Chapter 1
January 31, 2009
I’ve been taking awhile to settle on what I want to try to do this year with regard to resolutions. I’ve been trying out ideas to see which are rewarding and practical and which don’t fit into my routine right now. Anyway, one goal that seems to fit into our life reasonably well is to write 200 words per night with the idea of eventually completing a short book of some sort. Anyway, in an effort to make this endeavor more real (and also to encourage Bart to start producing) I hope to post something up each Saturday. If you end up reading what I write, feel free to point out inconsistencies, boring bits, questions that you have, grammar, semantic and syntactic problems, and so on. For what it’s worth, Chapter 1:
“You were born under a red, red moon.” That was what his mother had told him. Tonight, the moon shone white, guiding his steps along the bank of the stream and allowing him to peer down into its dark waters. There, where the water swelled and slowed, he saw something large and slow. The fish moved just enough to stay roughly still in the current. He froze. Slowly, like a reed bending in the wind, he moved his spear into position. Careless hunters end up chasing, or fighting, or missing their kill. The spear drove downward, bisecting the jointed spine. The fish had not moved. Using two hands on the spear, he hefted it out of the water, taking care not to be pierced by the spines as he did so.
Clouds began to shroud the moon, but he did not mind. His feet knew the way back to camp and he went quietly, the song in his mind a happy one, but giving no voice. The quiet man hears. The watching man sees. But it was his nose that was first aware of the camp. Smoke, fish and meats drying. And people. He was coming home.
“I see you, Jonas.”
“I see you, Sintha.”
“No you don’t, but I’m glad you know my voice from my sisters. I’m glad to see you, brother! What is the news?”
“I will go to the Tiki and report first. I’ll come home after that.”
“Good. Let’s talk then.”
She took the fish off the spear and left him.
Sintha’s awareness was uncanny. Never in his life, no matter how quiet he had been had he managed to come upon her without her knowing he was there. Perhaps that was her talent.
As he thought, his feet continued their quiet way down the path and soon he was at the door of the Tiki. Quietly, he said “Jonas is here to report to the Tiki.”
“The Tiki is here. Let Jonas enter.”
He folded back the door and entered.
“Jonas, it is good to see you safe and well.”
“Thank you, it is good to see you also.”
“Have you the bead?”
“I have two beads.”
He held out his hand. In it was a blue bead with a figure of a wolf clearly marked out. Next to it was a red bead with a figure of a bear.
“War. You must tell me how this came about.”
“I followed the Logoth until it joined the Hadron and continued downstream for three more days to the Bear camp. They were about half a day’s journey further to the south than I had expected them to be. After their kind welcome, I went to talk to their Tiki and to make the request that you asked of me. He said that he was not against meeting in principle, but that he could not come to the council that you wish to call this next month, that graver things were afoot. He said that he needed to make preparations for war and gave you the red bead as a request for aid.”
“And who are the Bear people planning to battle?”
“The Lynxes.”
“Fools! Always bickering. This infighting may well be the destruction of our people. We cannot do battle with the Lynxes. They are as much our allies as the Bears. Bring Grava this.”
He extended a white bead with a wolf engraved. “But first, get some rest. Eat some berries and cake. You may leave one day after tomorrow. You have done well.”
With that, the Tiki sat down on his mat. Jonas retreated. “Thank you, sir. Goodnight.”
Rest, he needed. But he was hungry. His feet carried him swiftly home.
“Jonas, my son! We have missed you!”
Anna took him in a large bear hug and set him down.
“You seem well! But too thin! Sit down over here by the fire! Here is some fish. Sintha, bring berries for your brother. Marta, bring a lamp so we can have a look at him. Jonas, we are glad to see you. Deborah, go! Tell Aleph that Jonas is come!”
Moments later, Jonas heard a bear like roar. “Jonas! It’s good to see you well! ” Aleph swept him up and hugged him. “You must tell us of your journey.”
Sitting by the fire, Jonas alternated between drinking warm spiced water and eating cakes, fish and berries while the family peppered him with questions. Why had he taken so long? How were the Bears? How was Grava? Had he gotten lost along the way? Why did the Bears want to fight with the Lynxes this time?
“I didn’t really understand why the Bears were angry with the Lynxes, but it seems to have something to do with a white stag.”
“Hmm. The white stag . . .,” said Aleph
“Do you know something, father?”
“Well, I’m not sure. I’ll have to think about this. But I remember your father, your real father, telling me about the white stag. How long ago was that? Nine years? Not long before he died, Jonas.”
“I should like to know more, as you remember.”
“I think you will find out more before this year is out. But now it’s time to rest. Deborah, damp the fire. Sintha, find Jonas mat and lay it out. Let us sleep, my children.”
“He’s awake! We don’t have to keep whispering!”
“Quiet, child, or you’ll be right! Let him get his sleep. This is his one morning to rest at home.”
Jonas opened his eyes. He felt good. As nice as the stream and the stars may be, there was no place for sleeping like his own mat in his own home.
The first night was quick and dreamless and the next day seemed like a dream. Finding berries and mushrooms, spearing fish and smoking them, playing with the young ones, and talking through the evening. The second night went as quickly as the first.
“See, he’s awake! Good morning, Jonas! Sintha’s gone to get berries and mushrooms. Mom got the water warm. And look! I have 6 eggs.”
“Good morning Jonas! I’m sorry for all this racket.”
“It’s alright. I see that the sun will be up soon. It’s time for me to go.”
“I’ve filled your bag with supplies for the journey–dried fish, dried berries, a few things to spice up your meals. Remember to bring it this time! But you can’t leave quite yet. Have some of these eggs. Have some cake.”
“Thank you, mom. Their delicious. I’ll miss you and dad and the girls. “
“We’ll miss you too. Now scat!”
Jonas checked to make sure he had the white bead and that his things were packed and began walking south. He loved coming home and he loved being home. But he also loved being on his own, moving through the woods. At home was the pleasure of companionship, of comfort and of warmth. In the woods was the pleasure of solitude and the satisfaction of being responsible for taking care of himself.
He settled into his pace, trotting down the Logoth and then the Hadron, drawing from the richness of the waters and the forest along the way for what he needed. Travel was simple right now, as the summer waned. It would be more difficult when winter came. If it weren’t for the winter, perhaps they would never stop in one place. Perhaps they would live like this, by traveling and finding what we need along the way. As it was, they needed a chance to lay food and supplies up in store.
Down stream he traveled, past the old Bear camp and on to the new one. And then he was at the outer border of the camp. They had chosen a beautiful spot, right next to the water but also at a boundary between forest and meadow. But why had they moved?
As Jonas approached the main camp, he grew concerned. Where were the Bears? Where was the smell of fire? Was the camp really empty? By the time he reached the main clearing it was clear enough. The Bear people were gone.
Our Merry Band
January 25, 2009
- Lily managed to get pen marks all over her face while Gina and I were looking elsewhere during sacrament meeting,
- Elsie started reading her first book,
- Timmy invented and made for himself a microwaved whole-wheat biscuit with cheese sandwich,
- Abby got to the part in Robin Hood where Friar Tuck joins the merry band,
- Kate finished her report on Pocahontas, got together a Pocahontas costume, and explained why the movie was historically inaccurate,
- Gina made rice bags for herself and the kids to keep them warm at night and other times, and
- I found time to read a couple of books (Seventh Son and Red Prophet).
The week we spent in a cesspool of nasty germs
January 18, 2009
- Lily: pink eye, sore throat, fever, diarrhea
- Elsie: pink eye (worse than Lily), sore throat, extremely runny nose, horrible cough
- Timmy: diarrhea
- Abby: vomiting, sore throat,
- Kate: vomiting, runny nose, diarrhea
- Gina: sore throat, low energy, lack of sleep, runny nose
- Doug: sore throat, digestive issues, lack of sleep
Back to school
January 11, 2009
- Lily kept climbing up to the top of a bookshelf to play with a tea set there despite her mother's best efforts,
- Elsie, on hearing Gina say that she and Julia were becoming fast friends turned to me with one eyebrow up and one down and said "Yes, Julia is the fastest friend in the world. But when I run she can't catch me. We're fast friends."
- Timmy helped the girls make many complicated rail road tracks,
- Abby wrote her mother a nice note thanking her for the chance to help make dinner,
- Kate lit up on hearing a Rosetta stone commercial, excited about learning a language in just weeks,
- Gina applied syrup to 200 or so pancakes, and
- I got to turn most of those pancakes on the griddles.
Welcome to the new year
January 4, 2009
- Lily managed to have a diaper that smelled of chocolate,
- Elsie used her new sweeper to sweep underneath the kitchen table and was delighted when complimented on the difference that she made,
- Timmy decided that the most fun part of sledding was turning sharply at the bottom of the hill and making a rolling exit from the sled,
- Abby read "Arnie, the Doughnut" multiple times to an attentive and laughing Elsie,
- Kate began to learn to play Dr. Mario and DDR,
- Gina suggested that we go through Shiprock and Gallup rather than take an Eastern route, keeping us neatly out of a second winter storm, and
- my legs were so sore that it hurt to walk down stairs after going on a short jog with Bart.
P.S. We had a wonderful time first in Monroe and then in Provo and Salt Lake. We thank God regularly for the families that we had the good fortune to be born into and to join and associate with over the years. It was a pleasure to see you all. Happy New Year!
