DarkSunset

Tocha tried not to show her fear but everything was so different from the world she understood.
She no sooner got over her surprise of one thing when another whipped her back into the realm of
confusion.

She had never seen so many people in one place before. Before her were at least three hands of
people and yet only a few were men. And what was those things on the hill? Smoke rose from
them but she had never seen such a thing before. Straight lines were a rare thing, seen only when
wood was splintered or when one looked at a spider web. Tocha saw people enter the large thing
the color of dried earth then leave once more.

A noise caught her attention and she saw ducks. They were all in one place around a tiny pond.
What was that thing around them? It looked like a net but it did not sway in the wind. Another
noise made her gasp. A great bellow could be heard, like that of a giant elk bull, sent birds into
the air. Tocha felt the need to run and hide but the tall woman, 'Sid', patted her shoulder and
spoke softly. She did not seem afraid of the great beast that had roared.

Tocha held her child closer and saw that everyone was pointing down the river. What did they
see?

She followed her new acquaintances to the bank and was once more shocked at what she saw.
Something huge and white floated against the waters, with things on top of it, like billowing clouds
that captured the winds. It got closer and closer as she watched. It was huge! Tall as a tree and
so long that she would never be able to measure its length, she had not the numbers for it.

The people around her began waving their arms towards the great beast, greeting it. Then Tocha
saw that there were people upon its back! She began tugging on 'Sid's' clothing, asking what it
was but forgetting she didn't speak her tongue. She pointed at the creature.

'Sid' looked at her and Tocha saw amusement in her grey eyes. The tall woman pointed at the
great white beast. "Ka Nu," she said, spreading her hands far apart.

"Ka nu?" Tocha asked, unbelieving. What manner of people built such a thing?

*******

Cierra walked over to Cyd. "I think Tocha has had enough shocks today. Why don't you take her
into the new barracks, get her and Pot something to eat and have them lay down for a nap? I'm
sure she could use it. Maybe have Amie give her a mild sedative."

"Okay. Things are going to be crazy for a while anyways. Holler if you need me."

Cyd gently urged Tocha away from the bank and towards the new barracks. The native woman
looked rather stunned and probably would appreciate some quiet time. Cyd spotted Amie and
motioned her over. She explained the situation briefly and the nurse said she would add a mild
sedative to the tea. It would allow her to relax without knocking her out.

Tocha was a bit frightened about entering the building but once inside she looked around in
wonder. She and Pot touched things carefully, trying to understand what they were looking at.
Cyd escorted them to the cooking area and patted a chair at the table. Tocha looked confused.

"Oh, yeah, right. You've probably never seen a chair before." Cyd sat on the chair then got up
again, urging Tocha to try it. The woman looked at it warily but eased her bottom onto the smooth
surface.

Cyd put together three plates while Amie poured tea into ceramic mugs, hiding the fact that she
added extra to the natives' cups. She then served them and walked away.

Tocha understood bowls and cups at least. Her people used platters made of hipbones and cups
made of gourds and shells. The only item she didn't understand was the spoons. She watched Cyd
pick hers up and begin eating with it. Tocha took hers gingerly while Paut merely took the food in
her fingers and began eating.

The odd item was shiny and cool to the touch and felt awkward in her hand. She tried to copy
'Sid's' motions, dropping more food than keeping. It took several tries before she got managed to
bring a spoonful to her mouth. Pleased, she continued eating the stew made of fowl and
vegetables. It had a pleasant salty taste and she could see the benefit of using the thing 'Sid'
called a spoon. It kept the hands clean and you didn't burn your fingers handling the food.
Sometimes her people used half of a seashell to scoop out food but this was better. These people
were very clever.

She sipped the tea and recognized the taste of honey. It was a rare find and considered a
delicacy. Her nose said it contained mint and other herbs that she didn't recognize. Paut drank
her tea also and soon both were yawning. 'Sid' looked at them and mimicked sleeping. Tocha
nodded. She led them into another part of the hard tent and brought them to a place with raised
places. On them were more of the colorful warm things she used earlier. 'Sid' patted the nearest
one and Tocha crawled onto it. It was soft and warm and she felt herself relax. Paut climbed up
and joined her. Her new friend took another warm thing and placed it over them, saying
something softly. Tocha closed her eyes and allowed sleep to overcome her.

*******

Janice knew something was wrong. Several council members were with Cierra and all of them had
grim expressions on their faces. She gripped Jeren's hand more firmly as she mentally braced
herself.

"What's up?" she asked Cierra.

The shaman signed. "Let's take a walk, okay?"

They began walking slowly along the grassy banks of the channel. Once they were away from the
noise of the people behind them Cierra began explaining the events of the last six months. Janice
and Jeren listened gravely, never asking a single question as they absorbed the horrifying tale.
Finally, Cierra stopped and waited for their responses.

The captain of the WaveDancer felt the weight of everything. She would be the one who told her
crew of the news first before Cierra made her suggestions.

"So there's no truly going back. Most of my crew came from Europe and the east coast of the
United States. We'll lose some of them when we leave to pick up people on the Atlantic side of
the States."

"We realize that. But we need to emphasize the fact that people are suffering from cold
temperatures and starvation right now. Even in Europe where the ash is barely noticed. People
are heading towards warmer countries but the borders are guarded. Even if your people leave to
find their families I doubt they'd find them."

"You said the military is taking refugees to rescue camps. Maybe they will find friends and
family there."

"They might. The last known report we received said that National Guard and military have no
way to control so many frantic people. The looting and violence is out of hand. That's why the
rescue camps are remote."

Janice nodded. "When do you want to leave?"

"I think your people need a rest first, to let this all sink in. The scientists on board will mostly be
relocated to the new village upriver. You might want a few on board who know weather and can
test water sources and such but the others will be taken to their new homes if they don't want to
risk going back to Earth."

"So they'll be forming a town for learning. At least they'll have a purpose. I think they'll need
that," Jeren said softly.

"And saving human knowledge too. We're going to help them build a library this summer," Jenny
mentioned. "We've already brought back lots of books and texts. They need to learn how to
make paper and build simple presses so they can reprint books."

"Do you really think so much will be lost on Earth?" Janice asked.

"We don't know. They estimate that 60 to 80 percent of the US population will die. Other
countries won't be much better. The far northern and southern nations will experience a mini ice
age that will last for generations."

Janice ran a hand through her hair and sighed, wondering why all this happened. No one would
ever really know or understand fate.

"Let's head back," the captain said. "I'll tell everyone from the WaveDancer what is going on."

********

Tocha woke after sundown. The room was quiet and dim but the light from a tiny flame gave her
enough to see with. Paut was still sleeping soundly so the native left her child on the soft nest and
carefully got up. She needed to find her way to the bushes, her bladder painfully full.

She walked around the bend of the barrier and saw a woman sitting at the tay bul, holding a
mysterious item in her hands. These strangers were nothing but mysterious, she thought. Tocha
looked around, trying to remember how one left the dwelling.

The unknown woman asked a question she didn't understand. Tocha mimicked squatting to
urinate and the woman nodded, urging her to follow her. The native watched as a flat wooden
barrier swung aside and revealed an oddly shaped hollow stump inside. She mimed how to use it
and Tocha approached it warily. She lifted aside her tunic and sat gingerly. Her first instinct was
to not urinate inside a dwelling and it took several minutes to relax enough to release the
muscles. Once done, the woman took something white from a round thing and handed it to her.
Tocha was confused. The woman withdrew the white thing and mimed running it along her body.
Tocha understood. The white thing replaced leaves. She took it from the woman and used it,
marveling at its softness.

She stood up and adjusted her tunic. As she did so, she realized the sound of gently running water
could be heard from below. The water must wash away what would smell, leaving the place clean.
How amazing!

The woman next escorted her to a round thing on a smaller tay bul. It contained water inside. The
woman showed her how to wash her hands then led her back to the larger area where the food
was cooked.

"Hun gree?" the woman asked, pretending to place food in her mouth and chewing. Tocha
nodded and was handed a platter with food. The woman handed her a different eating utensil.
Tocha looked at the pointy thing, wondering what it was for.

She sat down at the table and picked up the shiny thing. The woman grabbed another like it and
speared a slice of meat from her plate and ate it. Now with a better idea of its purpose, Tocha
speared a piece of food and lifted it to her mouth, careful not to poke herself with the points. She
then tried to poke a pale food but it didn't work. The soft food couldn't be poked. The woman
took her own shiny tool and slid it under the food then lifted it to her mouth. Tocha watched
carefully then copied her. Soon she had the hang of the 'fork' and finished her meal.

Tocha then went in search of the exit to the dwelling. Being inside the dark earth building made
her uneasy and she wanted to feel the breeze on her skin. She spotted the flat wooden thing,
remembering that was where they entered. She tried pushing the door but it wouldn't open.
Examining the wood she noticed a flat slice of wood with a stick jutting out. She grasped the jut of
wood and the larger piece of wood moved upwards. Suddenly the larger wood thing moved and
the door opened. She walked outside, leaving the door open.

The noise level rose quickly. Although it was almost dark outside, people were still active,
speaking to one another. Tocha may not understand the words but she felt the tension and
excitement in the air. What was happening? Tocha sought out Cyd. They may not speak the same
words but at least she was familiar.

As she approached the banks Tocha noticed that the great ka nu was bright with lights. How did
they accomplish that? She wished she knew the language of these amazing people. She tore her
gaze from the ship and looked around for Cyd. She found her near a fire, sitting next to one of the
blondes that had been with the original group. Tocha then noticed that the two women sat very
close and the tall woman had her arm around the smaller. They looked very comfortable with one
another. Were they related? But then she saw the two women turn to look at one another then
press their lips together.

Having never seen a kiss, she was puzzled. Then she noticed one of the few men among the
villagers press his lips to the cheek of the woman next to him. Was this a sign of affection?

And why were there so few men? She only had seen five men and everyone else was females or
children. Could the men be such good providers that they could afford so many mates?

She just didn't understand these strangers very well. Tocha's eyes met with Cyd's and the tall
woman smiled in a friendly manner and patted the log next to her. The native woman sat down
and merely studied those around her, trying to listen carefully, hoping to learn more words. Cyd
must have noticed her desire to learn more words because she pointed at the burning fire and
gave her the word for it. Then she mimed shivering and gave her the word for chilled or cold.
Then she held out her palms towards the fire and told her the word for either warm or heat.

Eventually, Tocha yawned and decided to return to the warm nest and her daughter. Too many
new things had left her mentally exhausted. Perhaps tomorrow would be easier.

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