"May the Main God bless us! Chimer, this is a sea chart of the Far North Coast. It records the latitudes and locations of the Kingdom's ports, as well as the situation of the tribes of the far north... I'll leave you two guides familiar with the sea routes! As for interpreters to communicate with the tribes, you can recruit converted tribesmen from the various ports... You must hurry. Before the Divine Revelation Island Chain freezes over completely in November, send at least one ship of Samurai and Sailors to Zuwaro! Two longships would be best..."
"Good! The Main God bears witness! Miki, there are still three months left. I'll hurry north and make as few stops as possible along the way... But how many ships can the ports along the Far North Coast support with supplies? And how should these ten longships and their crews be divided..."
The sun stood in the middle of the sky, and the stars and moon had long since vanished. The sea was a stretch of deep blue, with the blood-red light and the whale carcass gone without a trace. At this moment, Miki and Chimer were already standing shoulder to shoulder at the port of Divine Whale Port, watching longships come from the western bay, carrying back holds packed full of salted whale meat.
Then hundreds of Makah tribesmen, wearing simple smiles that came from the heart, hurried busily about the port with tireless effort. They hung great slabs of meat until the Meat Drying Racks were packed full, drawing flocks of crows to circle in the sky, cawing with hunger.
"Caw, caw! Eh-oh! Caw!..."
"Whoosh, whoosh!..."
The Kingdom's Samurai drew their bows and loosed arrows, shooting down several black crows that came too close. The flock scattered at once, screeching as it