As soon as our shore party returned from provisioning in New Brandon, we set sail to continue up the lake to our first major destination, the great port of Burlington. We were going to have to abandon our original plan to sail Lake Champlain under one of the dozen false ship name registrations we will be constantly changing so the authorities won't be able to trace our movements by interviewing people who have seen us. To accomplish this we have been carrying false identification signs for the rear of our vessel, as well as corresponding false registration papers in case we are boarded by the authorities. We even have paint and other materials on board to change the appearance of the ship if we suspect that our movements are being traced.
However, due to Noah’s unfortunate interaction at the Coop, we now can't risk using a false name in case the Coop has alerted the Coast Guard to our suspicious purchases. If stopped by the Coast Guard, it would be far too easy for them to quickly determine that our ship name is counterfeit. Then, we’ll really be in the soup, probably even charged with suspicion of intent to carry out subversive activities.
So we have no choice but to use the real name and registration papers for our ship. Of course. there's a big risk of doing this, as well, bit it's more of a long term risk: if the Coast Guard should stop us now, they would know exactly who we are, which could enable them later to put two and two together and realize that it was our family who had been on a ship that disappeared from their surveillance somewhere north of the lake. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed.
Ship's Holog: June 2078, fragment #24
On our way up to Burlington, I’ll point out a couple of interesting sights, although they may well be familiar to you from New Vermont C of C propaganda.
Let’s first take a look at the western shore of the lake, which is as different from the eastern shore as night and day. The latter, as we have seen, is totally developed and densely populated; the western shore, in contrast, is a wilderness in which wild forests grow to the lake’s edge and few structures are visible. Among the few buildings you will see are the euphemistically named “toll houses” that guard the only bridges linking the two shores. There are two such bridges: the one we are now passing, which connects Ticonderoga and New Brandon, and one further up the lake, which connects Chimney Point with the Municipality of Middlebury, home to one of the finest colleges in the northeast, from where languages are taught to people all over the world via holocom. The toll houses are manned by armed New Vermont officials, supposedly there to protect the livestock of these shore communities from incursions by wild animals from the Adirondack Preserve. In reality (and you won’t have heard or seen this on your holopod) they are there to prevent “unauthorized” people from crossing onto the eastern shore.
It is a little-known and, in my opinion, shameful fact that New Vermont’s borders are effectively sealed, so that people considered to be undesirable by the authorities can be kept out. Such undesirables include those whom the authorities suspect of being drug-traffickers, thieves, free-loaders, even terrorists, even though, unlike the neighboring USNA State of New York, New Vermont has never had a recorded incident of terrorism. While some might consider such precautions to be prudent, I believe they are increasingly being misapplied in order to prevent members of the Iroquois Nation from entering the eastern shore of New Vermont.
Let’s first take a look at the western shore of the lake, which is as different from the eastern shore as night and day. The latter, as we have seen, is totally developed and densely populated; the western shore, in contrast, is a wilderness in which wild forests grow to the lake’s edge and few structures are visible. Among the few buildings you will see are the euphemistically named “toll houses” that guard the only bridges linking the two shores. There are two such bridges: the one we are now passing, which connects Ticonderoga and New Brandon, and one further up the lake, which connects Chimney Point with the Municipality of Middlebury, home to one of the finest colleges in the northeast, from where languages are taught to people all over the world via holocom. The toll houses are manned by armed New Vermont officials, supposedly there to protect the livestock of these shore communities from incursions by wild animals from the Adirondack Preserve. In reality (and you won’t have heard or seen this on your holopod) they are there to prevent “unauthorized” people from crossing onto the eastern shore.
It is a little-known and, in my opinion, shameful fact that New Vermont’s borders are effectively sealed, so that people considered to be undesirable by the authorities can be kept out. Such undesirables include those whom the authorities suspect of being drug-traffickers, thieves, free-loaders, even terrorists, even though, unlike the neighboring USNA State of New York, New Vermont has never had a recorded incident of terrorism. While some might consider such precautions to be prudent, I believe they are increasingly being misapplied in order to prevent members of the Iroquois Nation from entering the eastern shore of New Vermont.
Ship's Holog: June 2078, fragment 25
Off to the left, you can now see the only other major structure you are likely to see on the western shore of the lake south of Burlington. That’s historic Fort Ticonderoga, a remnant and monument to Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys who fought the British in the American Revolution in the late eighteenth century. As you may know, much of the east coast of the USNA was originally comprised of colonies of the European island nation of Great Britain. Largely through the enslavement of Africans, these colonies played a major role in Great Britain’s Industrial Revolution, which ultimately resulted in its becoming the last true empire on Earth.
As we move rapidly up the lake, you will notice the signs we pass that announce the end of one municipality and the beginning of another that looks almost identical. Between each municipality, there are small breaks in the line of houses, where are located (as you should now be able to see) small athletic complexes with bleachers capable of seating several thousand spectators. Open in summer and enclosed in winter, these facilities house the inter-community and intra-mural sports facilities for young and old. So important are sports to New Vermonters that even in our small and isolated valley community, we are able to field teams at several levels in softball, basketball, tennis, and football (called soccer in the USA when I learned the game in the last century). In fact, I captained the senior football team well into my seventies and most of my grandchildren, now in their sixties, still play on at least one inter-community team. We think nothing of walking or riding our bikes and horses twenty-five miles to play teams from neighboring towns in our valley.
As we move rapidly up the lake, you will notice the signs we pass that announce the end of one municipality and the beginning of another that looks almost identical. Between each municipality, there are small breaks in the line of houses, where are located (as you should now be able to see) small athletic complexes with bleachers capable of seating several thousand spectators. Open in summer and enclosed in winter, these facilities house the inter-community and intra-mural sports facilities for young and old. So important are sports to New Vermonters that even in our small and isolated valley community, we are able to field teams at several levels in softball, basketball, tennis, and football (called soccer in the USA when I learned the game in the last century). In fact, I captained the senior football team well into my seventies and most of my grandchildren, now in their sixties, still play on at least one inter-community team. We think nothing of walking or riding our bikes and horses twenty-five miles to play teams from neighboring towns in our valley.
Ship's Holog: June 2078, fragment #26
We are now passing through the waters of Middlebury, so we must steer carefully to avoid the seine nets that this fishing community uses, and which nearly block our passage up this still narrow section of the lake. With these nets, Middlebury’s fishing people capture a variety of fresh water fish, mainly shad, pike, pickerel, and large mouth bass. True to form, they are ecologically careful to throw back young fish as well as egg-bearing females. As a result, no shad roe is taken or eaten in New Vermont.
Now we are now passing by Bristol-Vergennes, the northernmost quarry community on the Lake, and, then as the Lake widens dramatically just south of Greater Burlington, you can see Shelburne, one of the few communities in New Vermont that has preserved eighteenth and nineteenth century wooden houses. Here’s a familiar view of several such houses, these having been preserved in the sprawling Shelburne Museum, which serves as an educational institution, teaching people throughout the world via holocom about rural life in Vermont in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Now we are now passing by Bristol-Vergennes, the northernmost quarry community on the Lake, and, then as the Lake widens dramatically just south of Greater Burlington, you can see Shelburne, one of the few communities in New Vermont that has preserved eighteenth and nineteenth century wooden houses. Here’s a familiar view of several such houses, these having been preserved in the sprawling Shelburne Museum, which serves as an educational institution, teaching people throughout the world via holocom about rural life in Vermont in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Ship's Holog: June 2078, fragment #27
For security reasons, the following segment and all other italicized passages in the transcript of this holog were excised for security reasons by the crew of the Veritas from their original holocoms in 2078. They were restored some 25 years later when the voyages of the Veritas no longer needed to be kept secret due to the significant changes that took place in world government in 2102.
At this moment, we encountered the first serious threat to our voyage: the frightening sound of a Coast Guard warning signal, indicating that we were to hove to, and the sight of a New Vermont Coast Guard cutter headed toward us at full speed from the docks of Bristol-Vergennes. Unfortunately, we had no choice but to obey the command from these Authorities, but in the few minutes before the cutter arrived alongside, our crew made certain that all our supplies and other evidence of the purpose and planned duration of our trip (such as our professional quality holocam equipment) were well concealed behind false panels in our ship. We hoped this visit from the Authorities would be just a routine check, as it wouldn’t take much for a sharp Coast Guard inspector, trained to find contraband and drugs, to recognize that the inner and outer walls of our ship left plenty of room for concealment.
We also made sure that we gave every appearance of being out on an extended family outing: below, Anna busied herself at the galley stove, preparing dinner while Harriet set the table; on deck, several of us sat around chatting and knitting; the kids scrambled up from below and ran to the rails, showing the kind of excitement and enthusiasm one might expect children to show at the advent of a friendly visit from the Coast Guard.
“Permission to Board?” called the Coast Guard boat captain.
“Permission granted. Welcome aboard,” Noah replied casually.
The cutter pulled directly alongside and the Coast Guard captain and two junior officers clambered over the rails of our boat and onto the deck.
“Greetings, folks,” the Captain said in a friendly manner. “Where are you headed today?”
“Howdy, Captain,” Noah replied. “Burlington--- to visit friends and family and then up the lake where we’re dropping off two of our family members for a trek to the Algonquin wilderness.”
“Sounds like a fun trip,” the Captain responded. “I suppose you’ll be returning this way after the drop-off.”
This line of questioning was beginning to make us very nervous, especially because while it was going on, one of the junior officers had begun wandering about the boat, poking into corners, and the other had gone down below and was probably looking around and maybe asking questions there, as well.
“Actually, weather permitting, we’re hoping to sail as far as ‘Twentieth Century Land ‘ on Lake Erie. Our twenty-somethings have been bugging us for years to be able to visit the Actual Rock n’ Roll Museum there. They’ve seen it on holopods, of course, but they want to see the real thing. And, we’re all looking forward to the various nostalgic educational and entertainment venues, especially the kids, who want to take the rides on all those old-fashioned 20th century vehicles.”
“Well, now, that’s quite a trip!” the Captain exclaimed. “How long do you expect you’ll be before returning this way?”
This, of course, was the question we’d been dreading. We didn’t want the Coast Guard looking out for us on our supposed return, as the truth was we probably wouldn’t return this way for many years, if ever.
Nevertheless, Noah replied as cool as a cucumber, “Well, if all goes well, I suppose we’ll be back down this way sometime next month.”
“Do us a favor, then: on your way back, give a toot as you pass Bristol-Vergennes, just so we know you’ve made it back this way. As I hope you know, the Great Lakes can be dangerous, because of Mother Nature, as well as pirates. In fact, I’m sorry to say, there’s even been some piracy in the northern part of Lake Champlain of late. For your well-being, we’re being a little more careful about making note of everyone’s coming and going. If we don’t see you a month or so from now, we’ll make some inquiries of Authorities up the line to see where you might be.”
Piracy? Could they be serious? Or was this just an excuse of the Authorities to monitor the legitimate movement of its citizens?
“Sure thing, Captain. We’ll check in on our way back. As for pirates, we’ve got a holopod aboard, so if we run into trouble, we can always holocom for help ”
“That’s fine, providing help can get to you in a timely manner. Some of these pirates are pretty clever and you may not be able to tell the difference between a friendly shipboard visit from fellow travelers and a pirate raid. I’d advise you not to let anyone on-board and to send out a holocom anytime you’re approached by another vessel.”
“Will do, Captain. Thanks for the advice.”
“Oh, and one more thing, just to facilitate our inquiries if it becomes necessary, please check in with Authorities all along your way. That’ll make it a lot easier for us to find you if you’ve run afoul of the weather or worse.”
Worse? Were they trying to frighten us into leaving a trail for them to follow us?
“OK, Captain. We’ll do that.”
At that point, the two junior officers reappeared and reported that all appeared to be “ship-shape” down below. All three re-boarded their cutter and we were away, relieved but unnerved both by the close call with the Authorities and by their warnings about pirates, about which we’d heard rumors, but had dismissed as propaganda to scare New Vermonters from traveling out of the country by ship. Indeed, we hoped that was all that was involved, but a seed had been planted that would continue to haunt us as we traveled.
At this moment, we encountered the first serious threat to our voyage: the frightening sound of a Coast Guard warning signal, indicating that we were to hove to, and the sight of a New Vermont Coast Guard cutter headed toward us at full speed from the docks of Bristol-Vergennes. Unfortunately, we had no choice but to obey the command from these Authorities, but in the few minutes before the cutter arrived alongside, our crew made certain that all our supplies and other evidence of the purpose and planned duration of our trip (such as our professional quality holocam equipment) were well concealed behind false panels in our ship. We hoped this visit from the Authorities would be just a routine check, as it wouldn’t take much for a sharp Coast Guard inspector, trained to find contraband and drugs, to recognize that the inner and outer walls of our ship left plenty of room for concealment.
We also made sure that we gave every appearance of being out on an extended family outing: below, Anna busied herself at the galley stove, preparing dinner while Harriet set the table; on deck, several of us sat around chatting and knitting; the kids scrambled up from below and ran to the rails, showing the kind of excitement and enthusiasm one might expect children to show at the advent of a friendly visit from the Coast Guard.
“Permission to Board?” called the Coast Guard boat captain.
“Permission granted. Welcome aboard,” Noah replied casually.
The cutter pulled directly alongside and the Coast Guard captain and two junior officers clambered over the rails of our boat and onto the deck.
“Greetings, folks,” the Captain said in a friendly manner. “Where are you headed today?”
“Howdy, Captain,” Noah replied. “Burlington--- to visit friends and family and then up the lake where we’re dropping off two of our family members for a trek to the Algonquin wilderness.”
“Sounds like a fun trip,” the Captain responded. “I suppose you’ll be returning this way after the drop-off.”
This line of questioning was beginning to make us very nervous, especially because while it was going on, one of the junior officers had begun wandering about the boat, poking into corners, and the other had gone down below and was probably looking around and maybe asking questions there, as well.
“Actually, weather permitting, we’re hoping to sail as far as ‘Twentieth Century Land ‘ on Lake Erie. Our twenty-somethings have been bugging us for years to be able to visit the Actual Rock n’ Roll Museum there. They’ve seen it on holopods, of course, but they want to see the real thing. And, we’re all looking forward to the various nostalgic educational and entertainment venues, especially the kids, who want to take the rides on all those old-fashioned 20th century vehicles.”
“Well, now, that’s quite a trip!” the Captain exclaimed. “How long do you expect you’ll be before returning this way?”
This, of course, was the question we’d been dreading. We didn’t want the Coast Guard looking out for us on our supposed return, as the truth was we probably wouldn’t return this way for many years, if ever.
Nevertheless, Noah replied as cool as a cucumber, “Well, if all goes well, I suppose we’ll be back down this way sometime next month.”
“Do us a favor, then: on your way back, give a toot as you pass Bristol-Vergennes, just so we know you’ve made it back this way. As I hope you know, the Great Lakes can be dangerous, because of Mother Nature, as well as pirates. In fact, I’m sorry to say, there’s even been some piracy in the northern part of Lake Champlain of late. For your well-being, we’re being a little more careful about making note of everyone’s coming and going. If we don’t see you a month or so from now, we’ll make some inquiries of Authorities up the line to see where you might be.”
Piracy? Could they be serious? Or was this just an excuse of the Authorities to monitor the legitimate movement of its citizens?
“Sure thing, Captain. We’ll check in on our way back. As for pirates, we’ve got a holopod aboard, so if we run into trouble, we can always holocom for help ”
“That’s fine, providing help can get to you in a timely manner. Some of these pirates are pretty clever and you may not be able to tell the difference between a friendly shipboard visit from fellow travelers and a pirate raid. I’d advise you not to let anyone on-board and to send out a holocom anytime you’re approached by another vessel.”
“Will do, Captain. Thanks for the advice.”
“Oh, and one more thing, just to facilitate our inquiries if it becomes necessary, please check in with Authorities all along your way. That’ll make it a lot easier for us to find you if you’ve run afoul of the weather or worse.”
Worse? Were they trying to frighten us into leaving a trail for them to follow us?
“OK, Captain. We’ll do that.”
At that point, the two junior officers reappeared and reported that all appeared to be “ship-shape” down below. All three re-boarded their cutter and we were away, relieved but unnerved both by the close call with the Authorities and by their warnings about pirates, about which we’d heard rumors, but had dismissed as propaganda to scare New Vermonters from traveling out of the country by ship. Indeed, we hoped that was all that was involved, but a seed had been planted that would continue to haunt us as we traveled.
Ship's Holog: June 2078, fragment #28
As we continue up the lake, you should observe the numerous barges we pass. As you undoubtedly know, with the extremely limited amounts of fossil fuels remaining on Earth, even food and necessary materials are transported by mechanically driven barge and sailing ship wherever possible. This has led to a worldwide rebirth of shipping, the re-invention of canal technology, the rebuilding and extension of inland waterways and the development or rejuvenation of new port cities in unexpected places like CapeTown (South Africa), Cairo (Greater Egypt), Calcutta (India), Hartford (Massachusetts), Beaufort (Carolina), New Liberia on Lake Michigan, and (of course) Burlington, New Vermont.
Although we give a sailor’s friendly wave to the drovers, as well as those aboard several small pleasure boats out on the lake, we take care not to engage in any extended conversations. To any inquiries as to our “business,” we simply call back that we were on a family cruise to the Great Lakes Confederation and that we are all looking forward to a week at 20th Century Land. We hope with this story to be able to provide an innocent explanation of why we are aboard such a substantial ship, one capable of sailing the often dangerous waters of the Great Lakes.
Although we give a sailor’s friendly wave to the drovers, as well as those aboard several small pleasure boats out on the lake, we take care not to engage in any extended conversations. To any inquiries as to our “business,” we simply call back that we were on a family cruise to the Great Lakes Confederation and that we are all looking forward to a week at 20th Century Land. We hope with this story to be able to provide an innocent explanation of why we are aboard such a substantial ship, one capable of sailing the often dangerous waters of the Great Lakes.
Ship's Holog: June 2078, fragment #29
Strong winds have enabled us to make very good time. Shortly, some of us will disembark to visit Burlington, the capital of New Vermont and the largest port on Lake Champlain. Once a sleepy university town of no more than 40,000, Burlington today is a thriving city of almost a million, due primarily to the important role it plays as a major inland port, serving the western side of New Vermont. (The eastern side of the country is served by ports along the Connecticut River Canal, such as White River Junction, and Brattleboro.)
We’re actually going to anchor a dozen or so kilometers up the coast from downtown Burlington, in Mallett’s Bay. There, all the younger adults of our crew will go ashore, leaving on board my young great-great grandchildren and us older folks, except for my daughter, Amelia, who has an important visit to make to the University. I, for one, am just too old to be hobbling around a big, bustling city.
Most of those going ashore will ride into Burlington on the bicycles we carry on board. There, they will carry out various tasks and visit with relatives, including, in some cases, their own children who are living here now. Uncas, Sacajawea, and Nemo will travel by foot, the latter two taking the opportunity to keep up their marathon training by running from our anchorage to downtown Burlington. Four of them (Uncas, Amelia, Harriet, and Mrs. Robinson) will record their experiences with their holopods.
Upon their return, we collected each of their accounts and edited them. You may choose to view any or all of them. It’s your choice.
We’re actually going to anchor a dozen or so kilometers up the coast from downtown Burlington, in Mallett’s Bay. There, all the younger adults of our crew will go ashore, leaving on board my young great-great grandchildren and us older folks, except for my daughter, Amelia, who has an important visit to make to the University. I, for one, am just too old to be hobbling around a big, bustling city.
Most of those going ashore will ride into Burlington on the bicycles we carry on board. There, they will carry out various tasks and visit with relatives, including, in some cases, their own children who are living here now. Uncas, Sacajawea, and Nemo will travel by foot, the latter two taking the opportunity to keep up their marathon training by running from our anchorage to downtown Burlington. Four of them (Uncas, Amelia, Harriet, and Mrs. Robinson) will record their experiences with their holopods.
Upon their return, we collected each of their accounts and edited them. You may choose to view any or all of them. It’s your choice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)