Tromso, Norway

Captain Knud Unset stood on the bridge of his vessel the Peder AARSETH. First mate Arvid Nordengen came in and told the Captain, "All supplies are loaded and we are ready to sail."

The Captain looked around the bridge at the other three men in the pilot house. Slowly, almost methodically, he withdrew his pipe from his mouth, looked First Mate Nordengen in the eye and said, "Very well then, cast off all lines."

Nordengen walked out onto the catwalk and shouted to the dockhands to release the lines. When he was certain the lines that had been securing them to the dock were free he leaned into the pilot house and told Captain Unset, "All lines are free." The Captain issued the command to the helmsman for slow ahead. The two large diesels came to life as the Peder AARSETH slowly left the dock.

Captain Unset and his crew had left Sandefjord Harbor four days earlier in anticipation of the International Whaling Commission's approval to reopen whaling. Captain Unset wanted to be the first Norwegian ship to harpoon a whale under the new ICW rules. After all, he had professed to his First Mate Nordengen and harpoonist Knut Handsen, "Whaling is a Norwegian tradition, a way of life, that all of our father's have followed. What better way to show respect for them than to reopen the industry for Norway."

Tromso Harbor, from which they were going to begin their hunt, is often called the capital of the Arctic. It has traditionally been the starting point of most Arctic expeditions and despite its proximity to the Arctic, it is blessed with an ice-free harbor year round. As the Peder AARSETH rounded the point of the harbor, Captain Unset told the helmsmen the course to steer and he exited the pilot house. Standing on the catwalk next to First Mate Nordengen, he pulled his pipe out of his pocket and with his back to the wind to shield his lighter, he drew through the pipe stem, igniting the coarse tobacco in the bowl. Replacing the lighter into his pocket he turned around to face the wind. Drawing on his pipe while looking at the vessel under his command, he turned to Nordengen and said, "We are on a fine vessel Arvid, we are very lucky men." Together they scanned the Peder AARSETH. She was 150 feet overall, had a rear ramp for loading and butchering whales, and sufficient refrigeration space for 500 tons of whale meat and oil.

But the real functional end of the ship was the 90mm cannon on the bow. Capable of firing a 150 pound exploding head, no whale was safe from its lethal sting. As they both looked towards the bow of the ship, they saw harpoonist Knut Handsen polishing the cannon. Captain Unset said, "Besides this fine ship we are blessed with Norway's finest harpoonist. This is going to be a good voyage." First Mate Nordengen nodded in agreement.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The phone rang in Hakan Rhyne's bakery. Anita Ryhne, tending to customers behind the counter, excused herself and picked up the receiver. "Good morning. This is the Ryhne family bakery, may I help you."

The voice at the other end didn't return the greeting but simply said, "Hakan Rhyne."

Anita said, "One moment please," and put the receiver down. Walking to the curtain separating the store from the bakery itself, she stuck her head through the curtain and said, "Papa, telephone." Anita then returned to serving the customers.

Hakan Rhyne exited through the curtain, wiping his hands on his stained apron. Walking to the phone he picked up the receiver and said, "This is Hakan."

The voice at the other end returned, "The Peder ARRSETH is sailing out of Tomso Harbor as we speak," and hung up.

The receiver went dead. Hakan said, "Yes Mr. Sten, your daughter's wedding cake will be delivered on time. I assure you that it will be just as you ordered. Good Day." Returning the receiver to its cradle, Hakan turned to proceed back to the rear of the bakery. Spotting Mrs. Moberg, a long-time customer, he stopped to chat. After discussing the weather, her children and poor Mrs. Swenson who had recently suffered a heart attack, Hakan excused himself and returned to the bakery through the curtained doorway.

He walked over to Jon who was spreading honey on a fresh batch of pastries, and said, "The Peder AARSETH is sailing."

Jon looked up, acknowledged the message by nodding his head and replied, "I better be on my way." His father concurred, and Jon took off his apron and went to the large, stainless steel sink. He quickly washed his hands and ran his wet fingers through his hair to straighten it. He looked at his father and said, "I will be going now." Jon went out the rear of the bakery and mounted his bike. His father watched through the back window as Jon rode away. Shaking his head, he returned to his work.

The ride to the Vigeland farm took about twenty minutes. Jon stopped his bike, and dismounted. With one hand he opened the gate and walked himself and the bike through it. Leaning the bike against the tree just inside the gate, Jon proceeded to the small white meticulously maintained farmhouse. His knock on the door was greeted by the bark of the Vigeland dog. Soon Mrs. Vigeland came to the door. Quieting the dog, she said, "Hello Jon, I haven't seen you in quite a while. I trust your mother and father are doing well."

"Hello Mrs. Vigeland," replied Jon and added "Yes they are doing very well. Is Mr. Vigeland home?"

"Why yes he is, out back in the barn," she replied. "The Peder ARRSETH must be sailing," she added.

Jon acknowledged her conclusion and excused himself. Walking around the side of the house, Jon saw Mr. Vigeland coming out of the large white barn. Jon couldn't help but admire the condition of the house and barn. Both looked as if they had been built only yesterday, and yet Jon knew that this farm had once belonged to Mr. Vigeland's grandfather. It was one of the first permanent farms in this area. Spotting Jon, Milton Vigeland put down the rake he was carrying and walked toward him. As he extended his hand he said, "Hello Jon, it is a pleasure to see you." Jon returned the greeting, but before he could say anything else, Milton said, "I guess I'd better turn on the radio, hadn't I?"

Jon nodded his head in concurrence and Mr. Vigeland said, "Follow me."

They walked into the barn, past the horse stalls, the milking stations and the hay storage areas. Jon thought to himself, I sure prefer the odor of my father's bakery. He couldn't understand how such a clean place could smell so much like, well, like animals. Reaching the back of the barn Mr. Vigeland opened a door to a back room. Signaling Jon to enter, Milton closed the door behind them and pushed a chair towards Jon.

Sitting behind Mr. Vigeland, Jon watched him as he reached towards a radio and flipped a switch. Jon was amazed at the amount of radio equipment that was assembled on the two benches lining the walls. "It will take a moment to get ready to transmit," he told Jon as he fussed with the dials.

"How long have you had this equipment?" Jon asked.

Continuing to make adjustments as he spoke, Milton Vigeland explained, "I was a radio operator in the service and when I got out, I bought my first HAM radio set. It gave me something to do during the long winter nights." He went on to explain, "I find HAM radio to be a way to maintain my skills while being able to talk to people all over the world. Why, I routinely speak to other operators in America, Canada and sometimes I even get Africa." Pausing for a moment, he looked at Jon and asked, "I take it the message is that the boat is sailing?"

"Yes, we received word from Tromso less than a hour ago," replied Jon.

"So be it." Mr. Vigeland. Reached for the microphone and spoke into it, saying:

"Rescue 1..... Rescue 1, this is lookout base. Do you read me?"

They waited for a moment, then he repeated the message:

"Rescue 1..... Rescue 1, this is lookout base. Do you read me?"

They waited. The only sound from the speaker was static, until it suddenly came to life:

"Lookout base, this is Rescue 1, we read you loud and clear!"

Mr. Vigeland looked at Jon, who had a big smile on his face. Turning his head back to the microphone, Mr. Vigeland depressed the transmit button:

"Rescue 1, Lookout 3 reports the game has begun."

"Repeat,...... Lookout 3 reports the game has begun."

They waited a moment and the speaker crackled to life again:

"Roger, lookout base, message clear, Lookout 3 reports the game has begun."

"Lookout base, please report to central 1 that we will be departing immediately to play the game, repeat, we will be departing immediately to play the game."

Mr. Vigeland depressed the transmit button:

"Rescue 1, we understand..... will report you will be departing immediately to play the game. Good Luck, Rescue 1, we will be waiting for your report."

"Lookout base out."

"Rescue 1 out."

And the transmission was complete. Milton Vigeland turned to Jon and said, "They are on their way." He paused, then added, "How I wish I was sailing with them."

Jon agreed and looking at Mr. Vigeland asked, "You were with Greenpeace the last time they took on the whalers, weren't you?"

"Yes", he replied, I sailed on the Rainbow Warrior the first time we confronted the Russian whalers and later when we took on the Pirate whalers, as they were called, off the coast of Spain. Those were exciting days, but then that's a long story. You have to be going now. Tell your father to notify the council that Rescue 1 is sailing."

Jon got up, shook Mr. Vigeland's hand, and walked out of the barn. As Jon was about to get onto his bike, Mrs. Vigeland opened the front door of the house and yelled at him to say hello to his mother and father for her. Jon assured her he would and, mounting his bike, he started peddling back to town. He too wished he was sailing with the men on Rainbow Savior.