Page 16 of Adrift in Iceland
‘That is quite a conspiracy theory,’ Astrid whispered, her eyes wide.
‘Could it be true? How territorial are humpbacks? When I was fishing, I used to see them in the same area for a few weeks at a time, but I don’t know if that was a coincidence.’
Astrid smiled and shook her head. ‘No, at this time of the year they are starting to migrate from warmer to colder water. It is possible that they have a preferred feeding area. They will be here over the summer months and then will head south to breed.’
‘If they’re feeding here, they are probably competing with the fishermen, huh?’
‘Probably. Sardines, anchovies, herrings, that’s what they’re after. What did you fish?’
‘Capelin. Not last year though,’ he said.
‘Really? Why?’
Leifur shrugged. ‘I don’t think anyone knows for sure, but they didn’t return to Icelandic waters like they usually would.’
‘What did you do? Can you catch something else instead?’
‘By the time we missed out on the capelin, it was too late. We fish on a quota basis, and all the other quotas were allocated, so it’s hard to do anything if you’re unlucky like we were last year.’
‘So that’s how you lost the business? Could you have pitched for a different quota this year?’
‘I could have,’ Leifur said. ‘But the fishing industry in Iceland is changing. It’s getting harder and harder to compete with the industrial fishing companies. They are taking over small businesses like mine and taking the quotas. They are operating on a huge scale and can drive prices down because they’re relying on quantity. It makes it hard to make a living with one boat. It was time.’
He gazed out to sea, wondering for the umpteenth timewhether he’d made the right decision. He felt Astrid move closer to him and then felt her hand slip into his, giving it a squeeze. The past few months had been the loneliest of his life, and her hand in his felt like a huge stride towards not feeling like that anymore. He squeezed back and turned to her and smiled.
‘Thanks,’ he said, hoping that somehow she would realise how much it had helped.
‘You know, we’re not that different,’ Astrid said, looking out to sea with a thoughtful look on her face. ‘It’s not exactly my dream to be a tour guide on a sightseeing boat. It wasn’t part of the plan, but it’s the best I have at the moment. It’s that or work for my sister.’
‘And that would be worse than working with me?’
She shot him a smile, and his heart did something that took him by surprise.
‘Yes, I think it would be. I can’t get into a situation where she’d be paid to boss me around. That’d be much worse than working for you, even if you’re as grumpy as you were this morning.’
He laughed. ‘That is saying something about your sister. My brother used to work for me, and he didn’t seem to mind my bossing him around.’
‘He’s younger?’
Leifur nodded.
‘That’s the natural order of things, then,’ said Astrid. ‘Gudrun is younger, so I think it would go to her head if she was finally the one in charge.’
‘Are you bossy to her?’
Astrid laughed and shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. Although maybe you would have to ask her. I’m making fun of her, but she is very good at her job and she loves it. I couldn’t stand being inside all the time.’
‘What does she do?’
‘She’s the manager of Snug. The homeware store on Laugavegur.’
Leifur shook his head. He wasn’t into shopping or homeware.
‘It’s a very cool shop if you ever need a pillow or a scented candle.’
‘I can’t think why I haven’t been there.’
‘Are you telling me you have more than enough pillows and candles already?’
