“We found some wild grapes, they’re a little sour, but still sweet enough to enjoy. You might want to try making raisins. I’ve seen patches of them here and there along the upper slopes. I’m sure they’ll also go good with anything you cook.” She said smiling.
“Thank you so much Sarah, we’ve been finding a lot of the tubers that you showed us and have even found the wild ginger root as well. Can we give you anything? Is there something you need?” Marla asked, smiling and showing the others the grapes.
“I don’t even know if you have any, but if you have a three-foot length of wire, we’d be happy for that.” Aiden said, sounding more normal, the anger leaving him.
Marla waved Tom over and asked him, “look in the equipment tent and pull out some of the wires and cables, Aiden and Sarah need some. Thanks.” Tom looked at her and Aiden and grinned a big cheesy grin and ran off.
“Thanks Marla, that will really help trapping small game.” Sarah said happily.
“I like the spears you guys have, is that a spear chucker like they have in Australia? You know, what the aborigines use?” Leo asked, admiring Aiden’s weapon. Sarah wanted to roll her eyes and laugh, men, they were the same all over the world. A new weapon, a new toy.
Aiden grinned and handed it over, and everyone gathered around and looked at it and handled it. “It takes quite a bit of practice to get used to launching the spears, but we are getting used to it. We’ve been practicing for hours and perfecting our techniques. Sarah is pretty damned accurate. We’re going to try and hunt on our way back home. See if we can get anything. There are small deer around, but you gotta throw fast and true to get them. I’m hoping this launcher will help with that. You also don’t have to be as close up to throw it. It has a hell of a lot more distance on it than just throwing the spear by hand.”
“I think we’ll copy the design, I think that will really help us out as well. Hope you don’t mind.” Leo laughed.
“No, I don’t hold the patent on it. Besides, the more we share, the better we can survive this. Sarah is going to try her hand at making stoneware. We’ll let you know how that goes.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. It would be nice to actually have dishes, that kind of thing. We made some wooden forks and spoons when the sporks finally gave out. I think I will give it a try here, maybe if we can perfect it, we can trade ideas. I’m assuming you’re going to make a ground kiln?” Diana asked, her eyes lively and she laughed.
“Yes, we were thinking about digging a small pit, then find useable clay at one of the ponds or dirt from around some of the spots. Add a little water and you have some mud. I was also thinking about putting a little wood ash in it as well.” Sarah said, getting into her subject.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll try the same here and if we get something usable. I’ll let you know on your next visit.” Diana offered. Sarah looked around, everyone was doing something. Henry and Gabe were relaxing, playing cards. It was good to see, it was too bad they didn’t want to go after Connor though. She was pretty sure it would come back to bite them in the ass. Connor’s kind never faded away, they were always a thorn in someone’s side.
“What are you needing? We have some things. Is there anything you might want besides the wires?” Marla offered.
“We could use a coffee cup, we make our tea, but we have to wait until it cools enough to drink from our little pot. And you wouldn’t happen to have an extra deck of cards, would you?” Sarah asked hopeful, she saw Aiden look at her quizzically and she shrugged, it couldn’t hurt to ask, her eyes said.
Marla turned, grinning and went to her tent. She came back with a tall metal coffee mug and an unopened deck of cards. Tom walked up and handed over the wires and cables. He saw the cards and his grin grew bigger.
“We’ll have to get up a card game next time you guys come for a visit. Make sure you bring something you’re willing to lose.” He laughed and waved goodbye to them as he left and went to watch Henry and Gabe.
Aiden laughed and called out, “Just make sure you can pay up at the end of the game.” And Tom lifted a middle finger and Sarah saw his shoulders shaking with laughter. She grinned.
“Thank you so much Marla, this really helps.” Sarah said and gave the woman a hug, squeezing her tight.
Marla’s eyes teared a bit, “thank you again for helping us as much as you have. Hopefully Connor’s group will die off quickly and they won’t be an issue any more. I hope that perhaps Grayson will find his way back here.” She said, her dark eyes scanning the distant tree line.
“I don’t know, I think his mind might be broken. He looked horrible.” Sarah said sadly. She felt bad for the older man, but he seemed to be surviving well by himself, maybe he’d rejoin the main camp at some point. She looked up and saw Christian come out of his tent. He was bent over, holding his gut.
“Hey guys, how’s it hangin?” he said weakly, the smile on his mouth trembling.
Sarah noticed that his color wasn’t good at all, and he looked to be sweating profusely. The front of his shirt was stained badly with old blood. There were dark circles beneath his blue eyes and she could see that he was in a great deal
