It is clear who is in charge. The changing of the seasons has brought with it a sweet imperative. It's maple syrup time in Québec and boatbuilding must stop. The snow is fast melting away, but the night-time frosts and the day-time sun is bringing the sap out of the roots and into our buckets. Capt. Fairhead, a master for all seasons, is thus distracted. Instead of hammering planks into place we are staggering, sap laden, to gathering tanks and basking in the sweet steam of the sugar shack. There will be pancakes aplenty in good time, and many to eat them I'll warrant.
