My strange dream, 20090807.

----====----
NOTE:
This was written over several days, as I kept getting interrupted.
My rough draft was naught but a series of notes to remind me about points of the dream.
These were sufficient to trigger the memories so that I could fill in the blanks later-on.
This final draft is merely a fleshing out of the finer points to fit the details I might have missed before.
----====----

I woke up to the crowing of a rooster at the first rays of dawn.
This confuses me, because I don't remember ever having a rooster.
Have one of my neighbors gotten a rooster, and if so, why?
That's what alarm clocks are for...

At first my eyes wouldn't unstick, so I went to rub them with the backs of my hands, & stopped shortly adfter I'd started.
Something felt wrong with my hands - they felt too rough, calloused, & gnarled.
I work on computers all day, so there are some callouses, but this feels like I've spent my entire life in hard labour...

I figure I'll go to the bathroom, splash some cold water on my face, & figure out WTF is going on.
Sitting up & turning, I place my feet on the floor & freeze.
Instead of the cool hardwood I am used to, I feel a crackly, springy mat of something like woven grass beneath my feet...

In retrospect, I should have waited to become fully awake before I continued, but "I know my own room" & can navigate it with my eyes closed.
Standing, I turn 90 degrees right (knowing that my computer desk is right beside the bed, and the path to the door is right along the bed) and take a step.
I immediately kick something that my brain said shouldn't have been there, and stumbled ungracefully to where my bedroom door should have been.
And ran face-first into a wall of rattan & bamboo poles.

This, more than anything else, woke me up rather quickly, since I didn't remember there EVER being *bamboo* in my room, much less a WALL of it.
Blurry at first, my eyes came unglued & I focused on what lay before me.
The first thing I noticed was that I hadn't put on my glasses yet, but could see perfectly fine.

Everything soon became crystal clear, & I think *that* finally snapped my brain into full consciousness.
Nothing was right.
Nothing was as I'd remembered it.

The walls were ALL of rattan & bamboo.
I slowly looked up & the ceiling was a raised, thatched roof of large leafy fronds interwoven on a bamboo lattace.
I glanced down, & noticed that my feet were gnarled, wirey thin, & sunburnt a deep, dark reddish-brown that could only have come from having spent an entire lifetime out in the sun.

The floor was dirt, raked smooth, with a woven-rattan mat "carpet" to walk upon.
The bed was a raised bamboo platform, a thin stuffed-grass mattress, & a simple, home-spun blanket of fine animal hair.
Getting out of it on the other side was a woman, middle aged, just as reddish-brown as I had turned out to be, and she was looking at me with an air of concern.

"What are you waiting for, Chi'Sam?  Do you not feel well, my Dear?"
At first her words were complete gibberish to me, her language unknown.
But then, a second or two later, it was as if my brain switched to the proper setting, & her words came through as if I had spoken Cantonese all my life.

She had called me 'Kind Heart'... my *name* was KindHeart...
I looked at her, head tilted slightly to one side, thinking.
Softly, without thinking about it, I whispered her name back: "Wo'Gap", Peacefull Dove.

She came to my side, a look of worry upon her face, and her hands snaked around my waist; she was slightly shorter than I, and her head only came up to the "V" of my shoulderblades at the base of my throat.
She felt right, her body against mine, and I wrapped my arms around her as I turned to face her.
Looking down, I could see every crows foot, every laugh line, every healed-over scar.

She looked utterly beautiful to me, like the shining face of the sun on a man who's spent his life in a frozen, darkened wasteland.
Her lips thin but with a touch of natural red that were perfect for kissing.
Her eyes were the colour of Jade in the sun, bright green & filled with an inner light.

I do not know what happened at that exact moment, but it felt like Reality snapped into place.
Despite this not being the room I remembered, the life I remembered, I knew it to be MY life, and just as real as anything.
It felt right, like I belonged there, and I accepted it whole-heartedly...

I felt my heart flutter, my soul gave a happy sigh, & I knew this woman had married me despite all my flaws.
I smiled, & whispered "I do not know what it wrong, My Dove, but with you here beside me, I can take anything Life throws my way.
You are the strength of my soul, the wings upon which I fly, and I can never say 'I Love You' enough to prove it..."

She melted into a smile, her eyes glistening with love, and she started to stand up on tip-toe to kiss my lips.
Her arms around my neck, she dragged me down to complete the kiss, & whispered "You worry me sometimes, but with your heart beating with mine, I have the strength to lift us both."
We kissed again, and released each other.

She walked off to a small wall-closet & pulled on a simple pull-over frock, but not before I got a chance to admire her strong, lithe body & the curve of her hips.
I stood there entranced, a smile spreading across my lips, and she placed her hands on her hips when she turned around to notice me oggling her.
"Stop that, Love, or we'll have another mouth to feed."

I made a pretend lunge after her, growling hungrily, and she squealed happily, scampering from the room through a curtain spread across the doorway.
I stood, reached for the ceiling while arched backwards to crack my back, then bent forward to touch my toes.
It felt good to perform these simple excersizes, limbering up before a long hard day.

The room was small, but tasteful, reflecting the sure hand of a woman who knows what will bring calm & harmony to a man's soul.
There was a small window in one wall, a long mat of rattan covering it like a curtain, & the light filtered into hundreds of tiny slivers upon the floor.
The walls were bare, except for one where a small, woven-bead circle hung; painted upon it were the words for "Harmony" & "Peace", entwined as We had been joined in marriage.
I remember it being a gift from her mother upon our wedding day, and how happy it had made me feel.

I turned towards the "closet", which wasn't much more than a small alcove where our clothes hung.
My clothes, hung beside hers on simple wooden knobs, were those of a man of some wealth, but still simple, pleasant, & reflecting his roots as a man of the fields.
I could tell by their tasteful embroidery of a small dove over the heart that She had made them for me, and this made me happy.

Pulling it over my head, I could feel the slightly rough way it caught upon the muscles on my shoulders & in my back.
Straightening it out, smoothing it with a hand, I retrieved from another knob a short belt of woven cloth with the other & began to fasten it about my waist.
Looking once more about the room, I inhaled the soft, sweet scent of the grasses, & headed for the door.

I stepped out into a long, low room that obviously functioned as living room, kitchen, & dining area.
Sitting quietly, properly composed, around a low table upon the floor, were five children of various ages, all looking up at me.
I placed my hands upon my hips, pretending to glare down upon them for a moment, and roared "WHERE ARE MY HUGS AND KISSES?  A man can't function without his hugs and kisses!"

This seemed to trigger a wave of laughter & smiles, and I was soon swamped by a pile of my loving children, all struggling to drag me down so they could kiss my face.
I kneeled, finally sitting down, and gave them each a hug & kiss in turn.
This released the quiet spell that seemed to have captured the room, & soon the entire family was sitting down to breakfast.

Wo'Gap brought a large bowl of stew over before me, kissed my cheek, and then ran her hand through my hair.
"You treat the children so kindly, Love.  This is good & it pleases me so."
I took a taste of the stew, closed my eyes with a smile, and licked my lips.

"I love them as much as I love you, Dear.  Now, if you don't hurry, they'll be forced to eat cold stew, and I will have to take you back to our room for a spanking."
The kids all giggled behind their hands, and She gaped with a blush in her cheeks.
"You dirty old man!  Look what you teach the children!" she squaked with a smile, and thumped me on the head with the back of her hand.

The kids nearly fell upon themselves laughing at us, and Wo'Gap served them quickly so they could get ready for their day at school.
I blew her a kiss across the table, and she stuck her tongue out at me.
I knew all was right in the World.

With breakfast finished, everyone washed up afterwards, & the children ready, I ushered them towards the door.
I paused to kiss Her once more at the door, and wished her to have a good day.
She smiled, spanked me on the butt as I left, and vanished back into the house with a merry laugh.

Leaving the house, I looked about at the scenery before me.
My yard consisted of a small patch of vegetables in a well-tended garden; a stone-lined well with a bucket hung from a loop; a small, short tree providing a small modicum of shade.
The house itself was well maintained, a testiment to Wo'Gap's efforts as well as my own prosperity.

The houses of those around me were much the same, if a little less nice, but none were so shabby as to provide shame to their owner.
The main trail to the Village proper led between the houses; they all faced it like they were bowing respectfully to any travellers along the path.
The trail itself was not much more than a well-traveled pair of cart ruts in the dirt, but the people who lived here had taken the time to plant flowers, small bushes, & decorate.

Turning right from the front door, I walked a familiar path to the barn beside the main house, and found the oldest boy had already hooked the cart to the oxen.
The next oldest boy was busy feeding them, and had a bucket of water ready for them to drink.
The youngest lad was just finishing brushing their hair, & because he still wasn't *quite* tall enough yet, had left a golden-brown streak of hair along their upper backs where he wasn't able to reach.

I smiled at them and thanked them for doing such a good job.
The two oldest boys beamed at me, while the youngest hung his head and apologised for not being able to get high enough.
I lifted him up, and he finished the spot along the oxen's spines where the hair was untouched.

Once he was finished, I hugged him & gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"There is no need to be sorry, Little Mouse, for one day you, too, will be as big & strong as the ox, and we shall all look up to you."
He beamed brightly at my words, and once I'd set him back down, ran to put the brush back in it's place.
The other two boys enjoyed a hug from me, and we all climbed aboard the cart beside the two younger girls.

I addressed the oxen in turn, bending forward to pat their shoulders: "Good morning, Jaak [Duty].  Good morning, Jeun [Honour].
Could you take us to the School so that we might drop the children off for their studies?"
They huffeed in unison, nodding their head as if they understood my words, & began pulling the cart from the barn.

They paused as the back of the cart cleared the barn doors, and the oldest boy jumped free to close them.
Climbing back in, the oxen began pulling once more just as soon as the boy's butt touched the bench seat.
Without a whip, pole, or any other means of control, the oxen walked their way down the trail & headed for the village.

Passing small feilds to either side, waving to other Farmers who were up at first light to tend their crops, we rolled past to the Village.
Soon a small, wooden building with a peaked roof appeared off to the right, & without being told, the oxen veered right along the path to pull up out front of the doors.
The two younger girls got up, gave me a kiss, and I wished them well in their studies as they climbed down carefully.

The younger boy gave me a pat on the shoulder & vaulted over the side, and I cautioned him to keep his mind on his studies or I would make him give me a bath tonight.
The look of utter horror on his face assured me he would be VERY attentive to his lessons, and my belly laugh made him start to breath again.
Evidently the thought of washing his "dirty old man" was a bit much, but what-ever it took to get him to study...

The two older boys chuckled silently into their hands, looking away in classic "La la laaaaa, we're not watching..." gesture.
I said "Careful you two, or I'll be the cleanest old man in town tonight."
They looked at me like "You wouldn't dare!", and my laugh told them they were probably right.

The oxen shook their heads (were they laughing at me, too?) and began pulling once more.
The three of us looked at each other, shrugged, and said nothing.
We had long since gotten used to the fact that Jaak & Jeun seemed to know without being told what needed to be done.

Trudging along, we passed more & more houses, small shops, and eventually came into the Village proper.
Pausing along side a small bakery, the smells of freshly baking bread making my mouth water involuntarily, the younger of the two climbed out.
The Baker stepped out at just that moment, holding a small, leaf-wrapped loaf of bread in his hands.

My son, apprenticed to him, bowed respectfully, and it made me happy.
The Baker returned the bow, and handed the boy the loaf of bread.
With softly spoken words, he stood again & my son turned to hand me the loaf.

"He says to take this with his compliments.  His wife had a son last night, and he is feeling generous."
I took the gift with a small bow to my son, and a deep bow to the Baker.
"May your new son bring Honour and Great Rewards to your home, Good Sir."

He bowed just as low, and thanked me profusely, then guided my son inside to start his day's work.
As my oldest son & I pulled away, I took a small bite of the bread, licked my lips, and gave the rest to him.
"You may have this for your lunch.  I shall tell Mother that the Baker has had a son, and we may bring a proper gift tomorrow."

He thanked me for the bread, took a second bite, and stuffed the leaf-wrapped treat into a fold of his shirt.
The oxen had already began their way towards the Millers where the oldest boy would do his day's duties, and we sat in quiet contemplation.
Waving to others as we passed, noting who was active this early & who had gotten a late start, we judged the vitality of the Village & proclaimed it healthy.

Climbing from the cart as it pulled to a stop, he patted Jaak & Jeun on their shoulders, gave his thanks for their gift of taking us, and gave me a bow.
I returned the gesture, smiling at his remembering to thank the oxen, and bid him to have a good day.
The oxen pulled away shortly thereafter, knowing I'd spend all day with my son if given half a chance...

I laughed, thanked them for knowing me too well, and settled back on the bench seat to ride the rest of the way to my shop.
I admired the birds flying overhead, the way the clouds seemed like the gause-y white balls of puff-blossom that bloomed along the edges of the ponds, & even enjoyed the random dogs.
Normally they would snap at an oxen's legs, nipping & pretending to bite, but long ago they learned not to do so to these two, as a swift hoof to the head often left a dog stunned for hours.
Instead, the dogs simply shadowed us, like an honour guard upon either side, and soon vanished when I didn't give them a morsel to fight over.

As we came upon my shop, without being told, Jaak & Jeun pulled around back of the small shed I kept the cart in, stopped a few feet away, and waited for me to open the rear doors.
Climbing down, I patted them each on the shoulder in turn, scratching behind the ears for good measure, and thanked them.
Unlooping the small braided thong that held the doors closed (more against the wind than thieves, for crime wasn't a problem here), I pulled the doors open.
They swung open softly, and their arc passing within inches of the noses of the oxen; as if they knew exactly how far away to stand to allow the doors to open & not waste space.
As soon as the doors were open, they stepped forward inside, pulling the cart behind them until they nosed against the front doors.

Jaak nudged the retaining bar upwards with his nose, effectively unlocking the doors, and then they both nudged the doors open.
Pulling forward until the cart was entirely inside, they stopped & waited for me to unharness them.
Shaking my head, I chuckled & did so: "You two are getting smarter every day.  Soon I will be taking you to school & having to pull the cart myself."

They snorted as if laughing at my joke, and Jeun nuzzled my hand with his nose as I removed the yoke from their shoulders.
As I turned to place the yoke in it's hanger on the wall, they walked off out the door.
Coming out a minute later, I find them settling down into the shade of the tree near the wall of my shop.

Jaak lowes at me softly, and lays his head down across Jeun's flank, who is already snoring away in the way that oxen have.
I smile, nod, and whisper "Have a good nap, Jaak, and keep your baby brother safe."
He nods, snorts, and closes his eyes to join his brother in sleep.

Stepping up to the front door, I unwrap the small, braided-grass thong that holds the door shut.
Lifting (there's a small bulge in the floor that, if you simply push the door open, causes it to catch & bind), I carefully take the door past the lump & set it against the wall.
Re-wrapping the thong around a small knob, I tie the door open, which lets everyone else know that I am open for business.

Moments later, as I'm carrying out the racks of goods I sell, a young lady arrives.
She appears about 13 or 14, short, graceful as a cat, dressed in a simple, blue pull-over smock, a white reed belt, & a woven grass hat.
Her feet are bare, as are most people's, and her skin the colour of sun-dried honey.

Her face is hidden by the hat, her hands under a small, woven grass basket held to her chest, and her voice nearly lost in the almost still Summer air.
I smile, kneel in front of her, and look up into her eyes, which turn out to be the blue of the sky, and nearly as bright.
"How may I help you today, Honored Guest?" I say in a soft voice, as calming as I can make my voice be.

She shuffles her feet, mumbles something nervously, and nearly tucks her chin into her own collar; her shyness evidently caused by something on her face.
I sigh, and say softly "I'm sorry, Honorable One, but I am hard of hearing and didn't understand your words.
Please assist my frail, old ears by speaking up, and I shall be happy to assist you in any way I can."

She swallows, and in a tiny, shaky voice, asks if she can trade a dozen fresh chicken eggs for a new hand trowel.
"Ahhh, yes, I have hand trowels... I could trade you a small one for a dozen fresh eggs, will that be acceptable?"
She merely nods her head, and starts to hand over the basket of eggs.

"One moment, Dear Lady.  I must get up first, otherwise I might tumble & spill your eggs."
She seems to squeak, carefully sets the basket down, and steps forward to help me up.
I gently take her hand in mine, apply just the merest of pressure upon it (to give the hint that she's helping, but not actually weigh her down), and stand in a single, fluid motion.

As her hand lifts, I take that moment to get a look at her face, and realize why she is so shy.
A birthmark upon her lip leaves a scar like a wild animal had clawed her, & the wound never properly healed.
As she starts to release my hand, I apply just the barest of pressure upon her palm to stop her.

"Young Lady, I notice you hide your face from me.  Are you afraid of my hideous looks?"
She shakes her head violently, and reaches up to pull the hat down harder upon her head.
In a tiny voice she sniffs "Not yours, Honorable Shop Keeper.  My own.  I am disfigured & frighten people."

"You do not frighten me."
She hears this, and seems to struggle: on one hand, she wants to believe me, but years of verbal abuse have proven too many times those words a lie.
Her shoulders sag, and she shrinks into herself.

I think for a moment, mentally going through the goods I have for sale, and one in particular comes to mind.
"If I had something that could heal you, would you want it, Dear Lady?"
Her head !SNAPS! up, eyes wide in unbridaled desire & hope, and her hands flutter to her chest, clasped before her almost as if in prayer.

"Then if you would be so kind as to follow me inside, I shall try to find that which I believe might be of use to you..."
This is a bit of a fib, as I know where everything inside my shop lays; everything in its place, every time.
She swallows the lump in her throat, and quietly pads after me as I turn back into the store.

Indicating a small stool on one side, I bid her to sit for a moment.
It only takes me a minute to locate what I'm after, but I make a show of digging, hunting, rooting through my inventory to find it.
Coming up like a jumping fish out of the water, I hold up a small, crystal-encased flower.

It's a tiny wild flower, petals the colour of fire, trapped in a ball of golden amber.
Exceptionally fine tendrils lace off the stem, as if it were trying to take root in the very thing that imprison's it.
It is no larger than one of the chicken eggs she brought to trade, and fits perfectly in the palm of one's hand.

Holding it up on my fingertips, I kneel before her as she sits on the stool.
She looks down into my face as I look up into hers, and for a moment she forgets to shy away.
She's completely entranced with the flower, and trying to figure out what magic it has that will make her beautiful.

"This is a magic crystal, found on a full moon, in a ring of faerie fire.
A young Elfin Maiden was holding it in her hand, and told my mother it would bring her good fortune.
My mother accepted it, and soon after found my father.

She gave it to me, telling me it would bring me good fortune if I but closed my eyes, held it to my chest, told it my wish, & believed with all my heart.
I did, and later that week I found the woman who is now my wife.
Now I give it to you.

Hold it to your heart, close your eyes, make your wish, and believe.
If you truely believe, then you will become as beautiful as any woman ever.
All it takes is for you to believe."

I hold it out to her, and with trembling hands, she gently takes it from my fingers.
Peering deep into it, she studies the flower inside, and slowly wraps her fingers around it to clutch it to her chest.
Her shoulders squeaze together as if she's hugging the gem, and she looks up to me.

"Will this really make me beautiful?" she whispers.
I gently take her shoulders in my hands, and look her right in the eyes.
"You are already beautiful, Young Lady, and anyone who says otherwise is a blind old fool.
This will make you MORE beautiful, and even the blind will finally see the truth."

She swallows, a smile slowly spreading across her face, and her voice a bit stronger.
"You think I am beautiful...???"
My smile seems to say more than any words, but I nod my head & tell her "If I weren't old enough to be your great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather..."

She giggles & says "You're not THAT old, Sir!"
"Ok, maybe then your great, great, great great, great, great-"
She interrupts, "Pah, you are only old enough to be maybe my grandfather at best..." and then remembers her manners with a soft "Sir."

I laugh, smile, and hug her - she returns the hug with an energy that surprises me a little.
"You are a pretty young lady who merely needs to believe in herself.  You need no magic to be beautiful."
She seems to think this over for a moment, nods, and starts to hand back the bauble.

I shake my head, press it back to her chest with an open palm, and say "Keep it.  May it bring you luck."
She smiles, her eyes filling with (what I hope are) happy tears, and thanks me.
Getting down, she puts the gem in a pocket, bows at me, & starts to leave, but I stop her before she reaches the door.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" I ask coyly.
She looks about her, as if searching her mind for... the look of "AH HA!" is nearly comically amusing, and she runs outside to fetch the basket of eggs.
"I still need the trowel, kind Sir."

"I thought you might.  If you could carefully lay the eggs into the small box beside that churn over there, I shall get you the trowel."
She gingerly lays each egg into a small depression of a specially made clay holder, designed to hold eggs so they don't roll about.
She looks at the holder, and says "This is usefull.  The eggs won't break if you store them here?"

I come back with the trowel in hand, and look over her shoulder at the holder.
"Yes, it comes in handy if you want to move a large number of eggs from one place to another.  They won't roll about, and if you cover them & keep them cool, they stay fresh longer."
She seems to look at it, studying it, and finally asks "How much would such a thing cost?"

"Nothing."
She looks at me strangely, and tilts her head to one side.
"You would give it away for free?"

"Not exactly, but I can tell you how to make one for yourself."
She looks back down at it, then back up at me, and nods. "Yes, please, show me how."
I hand her the trowel, which she places inside her basket, and have her follow me outside.

I lift up a bucket of water from the well, pour it into the second bucket, hang the first back on its hook, and take the second one to a small trough of dirt near the corner of the shop.
Pouring the water into the dirt until the trough is about half full, I place the bucket to one side, and kneel.
Kneading the dirt into a fine muddy clay, I lift a double handful out & roll it into a large ball between my palms.

"Here comes the fun part..." I say, and stand back up again.
She takes a step back, not knowing what I'm about to do, and shrieks with delight as I throw the muddy ball as hard as I can against the wall.
Peeling the now-flat-on-one-side blob from the wall, I lay it down on the ground & push it out to about a half-inch thick square.
Taking the half-full bucket of water, I throw it against the muddy mark on the wall, and watch as it gets washed away in a torrent of water...

Using the base of my thumb at the palm, I press small indentations into the clay, almost exactly the size of a chicken's egg.
Three lines of off-set depressions, four per line, and then use my fingers to smooth the "rough edges" down to nice, gentle ridges.
"Once this is dry, you can keep eggs in it and they won't roll about in your basket."

She looks into her basket, at the mud, and back at her basket.
Intuitively knowing, I smile & say "You can come back for it later today.
It should be dry by mid day, and won't get your basket or clothes dirty."

She looks up at me, smiles widely, and gives a very deep bow.
"You are too kind, Good Sir.  
I will take the trowel to my Father, and will tell Mother about the... the... 
What *DO* you call that thing?"

"I call it an egg tray, but you can call it anything you like..."

"An egg tray.  That makes perfect sense!  
I will tell Mother about the egg tray, and will come back around mid day between my chores.
Thank you again, good Sir!"

"You're welcome, Sim'Fa [Pretty Flower].  Have a good day!

With a smile on her face bright enough to light the day, She bows, and turns tail to run off like a cat after a butterfly.
Her legs churning in the dust, basket banging against her thigh, one hand holding her hat to her head.
I can hear her saying "Sim'Fa!  He called me Sim'Fa!" as she sprints away.

Smiling, I turn back towards the Shop, & notice Jaak looking at me.
He huffs, and I *think* I see him wink at me, but figure it's a trick of the light through the leaves.
He lays his head down again, and closes his eyes as I stand there.
Eventually I shrug, smile, and go back inside to finish my morning chores.

The morning is uneventful, with a few people coming in to trade various things for other things, and two actually buying things directly.
The coins are welcome; Wo'Gap will enjoy the extra food we can buy with them.
But the traded-in goods will probably fetch better goods to-trade-for, and that makes me happy, deep down inside.

Soon, the sun is high overhead, and I hear a loud cough at the door.
Looking up from my sweeping, I notice the young girl has returned, this time her Mother accompanies her.
Setting my broom in its holder, I approach, bow, and welcome them to my humble shop.

The Mother asks about the egg tray, so I indicate the stool for her to sit upon, and say I shall fetch it for her.
Smiling at the young lady, I pass her through the doorway, and go for the tray.
It's still a bit damp, certainly not dry enough to not create a mess upon someone's clothes, and I return inside.

"My apollogies, Good Woman, but the tray is not quite dry.  If you took it now, it might dirty your nice clothes, and I would feel bad.
I have another one, and can show you what the egg tray looks like, if you so desire?"
My formal bow seems to mitigate her frustration over her tray not being ready, and she simply nods.

I walk over, pick up the box my tray is resting in, and fold back the thick rattan mat being used to keep the eggs inside cool.
"If you keep your tray in a box, such as this, and keep them covered, like I have done thus, then the eggs will stay fresh longer, & won't roll about if you need to carry them.
[Here I tilt the box gently from side to side, showing how the eggs stay in place.]
I showed your daughter how to make one earlier, and as I said, it isn't quite completely dry yet.
If you are rushed, I can give you this one instead, and replace it with hers once it's dry..."

She looks at the box, tilting her head one way then the other to examine it closely, and says sharply:
"I will take this one.  I have better things to do than wait for mud to dry."
Her daughter seems to cringe at her mother's brusque words, and then relaxes as I ignore the insult.

"As you wish, Good Woman.  Shall wrap the tray for you?"
She waves her hand as if brushing away a fly: "No, that one will do nicely."
"As you wish.  Just let me find someplace to put the eggs until the other one is dry, and you may have this one."
Her voice cuts the air like a knife: "Why can't I have the eggs, too?"

Smiling, I bow: "Because that would mean you had received a trowel, a handled box, a reed mat, AND a dozen eggs, all for free.
I may be a simple shop keeper, but I am not in the habit of giving things away for free at the expense of my livelihood."

Her voice almost like a petchulent child: "You showed her how to make an egg tray, isn't that like giving things away for free?"

"Yes I showed the pretty young lady how to make an egg tray...
[Here I nod at the young lady, and she tries to hide her smile under her hat.]
It comprises of mud, water, & knowledge.
It takes no skill to make one, and thus deserves no price to sell; it's inherent value is in the knowledge how to make a simple dent with your hand.
Knowledge is free, goods are not.
You wish an egg tray, and that is fine.  
You wish my egg tray, and that, too, is fine.
You wish my egg tray, my box, my mat, and my eggs, all for free, and that is not so fine.
In fact, that strikes me of being very close to rudeness, and I *know* a Gentle Woman such as yourself would never stoop so low."

The young Lady's giggle turns into a comically-loud cough, and her mother is not amused.
"Silence your tongue, you disgusting curr. I am doing business with this peasant."

Straightening to my full height, no longer bowing in respect, I look down into her face.
"No, Madam, you WERE doing business with me, but I no longer wish to soil my floors with your presence.
Your beautiful daughter may collect the egg tray I promised her once it's dry, and is welcome back any time she pleases.
Her manners were respectful; her smile brightening the day like a butterflie's kiss upon the cheek.
Unlike your own, which is more like a pile of dung upon the tongue; completely unpalatable.
Now please leave."

Her angry flush flashing in her eyes & cheeks, she spins indignantly in place & stomps from the shop.
The young lady curtsies, mutters an apology, and sprints after her mother as the witch yells for her to come.
"Remember, Sim'Fa, you are welcome back any time!" I call after her, and I can see her smiling under her hat as she waves in such a way that her mother doesn't see...

I take a moment to go to the well, draw up some water, then pour it over my head to cool my temper.
Jaak snorts at me like he's laughing again, and I turn with my hands on my hips.
"Why do you laugh at me like that, Jaak?"

In a very clear, deep, male voice he replies "Because the older Lady was a bit of offel and you handled the situation quite nicely, if I do say so myself."
I stand there, hands limp at my side, jaw unhunged, just staring at him.
He brushes away a fly with a swish of his tail, and says "Oh close your mouth, Chi'Sam, or the flies will roost inside."

Finally finding my tongue, I sputter "You can TALK!"

He snuffles in blatant laughter, and nods his head: "Yes, I can."

I look from him to Jeun, and back to him, then back to Jeun, and back; before the question can even form upon my lips~

"Yes, Jeun can talk, too..."

Sitting down beside Jaak in the shade of the tree, I take a moment to gather my thoughts & collect my wits.
"How long have you been able to speak?"

He takes a mouthfull of grass, chews it quietly for a moment, then says "Since we were about three.  Father had many servants to teach us."

"Your father had ... servants?"

"Well, yes, most Gods tend to have people who do what-ever the God asks of them.  They're called Worshipers or Acolytes."

I blink a few times before unsticking my tongue: "Your father is a God?"

"Yes.  Why, does this disturb you?"

"In a way, yes it does.  Why would you take the form of an ox if you are, yourselves, Gods?"

"Because we're still children, as far as the Other Gods are concerned, and until we come of age, we're required to spend time here among the Mortals.
We can choose the form we are in while we're here, and the lower the form, the higher our status will be once we're older.
In this case, Jeun and I decided to become oxen.
No one expects an ox to be smart, and this way we can observe your World in detail while no one suspects anything's amiss."

I sit and think upon his words a moment, and nod my head in agreement: "This is wise of you.  No one would ever believe an ox is anything but an ox."

Jaak seems to give a very human smile, and nods his head.
"Which is why we've learned so much about you Mortals while we've been here.
We see how you interact with each other, we see first hand how you treat those who are otherwise 'beneath you', such as a 'lowly oxen' might be..."

Realizing that I've been hitching them to a cart all these years, having them do my meanial work, brings a wave of shame to my heart.
I put my face in my hands, and start to apologize for the way I've treated them all this time.

He interrupts me and tells me "Do not fret, good Chi'Sam.
We have grown rather fond of you, for you have treated us with exceptional care & kindness.
Never once have you touched us with whip, cane, or rod.
Never once have we gone unfed, unwatered, or untended after a hard day's work.
Our food has always been fresh, the water cold, & the shelter warm.
If we were to pass judgement, we would declare you a Good Soul and send you to Father upon white wings.
You are a Good Man, Chi'Sam, and we choose to stay here with you because we know you will do what's Right."

I bow, humbled, slightly blushing at his words, and sit back up with a lump in my throat.

Jeun sleepily asks "Is it lunch time yet?  I feel a rumble in my tummy..."
Jaak swats him with his tail and laughs "You're always hungry, Brother.  But yes, it is about time for mid day meal."

I jump to my feet, run to the shelter where the cart has sat all day, and pull a double handfull of fresh grasses & grains.
Laying them within easy reach of the Brothers, I draw up a fresh bucket of water from the well, transfer it to the second bucket, and set it down near the pile of food.
"Is there anything else you desire?  Anything else I can get you?  Are there Titles I should use when addressing you?" I stammer in a rush.

Jaak shakes his head and softly says "Treat us no different than you always have.  We are still Jaak and Jeun, and those names suit us just fine."
Jeun flicks an ear & asks if there are any apples to be had.
I say that I think there might be a few in the shop, and that I shall go look.

In my fluttering state, I go past the apple barrel three times without seeing it, before I finally "come to" and dig a couple of apples from the bottom.
Returning, I lay them in front of Jeun.
"I'm sorry they're not as fresh as you might like; these have been in the barrel too long, I'm afraid."

Jeun sniffs them, gingerly draws one in with his lips, and munches on it.
Finishing, he says "No, those are delicious.  Thank you, Chi'Sam.  I agree with my Big Brother, you are a Good Soul.  Thank you."
At this, he stuffs his face greedily into the pile of grasses, and gobbles down nearly half the pile before Jaak swats him in the head with his tail.

"Stop hogging it all, Little Brother, or you'll give yourself a belly ache.  I'd rather not listen to you complaining all night because you made a pig of yourself."
Jeun sticks his tongue out at Jaak, makes a lewd "PPPLLLBbbbb" noise, finishes chewing the mouthfull he'd started, but leaves the rest of the pile alone.
Jaak rolls his eyes, huffs "Siblings", and lowers his head to take in a mouthful of grain.

Sitting down once more, I watch them for a while, letting it all sink in.
Eventually I figure that, despite what they Are, it doesn't change what they've Been, and that's been a cherished addition to my family.
They have always helped without complaint in getting my duties done.
They have tirelessly helped transport the children to school, their apprenticeships, & me to the shop.
They've taken Wo'Gap on any errands she might have needed, without hesitation.
In short, they are like a pair of trusted, loved dogs who have stood by their master for his entire life.
I realize that They might really be the Master and I their loved dog, but if that's so, it changes nothing.
I decide to treat them with just a little more respect, but otherwise will tell no one about this developement.

"Who would believe me anyway?" I think to myself.
Jaak winks at me as if he heard my thought, then he lays his head down & goes back to sleep...
I shake my head, get up, and go back inside.

A few minutes later, a gentle cough at the door signals a customer, and I turn to see whom it might be.
It is the local Black Smith's Apprentice.
His heavy rattan shield [like a Butcher's bib, only it covers the arms as well] is turned around backwards so it drapes behind him like a cape.

He bows respectfully, and I return the gesture.
His voice is that of a budding young man just past puberty; his body is wirey, & stronger than it looks.
He carries himself with dignity, and holds in one hand a small, woven-reed box.

"Good day, Honourable Shop Keeper Chi'Sam.  
Master Smith Hon'Wan [Strong Soul] wishes to request your presence in order to negotiate a trade.
He offers a gift to show his sincerity & hopes that you may attend."

He bows & offers forth the box, opening the lid so that I may see the gift held inside.
Lifting it free, I see that it is an exquisitely crafted, masterfully intricate, metal egg.
It is made of ultra-fine wires, braided together, knotted, and braised in a variety of colours.

The effect is a rainbow of golds, silvers, & reds, fading from a nearly translucent lightness at the top, to a deep, resounding richness of colour at the base.
It is hollow, and sitting on a small perch inside is a tiny, wire-formed bird.
Peering between the tiny wires, my eyes detect that it is a hummingbird with golden-braised wings, reddish beak & claws, and tiny beads of braised-ruby-red eyes.

It is so very life-like that I can see the individual feathers crafted in wire, each individually braised in a gold-to-red fade.
The feet & claws are painstakingly braided so that the wires form the rings such a birds' feet are comprised.
The beaded eye seems to follow me as I move my head from side to side studying the bird.

I look back up at the young man, and he is looking at me, patiently waiting my answer to his Master.
I take a deep breath, and bow deeply to him.
"Master Hon'Wan Honours this Humble Shop Keeper with such a fine gift.
I will close my shop immediately and attend to Him as soon as I can get there.
Please thank him for the fine gift, and I shall be there as soon as can be."

He smiles, returns my bow, and says:
"Master Hon'Wan will be most pleased that you have accepted His gift and His request for attendance.
I will go now and tell Him, and prepare for your arrival, Honourable Chi'Sam."
We bow again, and he leaves.

I stand there, studying the gift a few moments more.
It occurrs to me that, if he is willing to part with such a fine item in exchange for my services, he stands to make quite a bit of money.
It would be in my best interest to be in my best appearance for such a meeting.

I put the gift away in a small, rattan box, and place it on a high shelf where it will be safe.
Making sure the store is straightened-away, I proclaim it fit to close for the day.
From a peg on the wall in the back room, I remove my best smock & pull it over my head.

It was hand-made by Wo'Gap for me the year I opened the Shop.
She said it would be good for me to look Prosperous, even if we were not.
By looking so, it would make the people feel more comfortable in doing high quality trades.

It has hung on the peg in the back of my shop for years.
It has been worn many times over the years, but always for occasions such as this.
Someone has a lot of money to spend, someone else stands to make a lot of money, and they wish me to negotiate the trade.

Such negotiations always involve either a gift, or a percentage of the trade value, to me for my services.
Some times, it has involved both.
I dare not raise my hopes that it will be both this time, but if Providence should wish it to be so, I will thank Her with all my heart.

Closing the door, lifting it past the lump in the floor, I wrap the loop around the knob & make sure the door is securely fastened against the wind.
As I step into the Lane, Jaak notices my attire & begins to stand.
In a soft voice that barely carries to my ears, he asks "Do you wish a ride?  I shall wake Jeun and we can make ready for the cart..."

I scratch him behind an ear, shake my head, and in just as soft a tone of voice:
"Thank you, but no, Jaak.
It is but a short walk to the Black Smith's, and the excersize will do me good.
I will draw up another bucket of water before I go, so You and Jeun enjoy the shade."

He nuzzles my hand affectionately & whispers "Thank you, Chi'Sam."
I draw a bucket of water, making sure not to dirty my good smock, and leave the second bucket beside the tree in the shade so it will stay cool.
Smoothing my smock, I stand tall & head up the lane for the Black Smith's.

Walking through the Village, I take in the many people going about their business among the many shops.
The rug maker is doing a brisk business today, and there is a small crowd at his door.
I wave to the other Shop Keepers I know as I pass; some merely wave back, but others notice the smock I'm wearing as my "Looking My Best For Business" finery, and call out their good luck wishes.

A screaming, laughing, flock of children run past me, herding a small group of chickens along the lane.
The chickens feathers are ruffled, they scream & squack at the children, & the kids flap their arms & scream back.
It rushes past like some demented, ever-shifting blob, and I laugh deep from my chest.

I arrive at the Black Smith's a few minutes later, and pause at the door.
The Apprentice who was at my door earlier, is talking to another young man who is dressed in some finery that appears a livery.
There is a Gentleman in matching grandeur sitting on a stool near-by, and the Master Black Smith Hon'Wan sits on another stool, talking to him.

I need not cough to gain their attention, for the Apprentice notices me, excuses himself from the other young man, and approaches.
Bowing, he greets me formally & invites me inside.
I return his respect, bowing, and follow him to meet the others.
He introduces me to his Master (as if I haven't done business with Hon'Wan before?  But curtosy dictates.) and I bow.

"Greetings, Honourable Hon'Wan.
Your fine gift humbles me, that you think so highly of me, and I thank you for it.
I have come to assist in any way I might."

Hon'Wan stands from his stool & returns my bow.
"You are an Honourable Man, Chi'Sam, and it reflects well upon everyone to have your fair hand upon any business negotiation.
The gift is but a small bauble to show my sincerity in desiring your services, and the negotiations are worth more in gratitude.

Allow me to introduce Jong'Pok [Literal: Stout Tree | Figurative: a sturdy foundation], an Honourable Merchant from lands afar.
[Here he bows & sweeps his hands to indicate the other man, who stands from his stool & bows most regally.]
Master Jong'Pok, allow me to introduce Honourable Chi'Sam, a local Shop Keeper whom we all respect & desire to preside over negotiations.
He is a fair man who makes sure everyone gets a fair deal, and we trust him to be impartial & balanced in his ministrations."

I bow, smiling at the kind words of Hon'Wan.
"Thank you, Honourable Hon'Wan.
I am but a simple man who strives to do what is Right.
I hope I may be of valuable service to you both."

Jong'Pok smiles, bows again, & says "I accept your presiding over the negotiations, Honourable Chi'Sam.
I have asked others in the surrounding area about someone who could give such a service, and always they mention your name.
You are well respected, trusted, and ultimately favoured in such negotiations as a Fair Man.
This pleases me, as I prefer to have a neutral party known for such traits keeping things Honest.
That you do not boast of such traits tells me that your Humility is not false, and this bodes well for Truth & Fairness to preside this day."

I am stunned by his words, and simply bow deeply, humbly, silently.
It pleases me that I am so well thought of, and I shall strive to live up to the vision of me Jong'Pok has found among my fellows.

Hon'Wan guides us to a small, thick, wooden table off to one side.
His apprentice & the Liveried Young Man bring the stools along, arranging them quickly so that the three of us might sit.
I nod my head, & thank the two young men, which causes them to blink.

They are unused to being given such gestures of respect when attending such negotiations, and the fact that I show them some stuns them a moment.
But only for a moment, as they, in unison, bow to me with smiles on their faces.
This gesture does not go un-noticed by Jong'Pok, and he seems to smile; mentally confirming what he'd been told of my attitude.

Soon the two young men bring tea to the table, setting small cups & saucers before the three of us.
With a practiced flourish, the Aprentice pours a steaming stream of tea into my cup, and I bow my head in thanks.
He smiles, and pours tea for his Master as the other young man mirrors for his own.

We spend a few minutes enjoying our tea, its soothing flavour like a poultice for the soul.
Finishing, we bow our heads in thanks, and the two young men clear the table quickly.

Hon'Wan softly clears his throat & says "Shall we begin...?"
[Jong'Pok and I both bow our heads in agreement.]
"I have three-hundred standard-stacks of average-quality metal sheets.
With these, I can create anything I would normally craft for the people, from cooking knives or plow blades, to hinges or nails.
For special consignments, I would need to send them through the forge process another five times to bring them to the 'Fine' quality needed.
This naturally increases the price of the metal, and ultimately the cost of the final product.
I will try to give the best price I can to bring them to such purity, and thus keeping the final product as inexpensive as I can."

Master Jong'Pok nods his head.
"This is understandable.
Average quality metal takes fewer refinements to create, and thus costs less.
Fine quality metal requires more refinements, and thus costs more.
For my purposes, I require Fine quality metals, and am willing to pay a little extra for it.
I wish to build a large Chaat-bui-leun. [Literal: Temple-on-wheels | Figuratively: a mobile place of worship]
I plan on bringing it with me on my caravans, and it should be suitably fine to Honour the Gods.
I wish to engage Master Hon'Wan to forge the metal parts I require.
I will also request similar services from the other craftsmen of the Village.
I am not an overly rich man, but am willing to spend a fair amount in total to have the Chaat-bui-leun crafted."

Hon'Wan nods his head, thankful that he need not explain the need to charge more for finer-grade metal work to Jong'Pok.
He names a price, Jong'Pok counters with a slightly reduced amount, and this continues back & forth for a few minutes.
Eventually they settle on a price that satisfies them both, and turn towards me.

I nod and smile.
"This seems straight-forward & honest already, Honoured Gentlemen.
I am not sure why you needed my services, but give the transaction my blessings you desire."

They smile happily & we stand, shake hands, & bow.
Hon'Wan asks me what price I require for my services.
I think a moment, and reply.

"What-ever you find it worth in your heart.  
Take that value, cut it in half, and send half to my shop when it is convenient to you.
Take the other half of the value, and create something special for the Master Baker - his wife just had a baby boy, and a fine gift would be a nice gesture.
You can tell the Master Baker that the gift is from us both."

Hon'Wan looks at me, smiles, bows, and says "As you wish, Honourable Chi'Sam.  This is a fine idea, and reflects well upon us both."
Jong'Pok smiles broadly, and pats me on the shoulder. "You are truely an Honourable Man, Chi'Sam.  I am glad to have made your acquaintence."
He then formally requests my presiding over the other transactions he has with the various Craftsmen of the Village.
I accept, greatful that he considers me a valued negotiator, but wondering why they need of me at all.

Bowing to Hon'Wan, Jong'Pok & I give our fare-well's, and head for the door.
The Apprentice & Livery youth bow to each other, the Livery youth bows to Hon'Wan, & then follows us out the door.
Jong'Pok has a fine cart pulled by a quad of oxen, and he offers me a ride to the next Craftsman he intends to visit.

"Actually, Honourable Jong'Pok, it is but a short walk to all of the Craftsmen in the Villiage.
If you would like to save time, invite them all to the grassy clearing at the North of town, and we can negotiate with them all at once.
This will show them that you are serious about engaging their services, and save you from repeating yourself unneccessarily."

He thinks about this a moment and nods.
"A wise idea, Master Chi'Sam.
How might I go about sending word to them?
Shall I hire one of the children to go from Craftsman to Craftsman?"

I smile: "This is good, but to improve upon it, let us hire as many children as possible.
Each one can run a message to a single Craftsman, and thus your invitation spreads faster.
None would require more than a small token, trinket, or even a piece of sweet for the task."

He laughs & shakes my hand: "I like your idea.
How might we attract the attention of sufficient numbers of them, then?"

Grinning, I lift my head to the sky & yell "WHO WANTS CANDY?" at the tops of my lungs.
Within seconds we're surrounded by a virtual sea of young faces, and not a few grinning older ones as well.
Jong'Pok starts laughing so hard it turns into a brief coughing fit, and he braces himself hands upon knees for a moment.
Standing, he lays a hand upon my shoulder & uses the other to wipe the tears of mirth from his eyes.

"You... You... You are quite a charming soul, Chi'Sam.  I find your directness refreshing."
I smile, and speak to the crowd.

"Master Jong'Pok would like to hire you for a very special errand.
He wishes to invite all the Master Craftsmen from the Village to the grassy field at the North end of town, to negotiate for their services.
I have already negotiated for him & Master Hon'Wan, so can vouch for his sincerity.
If you would all be so kind as to respectfully invite the Master Craftsmen to attend, Master Jong'Pok says he will give each of you a piece of candy for your trouble.
Is this acceptable?"

With a squealing, screaming wave of approval, the crowd vanishes in a puff of running feet & joyous rowdiness.
I turn a slow circle, noting that clumps of little boys & girls are heading in all the right directions, and finish facing Jong'Pok.
Smiling, I spread my hands, shrug, and say "I hope you have LOTS of candy..."

He laughs again, and turns to his cart.
It is a covered with a painstakingly-detailed mural of beads, their patterns depicting some mountainous region on the edge of a large body of water.
The water is an emerald blue, the cliffs done in various shades of browns, & a large, walled city atop the cliffs almost life-like in the shades & hues.

As we approach the back, I notice a pair of strong-looking, willowy-thin, hard-bodied young men wearing simple peasant's [puffy legged, gathered at the ankles, belted at the waist] pants on either side of a door in the back of the cart.
He smiles & nods, making a small hand gesture that I nearly miss, and the two young men nod back.
One pulls out a small step & hooks it over the edge, while the other unlocks the door.

Parting, they return to their sentinel points on either side, and go back to looking like two statues.
I bow at each in turn, thanking them for being so kind, and it seems to take them aback for a moment.
They return the bow, smiling, and Jong'Pok laughs from inside the cart where he's now residing.

He rummages about for a moment, and comes out with a sack the size of a small dog.
He holds it out the door, and I start to reach for it, but one of the two young men beats me to the punch & takes it from the out-stretched hand.
I smile, nod, and take a step back, and Jong'Pok exits the cart.

He takes the bag back, thanks the two men, and we start back around to the front of the cart.
As we do, I notice them put the step back, lock the door, and return to their posts in a single, fluid, almost dance-like maneouver that indicates a simple, Zen-like grace of motion.
It pleases me, and I turn to follow Jong'Pok.

It doesn't take long before the children come trickling back in two's and three's, and soon there's a veritable wave of children coming out of the woodwork.
Once they've all gathered together, I smile and address them.
"Did you deliver the invitations like I asked?"
Heads nod, & shouts of "I did!", "Yes, Sir!", and "As you asked!" fill the air.

"Did you do it *politely* and *respectfully*?" I ask again, comically placing my hands akimbo, as if trying to be stern with them.
Once again a sea of nodding heads, but the replies are a little less enthusiastic, as children are wont to be when they think they might have made a mistake that will cost them free candy.

"Did they agree to attend?"
More nodding heads, a soft ripple of "Yes", but one young girl raises her hand.

"Yes, Dear?  Did someone decline the invitation?"
She nods her head sadly & says softly "Master Yiu'Hung [Graceful Swan] has broken his hand & can not use his tools for a few weeks until the Doctor gives permission.  He asks if he may send his First Son in his stead."

"Yes, Dear, that will be fine.  Please go tell Master Yiu'Hung that it is acceptable, and that we shall expect his First Son at the grassy clearing as soon as he may break from his duties."
She nods, bows, and weaves her way from the crowd to go deliver the message.

"Thank you all for doing us such an important favor.  Master Jong'Pok will now give you the candy as he promised, but if you would be so kind as to form a single line, it will make it go much faster."
Indicating with my hands that they should form up, they do so with much good-natured jostling & laughing, but eventually form a line.

Jong'Pok slings the bag from his shoulder, lays it on the ground at his feet, and unties the neck.
Opening it carefully, he reaches inside like he were trying to pick it up from the bottom & turn it inside-out.
Comically rooting around inside, he draws up a handful of brightly-coloured wafers of crystalized sugar on small bamboo sticks [lollipops] & holds them up to the light.

They sparkle in the sun, each one a firey glow of either red, green, yellow-gold, emerald blue, or a pearl pink, and the crowd falls silent with awe - what manner of sweets are these gems on sticks?!
He offers in turn, each child their choice of one of the five colours he has, and gives their choice over with a bow & a thank you.
The line soon flows through and his bag decidedly lighter, when the little girl comes back.

She is a bit dishevaled from running, and her hair looks like someone tried to comb it with an angry cat.
It takes her a minute to catch her breath, and once she can speak, it is again in a soft, near whisper.
"Master Yiu'Hung gives his thanks and says his son will be at the clearing shortly.  May I still have a piece of candy, Kind Sir?"

Jong'Pok nods, smiles, & says "Since you had to make more trips than the others, you may have two pieces of candy.
Please don't eat them both at once, for it might make your tummy hurt.  Is this acceptable?"

Her face breaks into a smile so wide, so bright that Jong'Pok comically pretends to reel back on his heels at the glow.
He laughs, holds a hand before his eyes, and says "Don't smile too hard, Young Lady, or I might go blind from your radiance."

She giggles into her hands, and he offers up five sweets.
He starts to give her a choice of two, but stops, & looks about.
First left, then right, then behind him, and noting that there aren't any children in sight other than the little girl, hands her all five (one of each colour).
"Shhh, do not gloat, but I think you have earned such a reward for your work."

She gulps loudly, gingerly takes the candy from his hands like she can't believe her good fortune, and hides all but the red one in the folds of her smock.
She curtsies, thanks him profusely, and gives him a kiss on the cheek before running away holding the red treat over her head like a flag on a pole.
He rubs his cheek, smiling, and stands.

I put my hand upon his shoulder, laugh softly, and say "You are a Kind Soul, too, Master Jong'Pok.  For the cost of a few sweets, you have just earned the loyalty of an entire village of children."
He smiles, a tear of mirth welling up in his eye, and shakes his head. "If only all my business transactions were so simple, my Friend."
We both laugh, and I show him towards the grassy field.

It is a short walk, but I let him know that if he may need anything from his cart, it might be best to move it to the field where it will be near-at-hand.
He thinks about this a moment, see's the wisdom in my words, and we walk again to the back of the cart.

He smiles, nods, makes a hand gesture, and the men seem to relax.
"Could you please bring the cart to the grassy clearing at the North end of town?  I may need to have access to some things, and would appreciate having it near-at-hand."
They nod, split to either side of the cart, and begin readying it for travel with a silent, fluid grace that I find appealing for it's Zen-like mechanics.

We begin walking up the road to the North, and moments later I hear the cart rumbling along behind us.
Turning my head, I see the shorter of the two leading the oxen, walking between them, with a soft hand upon the yoke.
It takes me a moment, but I realize the other is walking behind the cart - his legs seeming to stride by themselves under the cart's belly & between the rear wheels.

Soon we arrive at the Clearing, and there are already a number of Crafstmen waiting for us.
Bowing to each in turn, Master Jong'Pok and I move towards the head of the clearing.
The cart rolls along the edge of the clearing, finally coming to a stop a few paces off to our left.
They have done so as to not disturb the crowd, and I bow my silent thanks to the two young men; they smile & bow back, and I feel it a good omen.

The crowd slowly grows until I see all the Masters have arrived; a young man in sturdy pants & a heavy shirt stands off to one side, and I assume he must be Master Yiu'Hung's son.
I wait to catch his eye, and motion to him to come closer.
He seems surprised, and hesitates a moment, but comes forward through the crowd, excusing himself as he approaches.

I shake his hand, and offer my well-wishes to his father.
"You should not hover behind like you do not belong.  
Your father is a well respected member & a good craftsman.
It is unfortunate he has hurt his hand, but you are here as his representative, so you will be afforded the same Honour & Respect we would give him."
The other Craftsmen in earshot agree, and a few pat him on the back.
Many also offer their well-wishes to his father, and this open display of kindness gives him a bit more strength to his spine & shine to his eyes.

I look about, judge the time right, and raise my hands; the conversations hush, and I lower my arms.
"Good Day, Honourable Masters.
You all know me, and I am your humble servant in negotiations past.
I have had the Honour this morning to negotiate a trade between Master Hon'Wan and Master Jong'Pok who stands beside me.
Master Jong'Pok would like to make an announcement, and I respectfully ask that you give him a moment of your time to listen.
May I present Master Jong'Pok."
Bowing to the crowd, then to Master Jong'Pok, I step aside & let him "take the stage" as it were.

He bows to me, and then *very* deeply to the crowd to indicate his Respect; it works, for they return the gesture almost in unison.
"Good Afternoon, Masters.
My name is Jong'Pok and I am a Merchant from across the Lands to the East.
I have been fortunate in my trades, and so wish to give tribute to the Gods who have smiled down upon me.
In order to do this, I have decided to have crafted a fine, large Chaat-bui-leun in Their Honour.
I have already negotiated with Master Chi'Sam and Master Hon'Wan for the metal work I require.

It is I, at the advice of Master Chi'Sam, who sent your children to you with the invite that you attend this meeting.
I feel his wisdom is well placed, and at his direction, have called this meeting together so that I might explain myself with maximum efficiency.
I would like to negotiate similar agreements with the rest of you, trading what goods & coins I have for your Masterful artisanship.
In return for helping realize my dream, I am prepared to fairly reward you as best as I can.
To this end, I have asked Master Chi'Sam to negotiate our deals to our mutual benefit.
If this is acceptable, I welcome you to my task."

Once again he bows, and for a moment no one says anything.
Then a near roar of voices threatens to overwhealm us both - questions being flung in unison from every direction.
I lift my hands, and the crowd grows quiet once more.

"Honorable Masters, please allow me.
If you feel that you can assist Master Jong'Pok in his task, then I welcome you to stay.
If you feel you can not help, then I thank you for your time & you may return to your duties."
Here I pause, expecting a few to leave, but am surprised when no one does.
"Now, if you would form a line, Master Jong'Pok and I shall attempt to answer your questions as best as we are able."
They take a few moments, but form an orderly line that seems to circle the clearing like Orraboros.

As the first one steps forward, I bow and introduce him to Master Jong'Pok.
He asks about the amount, grades, & types of lumber that would be required.
Jong'Pok turns and points to his cart: "I suspect about as much as that one, in what-ever types that will give it a warm, rose-gold glow."
Nodding, the man checks a small clay tablet taken from a pouch off his hip, and makes an offer on a specific amount of a fine type of wood.
Jong'Pok says "If that will be sufficient to create what I imagine, then that sounds good to me, Master Craftsman.  I trust your ability to judge the amounts better than I."
I nod, knowing that the Master Carpenter has given a fair estimate as to the amount he will need, and has given a fair price.
They shake hands, and the Carpenter heads off back to his shop to prepare.

This cycle repeats itself, with each Master Craftsman in turn asking a question or two, making an offer as to the amount of materials they think they will need to create their part, & a price for the work to be performed.
Jong'Pok accepts most of them as-is, some he haggles down to a better price, but in all cases they look to me to give my ok to the bargain.
Almost all of them are fair, with but a single exception, and this Crafstman has always been a bit greedy.
I explain that he should offer a better price to Master Jong'Pok, as while his work is of excellent quality, Master Jong'Pok may take his requirements elsewhere that he can be sure of getting a better deal.
This seems to shame or shock the Crafstman into relenting, and he comes down to a more reasonable amount.
Jong'Pok haggles him down to something that I feel is a bit low, but accept it as a suitable admonishment to the Craftsman for his initial greed.
They finally reach an agreement, I give my blessing, and we are left standing in an empty clearing at last.

Jong'Pok offers me tea, which I accept as my throat is parched & my lips and tongue feel like I have been eating sand all day.
We approach his cart, he makes more hand gestures, and the two men have the step ready & door open before we've reached the door.
Jong'Pok hands out a small table & two chairs, and the two young men have them set up in the shade of a near-by tree.
A few moments later, he comes out with a tray, gingerly comes down the steps, and comes to the table.

I bow, thank him for his graciousness, and sit in one of the chairs.
It is a braided-heavy-wire frame with woven strips of bright cloth, and it folds flat when not in use; it looks flimsy, but holds my weight as readily as my favorite chair at home.
The table is of similar construction, and I mention my admiration for such ingenius designs.
He smiles & says that he can leave me with samples once he has completed his business here in the Village.
I sputter and nearly choke on my tea; I hadn't intended on him giving me his goods.

He laughs and pats me on the back.
"Consider it a thank you gift for your services today. 
Had I gone to each one in their shops, I would have been here for weeks.
You have saved me untold time & wasted energy going back & forth, trying to answer questions as they arise, and probably spinning my cart wheels getting relatively nowhere.
Your assistance has been invaluable, and a gift of some tables & chairs is the LEAST I can do."

I manage to swallow my tea down the right hole, and thank him for his generosity.
He laughs again, and we finish the tea in silence, watching the shadows slowly dance across the grass as the sun moves overhead.
In some silent, mutal conclusion, we get up from the table.

My bones crackle as I stretch, and I place a hand in the small of my back.
He laughs sadly & says "Just wait until you get as old as me, Young Man, then you'll REALLY make noises that cause others wince."
I look at him sharply until i realize he's pulling my leg, and I laugh: "You are not THAT old, Master Jong'Pok, and I didn't hear your body making any crackling noises."

He laughs and twists slightly to one side, which causes a ripple of crackles & snappings like a handfull of dry twigs being broken.
He twists back the other way & another ripple-crackle of noise comes from his body.
We spend a few moments seeing who's body makes the most crackling noises, until we're both breathless from laughing at our silly boyish ways.

He chuckles and says "It's a good thing my wife isn't here, or she'd scold me for behaving like a child."
I nod, look around, and say in a pseudo-quiet conspiratorial whisper "If mine were here, she'd box my ears red for not behaving myself as befit your high station."
He laughs, claps me on the back, and says good-naturedly "A good thing too, because I'd rather let the boy in me loose from time to time with someone who won't begrudge me doing so."
We shake hands, having become fast friends, and start to clear the setting.

He takes the tray & dishes, I take the table & chairs, and we go back to the cart.
The two young men are ready for us, and the step is already waiting, door ajar.
I hand the tray up to Jong'Pok as he steps into the cart, and then the table & chairs afterwards.

As we're leaving the cart, he makes another hand gesture, and the two young men nod.
"If I am not impertinent in asking, what are the hand signs you keep making to the two Guards?" I ask.

He smiles sadly & says "I have come to find some places appear peaceful on the outside, but are not so on the inside.
I have been attacked before, held at knife-point to my back, and forced to empty my own cart under pain of death.
There are a few simple hand signals I have devised with my Guards that reflect if I am coming willingly or am under duress.
If I am free, then I give one signal and all is well, if I am under attack, I give another signal.
Either way they nod as if everythign is fine, but if I give the Duress signal, they will bring down my assailant & hold him or her until we can deliver them to a Judge.
So far I find this Village peacefull both within and without, but I am afraid I must remain on my guard lest some enstranged person think to cause trouble."

I nod sadly. 
"I understand your caution.
I wish that I could say you have no need for such precautions here, but Wisdom dictates keeping your Guard over death."

He smiles sadly, and pats me on the back. 
"I am heartened that you understand, and I hope you have taken no offense."

"None taken, Friend Jong'Pok.
And as it pains me to leave on such a low note, I must return to my shop & then head home.
Since you are here for a spell, at least until your Chaat-bui-leun has been completed, I will see you again soon?"

He grips my hand in his, shaking it firmly, warmly.
"By all means, Friend Chi'Sam, again in the morning.
If you have need of me, I am either near my cart, or a message may be left with either of the two Guards & I will reply as soon as I am able."

We bow, & I head back for my shop.
The walk helps me absorb & sort all the things that have happened today.
I have helped bring a bit of prosperity to the Village, and for that I give thanks to the Gods of Fortune.

As I approach the shop, I notice a gathering of people around the front step.
One notices and hails me, which causes most of the others to breathe a collective sigh of relief.
Concerned, I come forward and bow: "To what do I owe the Honour of your visit, Good Villagers?"

The Apprentice of Master Hon'Wan steps forward, bows, and points towards the tree where Jaak & Jeun were resting when I left.
"I came by earlier to deliver the gift Master Hon'Wan instructed me to bring.
When I arrived, these two men were attempting to steal your oxen.
I called an alarm, and soon these fine Villagers came to assist me in apprehending them.
We have bound them to the tree until you could be notified and the Judge brought to bare."

The crowd parts & lets me approach the two tied to the tree.
Jaak & Jeun are resting peacefully beside the shelter wall, & I can tell by the way the cord is still wrapped around the knob that the cart is still safe inside.
I turn to look at the men, and their appearance stuns me a moment.

One is an older man, maybe in his late 40's, and he appears as a scarecrow; stick thin, emancipated, & his clothes are but mere rags.
The other is a younger version of the first, maybe in his early 20's, and similar in destitution.
They are ragged, obviously starving, & seem to have been beaten to within an inch of their lives.

I kneel & undo the rope, and ask them if they are in need of a Doctor.
They look at each other, and the older one nods; neither of them say a word.
I turn my head and ask the nearest Villager to fetch the Doctor.

"May I get you something to eat or drink?
I can have a hearty stew prepared shortly, small loaves of bread, and fresh water from the well if it would help ease your hunger."
My kindness seems to confuse them a moment, but after a mere glance at each other, they both nod their heads; again, not a word.
"Then please, if you will remain here, I shall go fix a meal & bring it back shortly.  The Doctor will be here soon to tend to your wounds."

I stand, look about the crowd, and head for the Shop.
Gathering what I need, I place the items into a large basket, & carry them outside.
Going to the fire ring I've already created, I make sure it's clear of debris.
Setting up a small kettle, I lay coals under it in a ring, and gingerly scrape the flint across a small steel rod until the sparks catch.
As the fire grows, I start peeling potatos, carrots, leeks, onions, & other vegetables into the pot.
A bit of water from the well into the stew pot to help create a broth, and a mug full of water for each of the two men.

They gratefully accept the mugs, and nearly choke on the water by trying to drink it too fast.
I caution them to slow, and remind them that there is plenty more water in the well for them to slake their thirst.
They nod in silent thanks, and take to sipping the water instead of gulping.

The Doctor arrives a few minutes later, is a bit taken-aback by the crowd, but comes in among them until he see's me and the two men.
He bows to me, and then to the two, and asks "How are you injured?  Were you fighting, or did you fall from a height?"
The two look at each other, and the older one says softly "We were beaten up."

The Doctor and I look about the crowd, the look on the Doctor's face a scowl frightful enough to give nightmares to children, but I still his words with a hand upon his shoulder.
"I do not think anyone from our Village would do such a thing to these men...
Master Hon'Wan's apprentice says he caught the men trying to steal my oxen, and that the crowd helped detain the men until I and the Judge could be summoned.
I do not think they physically injured anyone in their desire to keep the men here...
[Turning to face the crowd]
Did you?"

There is a general shaking of heads, a few soft but sincere No's from some, and a general look of "Lift a hand in violence? How abhorrent!" on everyone's face.
It is as I thought, as the Villagers here are generally Believers in the Tao, and violence is not a Path we wish to travel.

[I look at the two men.]
"Did any of these people here do this to you?"
[They shake their heads.]
"Then that is settled.  
No one here did this to them, but they HAVE suffered injuries.  
Please, Doctor, can you heal them for me?"

He looked at me strangely for a moment, smiled, and nodded his head.
Turning to the two, he begins administering to their needs, and I go back to making them a meal.
Soon there are warmed loaves of bread, bowls of hearty stew, and another mug of fresh, cool water for them to fill their bellies.

Once they have had their fill, I accept back the bowls & mugs, and place them into the basket.
Sitting down in front of them, I ask softly "Did you try to steal my oxen?"
The younger one hangs his head in shame, the older one nods his head and then hangs it down; they both hold their hands in their laps.

The Doctor finishes bandaging the older one, and despite the shame of having been caught trying to steal, there is a sense of relief from pain, an easing of the strain around the eyes & mouth.
He turns to the younger one, who lifts his right arm gingerly; it has been broken & is at a wrong angle, which causes him to wince as he lifts it.
The Doctor scowls.

"You should have been taken care of first, young man.  
This must be causing you much pain.  
I am sorry, but I will cause you a bit more pain in a moment.
It will be sharp, fast, and yes it will hurt, but once I set the bone, it will heal properly & cause you no more pain."

The young man nods his head, scrunches his eyes closed & grits his teeth against the pain he now knows the Doctor will be inflicting.
Firmly holding the young man's right wrist in His right hand and bracing the shoulder with His left hand, the Doctor gives a count of three and !YANKS!.
There is a sharp CRACK, a grinding of bone ends, and a strangled yelp of pain escapes the young man's lips.

The Doctor applies a poultice of herbs & oils, wraps some long, thin leaves around the arm, and then wraps all that in fine, spun cotton bandages.
He takes two long planks of thick bamboo, lays them to either side of the arm, and encases the whole arm in a swath of braided grass bindings to immobilize the arm.
Once he's finished, the young man is looking down at his arm, gingerly flexing his fingers, and then looks up with tears of gratitude streaming down his cheeks.
The older man touches his shoulder, and it seems to calm the younger one down; his tears soon dry, but the look of gratitude is still strong in his eyes.

The Doctor pats them both on the shoulders, and admonishes them to take it easy for a few days while their internal injuries heal.
He says to the older man:
"Your injuries are mostly bruises, so your injuries will hurt for a while, but the swelling will go down in a few days, & the pain should fade a week or so after that.
I do not recommend taking a bath, and do not remove the bandages, for at least a week.
If you do, the poultice will come off, the pain will come back, and the bruising may be permanent.
After the swelling goes down, you are free to take a hot bath & remove the bandages."

He turns to the younger man:
"Do not remove the bandages for a month.
Your arm will need time to heal, and if you remove the bandages, it will do more damage that no Doctor will be able to repair.
Do not try to bend the arm, the splints are there to keep it straight while the bones knit.
If you remove them, you will cause yourself much un-needed pain & suffering, and no Doctor will give you a poultice to ease pain you've inflicted upon yourself."

They both nod their understanding, a pair of soft "Thank You, Kind Sir." escapes their lips, and the Doctor stands once more.
I bow to him, thank him for his assistance, and offer to pay for his services later once the matter has been resolved.
"You are an Honorable man, Chi'Sam, so you can make your donation when it is most convenient for you to do so.  My best to your wife & children."
I thank him again, we bow, and he leaves - the crowd parting for him like waves before the bow of a mighty ship. 

Turning back to the two men, I ask "May I ask why you tried to steal my oxen?"
The younger one gulps & hangs his head again; the older one sighs and finally looks me in the eyes.
His voice is gravelly, like water gurgling over small pebbles.
"We were starving, Good Sir.  
We had been walking for months, trying to find work, finally reduced to begging for alms, until we could no longer stand the hunger pains.
I saw the oxen laying there, and thought that if we could but take one off into the countryside, we could at least eat it while hiding our shame..."

I look from his face to the younger's down-turned eyes, and it suddenly strikes me that this might be a father & son.
"Did you or your son try to take the ox at first?"

He looks quickly at the young man, who's eyes go wide in fright; I have guessed at a simple truth, but they take it as a revelation long hidden to an uncaring World.
He stammers & says "I did, but then my son tried to help me..."
He leans forward, his hands clasped in classic "begging fists", & pleads.
"Please, Good Sir, if we must be hanged for our theft, take my life & spare my son's!  
I am an old man, long past redemption, but he is still young and may still have a chance to regain a measure of Honour!  
I give my life for my son, if it means he may have a second chance!"

I place my hands on his shoulders, smile, and shake my head.
"No one is going to hang for this, Good Man, not you nor your son.
You will be punished, but no one need die over this.
*I* certainly do not wish it upon you, and I am the one whom you tried to wrong..."

The look of utter relief in their eyes nearly breaks my heart, but my words were Truth.
I do not hold any ill will towards them, and will even plead for their forgiveness to the Judge once He arrives.

At this thought, the crowd parts with a soft murmuring, and the Judge climbs down off his horse at the edge of the throng.
He hands the reigns to a young man and asks for his horse to be watered.
The young man bows at this Honor, and the Judge thanks him.

His robes are slightly dusty from the ride, but otherwise the Judge looks like a man of Wealth, Power, and Truth.
He radiates an aura of Authority, and the crowd bows to Him as he passes.
I stand as he steps forward, and bow.

"Greetings Chi'Sam.
I was told of a matter of importance had occurred here, and was requested to come as fast as my horse could carry me.
May I ask the nature of my summons?"

"Greetings Honorable Judge.
These two men [a hand gesture indicating the two sitting at the base of the tree] were caught attempting to steal one of my oxen.
They were beaten up in the attempt, but not by anyone from the Village.
The Doctor has already been here & seen to their wounds, the Father merely severe bruising, but the Son suffered a broken arm as well.

I have fed them, given them water, and heard their story before you arrived.
They had been starcing, travelling on foot for months, looking for work until they were brought to begging for alms.
When that didn't work, they thought to steal an ox, take it to the far countryside, and eat in shame lest the hunger killed them."

The Judge looks at me, nods his head, and looks down upon the men: "Please, stand."
They take a minute to do so, the son's arm causing him a bit of imbalance & his father helping him up to steady on his feet.

The Judge looks them over, looks back at me, and then back at them: "Are Chi'Sam's words true, Gentlemen?"
The Father closes his eyes for a minute, gathering his strength, and says firmly "Yes, Sir."
The Son swallows a lump in his throat, starts to nod his head, and says softly "Yes, Sir, they are."

The Judge turns to me and asks "Do you have anything you wish to say before I give judgement?"

I nod my head.
"Yes, Honorable One.
I wish them no ill will, and even ask that you be merciful in their punishment.
No one deserves to die for being too poor to buy food.
If it will please Your Honor, I would rather arrange for them to work for me in exchange for a new set of clothes, more food, and possibly enough money to ply their trade properly."

At this, the crowd gasps & a soft murmur ripples through it; they are stunned at what I have asked.
The two Accused seem to lean against each other in shock.

The Judge raises an eyebrow, and a slow smile spreads across his lips.
"You wish me to be merciful against those who have wronged you?"

I nod, and bow: "Yes, Sir, I do."

He turns to the Accused, places his hands on his hips, and takes a breath.
"Then if this is the Evidence, and it has been declared the Truth by both Parties, I shall render Judgement.
The Accused are Guilty of attempting to steal an ox.
The Wronged acknowledges the serious of the crime, but also requests Mercy upon their part.
Is this the Truth as you both understand it?"

The three of us nod our heads in agreement, and the Judge smiles.
"Then I declare the Accused Guilty.
As punishment, I decree that they shall work for the Wronged for a period of no less than one month, but no more than six months.
They shall work for normal fair wages as any Apprentice might earn, and these wages will be accrued until sufficient amount has been earned to pay for the cost of one ox.
At such time, their debt to the Wronged will be considered paid in full & they will be free to continue as paid Apprentices, or leave as Free Men.
Is this a suitable reward for the Wronged?"

I smile and nod my head: "Yes, Sir, it sounds fair to me and merciful as any could ask."

He turns to the two men: "Do you understand the nature of your punishment?"
They nod, a soft "Yes Sir" from both of them floats momentarily upon the air.

He nods & proclaims: "Then So Shall It Be.
The Guilty shall work off their debt to the Wronged as Apprentices...
[Here he turns to face the crowd.]
You have witnessed my Judgement.
Do you consider it Fair & Just?"

The crowd is almost stunned silent, but enough of them manage to nod or answer "Yes Sir!" that the Judge considered it as Accepted.

"The Witnesses have agreed my Judgement as Fair & Just, So Shall It Stand.
Is there anything else I can do for you, Chi'Sam, or may i return to my Offices & get back to work?"
The smile on his face shows he's not angry, which is a relief because an angry Judge is rarely a pleasant one.

"No, Honorable Sir, I am happy with your Judgement, and your mercy does us like a salve for the soul."

He laughs and claps me on the shoulder.
"Chi'Sam, if you had any more of a silver tongue, your teeth would reflect the sunlight like mirrors...
I shall return to my Office now, and wish you all Peace."

The crowd parts once more, and the young man holding the reigns offers the Judge a hand to remount.
Once upon his horse, he waves again to the crowd, and canters off.
The crowd seems to mill for a moment, but gradually dissolves as the matter is considered closed.

The two men stand looking at me, their faces a mixture of confusion & gratitude.
I look back at them and motion them back to the tree.
Sitting down in the grass, I ask them to join me, which they do.
The Father helping his son to sit, then himself sinking down beside the younger.

"What, may I ask, were your skills before you were reduced so far?"

The man spreads his hands & shows his callouses before he speaks.
"I was a Journeyman Stone Cutter back in our home town.
I was Apprenticed to a Master Stone Cutter for a year, and did well in my studies.
But then he died in an accident.

It wasn't my fault, but the people blamed me, and chased me & my family from the town.
My wife, May She Rest in Peace, passed away shortly afterwords, and that left my son & I to carry-on on our own.
I taught him everything I knew about Stone Cutting, as we traveled from town to town trying to find work.

We finally crossed a large river, and I thought that might bring a bit of a turn to our luck.
Unfortunately it DID turn, but not for the better.
This land doesn't seem to have any use for Stone Cutters, so my skills are effectively worthless here.

I am too old to learn a new trade, and no one will let us settle in one spot long enough for my son to gain an Apprenticeship somewhere.
We were reduced to begging for alms, and from there, to trying to steal your ox.
I am so very sorry for trying to steal your animal, and thank you most heartily for asking for the Judge to be Merciful.
That is more kindness than we have experienced in years, and it makes me feel my shame all the more..."

I absorb this for a moment, and then lay a kind hand upon his shoulder.
"Your story fills me with sorrow, and also with hope.
You are right that this land currently has very little use for a Stone Cutter's skills, but wrong that they are worthless.
If I understand you correctly, you can shape stone as a Carpenter shapes wood?"

He nods his head.
"Somewhat, yes.  
With the right tools, I can carve stone into shapes much like wood.

I can not build a boat that floats, but otherwise, anything wood can do, stone can do, too.
For example, a wooden house frame, or that of a barn, can also be made of stone.
The stone frame will be much heavier, but also much sturdier & better protection against winds, rain, & attack.

Or, if you decide to build a table from stone instead of wood, it will hold more weight, won't catch fire, and cleans easier than a wooden one.
Or a well, let's say, normally built with wooden retaining walls, can only go so deep before the wood fails & the Earth collapses the walls.
If you build the walls with stone instead, the well can go much deeper, the walls are more sturdy, and water won't destroy the bottom of the walls like it does wood.

Stone has many uses, but it costs more, takes longer to shape, and requires more men to put it in place.
The benefits, though, are that it's sturdier, fire-proof, and lasts much, MUCH longer than wood..."

His words seem to peter out, his enthusiasm waning with his energy, and a weariness seems to settle upon his shoulders.
"But no one in these lands seems to care for such skills, so they do me no good..."

Smiling, I pat him on the shoulder again.
"Actually, *I* have a use for them.
If you can build things out of stone, as you say, how long would it take you to build me a new home?"

The man looks up, his eyes wide in hope. "It depends on how tall you want it to be..."

Now it is MY turn to be confused. "How... tall?"

He laughs, his face lighting up like a lantern.
"With stone, you are not limited to a single floor like you might be with a light, flexible wood like what I have seen around these lands.
With stone, you can build upwards, almost as tall as you desire, with the only requirement being the thickness of the walls at the base.
The taller you want to go, the thicker the base has to be.
[His hands are furiously drawing in the air, forming a tall column to indicate height, and then spreading wide in a circle to indicate a wide base.]

It also works *down* as well.
[Hand makes a level plane like the ground, and the other hand forms a column *downward*.]
Like with the well, you can use stone to form the walls and dig down into the Earth.
This creates a cool space that is perfect for storing food during the hot summer months.
Being made of stone, you also have fewer problems with rats or bugs getting in and spoiling your stored goods."

I think about this a second.
"So, if I wanted to have a level below the ground, and a level on the ground, and a third above the ground, this would be possible?"

He laughs. "Easily!  It will take longer to construct that a standard wooden house, more men to move the stone, but it can be done."

His son nods in agreement, and finally uses his voice unprompted.
"We used to live in such a house.
The level below ground is called a Basement or Celler, and we stored dried meats, fruits, and vegetables in large stone boxes there.

I remember when the Ice Man would deliver large blocks of frozen lake water, lay down a thick layer of wood chips, and then place the ice on top.
We could enjoy ice well into Summer, because it took so long to melt down in the cold, dark celler.
Fresh-tasting fruits long after their season had passed were a delight.

The level on the ground was entirely a great room, kitchen, and dining area where we entertained guests.
Only the two columns to brace the load, and those artfully hidden & disguised to look like trees growing *inside* the house.
In the winter, we would decorate the vines with small berries & flowers, and it was a little bit of Summer to warm the heart.

The upper level was bedrooms & a small covered area where we could sit at and enjoy the cool of the shade.
My room was near the patio, and I would often sit out under the stars & think about the happenings of the day.
Many a time I woke up at the first rays of dawn streaming against my face, the breeze off the lake like a cool touch upon the lips.

Such houses could be built here, too, if we but had the tools & materials..."

His father nods in agreement: "This is true.
All we really need are the proper tools, access to sufficient quantities of workable stone, and enough men to help us move it when it needs to be.
Beyond that, my son and I can easily create such a house for you."

I smile warmly, stand, & extend my hands towards them.
"Then this is what I wish from you.
[They take my hands, and I help them to their feet.]
In the morning, the three of us will visit the Black Smith.
We shall see about having him make the tools you need.

I am not sure about the stone, but we can hire the local children to be your eyes.
If you describe to them exactly what kinds of stones you are looking for, then they can scour the countryside until someone finds it.
From there, we shall see about hiring sufficient men to move what you need where you need it."

The father looks at the brink of crying tears of gratitude, his son's lower lip trembles slightly in silent hope that their lives have finally taken a turn for the better.
The father shakes my hand, then the son does too, and we stand there a moment.
It finally occurs to me that is well past the time for the day's last meal, and I ask them if they are hungry.

The son chuckles behind a hand, and tries to cover it as a cough, but his father's belly laugh drowns any hope of such disguise.
The son hangs his head, smiling sheepishly, and the father claps him heartily on the back.
"Far be it for us to refuse a meal, Good Sir."

"Please, call me Chi'Sam.  
I am but a humble shop keeper, and it would be too formal and awkward to keep calling each other Sir and Man and Boy.
May I have the pleasure of knowing the names of my new Apprentices?"

The father places a hand against his chest, "I am Leon", then upon his son's shoulder, "and this is my son David.
We are forever grateful to you, Chi'Sam, for your generousity & merciful soul.
I hope we are able to build you a grand house worthy of your kindness, and we shall strive to do the best job we know how."

His son nods in agreement, holds his right fist over his heart, and says solemly "To redeem ourselves, we shall toil to repay you, Chi'Sam."
His father mimics this gesture, and together they bow in a most formal, respectful manner that it almost makes me flush.
I return both the gesture & the bow, and then we head for the shop.

I show them to lift the door over the bump, and how to tie it back with the thong.
I bring out two more stools from the back of the store, and place them beside the other near the door.
Going back out, I retrieve the box of cooking bits I had brought out earlier, and place them on the counter.

Setting it all back up again, I dish out still luke-warm bowls of stew, and cold loaves of bread.
A fresh mug of water apiece finishes off the meal, and they thank me again for the food.

Considering my wife's reaction to having to board two strange men on no notice, I figure it will be best if they spend the night here at the store.
I excuse myself and go back into the rear of the store, fetching a pair of blankets & thin pillows.
Apologising that they aren't much, I promise to get them better bedding in the morning.

They argue that I have already done so much for them, and that they can sleep anywhere on anything, and have done so repeatedly in their travels.
I refuse to make them sleep outside, as such treatment of a Boarded Apprentice would shame me and them both.
I show them where they can relieve themselves out back into the garden, and the small shovel used to bury the results with.

I show them how the well & how the second bucket hangs on the knob on the outside rim when not in use.
I point out where the fire starter tools are kept, where the coal is stored, and that the fire ring outside is where I always keep a fire if I should need one.
I tell them to sleep well, and that I shall return in the morning.

Once more they thank me, the father shaking my hand, and the son giving me a one-armed hug that touches me most deeply.
I bow, and walk to where Jaak & Jeun are standing, waiting impatiently for me to hook them to the cart so we can head home.
I open the shed doors, and as soon as the doors clear where they need to be, the brothers step into place.

Almost like a synchronised dance, they turn around, back up a step until they feel the cart tongue touch their front hooves, and stop.
I laugh, pat them each on the heads & scratch behind their ears.
"Eager to get home, eh Boys?"

Jaak snorts and whispers "We have a story to tell you once we're on the road..."
I smile, pretend I didn't hear them, and finish tying the yoke straps about their necks.
As soon as the last strap is done, they pull the cart free of the shed, clear the doors, and wait.

I close & tie the door, then climb into the bench seat.
As my butt hits the wood, they both pull away a little too eagerly, and I chide them "Don't pull TOO hard, or we'll make the Villagers think you've seen a ghost..."
Jeun huffs in obvious "What-EVER..." gesture, and I laugh merrily at the rebuke.

It is late, and the sky is turning a ruddy, dark red as the sun slides down among the trees on the horizon.
Jaak starts to tell me their side of the story, and his voice is a soft, harmonious buzz to my ears.
Soon my head rolls on my shoulders, and I am asleep sitting up on the bench seat of the cart.

I wake up to the sound of wooden wheels creaking on ungreased wooden axels, and think I have fallen asleep upon the cart bench.
I open my eyes to find my own room, and the creaking noise I hear is the cat rubbing herself against the door, causing it to swing slowly back & forth on the hinges that need oiling.
As the room comes into focus, the smell of the Country air fades from my nose, and I feel sorrow at having lost something that never was in the first place...

----====----