Extra long chapter for you guys to make up with the lack of action.

Book 1: Ch 9

We got back in the house and was met the second time with the combined scent of drying herbs and a long dead fire. The interior was starting to warm up now and place was starting to give the impression of coziness. Sydell was by the fire, and was throwing bits of herbs on a water filled pot, he looked up at our entrance and waved us to come on in while giving the smile of a welcoming host.

We sat by the fire and noticed a dried strips of meat hanging off a hook just above it. I was initially surprised by the sight but immediately understood that this land’s technological level is still far away from having a fridge. That meant that the only ways of preserving meats are by drying, salting, or maybe pickling there may be other ways of preserving it that I haven't known off but that’s just me.

Thinking that this would be the best time to break the news, I looked at Ron and he nodded. After clearing my throat to take Sydell’s attention, I started my pitch. “Sydell, we've come from a land far away with no place to go and we would love to stay in this part of the forest. We do not have anyone chasing after us, it's just that we cannot go back.” I said, slowly enough to be understood but fast enough not to sound condescending.

Anyway, it didn't matter that much since Sydell understood it immediately and nodded deeply, he then spread his arms wide and declared, “My house, you house. Forest belong everybody, everybody welcome.”

I smiled and so did Ron, we both nodded back in reply and gave our thanks. I then looked around the lit interior and decided that it is indeed too small for five men to live in. it will suck in the future, but we will have to make do. No one ever said survival is comfortable.

That done, I excused myself and got out of the house, a cool forest breeze welcoming me as I left the hut. There was an A framed in the side of the clearing right next to a tree stump, it was filled with chopped wood and I could see a splitting axe leaning against the accumulated pile.

Other than that, there were nothing else in the property, I couldn’t see an outhouse nearby so I guess these boys would just pick a direction in the forest and dig a hole to do their business. That’s just unsanitary and unsafe. I guess that’s a project to start on.

I shrugged and put the thought of digging an outhouse for another time. I then pressed the radio “Nick, come in.” I said. CB radios can reach up to an excess of 25 miles depending on the antenna used and the terrain, and mine would probably reach about under three.

“Everything is clear up in here.” came the reply, a little scratchy but still understandable. That should mean that he’s around three miles away from us, I guess.

“Shit’s all clear and were in the kid’s house. We made sure that we want to stay around these parts of the forest and they are willing to share, the kid also offered his own small hut for us to sleep in. Just sit tight, we’ll come get you, cool?”

“Cool.”

After that, I went back inside and fetched both Ron and Sydell. One was to serve as backup while the other will be the guide. Besides, we still have a 500 pound bear dress and the more hands we could get to work on it, the better.

A gentle breeze blew through the hilly forest as we made our way back. Birds chirped their songs and an occasional rabbit would peek their head above the foliage. This is what the call an untapped forest, unsullied, virgin, if I would choose one word to describe this place, it would be peaceful. A peaceful place, let’s hope it keeps itself that way.

The trek back to the camp took us about an hour, it was a straight shot march down from Sydell’s hut to our camp. So I guess him running within our perimeter was not an accident. Hell, I’m not complaining, at least we got a bear and a friend out of that deal.

We called in just as we got close to the perimeter and we were met by Nick just as we went past the tripwires. We then went immediately to the bear carcass as we are literally burning daylight.

We laid the carcass on its side then went to the process of skinning it. Now naked, the bear looked lean, probably just coming out of hibernation which would explain the reason it was chasing after a person. An easy prey for sure, it was just unlucky enough to come across us.

We then finished gutting it and hung it on its hind legs on a sturdy tree branch with a length of paracord. We left it there, headless and pawless, for a while to let it cool down some more and to drain the some of the bear juices out.

With that, I went to my truck to get me a more appropriate tool for butchering and came back with the tomahawk I kept there for an unexpected occasion such as this. It's made of carbon steel and I always keep it sharp so it should be enough to cut through bone, if not, I also have a saw for that.

Blood had already pooled underneath the carcass as I got back and the four of us then went to the work of manhandling the big pile of meat, first by peeling off the meager amount of fat it had saved up and then moving on to that sweet red meat. After about half an hour, we had a nice pile stuffed in garbage bags along with the edible organs, the bones put aside for prolonged boiling and the sinew saved for whatever Sydell was planning to do with.

Next is the long trek back to the hut. Since we couldn’t simply carry the loads on our backs, we made it so that well have to carry the haul in trips of two. That means well have to carry about under two hundred pounds between the four of us. We then made travois and put the loads there, we could attach it to our belts leaving our hands free while we drag the weight through the forest. It’ll make a whole lot of tracks leading back to our new home but it’s not like we’re trying to hide anymore. Better yet, let anyone know that we have able bodied men stationed nearby to act as a deterrent for anyone planning of bumping us off the forest.

Still, it begs the question though, where the hell are all the people?

Towns in medieval Europe should be close to each other that a person walking would arrive to the next town within a day, even two at max. We drove for hours in which I estimated to be about seventy miles, we should have come across a town during that time but we didn’t. Of course, we could have just happened to travel in the most uninhabited part of the road but I don’t see that happening. There has to be a reason for all of that.

We reached the hut and placed the meat inside, the strong smell of drying herbs should cover the scent of meat and thus wouldn't attract any unwelcome critters that may come sniffing. We then went back for the second trip and got it back here just as the sun was starting to set.

We then impaled the cuts of meat on sticks and placed them inside Sydell’s smoking pit to process some of the meat. However, the pit could only handle a couple hundred pounds of meat at a time running at maximum capacity. That meant we have another couple hundred pounds of bear meat and organs to process some other way.

With the problem of having too much food, Sydell lead us towards the back of the hut where we found a big clay pot that was being used as water storage. It looked to have the capacity to contain about twenty gallons of water and we carried it up to the hut and made a firepit big enough to accommodate it. We then boiled the water and placed the meat inside along with the bones, and finally putting herbs and root crops for added taste.

The concept is that if we always have the fire under it burning and the meat inside always cooking, it wouldn’t spoil. The hunter’s pot. It’ll taste a little bland for a while but as long as we keep adding something the flavor would get richer and richer. But that is for the future, as for now, were content with putting some of the meat, along with some other organs, in the grill for dinner.

Now with three separate fires burning around the hut, the place reeked of smoke as the three of us sat by the fire outside. “Oh shit.” I muttered as I suddenly remembered something, I then stood up and reached into my vest, doing a little dance as I removed the armor plate.

The matte black armor plate shone dully in the firelight as I searched the spot where I was shot last night. I then saw a small hole on the plate laminate and I peeled it enough to see the ceramic insert underneath, I could see a stain on it but no dent which means that the bullet fragmented as it hit me, transferring its energy and knocking me into my ass. Without it, it would have hit me square in the gut and taking my life fast by bleeding out or slow by having my shit mix with my blood and poison me, killing me within days.

I sighed, then passed the plate to Nick who was seated next to me. He looked at it for a while “Damn” he said and gave me a gentle shoulder tap as he passed it on to Ron.

Ron lifted it and peeled the laminate and whistled “I would bet you already got your money’s worth with this. Anything more would just be a bonus.” he said handing it back.

“Well, that’s the only bonus that I’d rather not get.” I replied as I took it. With some squirming, I inserted the armor plate back to my vest where it should belong, right there pressed into my body protecting my squishy bits.

I could feel someone’s deep gaze laid into me and I looked up to find Ron, hunched over with his elbows laid on his knees, looking at me with a deep expression. “Something wrong?” I asked.

He shrugged, “Just got a sudden interest about how ugly you are, is all.”

“Well did you find something new to add?”

“You need some rest. How about you crash first and ill follow. Nick will take the first watch while I do the second, yours of course will be the last.”

“Alright” I said as I accepted, stifling a yawn I waved them goodbye and went inside the hut for much needed sleep.

*CRACK*

I woke up with a start, finding myself in an unfamiliar dark room and I immediately reached for my sidearm. It was under my pillow and I finally remembered that I’m in Sydell’s house. I sighed and laid back on my sleeping bag, from where I lay I could see Cyril sitting atop his bed and is looking at the small window by his bed.

“Shit” I muttered. Looking outside, I could see daylight seeping in from the gaps. I must’ve slept in and missed my turn of the watch. I quickly got out the sleeping bag and tucked it rolled into an uncluttered corner of the hut. I then holstered back my pistol as I put on my vest and quickly came out of the hut holding my rifle.

Outside, I could see the source of the commotion. It was Sydell holding one of our captured rifles, it was an old looking Mosin-Nagant, a tried and tested rifle that served in wars from the day it was first made up to the present, well, at least our present. It was kind of beat up and mistreated but still functioning all the same. He was holding it to his eye while kneeling, his eyes focused fiercely in the trunk of the tree hanging off a branch about fifty yards away.

Ron was next to him, whispering his secrets into his ear with his hands all darting around and gesturing. Nodding, Sydell took a long slow breath and gave a steady trigger pull.

*CRACK*

The rifle went off followed by dull *thunk* of lead hitting the hanging piece of wood. “Good job” I heard Ron mutter, patting Sydell in the shoulder. I went to their direction.

“How goes our Russian sniper?” I asked as I approached the two.

“He hasn’t killed his Nazi officer so far, so I guess his day is a little slow.” Ron replied, sparing only a glance at my direction. Sydell then racked the bolt ejecting the spent cartridge and charging another one. He took another slow breath at the hanging target, it was now swaying back and forth like a pendulum.

“So why didn’t you wake me up?” I asked, sleeping on someone’s expense is extremely embarrassing for me.

*CRACK*

“It’s because you looked like need it more than me.” Ron replied.

The target continued its swing and a puff of dirt rose up a hundred yards away. Missed. Shooting a moving target is never easy, either you have to chase the target down while having a steady trigger pull or time it so that the target goes to your crosshair. Both ways have their own advantaged and disadvantages, and it all just comes to personal preference as to which would one choose between the two.

“You know I could take care of myself.” I retorted.

“This isn’t a time for bruised egos. We either cover each other’s asses or get fucked.” he yawned, “Now that you're here, I’m going to sleep. I might wake up tonight, or maybe tomorrow, now it’s your turn to take care of Me.” he said as he got up and walked inside the hut.

I watched him go and looked at Sydell just as he looked up at me. I raised an inquisitive brow and he shrugged, then aimed at his target, gave out a long slow breath to lower his heartrate.

*CRACK*

Another miss, another puff of dirt went up behind the target and Sydell racked the bolt for another time. I could see a spare stripper clip laid on the tree trunk he’s using as a rest. Well, shit. He looks like he needs a lot more ammo than that. I watched and waited as Sydell went through the ammo in his magazines.

He then pulled the bolt fully back and picked up the stripper clip, putting it in the slot and pushing the ammo in. the rounds went in with a ratcheting sound and Sydell sent the bolt forward while pushing the rounds down on the magazine. With this, he had the rifle’s chamber empty making it safe to transport.

Sydell stood up, giving me a smile and a nod as he went past me towards the small window his brother has peeking out off. He then unslung his rifle and presented it to his brother, both were smiling and looked very excited. At least this way they’ll have a reliable way to get food as this forest is teeming with food. Where all it takes are the knowledge and the effort of getting them.

He then waved a goodbye on his brother and went to me, “Where to?” he said with a hard but still understandable accent.

I pondered at the question for a bit but then caught the whiff of our camp’s hunter’s pot. The scent of the meat steadily boiling in the huge pot made my empty stomach grumble. I then patted it and looked at Sydell “How about we have a meal first?” I asked and he nodded. We then went to the ever burning fire in our camp and sat around it.

The pot itself was massive, able to take about twenty gallons of water and we filled it to the brim with meat, along with everything we could throw inside it. The bear really was a boon for every one of us.

I was about to put a spoonfull of the rich meat in my mouth when a though flashed to my mind. I paused and Sydell looked at me with eyes asking what’s wrong. “Are you and your brother the only two around this area?” I asked. Sydell paused and looked away for a while, then looked at me and shook his head.

“There are others. But. Far away.” he said. Fuck this language barrier bullshit!

I smiled “Where are all the people? Is there any village, town, or city nearby?” I asked and had another mouthful of the stew. It tasted bland, but gamey, a little tangs of flavors were mixed in by the herbs, vegetables and rootcropts mixed in but all in all, it tasted pretty good in my hungered state.

“Other hunters. One- second day away. Farm. One-second day walk.” he held his hands up and made a motion of dividing it “Old man. Speak words. Your words.” he said with a lot difficulty. But those last words took my full attention. It was already lucky that we have someone that could speak to us, even with difficulty, but having someone that could talk, even teach us the local language would be a godsend. Besides, that person may know about our situation and maybe even a way out.

I grabbed his shoulder in excitement “Sydell! Sydell, could you ask him to teach us your language?” I said, doing my best not to shake his lean frame.

He tried to squirm away from my grip but couldn't, my hands we wrapped around his shoulder and our disparity regarding our size and weight made all the difference. “Yes. Yes, I pay him herbs. Every visit. For lesson.”

“How about we go to him after this?” I said with a smile, I sat back down on the log benches we put there to serve as stools and finished our meal. The stew actually tasted better after that.

The radio hanging off my vest then squelched and I could hear Nick’s voice, “We got two people inside the perimeter. They are taking the main trail going towards the hut, armed with bows and daggers and I think they know the two.” he said.

I raised my eyebrows at Sydell as I finished listening on the lengthy report. “Hunters. Friends” he said, lifting his newly received old rifle “They come visit. For bangs. I think.”

I gripped my rifle and looked toward the trail they would be using. “Can you trust them?” I asked.

He nodded, “Big trust. Good men.” he said.

“Then how about you welcome them in?” I said as I stood and went inside the hut. The inside was dark, its distinct smell wafted up my nose and the light snores coming from Ron dominated the place. Cyril was lying in his bed and is now sleeping. Stepping over the lying figure on the floor, I looked around the crate filled with clothes that we captured from the bandits and came up with a thick burlap cloak.

Holding it up to the light, it is about my size but the smell coming out of it suggests that it hadn’t been washed for a while. Still, I scrunched up my nose and laid it over my shoulder. The material covered most of my features, most importantly; it covered my vest and I could hide my rifle under the folds of the cloak, and its length allowed it to reach down to my knees. My boots screamed otherworldly and I hope those visitors wouldn't have the mind to look at them.

I heard Sydell yell out an excited and a very hospitable sounding welcome in their language as I got out of the hut. The two men facing Sydell then looked at me, they sported about the same shitty patched up attire and carried a longbow slung on their shoulder. A quiver hung by their waists containing about ten arrows each, and daggers hung on their belts on the other side of their waists.

They looked rough, and tough. They had robust builds covered by their hunter’s attire and they looked at me with eyes full of caution and suspicion that is only reserved for every group’s outsider. Sydell then muttered at them and gestured at me, I even thought that I caught my name mention along with the others and the two nodded. Looking at me now with a different look in their eyes and both men gave a respectful bow, and I replied with my own in then introduced myself. The two introduced themselves in return by pointing at their chests and calling out their names. The taller, paler one’s name was Notus, while the hairy one is Ilya.

Notus looked to be just under seven feet, just a little bit taller than me but looked to be much heavier. Ilya was just above six and had a much more pronounced facial hair, give him a plaid shirt and he’ll look like a stereotypical Canadian lumberjack.

“Sydell, how about you get them at least something to eat.” I said and he nodded then led them to our pot gave them each with a bowl filled with big chunks of bear meat. We all sat down around the fire with the two seated right in front of me with Sydell beside me. “Graci” the two men said as they received their food and raised their bowls to me, then continued to empty their bowls at an impressive rate. Finishing it, they looked content but still flashed a look at the pot. Catching this, I waved for Sydell to give them a second serving and the two smiled as they took it graciously.

I smiled, it was the job of the hosts to have the guests well taken care of. Sydell should be the one handling the position of the host but it seemed like the role fell to me.

Sitting this close to the others, I could see cords of muscles that make up their forearms leading to a pair of arms that looked like tree trunks and suggesting their lean and muscular composition. They were also sneaking in some glances on my direction but the cloak did most of the hiding for me. All they could see are my pants and my boots and they were checking it out like it was the hottest girl they've ever seen. Compared to their leather moccasins, the difference is very much apparent.

I could just guess the thoughts going on in their heads. Who is this man? What is he doing here? Why is he here? Why is he so fucking handsome?

Of course they also saw the rifle hanging off Sydell’s shoulder and judging be the looks they are sending, they knew of its capabilities and by the amount of flashes they are sending, they at least want one for themselves. Thinking as this a good time as any, I cleared my throat and took their attention. “Sydell, ask them the reason why they are here.” I said.

Sydell nodded and babbled to the other two, to which they replied to him. He then tried his best on his broken English to translate enough words to which I could discern that the two heard the gunshots yesterday and went to investigate this morning. They then found our camp and saw multiple tracks going to Sydell’s hut. Worried, they went to follow them and found themselves here. They didn’t mention anything about finding our trucks, which both relieved and worried meat the same time. I tried indirectly asking about it, but their body language and their answers says otherwise. Still, it worries me having to store our resources out in the open for anyone to only stumble upon and find.

The two hunters finished their meals and gave thanks. They slowly stood up and I could see that they want to ask something of me. The one at the back then nudged the other and they confided for a little bit. Seeing that, I tensed my muscles and readied myself without giving it out. Finally, the one in front faced me and babbled on in their language.

“Brothers want one rifle. Want exchange.” Sydell translated.

I knew this was coming and I just wanted to smack Ron in the head. He should be the one facing these two and negotiate. Of course, I could just refuse and say that we don’t have any more but that could backfire and have it bite us in the ass. I’m not informed in enough of the local culture that I could make a decisive decision on the spot. Who knows, a refusal might get them to have a long lasting grudge on me, which is not something that I’d want to have.

I gave them a pleasant smile, “Tell them that we do have one, but it is very dear to us and is difficult to separate from them. Tell them that I need time to arrive at a decision.” I said.

I could just see their faces light up as Sydell translated what I said. Damn, I might have arrived at the wrong conclusion.

Seeing as their neighbors are fine and found the reason of the disturbance, the two left with good graces and a few pounds of slightly smoked bear meat. The two looked happy as they went out of our camp, and I hope that they are as trustworthy as Sydell promised them to be. I watched the trail long after the two took the bent and went out of sight.

The radio then squelched and Nick’s voice came reporting in, “The two are gone.” he said.

“Good job. Keep post as they might come back for a while.” I said then called Sydell to make some preparations. We have an English talking farmer to visit.

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