by Ison, S. A.
“No, no telling what has eaten on it. Let’s head back and I’ll gather branches as we go.”
The day had warmed up and we took our jackets off. The night temperatures were falling and I knew fall was just about here. I felt the first drops of rain when we got back to the cave.
“Let’s set up the racks in the cave, so I can dry this fruit out.”
“Sounds good, you go on up and I’ll bring them.” He said.
We sat just inside the mouth of the cave, watching it rain.
“I was thinking tomorrow, I’d like to try to make the pemmican. If it isn’t raining that is.”
“That sounds good. What we do is choose what we want to grind. We’ll have to grind the dried meat and dried fruit and if you want, we can add the dried broadleaf plantain to it as well and the chives. Whatever combination you want.”
“I like that idea. I think tomorrow I will use the tapir meat, some of the dried strawberries and the dates. What then?”
“We’ll heat the fat until it’s liquified. Then we add it to the ground meat and fruit mixture until we can make balls. Then we can pack them away in the intestines. That should keep them from getting air on it.”
“Very cool. I’m excited. Once I get comfortable, I’ll be making lots and different combinations. I also think I might make some with the hen mushroom. I like that flavor with the fish.” I grinned.
“Yeah and if we don’t feel like cooking, we can eat them.”
“I’m all for that, kind of like dried fast food.” I laughed.
The next day I started early. I brought down a basket filled with dried tapir, some of my strawberries and the dates. Tomorrow, I would make the same, but I would leave out the strawberries and put figs, chives, plantain and dates. Each day I did the preps, I would change the ingredients.
I built a small fire and set my pot on the stones and put fat into the pot to melt down and heat. I then sat beside Harper who had a rock and the wood bowl. He grabbed a hand full of the dried meat and fruit and put into his bowl. He used the rock to grind down the mixture to a fine powder.
“You’ll want to get this ground down fine, because when you put the fat on it, it will make a mud-pie like mass. We can set them on the plate until we get enough to put in the intestines.”
“Sounds good, maybe do ten patties, put in the intestine, twist and then put the next and so on. Then cut the intestine after the ten and put in the storage basket.” I suggested.
“That sounds good and nice and orderly as well. We can pull up a ten pack and not worry about disturbing the rest of them.”
We sat in companionable silence and ground the meat mixture. Then we made patties and it almost became like an assembly line. In no time, we were finished with our very first batch of pemmican. We had at least with this batch, fifty-four patties. I was quite pleased.
“Now that I know how to do it, I think tomorrow, I will double the amount and get more made. Thanks for showing me Harper. I really enjoyed doing that.”
“Groovy baby, groovy.” he said in Austin Power’s voice and I laughed.
Δ
It was now mid-September by our calculations. I had a hell of a lot of pemmican packed into the back of the cave. I had to make more baskets and some of our squat palms were becoming close to bald. I had to reorganize our pantry, dividing meats, pemmican, tubers and dried fruits and vegetables and mushrooms. As it turned out, the grain we found was a kind of wheat. I left the bulk of it in grain form but ground out nearly five pounds of it. Harper and I took turns, it was hard to grind down into flour. My muscles were very hard now, strong upper body strength from all this work.
I’m here to tell you, the flour looked nothing like the flour you get at the store. We had to pick the hulls and chaff out. I’m here to tell you, there are no free meals. We worked that grain and then the flour. It was time consuming and tedious but oh so worth it.
Though the days were still warm, the nights were getting colder and colder.
“I’ve decided to make dividers for the cave. We can’t heat the whole cave, that will just waste our firewood and dung. If I make three divides, I can close off to make our living space small and heat-able.”
“If you do that, I will make long mats to put over them, to add an extra barrier.” I said, my mind already racing.
“That’s good, it will help. I’ll make the divide between us and the entry way with a small hole, so when we build a fire, the smoke will be sucked out of our living area. I’ll make a divide for the mouth of the cave. That will keep the snow and the majority of the wind out. We have a ten-foot buffer between the opening of the cave to our living space. We can store the wood in that buffer and that will also help to block any wind that makes its way through.”
“Do you need me to make more rope?”
“No, I think I have enough. You have been busy as hell with that weaving and braiding.” He laughed, his eyes crinkling.
I grinned and waggled my brows. “You can never weave too much.” I laughed.
Δ
It was a nice sunny day and Harper was working on the last divide. He had gone through two ax heads getting the angles right so the divides fit snuggly into the cave walls and ceiling. Each divide had to have a hinged door, so we wouldn’t have to displace the divide coming or going from area to area. He used strips of leather to make the hinges. The grass rope wouldn’t take the wear and tear of opening and closing.
He was now working on the divide that would go to the outer cave opening. This door he made a bit larger. As he sat using my ropes to bind each branch to the next, he whistled Camptown Races. I grinned. He’d taken his ax and had cut the branches nearly squared.
“I want them to be as snug as we can get them, the less air that gets through, the better.”
“I’m all for that trust me. I’m not a cold weather girl.”
I had a long mat in my lap, I was almost finished weaving this panel. I had one more and there would be enough for this divider. I looked up and saw Isi standing there, a soft smile on her face. I cried out happily and jumped up. Harper looked up and to where I was looking and smiled.
I ran to Isi and put my hands on her shoulders and she placed her hands on mine. I guessed that this was how they hugged. I tried not to grin and show my teeth, it was hard and tears stung my eyes and I blinked at them. I saw tears in hers as well and knew she felt the same. Her small group had heavy packs that were on their back, held by a band across their foreheads and one around their waists.
I waved them to the campsite below the cave mouth. Harper stood and walked to the men. They too placed their hands on Harper’s shoulders and it made my heart swell. I invited them to sit as I ran around like a crazy woman. I got a pot ready on the fire and filled it with water. I ran up to the cave and I came back out with bacon, along with hen mushrooms, dried pork, dried chives and dried watercress.
I wanted to make a hearty stew. I also brought my flour and some of the fat. Isi watched me closely and I smiled at her and put my hand back on her shoulder. I wanted to hug her, but this was as close as I would do. I didn’t want to offend her. The flat rock was sitting in the fire, we normally kept it there, knowing that I might make flat bread at some point.
I got back and saw that Harper had put water in another pot for me. I broke up the bits of dried pork and a chunk of bacon. I added the dried chives, watercress and mushrooms. Then I got my wooden bowl and made the dough for the flatbread. I ground up some of the chives and put it in the flour, picking out some of the hulls from the grain husk. I added some fat and water and began to work the dough. I had Isi come and feel the texture and consistency.
Then I rolled it out on a flat piece of wood with an oblong stick that Harper had carved for me. He’d even rubbed sand on it to make it smooth, it was as good as any rolling pin you could buy in the store. I dragged the heated rock out, and put a dollop of fat on the rock. It sizzled.
The smell of pork fat filled the air and I heard Chua’s stomach growl. I hid a smile. Chu
a was Isi’s husband, Harper had learned his name, and also Kele, the younger man. I laid the flat bread on the rock and it began to sizzle and rise just a bit. I left it for a few minutes, then I took my really flat stick, that Harper had whittled for me, it was like a spatula, and I turned the bread. As I went to flip, I added another small dollop of fat.
I put the bread down and I heard someone else’s stomach growl, and it might well have been mine.
“Harper, can you go get the plates and bowls, please? Don’t bring the cutlery, I don’t think they’ve invented it yet. And I forgot the ladle, can you get that as well?”
“Sure can.” He said and got up and went back up into the cave. A few minutes later, he carefully carried the plates and bowls down. I wondered if they’d ever seen or had even made clay things yet. I then wondered if we were introducing things to them that may find their way into history.
Harper set the dishes by me and Isi and Peta picked up the dishes and spoke excitedly. Apparently, they hadn’t made dishes out of clay, I felt a certain amount of pride. I watched as Isi tapped the plate with her nail, hearing the brittle sound of it. She ran her fingers delicately over the design I’d pressed into the dishes. The pine needles and pinecone design. She smiled up at me and pointed to me and then my hands.
I smiled and nodded. Then I touched the dirt, then some of the ash by the fire and then the water in a bowl. She nodded and smiled. I took the first piece of bread and placed it on the plate and handed it to her. She turned and gave it to Chua. Harper had told me on their first visit that he thought Chua was Isi’s husband, I had to agree with him.
Chua and Kele, whom I thought was Peta’s husband, each took a piece of the flat bread. They took a bite and their brows shot up. They made approving sounds and Chua handed the plate to Isi. She tore off a piece and then Peta and Tahki took some and tried it. They all made happy sounds of enjoyment. I put another piece of bread on, happy that I could give them something new.
“Do you think I should bring some of the pemmican?” Harper asked.
“I think that would be nice. We have plenty. If you want, put about thirty of them in a basket and bring them down.”
“That’s good, I think it will help them too.”
I gave another piece of bread to the group and everyone enjoyed it. Harper came down with the basket of pemmican. He sat down beside me and I took the basket and handed it to Isi. She looked at me questioning. I pulled up one of the packets and opened it, pulling out one of the pemmican patties. This one was the pork, strawberry and date one. Harper and I had tried them and I thought they were pretty darn good.
I broke off a small piece and ate it. She did the same and a smile broke out on her face. She spoke to the group and they passed the patty around, everyone tasted it. All making sounds of enjoyment. I spoke to her even though I knew she didn’t understand.
“They are different patties. This is pork, this one is fish, and this one is tapir.” I said, indicating each group of pemmican packets.
Isi picked up each, opening them slightly and sniffing delicately. Her brows shot up. I knew she could smell the ingredients, so she knew there were three different choices of patties. She spoke rapidly to the group and they all ahhh’d.
When she tried to give me the basket back, I shook my head. I put my hands on hers gently and kept her hands on the basket.
“For you Isi.”
Her eyes widened and she said something, and the others said something softly, and they solemnly nodded. She looked at me and nodded, placing her hand softly over mine. I smiled at her. Turning, she gave the basket to Chua.
I made a few more pieces of bread, by then, the stew was ready to serve and I began to ladle out the stew.
THIRTEEN
We invited them to stay the night. While it was several hours before dark, I took the time to show Isi the wheat grains that I’d gathered, and then I showed her how I used the rocks and wood bowl to grind them into flour. She watched, and Peta watched as well. Then I showed her how we made the pemmican. I made a small batch and both the women talked between themselves. They tasted the dried ingredients before they were combined and then after the patties were made.
I heard Harper talking as he and the men worked on knapping the rocks. Later, Harper told me the men showed him the rocks they used. They gave Harper several and he was thrilled. I heard them talking, though no one could understand the other, they still communicated like me and Isi did. Sometimes words were not really needed.
I gave Isi roughly five pounds of the wheat and about a pound of fat. I thought she was going to cry, and she squeezed both my shoulders and I returned the squeeze. I then showed her how I mixed the dirt, ash, cattail fluff, finely chopped reeds and water to make my mud. I made a simple plate. I pressed several leaves into the plate to make the pattern. Then I took her over to our kiln.
Harper brought some of the coals from the fire and placed them down in the hole. I placed the plate on top of the coals and then Harper dumped the rest of the coals over the plate. We then covered the hole with the dirt. I pantomimed us sleeping and then waking up and then digging up the plate. I think she understood because she nodded. It is funny, but her nodding was so universal. We went back to sit by the fire. It was twilight and we added more wood to the fire.
We sat with them through the evening each of us talking and murmuring. I enjoyed listening to Isi and her daughter talk. It was soft and a comforting sound. Later they began to lay down. We decided to lay with them and sleep down by the fire. We would have been poor hosts to leave them and go up into the cave. I had tried to entice Isi up into the cave, but she politely shook her head, placing one hand on my shoulder. I knew it was her way of saying, no thank you.
Δ
The next morning, we were awake before dawn’s light. I heard them stirring. I sat up, rubbing my face. Isi sat up and smiled at me. She woke Peta and her granddaughter. The women rose and Isi looked at me, and indicated she wanted me to follow. I did. We went to the river and we relieved ourselves behind some weeds and washed our faces in the cold river water. I guessed that this was how the women started their day.
When we got back, I made more bread and made a heavy meat and mushroom stew for breakfast. I added some of the hen in the wood’s mushrooms, and flour to make the stew nice and thick. The men left and Harper left with them. I smiled softly, he was a good man. They came back and all sat around the fire, blurry with sleep. I handed out the bread and hot bowls of thick meat stew. Everyone ate quietly eating, greeting the day with hot bread and hot stew.
About an hour later, the group readied themselves to leave. Before they left, we dug up the plate. It was still warm and Isi’s eyes widened. I set it down on the ground and pantomimed walking away. Then coming back. I tapped the plate with my fingernail as she had done with the dishes before. She nodded. She would now be able to make her own dishes and I was so happy to pass along what I’d taught myself.
Isi went to one of the packs and drew out a pelt, it was beautiful, it was a silver-gray wolf pelt. My eyes began to tear up and I held my hands over my mouth. It was so beautiful and her eyes were tearing up as well. She handed the pelt to Harper and I saw that his eyes were also glossy with unshed tears. I stepped forward and I drew Isi into my arms for a real hug. I couldn’t help it, and I felt her arms come slowly around me and return the hug.
“Thank you.” I whispered quietly and hugged her hard one more time and let go. I wiped the tears from my eyes, as she did the same. I placed my hands on Peta’s shoulders and Tahki’s as well. Harper and I stood together and watched them walk away. Harper put his arm around my shoulder and hugged me to him. I laid my head on his shoulder and we watched as the small group of humanity disappeared into the vast primordial forest.
“Wow, what wonderful people. I can’t but feel so blessed that we’ve met them.” I said.
“I know, I can’t even imagine what they had to do to get this pelt. It’s beautiful.”
“I’m so glad we
were able to share our things with them. I’m hoping that with the knowledge of the pemmican, that they will have an easier time for winter.”
“You know what is really a mind twister?”
“What?” I asked.
“Pemmican comes from the Native Americans, right? We just taught the very first Native Americans how to make pemmican.” He laughed. I blinked several times and thought about it and then I started laughing too. I almost fell down laughing. I could only shake my head.
Δ
The days were growing shorter and now colder. The leaves were turning their fall colors, and one by one falling to the ground. We began gathering the leaves in my baskets. We dug a wide trench where we normally slept. It was almost six inches deep. We then filled the trench with the leaves. Then we put the dirt back over the leaves. Walking back and forth, we tamped the dirt back into place.
The area was raised slightly, but when we laid down on the ground, it was softer. Like a firm mattress and not the hard ground. We stood there grinning stupidly at each other. Harper laid the pig hides over the dirt bed. We laid down side by side, facing each other with our rabbit pillows. I had sewn the pig hides together to make something to lay on top of the dirt. It wasn’t as soft as the rabbit pelts, but we at least slept off the dirt.
“Now this is comfortable.” He grinned.
“Not bad at all. Who says you can’t rough it?”
He leaned toward me, smiling and kissed me. It was a sweet kiss and just a little shy. I put my hand on his cheek, his beard now long and full. He’d kept it short during the summer. I felt his hand on my waist and he drew me closer. I could feel my heart racing. I shifted my body forward, towards him. Harper held me tight, and slowly, we explored each other’s bodies.
It was slow and sensual, it was our first time and we wanted to make it last. There wasn’t a lot of light in the cave now, because of the dividers and the light was muted and soft. We smelled of woodsmoke and clean sweat. We’d gotten used to our natural scent, with no perfumes or deodorants to block it. We both bathed in the river daily, though we were beginning to hedge more toward the wood bowl baths, because of the icy water.
