Class Novel: Chapter 1

Author's Note: So I know that creating an author's note is optional, but I felt obligated to since I'm beginning the journey that the next few weeks will be taking us on. I enjoyed looking into ideas for where exactly in Alaska this would take place, and what kind of place it would be. I wanted to begin hinting at who Nat is, but not reveal too much. To me, my only job was to create the setting, and open up several ideas as to where the story could go. I feel like this is the best thing I've written this semester, and I hope some of you might agree with me. The cliffhanger ending of the chapter was, again, to leave room for you guys. I'm excited to sit back and see where everyone takes this "novel" of ours, and I can't wait to input again as the book draws to an end. 

Chapter 1: Unsettling in Unalaska

The flight dove into the rolling gray, becoming engulfed in the overcast. There was no way for any passenger to know where the plane was; it was a wonder how the hell the pilots even knew what direction was right in the midst of it all. The only indication of any type of direction was the falling sensation that accompanied the descent; the downward slope of a roller-coaster that had no track. Nat MacMurray had never been a fan of being up in the air, nor was she now.

            In the same way she would stomach a ride, she closed her eyes. She would focus on what would come afterwards. She would let everything that was happening wash over her. Struggling through it would only make the experience worse. An announcement from the captain came on the intercom:

“Ladies and gentlemen, as we start our descent, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. Make sure your seat belt is securely fastened—“ His voice was raspy, like something had wrung out his throat in the same way you might wring out a rag at the sink. It brought the focus right off of him and onto her surroundings. She opened her eyes, discovering that the view outside of her oval window had revealed itself.

The gray had begun to disperse, the color dispersed into shades, and shades became shapes. There were mountains, more than an abundance of them. Despite the fact that it was spring, the tips of the mountains held on to the frosty remnants of winter. Further below, the mountainside grew lush and green, something that Nat never really imagined of a place she only knew through stereotypes. Eskimos, snow, igloos, etc. She felt bad for holding on to such childish depictions, but she was glad to finally be somewhat outside of the primary states in the country. Alaska might as well be its own little country.

The airport was approaching quickly. A single tower with a single runway. Nat could have taken a ride on one of the many ships that enter Dutch Harbor, but she had to be there quickly. Leaving flight as her only viable choice. She was beginning a new job, and to a greater extent, a new life. The plane tapped the ground, landing smoothly. The captain came back on the intercom:

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Dutch Harbor Airport. Local time is 4:17 p.m. and the temperature is fifty-one degrees Fahrenheit.  For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until—“ Nat didn't really care to listen. She was ready to go. She gathered her on-board items and got off when she was allowed to.

On the way to the Dutch Harbor Airport lobby, Nat turned her phone on to check for any important calls or messages. The only things she found were several missed calls and voice-mails from her mother. She chose not to reply; not right now, at least. She needed to head into town and get settled. She grabbed her luggage, and proceeded to the help desk to find out how she could get into town.

“Yes?” The lady was not the young, photogenic person that all the big city airports seem to hire. This woman was older, heavy-eyed, and had no makeup on whatsoever. Maybe I should've searched for a taxi on my phone, Nat thought.

“What time does the next shuttle head into town?” Nat asked.

“Shuttle? We don’t have shuttles.” The help desk woman seemed to almost smirk at the stupidity of someone not from the area.

“Okay, well, do you know of any local taxis I could call and get a lift from?” Nat had her phone ready to go.

“Nope.” The woman replied. Nat decided to search using her phone. As she typed in the search bar, the help desk lady continued not helping with her remarks.

“I’m pretty sure we don’t have any local taxi services. You don’t have anyone coming to pick you up?” The help desk woman was perplexed. Nat was both baffled and frustrated.

“How am I supposed to get into town?” She wasn't sure what to do or say. Fifteen minutes in Unalaska, Alaska and already she was having trouble accomplishing something as trivial as traveling from the airport to her hotel. On the tail-end of this ill-formed encounter was a man, who approached Nat. His hair was receding, so much so that it naturally spiked up of its own accord. His face was elongated, and thin. His cheekbones looked like they could have poked through the skin at any moment. A thin, but groomed goatee wrapped it all up. He had on a bright orange and blue fisherman suit, with giant brown boots to accompany them.

“You say you need a ride into town?” he asked. “I work down in the harbor, I’m heading back to town if you want a ride.”

“Are you sure?” Nat wasn't sure why she asked that. She didn't want to sit around and figure out another way to leave the airport.

“Not a problem, at all. Name’s Barrie Cozier.” Barrie extended his hand to her. It was grimy and clammy from the day’s work. Nat didn't want to offend the man, so she shook the man’s hand. She tried to keep her grip minimal. He squeezed her hand, and she pulled away as soon as she could.

“Are you leaving now?” She asked.

“Yeah, what do you say?” Nat didn't have any other choice. She accepted, tugging along her belongings.

Outside the airport, the walk to his car was several minutes, closer to the fisheries that made up much of the harbor. Initially it was a silent walk, which Nat didn't mind. She wasn't sure if she had made the right choice in accepting a ride from someone as soon as she touched down in Unalaska. Nat studied the harbor, scoping out the various fishing boats that filled up the docks. Many of them were bright red and blue in color, which was interesting. The dock was very quiet. There was hardly anyone out by the docks.

“Where is everyone? Seems kind of slow for a warmer day in the year. I thought that warmer weather would mean more fishing?” Nat asked.

“Well, that’s changed in the last decade or so. You ever watch the Discovery channel?” Barrie didn't even look over at her, he just kept on going.

“Not really.” Nat wasn't much of a television watcher. Barrie opened up a bit more.

“Neither am I, but that T.V. show, Deadliest Catch, that’s shot here.”

“Really?” Nat seemed to recall reading that somewhere when she was looking into the area online.

“Yep, and you’d think that they’d prefer to shoot during the warmer times of the year, which is when we used to be busier. Nope, they wanted to film during the coldest times of the year; capture the struggles we go through in fucking freezing ice water. It made for a ‘more interesting show’ apparently.” Barrie’s voice was less monotonous now, like they had stumbled across something he was really interested in. Nat also thought that it was possible that the man simply wanted someone to vent to about his job. He continued on,

“Once the show became popular, business picked up during colder weather, eventually becoming busier than the warmer times. So now we hardly work in the weather that is somewhat bearable, and constantly in the weather that’s so fucking cold, it makes you wish it were hell on the earth.” Barrie was full-blown ranting now.

“I’m sure the extra income is nice, though.” Nat wanted to drive the conversation away from a rant.

“Only if you’re a featured fisherman. The rest of us don’t receive shit.” Her attempt failed, he continued on.

“As if I already didn't find television that interesting. Now every time I see someone watching that show, I want to throw the television into the harbor.” A gray compact car, presumably his, drew closer in sight. As happy as she was to see the car, Nat was now kind of interested in what Barrie the fisherman was talking about, for specific reasons.

“Does everyone feel that way? The guys like you, who are not featured.” Better to know who not to approach regarding her potential work, she thought.

“For the most part. There’s this one guy who is actually interested in it, mainly because he likes the whole camera aspect. He went on about wanting to work on those shows where you just watch animals, y’know, living their lives while some British prick narrates what they’re doing. What are those called?”

“Nature documentaries?” Nat actually liked nature docs. Good to know that there’s someone else out here that also does, she thought.

“Yeah. He said something about wanting to be one of those guys, just camping out in the wild, waiting for the right moment to capture animals being raw and brutal. What if nothing happens? Then you’re just camping. What if something bad happens? Do they have protection from really big animals; predators and shit? This is my car.” Barrie pointed to the little compact car, the only car in any direction. Thanks captain obvious, Nat thought. She begun to like this guy, though. He was interesting.

Barriea opened the passenger door of his car, which was cluttered. There were receipts, a suitcase, and lots of fishing gear.

“Sorry, give me a moment.” He grabbed much of the trash and threw it in the back of the car. He began tossing the gear in the back as well. He pulled what appeared to be fisherman overalls out from under the suitcase. As he did this, the suitcase fell out of the seat, crashing to the ground.

“Shit.” He muttered.

“Here, let me help.” Nat reached for the suitcase, but she was unaware that the lock had busted. As she picked it up, the suitcase dropped open, allowing its contents to fall all over the ground. What she saw made her freeze. Barrie turned around, and he too paused.

“Oh shit.” He said. Nat didn't want to look at the man, but she had to. He had already locked eyes in her direction. He let out a deep sigh. Not of relief, but of being caught.

“Well, I guess you can see how desperate I've become.”