The World of Ice

John Buzzby is the sort of sailor you’d swear could never be caught napping. A grizzled veteran of countless storms and exotic ports, he carries the sea in his bones, his half‑open eye always scanning the horizon for trouble—or a good story. Tough, witty, and fiercely loyal, he’s the kind of mentor who teaches a boy to tie a knot before the boy even learns to read.

At the bustling pier of Grayton, Buzzby watches a sleek whaler prepare for a daring trek into the ice‑bound waters of the Davis Straits. He ribs the eager fifteen‑year‑old Fred, whose father is about to send the vessel out, while offering blunt advice about keeping one’s “weather‑eye” open and the tongue shut. Their banter hints at the rugged challenges ahead, setting the stage for a high‑seas adventure where experience and youthful ambition will soon be tested against the unforgiving polar frontier.