Journeys Chapter Two p10
After finishing the meal, Iohn rose to his feet. “May I?” He inquired as he extended a hand towards her.
She accepted with a mumbled “Of course.” She took his hand and allowed him to assist her to her feet. “You sir, are a gentleman.” When he gave her an earnest and honest smile, she returned it.
“I know that I'm going to sound somewhat stupid, but I have a question.” Iohn prefaced, as he looked at what was left of the deer. “What are we going to do with what's left? I know that we can carry about a weeks worth with us, but that's still a lot of venison.” He gestured towards the animal in question.
Ariel eyed the carcass. “That's easy,” she replied as she ran her fingers through hair and brushed it back over her shoulders. “We'll preserve it with salt.” She moved over to the deer and drew her knife from the sheath. “We'll cut the meat into strips that we can carry and make them into pemmican. The rest, we'll cut up and put into one of these barrells.” She pointed to the wooden barrells that were scattered around the camp. “The salt in the barrells will preserve the food for the next person that passes through.”
Iohn walked over to one of the barrells and opened the top. Looking inside, he saw other salted meat. “Is it just meat?” He walked over to another one.
Ariel shook her head. “No, one contains meat, one grains, one water, one firewood.” A wistful smile crossed her lips as she explained. “Everytime someone visits, they take what they need and leave something in return.” Or at least, that's what they are supposed to do.
Almost as if he was reading her thoughts, Iohn commented, “I doubt that everyone that stops by here does that. Some people take what they can get and don't care about the next person.” Or the person who set this all up.
The Daoine a bhios a 'siubhal's face fell and she dug into the belly, viciously. She was so lost in her anger that she didn't hear it when Iohn walked up behind her. When she felt his hand on hers, she slumped. “Why are people like that, I-Yohn? I don't understand.” She raised a hand to wipe the tears from her eyes.
Damned if I know, Ariel, Damned if I know. Iohn thought. “I don't know, Ariel. But I do know that you aren't that way, and that you really care, and it shows.” He gently wiped a tear from her cheek.
“What do you know? I could be an aweful person.” She quipped.
“That's not possible. An aweful person would never share their food with someone who discovered their camp.” His lips curled up in a tender smile.
Ariel must have a pretty good back story. That is what a good writer does, get the reader thinking about the "rest-of-the-story".
Hi, it is not related to this article but I just wanted to say thank you for your trust!
Your welcome, and this is a pretty good story if you like reading fiction.