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People of Stone by SDerkins (c) 2007 Disclaimer: This is my own original work and may not be duplicated, copied, or reposted without my written consent. A printout is fine for personal enjoyment as long as the Author, title, disclaimer, warnings, and copy right remains on the printed copy. Warnings: This story contains adult themes with sexual content, strong language, and occasional violence. If you are a minor or if it is illegal for you to view this story then please refrain from doing so. Prologue The people stared at the bare earth where no plants grew. This was very strange. The only thing upon the ground was small rocks where campfires once burned and rings of stones about four paces wide. Why would anyone place rocks in a circle? Was this a way to worship the gods? The leader shook his head in confusion. "These people are strange and unlike any we have met before. These people of stones killed the grass then left. Perhaps it would be better to avoid them." The other men nodded, agreeing. A boy looked down and found an odd thing. He bent down to pick it up, brushing the dirt from its shiny surface. It was longer than his hand, flattish but with a flat, egg-shaped end. What could it be for? Something reflected back at him. It reminded him of the images he saw on calm waters. Pleased, he tied a sinew string to the object and placed it around his neck for good luck. ******* The sight of the Napa-Sonoma village was a welcomed view as the people aboard the WaveDancer neared it. To Cierra, it seemed she had been gone years rather than months. She missed home and her friends and looked forward to returning to the Napa Clan. She shifted Kiona to one hip and joined the others in waving to the people on the pier and shore. The shaman didn't need to be told that Janice would set anchor and open the rear deck door. Everyone was eager to go shore to relax and meet friends. Several canoes headed for the yacht and Cierra spotted Joseph and Ann in the lead boat. They must be raring to give leadership back to Carey, she thought with a chuckle. Carey and Sammy shouted out greetings to their fellow bonded couple and hurried towards the rear decks to meet them. Ann barely gave her husband time to tie off the canoe before jumping out of it. She threw her arms around Carey and Sammy, welcoming them home. "I can't believe you're back! It seems like forever," she wept. Carey tightened her hold on her friend. "Has it been that bad?" "Not really, but I hate giving orders. I'm a follower, not a leader." "Cierra is the same way. She just had no choice, like you did. Well, I'm back. I can take over cracking the whip and knocking heads together when they are fussy," she teased. "You betcha. Are these your things?" she asked, pointing at a pile of bags. Ann and Joseph helped them load their items into the canoe and took them to shore. The others from Mother Earth all gathered their things and headed for the village. The crew would take turns later for shore leave and would help the others in another raid before leaving. Since they would now become traders, they had a list of equipment they would need. They needed airtight storage containers, mining equipment, and derrick to bring heavy items to the yacht. The crew had discussed what possible items to hunt for and sent a man upstream to the scientists' camp to see if any of the botanists would join them. They also hoped for a chemist. Jeren would take over the geologist duties. They hoped to find and harvest items wanted at the clans, such as coffee and vanilla beans, spices, ores, and exotic woods. They also discussed bringing plants from Indonesia and other places to Hawaii. The volcanic Islands had few plants growing there on Mother Earth since mankind never brought them in their outrigger canoes. Introducing favorite fruits and plants to the islands would bring the food sources closer. In the meantime, they planned on relaxing and enjoying the warm weather of the channel. Several of them planned on sailing upstream to Napa to visit for a few days. Pam had sent down a message to Ann and Joseph that many had built their own tree homes and the village now had sixteen empty beds in the two barracks. Cierra gave them permission for up to nine women and seven men to relax and visit the Napa Clan. Any break in the routine was welcomed even if it meant 'roughing it' at the village. The crew would return in five days along with the last batch of gold ore collected. Ann had some gold already prepared and in small leather bags. She asked Cierra for permission to tag along on the next raid, needing a few items for Napa-Sonoma. The shaman agreed, telling her they would most likely hit the Five and Ten store the next evening. They needed assorted items such as first aid supplies for the sickbay. They also wanted to collect farm equipment and seed for the survivors camps on the New World. They would raid the grocery store last, just before the WaveDancer sailed off. For now, they planned on sitting back and catching up with their friends. Kiona joined Ann's twins and two other young children in the wading pool that had been built just for them near the duck enclosure. The ducks didn't look very pleased at the noise but took it in stride. JP kept an eye on the children as she sat under a tree. Cyd and Carey grabbed some fishing poles and disappeared down the channel to find a quiet place to chat while they fished. Hallie walked up to where Ann and Cierra were chatting, holding the hand of Coira Fleming, the seamstress from Scotland. The pair looked quite happy and Cierra was glad to see that her old lover had found someone. Ann leaned close to Cierra and whispered, "Coira has Hallie wrapped around her little finger." Cierra bit her lip to stop from grinning. It was good to know the strawberry blonde wasn't bullied by Hallie's strong, Type A personality. Perhaps that had been their problem. She never stood up for herself until she had enough of the situation and left. Hallie greeted her former lover and the couple joined the shaman at the bench seat. ********* Maggie came back from her hunting trip with two heavily loaded horses. Looking at all the people who still remained from the WaveDancer, she wondered if it would be enough. She had brought in two deer, five ducks, a wild pig, and one wild turkey. She brought the horses to Quincy and Kamala, who had stones heating in a pit about ten feet across. Joyce looked over the game brought in and offered to help butcher the larger animals. Kamala and Quincy would handle the birds. The two women walked the horses away from the village and hung the larger animals from trees to skin and gut them. By the time they finished the fire had gone out. Wet seaweed was thrown over the hot rocks and the meat placed inside the pit. It was covered with more seaweed then covered in dirt to keep in the heat. It would take most of the day to finish cooking. While that was roasting, a group of women collected their weapons and horses to gather wild food. They had some harvested crops but not a lot since it was only mid-summer. By evening, the crew members of the yacht joined in the prepared feast. Carrie and several other people provided music while people enjoyed the food. The crew was more than happy to try out unfamiliar foods, happy just to see fresh greens and meat for once. The roasted meat from the pits nearly fell off the bones, it was so tender. The village used most of their precious olive oil given to them by the north survival camp and mixed it with vinegar and herbs for dressing. They also had steamed wild artichokes, homemade bread, hard-boiled eggs, corn roasted in their husks, cheese, cornbread, and home-brewed wine and beer. The party went on for some time but eventually it died down and the sailors either returned to the yacht or over to the campsite downstream of the village. People still chatted around the campfires before turning in for the night. Cierra and JP chose to sleep at the camp downstream rather than indoors where it was muggier. Kiona was already out for the count when they crawled into their tent. Neither of the adults were awake more than a few minutes once their heads hit their pillows. ****** Nerrisa strolled on the decks of the WaveDancer next to her father. Neither spoke for a while, merely looking at the stars and the campfires on the shore. She could tell something was on his mind but she wasn't sure what was in his thoughts. She found it was always best to let him ponder and organize his ideas first rather than force him to speak before he had made any decisions. "Nerrisa, I think it time we spoke of the future," he begun. "What of it, Papa?" she asked in their native tongue. Her father looked instantly more relaxed. "This young woman you are...courting. Do the two of you see a future together or is it too soon to determine?" Nerrisa smiled in the darkness. She and Carrie had already become lovers and shared a cabin on the yacht. Her father had to know this. The gossip on board was quick to reveal every secret. She and Carrie also had many long chats at night. The young Greek woman was certain many would find this surprising that they didn't spend all their time in passion. "Yes, Papa, I see us together for a long time." Nicholas nodded. It was as he thought. Now his daughter would leave him and begin her new life away from him. Sadness at his loss tore at his heart. It seemed like yesterday that she had played with her dolls and begged to sit upon his lap. "When will you leave, my daughter?" he asked, wanting to know when his loneliness would begin. "Leave? Papa, what are you talking about?" Nicholas stopped and turned to face his only child. "Nerrisa, I assumed...Are you not leaving with Carrie to live in her village?" To his surprise, she laughed lightly and wrapped her arms around his middle. He hugged her in return. "Papa, we are not leaving. Carrie said it would be unfair to ask that of me. With all that happened to people on Earth, family is too important to disregard. She does not wish to separate us unless I want to leave. It matters not at all where she is as long as we're together." Nicholas wanted to shout with joy. Although he was unsure if he even liked this woman in his daughter's life, but he was grateful for her kind heart. He kissed his child's hair and held her tightly. ****** The owner of the grocery store was looking out the window of his office when he spotted a young hippy woman. He stared at her intently, trying to remember where he'd seen her before. Then it came to him. His eyes fell to the newspaper on his desk and the headline 'Where are they now?' about the unbelievable community that was supposed to exist. The last time he saw her was just before his store was ransacked several months earlier. Was it a coincidence? He remembered her because she pushed no cart or even bought anything. She only looked around. He decided to do a little investigating. He pulled off his apron and grabbed his windbreaker. He wanted to look like another customer. Earl left his office and grabbed a few items and acted like a shopper. He watched her out of the corner of her eye when she looked his way and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, an old receipt, and acted like he was shopping from a list. She seemed satisfied he was harmless and kept walking. He noticed her attention was on the ceiling and corners more than the merchandise. Then it dawned on him. She was looking for fancy surveillance cameras. Well, his business was too small to afford them even with the money he made with the gold. He followed her down an aisle and lost sight of her. He hurried his steps, not wanting to leave her unwatched for two long. He rounded the corner and stared. She wasn't there. The store owner went home early that day. He wanted to take a nap before he returned after closing time. He planned on waiting all night. If she was indeed who he thought, they might appear to rob his store that night. Next Chapter |