By the Kivalina Lagoon, a few fishing boats were tied forlornly to the shore.
In the end, Feng Shan couldn't resist the temptation of a fishing trip and agreed to go out to sea with Old Swan.
But when he saw the fishing boat, Feng Shan couldn't help but feel a surge of doubt.
The wooden boat looked thoroughly weather-beaten. The hull's planks were old, covered in signs of wear, and the bow even showed signs of repair. It looked as if it could fall apart at any moment.
'Can this wreck of a boat really travel on the Ice Sea? What if it hits an ice floe on the way?'
"Feng, this is the Whale," Old Swan said, pointing proudly at the wooden boat. "She's as old as I am. We once hunted a Bowhead Whale together in her."
'What's there to be proud of?'
Feng Shan pursed his lips. He took a life jacket from an Inuit man and put it on. If the boat sank, he'd be counting on it to save his life.
"Just the two of us?"
