ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Thankees! I couldn't miss that!
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ I took back the keys, slipping them into My coin pouch for now, and turning back to the wealth of knowledge stored here.
Haigan Calling amari to My side I gave her instructions in a mild yet firm tone "you take half these remaining thralls up to the next level and put them to work harvesting fruit and nuts from the jungle. Be careful, that IS a cliff ledge you'll be working along. YOU keep watch for the Ohana, when you see it wave your headscarf, so we can locate you." Kissing her gently and smacking her rask briskly, I set her to task then turned to face the thralls speaking clearly and firmly "Three of you go with amari, three of you go with the Physician and ALL of you do as your told or I'll skin you alive for boots and toss the rest to the sharks!"
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ the three thralls that I selected were sturdy beasts, and paid attention to Me without being distracted by My guano-encrusted boots, for which I was glad. It would have just been embarrassing all around, I thought, and assigned them to pack the manuscripts and scrolls in crates, while I explored the rest of the contents of the shelves and cabinets as well as the pretty kalana wood desk. "This isn't the apothecary. But I'm sure She had one. In Vendara they were selling something called Nobebe's and PregNo for a long time. AuRorah was well known for Her potions, creams, and health concoctions." I sat at the desk and looked through a few of the scrolls and manuscripts before they were packed away but I wasn't familiar with some of the terms still, so I repacked them carefully, then took a look at the equipment that was neatly set in the cabinets. One was a black box, about the size of a slab of wall tile. It had a glass display screen and an array of buttons on the front. On one side, a push of another button would cause a thin tray to slide out smoothly. It had a rectangular recess in it for placing samples for microscopic viewing and analysis, which after a short flash of lights along the top edge, would be displayed on the screen along with an enlarged view of the item inserted for analysis.
Haigan "Time and Tides Doc, wait for no-one!" Sheathing the sword I laughed and bounded away down the stairs toward the tidal cave below. Seeing the rising tide had begun to fill the chamber I waded into the water which was steadily rising and began to cross the distance to the far stair which I knew lead up and out to the tunnel which joined the main cavern and out again by another into the jungle on the hillside above the ruins of the Lady Au'rorah's old homeplace.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ I whispered to Meself aloud as I marvelled. "I've never seen one of these machines, as Fort Haskins was not as large as say, Ar or Ko-Ro-Ba, or VenDara for that matter. Arkmemnon would have a bosk calf when He got His hands on this!" The late Phy also kept, in the left hand side drawer, a contraption that I didn't think was used in the Phy field, but what did I know. It was rectangular and was light enough to be held in one hand. It was made of some sort of hard plastic material and had two circular concavities on the front. There were two buttons on the right side, and in the middle of the front, there was a dial. Below the bottom circle, there was a screen that flashed manuscript...
Haigan Reaching the far stairwell I began to ascend them quickly, taking them in stride two at a time as I raced upward for the tunnel with the torch blazing above My head held firmly in the grip of My left hand. Turning the corner at the upper landing I raced ahead into the tunnel toward the main cavern with My mind a dozen steps ahead, as it formulated the launch of the Ohana and the fastest route with the least visibility around Frog Island to the hidden cove which I suspected lay sheltered somewhere within the shape of its limbs along its Ror coast.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ unknowingly, I'd turned the dial on as I'd been fiddling with it. "Wow, this is really strange!" I said aloud, and then almost jumped out of My skin as a monotone female voice emanated from the box. "Wow, esto es realmente estrano!" The language was Spanish, but I didn't know that, because most barbarians had been taught basic Gorean before they were allowed to mingle with Gorean societies.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : "What is this?"
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ "Que es eso?" came again from the box, slightly muffled because I'd laid it face down. I picked it back up and sure enough, the screen on the bottom had translated (I assumed) what I'd said into this different language. I decided to keep THIS for Myself...er...maybe show to Haigan...or not? What if He thought it was some kind of magic? Maybe I'll find a Builder that can shed more light on this, I thought to Myself.
Haigan Bursting into the main cavern again My feet slipped and skittered in the sand and stones as I turned toward the tunnel we had entered it from originally. My toes dug for purchase in the shifting debris as I darted toward the exit and raced down its length bobbing and weaving to duck and dodge protrusions and swags of stone along its walls and low ceiling as I made My escape into the soft warm filtered light of Lar Torvis streaming through the jungle canopy above.
amari☰H☰fg hearing my Master's command, i had answered swiftly in understanding..."yes, my Master! i will be cautious!"...then lifted my pack upon my shoulder and motioned to the remaining three thralls to follow me and exited the room, following the stairwell leading up to the next level
Haigan Tossing the torch aside in the main tunnel as I neared its mouth I charged down the path we had hacked into the jungle two days before, making haste for the beach and the slaves I knew would be there with the sack of shellfish, the cauldron and the longboat.
amari☰H☰fg Moving to the level which led to the mouth of the cave, i smiled as i saw the open ledge surrounded by the garden of jungle vegetation and tropical flowers in an array of colors. there were fruit trees of all varieties, along with bushes and vines that grew wild, some crawling along the ground as cover, others climbing upon the stone of the cave and the trunks of the trees. The lush growth was dense, each plant difficult to distinguish from the others as they all seemed as one from a distance. stepping closer, i inhaled the fragrant air, smelling of floral scents, the salty air and the distinct aroma of rich soil and nature alive and thriving around us. Motioning to the thralls, i spoke firmly but kindly as i had seen they were hard-working and obedient..whether that was their nature or the sight of my Master's worn boots, i couldn't say for sure. Speaking to the first, a young, strapping lad with sandy blonde hair..."you may gather nuts from the trees and bushes, use the sul sack within the crate and fill it with as much as you can find...go.."
Haigan Nearing the break where the jungle met the beach line I began to shout ahead "PACK IT UP!" Erupting from the dense foliage of the jungle into open view on the sprawling pristine champagne toned sands of the beach I raced toward the longboat and the few slaves gathered nearby. "Get the firewood into the longboat and take in that sack of shellfish! Back to the Ohana!" I waved them toward the longboat as I took hold of its mooring line and began to drag it toward the rolling surf which whispered and murmured with it's growing pains as the tide came in.
amari☰H☰fg denius)) nodded to the Master's girl, reaching into one of the crates that sat at the entrance to the cave and pulling out a large sul sack and ventured into the midst of the bushes first to begin gathering
amari☰H☰fg turning to the second, an older thrall, most likely around my own age, tall and lanky with short-cropped dark black hair, i smiled as i considered his height and long legs then instructed him..."you may climb the trees, gather the high fruit into your shoulder pack, then fill the crates...take care not to fall"
amari☰H☰fg treron)) i felt the stretch at the back of my neck as i looked down at the slip of a girl. i'd watched her, but had been careful not to be seen watching her too closely. i laughed a little, an uncommon sound even to myself, and nodded to her. she had guessed correctly, i was uncommonly good at climbing trees and i moved toward a thicket to begin my ascent
amari☰H☰fg Blinked as the thrall practically sprinted up the tree, more like a jit than a man, then turned to the third thrall, tipping my head slightly to access him with a glance, took in his stance, rather wary, his eyes averted from mine until i gave a soft "ahem" to which he responded looking up quickly and meeting my gaze. i smiled to him, recognizing the shock of red hair, and spoke softly..."you may gather the low fruit, search the low-hanging branches, the bushes and all the vines. use your shoulder pack, then fill the crates but don't dawdle!"
Haigan Having the firewood and shellfish loaded securely within the boat we towed the craft further into the Sea, with a wave of My hand I sent the slaves over the gunnels and into the boat then clambered in Myself. "Oars out! Take hold! Heave! Feather! Catch! Heave! Feather!" I called the cadence while the slaves pulled at the oars to quickly sweep us alongside the Ohana. Coiling the mooring line and tossing it skyward over the Ohana's starboard rail I then took hold of the boarding net then setting foot and hand in coordinated motion quickly scampered up and swung Myself over the railing to snatch the mooring line, tying it off securely. Taking the cargo netting suspended from its tackle in hand and swinging it over the rail I barked My commands to the crew while striding across the main deck. "Shift that cargo! Get it aboard! Bring in the nets and prepare to weigh anchor!"
amari☰H☰fg renden)) i felt the girl's eyes and remembered the unusual shade, they reminded me of Thassa, the only home i'd ever known. the Master sure seemed to be fond of this one, she didn't appear to have any scars, unlike my own body. hearing her "ahem" i looked up into those eyes and blinked, shaking my head slightly and listening, then nodding to her, setting off into the jungle that surrounded us in search of the fruit. hopefully, filling the crates well would save me from a beating.
amari☰H☰fg The thralls set to task, i moved toward the ledge, staying far back from the edge but with a full view of the harbor and the wide expanse of the sea beyond. my gaze ever watchful for the ship on which my Master sailed, i breathed in the fresh air as i waited for the appearance of the Ohana
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ when the thralls were done loading the reading material and the examination equipment, I had them take it out to be loaded on the ship, but one came back to Me almost immediately, his dark eyes wide with uncertainty."Mistress! There is trouble, Mistress!" He said in a shaking voice. "There is water--"
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Water?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ I swept past the thrall and went to the head of the stairwell, where the other two slaves stood in stupified consternation. They saw Me approach and dropped to the floor, heads lowered. I took a look down the stairs and muttered, "Ah, Priest Kings, the tide!"
Haigan Moving to the shipping crate I used as a desk on deck I unbound the chart and spread it across the crate's surface to study the contours of Frog Island. "Mainsail aloft and slacken braces! Secure the longboat!" I glanced in several directions to see that My orders were being carried out with a sense of urgency, then after moment returned to the chart and studied the depth soundings recorded around the Island.
amari☰H☰fg seeing at my feet a stray vine, an idea formed and i smiled, pulling it up from the ground, loosening its tendrils from the soil and wiping away the dirt from the long, thin stem. moving to a bush of flowering blossoms, i began plucking them just below the head, leaving enough of the stem to grasp and tie to the vine. one by one, i added the flowers to the vine, weaving them together in a fragrant, pretty design i formed a wreath and, taking the scarf from my hair, i set the blooming wreath in place
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ figured It must have started to rise while we were inspecting the last chamber. How in the world was Haigan gonna get back soon with 5 ahns of tide between us? "It's fine, it's fine! Just...stack the crates over here, by the cave entrance...but stay out of amari's way and don't bother her crew! Y'all can help Me make sure I've got everything of importance, from that room."
