Welcome to my seemingly endless journey.
A trip that will take you to places I might have visited many moons ago.
It´s a tale that came back to me when I meditated on one of my past lives. A life I told you about in my unbelievable true story.
As promised in that story I will now share this story with you.
Chapter 35
The man shakes my hand, and then we head towards the well in the middle of the square. Where Women fetch pitchers of water here and do their laundry. Unusual as it is, we men join them to freshen up and fill our waterskins. The women giggle and chatter, but their tone is much less fearful than that of the men, who probably feel somewhat intimidated by Rechmana's large and powerful presence.
After having washed and filled up on fresh water, we bury ourselves under one of the trees in the square. We feel watched, but not bothered.
"That's true," I say. "We are used to bartering, but the farther we travel, the more likely we are required to find a way to procure certain things. We are fortunate now that this man is not as short-sighted as most of our eyes pierce backs. Yet he is evidently a wise merchant, for since we left his stall, it has been surrounded by the curious."
"We will have to seize every opportunity to offer our services so that we have a small sum up our sleeve right away. We don't know in what kind of situation that could come in handy." They both nod.
The afternoon passes, and before the market is over, the merchant beckons us. "Gentlemen, thank you. I've been in this market for years and I'm not bad. But I've never sold all my stock, even if I drop my price a little towards the end of the market. You've been great publicity. If you accompany me on my way back, I think many curious people will buy a few things from me in the coming weeks."
Numico and I collect the baskets, and Retsj breaks down the stable in seconds. He carries the parts under one arm. With the other arm, he clasps the baskets. "Where to," I ask. The old man points to the other side of the village.
"Do you see that mountain? On the backside of it, in the next valley, as it were, is my house." Without the slightest effort, Rech leaves with the entire stall and all the baskets. Leaving Numico and me staring. "Shouldn't we help Rech, or at least shouldn't I," I ask him. "You make a friend," says the giant, nodding to the old merchant.
During the walk to the next valley, I speak to the man. At first, I let him talk so that I can get an idea of what kind of person I am dealing with. My first impressions turn out to be almost correct. He is a wise man, at the same time a merchant who will make a profit wherever he can if he can. But his heart is definitely in the right place.
It seems that the years have mellowed him. He must have been a shrewd man at one time, but now the need to accumulate property has diminished, and humanity has found space in his heart.
After being silent for a while, he asks who we are and what we are doing in the village. For fear of revealing too much, I maintain that we are travelers in search of a new existence. That our village was destroyed when we were hunting. How we returned to smoldering ruins and are now left with nothing but the memories of our friends and family.
He asks us if we know who is responsible for the destruction. If we are at odds with any of the surrounding tribes. I look at him displeased, while I explain that we are a very peaceful tribe. That our focus is always on helping and healing. How we would never of our own free will take up arms against another human being.
When I tell him about the destroyed village, I see that something triggered a spark of recognition in his eyes. But as I cannot give him any further information, we both remain silent.
After a while he he looks at me: "This is not a village to stay for long, it is too small for strangers and too big for strangers and newcomers. But I can probably help you on your way. My cousin is building a farm not far from where I live. He is not rich and cannot pay the men of the village. If you are willing to work for a lower wage, I can lend him the wages."
The old man does not need any words, the look on my face seems to be enough as he promises to come back on it tonight.
Arriving at the house, which is considerably larger than the houses I have seen before. After meeting the lady of the house, we retire to the stable to prepare our sleeping place.
"We've had an offer to earn some money," I say, taking advantage of a moment without the merchant, whose name turns out to be Kosa.
"Although we work for less than the villagers, it is our first assignment. The intention is that we help his nephew to build a farm. What do you think?"
"Do you trust the man?" is Numico's first reaction.
"He's a real merchant, but I think he can be trusted, agree?" They both look at the house as if they are trying to observe him through the walls to refine their opinion. Rech shrugs. "Is human," he says, which probably means as much as I don't trust people easily. But Numico looks at me.
“I think you're right; we don't have much choice. Although I think it would be a good idea to take turns tonight. Some villagers may have followed us out of fear, and I don't know what they are capable of. They were certainly impressed by Rechmana.”
I nod. “Okay, then we will accept the proposal, but we will remain vigilant for the time being, if not for Kosa or for possible villagers. Then I have one more point, and it actually concerns Retsj in particular."
"With you in our ranks, we will be able to do the job many times faster than any three workers. I think it would be wise to agree on a final price and not an hourly wage. We would harm our interest too much.” The giant laughs, "Good merchant," he says, pointing at me.
Kosa laughs when I come up with our proposal. “A wise move,” he says. “One I agree with.”
The food is nothing like what we are used to. Fruits and vegetables, which we have never seen before, are scattered on the table, some even cooked. Something that has never been done with us and even seems unmentionable. Food that the mother provides us is naturally good. Nothing needs to be done there, just remove the casings where necessary. But at this table, there are spices added to mixes of finely crafted vegetables.
The meat is the most recognizable, even though some of it has also been cooked in water, and also to this dish spices are added. It is a strange sensation. Retsj in particular does not understand why so many adjustments have been made to the edibles.
Honesty commands me to say that after a few bites of these strange dishes, I come to understand more about the arts of women. Everything tastes strange at first because nothing tastes the way it should. But during the course of the dinner, some of the strange dishes turn out to be very tasty.
Both Numico and Rechmana have to explain that they do not eat meat. Something that turns out to be as incomprehensible to our host as the strange way of preparing food for us.
Numico explains that he respects their way of eating and has no objection to it. But that he loves all animals and it is not possible for him to take a bite of something he loves. He manages to deliver it so beautifully that I even see the hostess swallow before she takes another bite of meat.
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