Chapter 20
After two weeks of continuous paddling, three small people became
even smaller. Relentless physical exertion requires the body to be provided
with lots of fat and energy. Despite Honya's best efforts, the fish we
ate were all lean. The rabbit Yewdis proudly held up one evening was
itself skin and bones. We were used to living like the wild animals, but
as when the bear prepares for winter, fat was the only form of food we desperately
needed. One evening, after considerable effort, we also caught ourselves
a duck. I contemplated whether the energy taken to catch one small widgeon
would actually be repaid by the beast. Later, after plucking, the poor creature
looked more like a web-footed sparrow. We laughed, remembering the comic scenes
of our hunting endeavours. We had caught the hapless creature by stringing up a
fisherfolk fishing net across a sea inlet. In our kayaks, we corralled a
small flock of ducks gently down into the trap. Then, when they were near
the net, we suddenly frightened them into lifting off straight into our net.
Success only came at the third attempt. The first time our high pitched squeals
incited no fear. They lazily flew out to sea to be rid of that shocking noise.
The second time, after a number of hours waiting for any ducks to
reappear at all, the birds took fright, but were too far from the net and all
cleared it easily. Finally, instead of the three choice ducks we had hoped we
would be eating, we caught only one scrawny sea-sparrow. The fisherfolk
had demonstrated duck-catching techniques many times to great effect.
They were more interested in duck down than any alternative to their
fishy diet. From the ducks came their heavenly taste in feather beds, a
tradition I was keen to take back to our cave side existence, if we ever made
it.
Late one morning, Yewdis, in his lead position, spied a large town
with a coastal harbour. By his description I was sure that we had
arrived. Jokou was unusual in being sited very close to the sea, and the
barn-like communal hall stood unusually high above the town ramparts and wooden
walls. The harbour was little more than a beach, and as we drew closer we
noticed some strange sights that gave us our first premonition that all was not
well in Jokou. In the harbour a large long ship rested on its side with
the waves crashing straight into the deck. The vast long mast lay prone,
pointing out to sea, with the tattered sail, swishing like sea kelp. It was a
shock to see such a fine strong vessel breaking up before us. I thought of the
hours of labour that had gone into making this fine vessel. Now, with each
tide, all was being undone. Not a person was around. The shed where
some time ago I had first been branded a slave was still there. The doors
were wide open, like a gaol after an earthquake. Honya and Yewdis
detected my horror. They were new in this area, and had no idea of what to
expect. We hauled up our kayaks onto the beach. Rest could have
been our first thought, but curiosity got the better of me. Perhaps a great war
had taken place? The headman of Jokou was certain one for a fight. His people
would probably be reluctant, but he was a bully, and normally picked on small
defenceless communities, like the one I was from. A chill went down my spine
when I considered what might have befallen my own people. We walked
together up to the town gates. There were no sentries today. I man
in official looking attire was sitting on the sentry post with his head in his
hands. I approached him and as he saw me, he pulled away. Some
Jokou words came to mind and I greeted him, but he was up and gone.
We looked at each other mystified, and walked on. Although this was
a surreal experience to say the least, we felt no fear. It felt as if we were
entering the corpse of the city, where all previous strength was gone.
The place also stank. Not just of human waste, but also of the
smell of hopelessness and despair. We continued together to the market place.
People walked pass the us like ghosts. Occasionally someone might look
up, but it was as if we were of no significance. In the market place, it
looked as if there had been no action for many moons. Fires were burning with
huge cooking pots stewed food, their cooks bent over them intently.
Seated in rows against low wooden fences were the bedraggled inhabitance
of Jokou. I looked into the great communal hall, that dark space of evil.
In the inner recesses of the building, rows of beds could be seen as far as the
could see. And here and there, larger people stood, tending to the sick.
In the gloom I thought I saw a face I knew, a called out softly, hardly
daring to say her name aloud. "Tilda". In less than a second I was in
her arms. We were both crying, as Honya and Yewdis look on. After what seemed
an age, Tilda released her grip. She looked at me, and I at her.
"You look so thin", she exclaimed. "And strong"
I added. I introduced my new brother and sister, slightly bemused because
I had suddenly without warning moved back into my native tongue. Tilda, a
skilled linguist, amazed my two with some words in Oshlosh. She was also quite
proficient in Honya's family language, which gave me an instant flash of
jealousy. Tilda, my sister, was brilliant at most things. Then Tilda got
us something to eat and drink. For the first time in an age I once again tasted
the unique taste of our stone cooked bread. It brought tears to my eyes. And we
were told how the plague had come and felled the might tree of Jokou. The
headman was one of the first to die. And how my people had dedicated themselves
to saving as many lives in the city. My people mysteriously appeared to have
resistance to the disease, few had been really ill. And our patents? Tilda with
a merry smile, clasped me again to herself and whispered, "we are all
fine."
The End
Approx. 19,400 words
32 pages
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