November was in the air of British Columbia and there was frost every night. Jake had developed a friendship with Ats who taught him the language, Nuxalk. He had never been interested in a foreign language before. His grandparents had spoken Spanish when they immigrated to the United States but they encouraged their children to speak English only. Jake had grown up monolingual and attempts by his school to teach him Spanish had ended in Jake failing due to lack of interest. In the 23rd century, he hadn’t bothered to learn the common language, Lajbon, since he had the translating headband. Now that he was in a circumstance where learning a foreign language was necessary, he did it with an ease far beyond the ability of a trained linguist. Within two weeks he was conversational in Nuxalk and within a month, he spoke like a native.
Jake lost track of time, he was beginning to settle into his new life with the tribe. It was at this point he was visited by Klemtu.
“Ming is better enough now that I think it’s time you should consider going home. If you wait any longer it won’t be possible to travel. There is a town three weeks journey from here that we visit every few years. There’s an old man and his family there that knows us. They provide us with pots, axes, and other supplies that we can’t easily make ourselves. Ats has been there with me and he will guide you. Again, I remind you of your promise not to disclose our existence or location. Our tribe is small but we have lived here for over seventy years. My father founded it from people from a reservation who wanted to live the old ways without contact from the outside. We’ve had a happy life and we wouldn’t want to lose it by helping you. Ats and Suts tried to talk me out of helping you when you first arrived but Ats told me how much he likes you now. You hunt well and you speak like one of us. If you don’t want to leave, you can stay with us permanently and I will adopt you as my own son. Ming would be my brother.”
Jake was tempted to accept Klemtu’s proposal that he and Ming stay but he couldn’t give up Riojme and he would miss his parents. He told Klemtu his answer. That night the tribe had a big celebration to say goodbye. The next day, they left for the town with Ats leading the way.
