c*****e Aftermath
1383 Words
Many hands make work light. As the deforestation team had ceased their operations for the day, quite a handful of gatherers helped in getting the bamboo from the southern forest over to the bamboo production area.
The damaged bamboo barricades were cannibalized to convert them into skids while the rest were being made into tinder as it was crushed and could not be salvaged. New bamboo barricades were quickly set up and the sharpened tips were being heated up and hardened.
This, in turn, would make the bamboo barricades sturdier as the sharpened ends would not easily split up upon impact.
I looked at the damaged herbal Garden and I quickly rolled up my sleeves as I helped the community to clear away the smashed plants and gather them aside to be burnt away or be a compost. Since there was some frost, I am definite that the poor plants would not be able to live much longer after its ordeal.
Besides this would give Hendry some work to and a new plot of herb garden could be reorganised as new planting beds were being made ready.
Since there's a rebuild of a herbal garden, the lands had been churned turned over and rows of new planting beds had been made. Now there were 30 rows of 20 feet planting beds that would be made ready for the next spring to come.
Besides, Earl also assisted to make another 60 rows of 20 feet planting beds for the plantation of monkey nuts. According to the plot size, about 600 young plants could be planted and each plant may yield 1 pound of monkey nuts based on a normal process in a 4 months period.
However, in Penelope's case, it would be able to yield 600 pounds weekly...! And the bakers will have a new product that would take England by storm...!
After setting aside the 60 rows to plant the monkey nuts, Earl made another few more rows where 2 rows of 20 feet planting beds were to be reserved for dwarf lemon trees, calamansi shrubs, dwarf orange trees and spearmint shrubs for the making of Hair and Body Wash blocks.
At least the ladies would be able to harvest these for the process in making the essences. As for the others, chamomile, lavender, rosemary and mixed berries would be used for the Hair and Body Wash liquidised form.
In fact, it was decided that the blocks would be used for the body, face and hands only while the liquid ones to be made available solely for the hair.
When the workers ended their work for the day, the repair works had been completed and the land was being orderly churned and then over by Earl. It was left as it was since there's no point to growing anything in them due to frost on the ground.
They returned to wash up and prepare dinner as I went back to the infirmary and was surprised when I saw several of the students were sitting on the floor and drawing with some charcoal bits on some papers provided by Heather.
"Hello, fat lady... How are you doing today? It seems your students never give you any peace at all..." I poked my head and pulled a face at Heather as she too was helping a young girl to make some drawings.
"Hello, Big Brother..." the children greeted me the usual way when they saw me. "Look, Hero, I drew you and one of the guards fighting with the monster."
Chadwell's boy was holding up his charcoal drawing high above his head. His elder sister of 6 years old was helping him to draw and shade his drawing to be as close as possible.
I saw some stick figures, one holding a bow and the other holding a sword with a small crown on his head, waving the arms wildly and was chasing away or being chased by a huge scratchy sketchy drawing of an armadillo.
The sword that the stick figure was carrying was as large as its body and it sure looks like a huge mystical fantasy two-handed sword to me that could pierce the sky and split the heavens into two...!
The armadillo doesn't have an elephant trunk and surely the hard shell armour does not look like a horse saddle. Its claws were like branches of a scarecrow and frankly, the drawing was good as scarier than the original mutant armadillo were fighting against in the morning...!
I patted the head of Chadwell's boy as he related to me his point of view on the fantasy battle that took place earlier and after every child there had shown their drawings and earning praises from me, I finally managed to approach Heather and get to rub her tummy where I could feel kicks and punches from within.
"Hahaha... I guess the twins are getting jealous since I am getting all the attention from other children and never got to spend time with my own unborn twins."
I was knocking slightly on Heather's belly and waving my hands at the unborn twins as I imagine that the belly was like a membrane where they could see me from inside out but not from outside in.
"Have they gotten rid of the mutant armadillo yet dear? I was so shocked that I had peed through my knickers...! Not only I was terribly ashamed of the aftermath but I had no spares so Old Kayla had me changed and the soiled clothes brought back to our domain and settled by one of our helpers."
"Yes, Darling... The carcass was pulled away and burnt some miles off the south side. Hope it would turn into some kind of fertiliser, and if not, birds of prey would settle it for nature. Do you have any idea of this monstrosity?"
"Yes, my dear father to be... Don't you remember that we used to have a book with all the funny weird drawings that were kept inside the library? I used to sneak in and brought the book down and I think it's a book on the collection of monsters and such..."
"Oh, I think I could find the book that Eagle had taken down along with him in the last trip back to Darlington months ago. I think the book was carried along with him. Besides, since you're here for a day, do you need anything from me?"
I looked at Heather as I ran my fingers more like walking my fingers on her belly as I played with the unborn twins as I felt kicks or punches as they tried to trade where my fingers were. It was playing tag in two opposite sides of the world.
"There no need dear, come over after the night conference then. Only you would be allowed entry here after hours."
"Oh, Alright honey. I'd be off now. See you later, Heather the Feather..." I kissed Heather's forehead and her cheeks as she playfully punched my chest that made her knuckles numb.
=*=
Midway as I was closing the night conference, another series of whistles blows were heard on the southern gate and I jumped in my seat when I heard the alarm.
COULD THESE MUTATED MONSTERS GIVE US SOME PEACE?!
As I mustered up my strength and called for the garrison to prepare, I reached for my bow and quivers that were leaned on the two-seater bamboo throne and slapped my short sword at my sides. With a leap, I ran off towards the direction of distress, letting the pioneers calm the community.
When I got there, the Shadow member that was aiding me earlier reported his findings. A Shadow scout had come back and reported that there was a group of soldiers, knights or militiamen heading this way in horseback with no signs of spears, halberd or even pikes.
Reports were given that these unexpected visitors were carrying some hot weapons on their sides, most probably matchlock pistols and some weird looking swords and daggers.
They can't be Merchants trading with weapons, eh?
The weird thing was that the one leading the pack was wearing a rather gruesome mask as if the one was born with it and it was sleek and had no face or features at all...!
- Writer
