[Song of Alaska 02] - Morning's Refrain Read Online Free PDF Page A

District of Alaska. Appointed by President Harrison earlier in the year, Governor Knapp and his family were about to arrive at the docks in Sitka, along with three of their four children. Nearly the entire populace of Sitka had turned out to welcome the newcomers. Russians, Creoles, Tlingits, and Americans stood side by side to cheer the event. Everyone wanted to know what news he would bring of the States and of the future for Alaska.
    Dalton stood to the far side of the wharf watching with the others. He caught a glimpse of the bearded man as his launch approached the docks. The harbor was too shallow for the larger ships to enter close to shore, but it was only a minor inconvenience. The approach of the launch allowed the people ashore to watch and assess the passengers. It also allowed the governor and his family to consider their new home.
    “They ain’t gonna like it here,” Briney Roberts announced. The man was an old salt who’d long been a friend of the family. “I can tell you, the president makes a big mistake every time he appoints a governor who don’t know nothing about this place.”
    “I agree with you there, Briney.” Dalton shrugged. “I suppose they mean to put politicians in place who know how the game is played back in Washington. I guess they feel it doesn’t matter whether they know how to live here or not.”
    Briney scratched his graying beard. “Your pa would make a better governor than that fellow.”
    “Well, give the guy a chance. Pa says he’s a war hero. He served in the Union Army and was wounded several times during the War Between the States. He’s been a lawyer and judge, as well as a congressman.”
    Briney spit out into the water. “Bah. Ain’t none of those things gonna give him the wherewithal to live here. A lawyer. Bah! A waste of time, if you ask me.”
    Dalton shrugged. Briney made a good point, but he didn’t want to encourage dissension. “Only time will tell if it’s given him the knowledge he needs for running the district. A governor will need a good understanding of the law. Maybe we can teach him the rest.”
    A loud round of applause went up as Governor Knapp appeared safely on the dock. The man bowed and presented his wife. More applause. Knapp motioned for the noise to cease, and the crowd fell silent.
    “Citizens of Sitka, I want to thank you for such a warm welcome. I am Governor Lyman Knapp, and I have come to serve this district to the best of my ability. Though this is an isolated land, I am persuaded to believe that there is a great wealth of resources and advantages to this place.”
    The clapping began again, and Briney nudged Dalton. “Got ’em eating out of his hand.”
    Knapp was now speaking with the city officials. There seemed to be some confusion as to what was to happen next. Dalton suppressed a yawn and glanced out to see a second, smaller boat making its way to the wharf. Perhaps these people were part of the governor’s family or staff. Dalton noted several women, as well as children, huddled together. They seemed to consider the town with some interest. Once in a while, someone would point and others would nod. Deciding he’d seen enough, Dalton was just about to move away when he saw a woman near the front of the boat jump to her feet. Fashionably dressed and groomed, she seemed oblivious to the danger.
    Dalton frowned. They were still a good ways from docking—it really was foolish of her to stand. The woman waved her hands as if swatting at some unseen attacker. The people in the boat were admonishing her to sit, but she seemed not to hear them. Instead she turned rather quickly and entangled herself in her dark green traveling suit.
    Dalton watched in a kind of strange fascination as the woman tipped backward almost in slow motion. The people around her reached out to take hold of her and keep her from falling off the boat, but it was to no avail. Another of the passengers screamed, calling out a name that Dalton couldn’t