(no subject)
We've been back in the Valley for a few days now. I have no idea how long this will last...it feels almost too good to be true. I know Overstrom could show up at any moment, of course, but when he does he'll be coming for both of us so there's really no need to worry. I've decided to stop thinking about it and just enjoy the time we have here.
I've been doing a bunch of different things...wandering around sketching and talking to people of various types, trying to resurrect Jay's garden--the soil here is almost all clay, REALLY dense and heavy!--learning about and gathering plants, and hanging out with the people downstairs, learning the language. I've tried to talk to Jay but it's hard...she's a very solitary person, and I think it was difficult enough for her to take Emily on, much less Neddy and me--and now Emily's up and left and suddenly she's got no apprentice, just when her disease is getting worse. So we do as much as we can to help out. Rose told me that she never let them help her with anything, but that it's different and not embarrassing if the person who's helping lives in your household. Makes a certain amount of sense, I guess. It explains the anonymous fruits and vegetables and things that keep appearing on the doorstep...the village actually has common stores that you can take as much as you need from, but either she wasn't taking enough or someone decided to spare her the walk. Or the embarrassment? Not sure. Things are complicated.
There's a lot I don't understand. Why did Rose come up this morning looking stern, and drag us off to dye some of our clothes? If I go out to milk Jay's goats, how do I know which ones are hers if the entire village's herd is all together and they don't mark them in any way? And how do I get them to stand still and not kick the bucket over? How do the Kesh get by with no criminal justice system? Why is there electricity but no running water except in the lodges? Why is everyone suddenly smirking at us? Oh wait--I think I might have an idea...
Neddy has started carrying around this young guinea-pig-like thing in his pocket--I think it's called a himpi. It is not happy to see me, and I have the bites to prove it! If this keeps up I may have to try the hot potato trick...
I've been doing a bunch of different things...wandering around sketching and talking to people of various types, trying to resurrect Jay's garden--the soil here is almost all clay, REALLY dense and heavy!--learning about and gathering plants, and hanging out with the people downstairs, learning the language. I've tried to talk to Jay but it's hard...she's a very solitary person, and I think it was difficult enough for her to take Emily on, much less Neddy and me--and now Emily's up and left and suddenly she's got no apprentice, just when her disease is getting worse. So we do as much as we can to help out. Rose told me that she never let them help her with anything, but that it's different and not embarrassing if the person who's helping lives in your household. Makes a certain amount of sense, I guess. It explains the anonymous fruits and vegetables and things that keep appearing on the doorstep...the village actually has common stores that you can take as much as you need from, but either she wasn't taking enough or someone decided to spare her the walk. Or the embarrassment? Not sure. Things are complicated.
There's a lot I don't understand. Why did Rose come up this morning looking stern, and drag us off to dye some of our clothes? If I go out to milk Jay's goats, how do I know which ones are hers if the entire village's herd is all together and they don't mark them in any way? And how do I get them to stand still and not kick the bucket over? How do the Kesh get by with no criminal justice system? Why is there electricity but no running water except in the lodges? Why is everyone suddenly smirking at us? Oh wait--I think I might have an idea...
Neddy has started carrying around this young guinea-pig-like thing in his pocket--I think it's called a himpi. It is not happy to see me, and I have the bites to prove it! If this keeps up I may have to try the hot potato trick...