Chapter 9: The Great Potato Feast, the Future Plans made Clear
Aromas of baking potatoes caused all villagers to salivate uncontrollably. Dignity and class out the window before craving stomachs. They were nearly finished.
“Now everyone!” Begun Pam with stoicism and tutor-like tonality in her voice, “be sure to drink plenty of water and do not eat too quickly! We have brought a large volume from the local lake.”
Villagers each received a primitive cup with water contained within and lined their stomachs in preparation for the feast. With little delay, potatoes were passed around and the only audible noise in the early afternoon was chomping, clapping of the lips and sounds of pleasant enjoyment.
“Ahhh...” An omnipresent sigh of relief and satisfaction left the mouths of all villagers as they laid on the soils beneath them, allowing the potatoes to digest. Some fell asleep, others simply couldn’t move for they were so stuffed. Tar succumbed to the need for sleep following the intense digestive process that was happening whilst Pam, Lam and Zar remained awake having a light-hearted chat which soon became quite directed.
“Hmm... I like the idea, perhaps we could make this work!”
“Indeed Sister Lam, I agree, Brother Zar has a good plan.” Pam continued.
“I appreciate your inputs dear Sisters, if only distant villages were not so aversive to contacting us, we might be able to secure other kinds of produce to begin growing again, but yes, firstly we will harvest a large sum of potatoes such that there will always be plenty to eat, there are no grains to plant for we had eaten them all, but I will figure a way to acquire some. If only our hair was not a dead giveaway to our appearance...”
“But Brother Zar!” Lam said excitedly. “Your hair! It's no longer blood-red as is ours, it's extremely orange. Do you think people will suspect you?”
“Well, true but wouldn’t my size give it away?”
“Perhaps not, the local village spies on us immorally, they think us skinny runts due to starvation, but you look pretty healthy, you have filled out some like a skinny fighter.”
“Is that a compliment Lam?” Asked Zar sharply.
“I would think so...” Lam replied sarcastically.
“Lam makes a good point Brother Zar, you may just be able to get away with trading some potatoes for some grains, they may not recognise you so quickly. If it was not for the war, we would not be so notorious, so infamous... But anyway, you are going to need an outfit that is not so tattered and horrible. Lam and I will make you a garment to have you come across with some dignity, you will take the potatoes to them in exchange for various seeds which we will grow rapidly using your ability. This way, we can reattain good-health and perhaps bear children for the future of our people as well as growing the state of the village back.”
“It is worth a shot, yes, I will give it a go!”
“Indeed, be sure to by grass seeds from the neighbouring village as well Brother Zar, the grass has multiple uses and will have our lands look prettier to the observer.” Requested Pam.
“You are a future thinker, if this succeeds, I will indeed ask for grass seeds. Anything else?”
“No,” the sisters mutually replied.
“I will take the uncooked potatoes and replant them, let us see how fast they grow hmm? We may need to fast for a day or so, but I can remove hunger pangs whenever necessary. During the weeks I must teach the village how they may manage their own hunger-pangs, health and crop-development speed.” Stated Zar in a somewhat serious tone.
“Very good.” Replied Pam, with Lam nodding with delight.
It was summer in the Lesser Continent, summer lasted for a significant period of time and winters were short. The Lesser Continent was a true agricultural paradise. Whilst it was common to eat fowl and meat for the richer families, if a poor family owned a cow or a chicken, they were used predominantly for milk or eggs and not to be eaten directly.
The summer sun burning the foreheads of some of the sleeping villagers caused them to come awake some hours later. Some were awoken earlier by forceful bowel movements due to the potato consumptions, others by dehydration and a need for water. The villagers none-the-less felt satisfied, really satisfied.
“There must have been something in those potatoes, I feel so good, so wonderful, so full – like I have eaten an immense meal.” Mused one of the villagers aloud, another villager also added who was nearby. “Yes, I have had potatoes in the distant past but have never felt this satisfied, perhaps it was because I was not so starved back then. Young Grand Elder has been experimenting with something that passes my mind, he sat on that rock for 3 weeks. Assuredly that has to do with it.”
“Oh yes Great Brother, one of the Great Sisters of the village, a very fair lady asked Elder Zar, Elder Zar replied something along the lines of Qi, the things we heard in the tales of old. ‘A great power which could bring the heavens to meet the earth,’ or so it goes.” Said Great Brother Ge sarcastically.
“Hmph, well Great Brother Ge, although I have seen miracles recently, I will require slightly more evidence to be that many times more convinced.”
“I believe in Grand Elder Zar, already he has done so much for us.”
“Yes, yes, I know Ge, I know. But one must not get their hopes up, we have been through hell, and I must admit, this all feels too good to be true.”
“Indeed Brother Lee, you speak truth. Let us retreat back to our humble abodes, the day passes, and the food requires much digestion, I feel like I have been digesting for quite a while.”
Ge and Lee, two Greaters, walked to their little but repaired shacks. Awaiting the future...
In the meanwhile, Pam and Lam were already hard at work making preparations. As one progressed down the top of the mountain where the Oldman once lived, old dying trees were about, such trees used to bear fruit but were degrading, they emanated the energy of something simply past its prime and unrecoverable. Further down the mountain through twists and turns and cobble pathways, you reached the lowlands. There were small, if not tiny plots of land with nothing growing within, a many times larger plot of land which grew the potatoes, and further on, a lake somewhat devastated and in much need of tender-loving-care. Luckily, the water within the lake could be boiled and upon the irregular rains, it would refill consistently supplying the village with necessary hydration.
Beyond such a point there were fence gates to make distinctions between the Giaths Land and the Land of other families. Past the fences were many trees and other useful harvestable things. Things that the Giaths wouldn’t dare trespass and steal lest they come under the frustrations or potential attack of their neighbours, which in their previous malnourished state would have been devastating, but now things were different, and Pam and Lam had a plan for Zar’s clothing.
“Sister Lam, my idea is to sneak into the Ploughing Sects territory and snag their fibrous plants, with a little elbow grease, we can weave the dried but flexible fibers into some apparel that will give Zar the appearance of some alone traveller. Then, we need only cut the darker highlights of his hair to ensure he definitely does not get noticed – some of these old tools can set Zar for a good trim and groom, something that may impress the ladies of the village.”
“You are a dubious one sister Pam, but I like the idea. I feel I could do many nefarious things with this abundant energy coursing through me. We will do so at sundown, those guards who nosey at our territory, judging us more than likely will be resting. They will not expect something from such a weak sect as our Giath sect, will they?” Replied Lam.
“True, hehe, true!” Added Pam with some evil laughter, Lam emphasising with even more evil laughter.
“Eek, do you feel that evil energy coming from the Grand Elders shack?”
“I wouldn’t mind it Great Fair Lady, they are harmless Elders.”
End of Chapter 9.
ns 15.158.61.21da2
