Kanin Fjord Entry 2: November 4, 1992 – Avskjedsdag

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Entry posted by whiteshark365 · October 26, 2021

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Ratatosk Pier 12:30 pm.

The last day of a way of life.

The days grow short, and the sun never ventures far from the horizon. At just 50 miles south of the arctic circle, a small Nordish village bustles to life before beginning a long slumber. Avskjedsdag (farewell day) has arrived, the day Kanin Fjord says farewell to the outside world. The townsfolk arrive at Ratatosk Pier to begin unloading the last supply shipment of the season. Once the ship departs, Kanin Fjord is left to fend for itself for the next 4 months. The winter twilight is about to begin. In less than a month, days will only last 3 hours, and the sun never entirely rises above the horizon. During this time, dense fogs obscure the fjord, and freezing drizzle glazes the roads, shutting down both shipping and car routes out of town.

On other the side of the planet in the Pacific Ocean, an event is occurring that will change Kanin Fjord forever. For the past three years, close to a million people have come down with severe cases of food poisoning. The cause of which was traced to mollusk consumption, particularly, clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops. This was throwing the Pacific Shellfish industry into chaos, with wholesale prices of shellfish steadily dropping. The seriousness of the situation sparked a global research project into the cause, with numerous governments providing funding.

Approximately 2 hours ago, the results of a two year-long global investigation into food poisoning related to shellfish was announced. Mollusk species all across the Pacific and east Indian Oceans were becoming infected with an unusual bacterium. This bacterium caused mollusks to produce a toxin resulting in severe digestive system inflammation in humans shortly after consumption. Additionally, Atlantic and west Indian Ocean species were found to be naturally immune to the bacteria.

Immediately proceeding the release of the study results, global prices for Pacific clams, oysters, scallops, and mussels dropped 50%, while prices for Atlantic species rose 60% in a matter of hours. Within a few weeks, the price for most Atlantic shellfish will have risen 300%. News of outside events is slow to arrive in the village. Less than a fifth of homes have a television, and only half the residents have a radio. At first, the change in prices go unnoticed in the small village.

While Avskjedsdag is the last official day the town receives supplies, Kanin Fjord’s fishing fleet typically unloads their last catch of the season in Stokkvågen a few weeks after Avskjedsdag. Unbeknownst to the ship captains and their crews, the cargo holds of each ship contain a small fortune in shellfish. Kanin Fjord was about to become quite prosperous, a prosperity that would attract a great deal of attention.

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The noon sun hugs the horizon.

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A cargo ships docks at Ratatosk Pier and the town begins unloading 4 months worth of supplies.

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Ratatosk Pier viewed from homes overlooking the fjord.

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The pier is quite busy, and no it isn't nighttime, it is actually 12:30 in the afternoon.

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Ratatosk Pier and Fiskefabrikk viewed from above. Cargo ships are often use the assistance of several of the village's fishing vessels to help maneuver the large ship into docking position.