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Chapter 16
The Battle of Puffin Island
By Sunday evening The Frabjous Joy is safely berthed in Amlwch. On account of a good supply of copper ore from the Parys mine, Amlwch has become the largest metropolis in Meirionydd.
It’s a major port in every respect, exporting Welsh produce, and handling incoming goods from Leinster and Mannin. Leinster with lots of fertile land, produces excellent sugar cane, coffee beans and tea.
Mannin has some very fine tea too, but it’s the most expensive around, as is their port and their sherry.
There’s constant friendly rivalry between the wines and champagnes of Mannin and Meirionydd, with each claiming to have the best. Mannin makes a virtue of charging higher prices, and that doesn’t seem to affect business adversely. Quite the opposite actually! The limited availability and the cost of Mannin produce means that it has acquired a special sort of up market cachet.
When the Brittania Bridge collapsed in 2208, all the railways on Ynys Môn were mothballed. Telford’s old Menai Bridge survives, and now it’s the only physical link to the mainland. Back in its original role, although heavy wagons are prohibited. It’s for horses and carts, and foot traffic only.
The railway line from Bangor to Fflint still operates, but ships have the advantage when it comes to handling freight to and from Ynys Môn.
By Tuesday The Frabjous Joy is ready to depart Amlwch loaded with ore, a good deal of citrus fruit, locally grown bananas, and dozens of crates of sweet white wine. It sets sail for Conwy.
The cargo of copper ore is being delivered to the refineries on The Great Orme, and will be replaced by a batch of freshly prepared copper ingots for onward carriage to the mint at Rhuddlan. From there the final cargo, a large batch of newly minted Wolfland sovereigns, is to be taken to Lancaster.
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