The stones

Chapter 10

  People gradually leave the camfire as they finish eating; I sit there not knowing what the others expect me to do.  Should I help clean up?  Should I stoke or put out the fire?  Should I go back to the girls’ tent?

A cough interrupts my anxious thoughts.  I look up to see Nathan standing over me, “Perhaps you should go talk to Sage, she could use some help.”  I look around and see no one left by the fire except the two of us.  “Where is she?”  I ask confused.  Nathan points to a small, run-down white building with a green roof.  I slowly stand up off my tree stump chair and amble over to the structure waving to Nathan who calls out “you shouldn’t be long; I’ll wait out here for you.”

Upon entering the construction, the door creaks causing me to pause, making me worry about disturbing someone.  I take a deep breath, push my shoulders back, and walk through the door feigning confidence.  I observe a small room with what appears as a metal sink with no piping or faucet, a large wooden counter in the center of the room, and several buckets filled with water spread throughout this kitchen area.  Pots, pans, seemingly dull knives, and spoons hang around on wooden knobs protruding from the walls.

Sage, who is standing in front of the sink washing the remaining dishes, turns to face me and summons me over.  “Hello, Endelyn, I’m Sage.  I wash, organize, and keep track of everything that goes on here.”  She has dull blonde hair, hazel eyes with the appearance of smiling often, and worry-lines making her seem older than she probably is.  Sage shakes my hand; she has a firm grip and I notice her arms are well muscled.  “It’s a please to meet you, sweetheart,” she continues.

I pull myself out of my trance and greet her properly, telling her Nathan sent me to see her.  Sage smiles, “This is my domain, I’ll show you around.  This area is our makeshift kitchen; we don’t have running water so we usually collect water from the river and boil it to sterilize it so it’s safe for consumption.”  She walks towards the other side of the tiny room with me trailing behind.  There is a doorway, with no door, which I didn’t notice before- Sage leads me into this room. On shelves there are cans of food, more buckets of water, a sack of potatoes, bottles of olive oil, a box of pancake mixture, and several other food items.  Sage explains that this is the storeroom; generally the people in this encampment hunt for food, but usually Sage or Daniel, the chef of the camp, cook or buy one meal for everyone a day.  In the corner of the room I observe a mattress, this must be where Sage sleeps, but I don’t ask.

Sage and I walk back to the main room where she asks me what I think so far and if the others are treating me well.  “I’m not sure yet, I’ve been here for less than a day and I’ve slept through most of it.  It seems like it’ll be...”  I pause to think for an appropriate word, “interesting,” I finish.  “Fila seems pretty nice, but Nathan gets on my nerves although he is kind enough.  I haven’t met anyone else yet really.”  Sage nods her understanding, “It was nice to meet you, if you ever need anything you can come to me.  I hope you find yourself happy on our safe grounds.”  I give my thanks and leave the cooking hut trying to decide what I think of this life style so far.