefits of pulling that duty. While the ships pulling a couple gnucklehead gnourami back to the beach near the Gnogarian Port City of Gnovaloma had spotted land already, these two ships had fallen farther behind. The Gnaryarka had been damaged and lost its rudder. It had also started to take on water. Apparently, there had been more damage than was originally thought.

The gnogres, not wanting to lose a ship needlessly, began a work party to empty the hull by filling hats and buckets and passing these along to crew mates which eventually emptied them overboard and sent them back down to be filled up again. The crew members of the Gnayahmah that weren’t needed for sailing their ship joined this effort. Some crossed over on planks while others swung over on ropes. Although the crews of various ships were usually very competitive, during the gnucklehead season, a strong sense of camaraderie and cooperation existed for the benefit of all. And, this was no exception.

By the time they entered the harbor, they could see the other crews beginning to pull the gnuckleheads ashore. After being pulled by ships for numerous hours, the fish didn’t put up much resistance. Yet, it would still take everyone’s effort to bring them onto the beach. Even harbor helpers and the crews’ families were congregating on the beach to assist bringing the fish on to the beach. Gneechee knew this and had yellow flags hoisted on both the Gnayahmah and Gnaryarka to signal their distress. She even blew several warning messages through her conch shell when she knew she would be close enough for others on land to hear it.

The ships progressed to the dry docking area of the harbor where harbor helpers awaited their arrival. Then, they proceeded to help the crews aboard the Gnaryarka bring it out of the water. The Gnayahmah, on the other hand, was anchored in this area allowing the rest of the crew to help with the other ship more rapidly. Gneechee also noticed the presence of another ship already in the dry docks and was silently grateful that the ship, which had to turn back to port early that morning, had made it back safely. It was usually better to repair a ship than build a new one. Additionally, if they had to build a different one, parts could be salvaged from the old one to help with the construction of the new one. “Waste not, want not,” was the old adage that ran through Gneechee’s mind.

After the crews finished dry docking the Gnaryarka and made it over to the beach, both fish were already being cleaned. Bonfires dotted the beach and fillets were being roasted on the fires. Sights, sounds and smells filled the air and created a memorable scene. Sitting near the bonfires, the exhausted crews were offered some fish, a variety of vegetables and a hearty brew to wash it all down with, which they gladly accepted. In a couple days, they’d repeat the process. But for now, it was time for some rest and relaxation!

Now that’s Gnomazing!

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