Chapter 12
The Joy Day

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1_THE PLANNING
2_THE SLING
3_THE FENCE
4_THE SLING
5_THE BEAUTY

1_THE PLANNING

They woke intimately to a hot rise. Of course, they would always perform their motion and their time-out sessions.

There was never a question! Rising together they attended to their honks and their friends and their plants in the garden. All needed food and some water each pass. They also needed to clean out the soiled straw from the honk pen and replace it with fresh straw. I noticed a weird odor lightly wafting from the dirty straw. AMI scrunched up her face and grimaced at BOY. She coughed and said,

Wheugh, The smell is very light, but when I am up close, it is stronger. It could smell strongly if we do not change the straw when needed. We will need to change their soiled straw regularly, or we will need to move their pen, or get used to it.

BOY chuckled,

Ha, ha, for sure, the soiled straw will be its own alarm.

They took a deep breath as I saw them take some soiled straw out to the pile to decompose and they laid the rest of the soiled straws out flat. Of course, the rain waters would rinse them over time and they could be used again. They looked over their garden and pulled some unwanted plants. AMI’s eyes opened wide when she saw a row of very small plants popping out through the soil. She pointed to them and looked at BOY. I sensed a happy moment. She said,

BOY, look at the shoots. A few have already broken the ground. They are the plants of foods. They are coming to be. How long will they take? How long?

They ran together and brought waters from the bog in their clay pots and sprinkled water around the edge of each new plant. They were only tiny slivers of yellow and green, but they were the plants of food, and they could be multiplied with the Codes.

Smiling and hugging each other they looked down at their new plants. These plants were the start of their garden to be. Ahoo and Oink sat quietly outside the fence. It felt like a magical moment.

Swinging and swaying they strolled hand-in-hand to their cave. Back in the cave, as always they kept the fire going and rocks ready to make hot water. Hot rocks were then dropped in the mess waters and they rubbed and rinsed their bodies with the hot waters. They oohed and aahed with great pleasure from the hot waters.

Standing close to the fire they shook and rubbed their bodies to dry off, then they ate. They would eat of their stores and burn some meat of the long-tooth on a stick over their fire. They protected their foods under the cooler ground to last longer and had stores of nuts, figs, tubers, some meat of the long-tooth and lots of honey.

AMI jumped up and sat on the top of the defensive wall BOY had made. It was hardened and now very solid. She looked at the honks clearly growing content with their home. Sometimes they would peck at each other. She saw other birds fly by. She saw small animals once in a while flittering here and there.

While looking over the field, AMI gaped at the edge where the ground was still soggy. She had noticed animal tracks were out there. Animals must have just passed through while they were inside. There were fresh marks still in the ground and lots of them. Occasionally they had seen different hoofed animals pass through the far field near the forest edge, on their way down the valley. The animals followed a pathway down one of the valleys to vast flat lands I could see beyond. Usually they were in small groups or in lines. A few had previously stopped out of curiosity and stared at the cave and the strange creatures inside. It looked as if there were many hoofed tracks went through the far field last dark. AMI said,

We should think of the hoofed animals for work and food. Even one of these animals could help us build sanctuary. If we found one of full seed we could have their milk and the many things we can make from the milk.

BOY said,

Right. If we could find the right one, we could teach it with food, security and kindness. With these things it will want to stay by us. Then, If we built a high enough fence around the grassy field, the one could eat of the grasses and be close to us. The grasses will grow back and there are more fields beyond. The one could help to turn the soil in the garden. I can make a large tool from the metal to turn the hard soil and guide the one to pull the tool through the hard soil. We could build a much larger and deeper garden. We could produce much more food for our children to be. The right one for grunt may also be able to ride. I like the brown ones with the sharp ears and with curious to come near.

AMI said,

The right one for milk must have seed in place, and may only give milk until two returns have passed. It can produce a new one for us to teach from birth. Then the right one must be of seed again to produce more milk. I like the smaller ones with short horns and hanging bottoms.

BOY said,

Then we will need two, but we have much to do, and it will take decks. First we must fence the field so the one for grunt can eat of the grasses and stay nearby. Then we will need to make shelter by the honks for the one of milk. We will need to bring grasses and water. As we do, they will both need of the salt.

There is salt where the hoofed animals have licked near the outcrop on their pathway. We will also need salt to make our food last and to improve the taste. Salt from in the cave will help.

They will both need our protection from predators. Ahoo will warn and scare off smaller predators, but we need to find defence from our cave for those of threatening size. We would need lots of spears and such a long way to throw.

2_THE SLING

AMI said;

Can you make a fast thrower for the rocks that will travel far and drive the rocks hard to a point?

BOY said;

Yes AMI, I will make two. I will cut small pouches of the Long-tooth’s skin. Then tie long cords to each of them. We can place a strong rock in the pouch and swing the cords widely for speed. If we learn how to let one side go at just the right time, with a target to hit, it will be powerful to those we must defend against. Other ways would not be prudent, we cannot take a risk.

He was quick. He cut two round patches from the now treated hide. Then he carved four holes with his knife around the edges of each one. One end of each cord was tied into each hole. It was good to know the right knot.

Then he took a pair of the arm length cords and tied them together and made a knot on the other end. He did this with the other two cords. He had made a sling. He held one set of cords tightly within his fingers and the other set of cords held tightly under his thumb. He shuffled around to find the right small rock and placed it in the sling. AMI meanwhile was making several more cords about an arm length each.

Then out to the ledge and a swing over his head. Faster and faster it went around in a circle. It spun so fast it made a buzzing sound. He looked where to shoot and then lifted his thumb and released the rock at a very fast speed. The rock flew straight up. He quickly grabbed AMI and pulled her into the cave and away from wherever the rock would crash down. The rock landed safely off to the rise.

They laughed and found more rocks. This time they were more prepared. BOY looked at the small log beyond the fig tree. Could it reach that far? It was a long distance for a rock to fly. He tried again and again and rocks went everywhere. Then he found that round rocks flew straightest and worked best, and started collecting them.

He looked and aimed and swung the sling. Closer and closer the rocks came, then a rock hit the log and the force drew a large chunk out of the log. Splinters flew out from the log and the rock bounced away. He jumped up and down and hooted ‘yip eee’. His eyes lit up and she smiled with delight. They could send a high speed rock with power out to the field and to a point. The rock would now hit with devastating force, any point BOY chose.

He practiced and practiced and repeatedly hit the end of the log. Soon the log looked bitten away and the end hung in shreds. He aimed at a long thin branch on a tree near the field. The first shot hit the branch. It broke and hung from the tree. The second shot snapped it free and it thumped to the ground.

Wow I thought, that is one powerful weapon and all from such a distance. Just a round rock and the will to make it go! AMI said,

You are perfect and of good eye. I will try also. There are many more round rocks by the first creek. We can gather many of them as we are there. I will practice when my chores are all done.

3_THE FENCE

AMI said,

Ah we, but, to make the pens and fences could take many decks. First we need pens then we can think how to draw the ones we need to us.

BOY said,

We will need strong food for the milk one. We must water more of the grasses to harvest and bring back for the milk one. We have much to do, and you are right, it will take decks. Let us go about our many chores and fit all this in when Big-light allows. I will start on the fence first.

AMI went about chores and making more cords. She wove some cords into flat forms. The first she made hung loosely with gaping holes. Others she tightened but they took longer and were harder to make. They were starting to clothe. After all they were outdoors. The cave was becoming indoors and AMI hung some flat forms over a branch frame to keep the cave cooler during the day.

First, BOY threw on his lid to keep the hot Big-light away. Then he went out with his club-axe and knives. A spear by the tree was always nearby. He set about starting the fence to get an idea how long it would take to find and make the poles. He found many thick ones he could use after some chipping and breaking.

He murmured about where the hoofed animals passed on through to their seasonal needs. He then decided to build the fence alongside the forest edge with a wide open area between the forest and the fence. This would make a wide passage for the travelling animals to pass through.

He then walked ten long paces out from the closest edge and started the fence. He laid the first pole flat on the ground next to the forest edge. This would be the start pole and the beginning of a long fence.

He then laid the end of another pole on top of the rise end of the first. He had to put it at a slight angle over the first pole. Then he lifted the other end of the top pole and slid another pole under it on the ground, at the same angle as the first pole making a kind of stretched Z form.

As I watched the poles being placed higher and higher on top of each row, it started to form a zig-zag pattern and a wide passageway beside the forest. Each pole placed securely across the ends of two others. The ends where the poles met laid on top of the previous rows ends.

He made a zig-zag fence 4 logs long. Then he placed a short pole over the open end of the first one and laid another log over them. He made that pattern 5 logs high. Looking from the side it looked like a log then a space, log, space, log, space, up to the top. This looked like a great sturdy fence. He then placed thin poles straight down into the ground where the logs intersected and hammered them in securely. This would keep the logs from moving.

Would waist high be high enough to keep the in in, and the out out? It was obvious BOY could make it as high as he wanted if he had enough poles. It could be made higher if needed. This worked well but he soon ran out of suitable logs. He had started it. The rest would come when he could scrounge or make more poles. He secured the two ends and left it for now. He had started a great fence and was leaving a passage for animals to pass through.

4_THE SLING

BOY knew that a proper fence would take decks to complete. The next job on the way back was to turn more soil in the garden, and remove unwanted plants. He toiled until big-light was well over half way. Good thing he took water. He turned much soil around the fig tree, and noticed the wasps were not home. In a flash he could see a picture of AMI swinging on the branch. She was so happy when she rode the air. He knew what he must do.

Not known to AMI he had brought two long strong cords and a large patch of the Long-tooth’s hide. He tightly tied the cords through holes he had made in the hide and securely tied the other ends to the branch that AMI had swung on. When he hung it securely, he sat in the pouch made by the hide, held on to the cords and lifted his feet off the ground. He bounced up and down and felt it secure. He then pushed backward from the ground and swung his body. Ahoo and Oink jumped and circled him as he raised his body backward and lifted his feet high. It felt good, it was safe. He made a swing for AMI. He hid the seat and ropes in the branch and serenaded to AMI;

AMI, my AMI, please come to me, my honeybee. Bring your speed and your soothing love to me. I will give you honey.

AMI was making more cords and flat surface for clothing. She dropped everything and ran to the ledge. She looked at BOY standing there by the fig tree and knew wasps were nearby. She thought he may need help. She sped toward BOY yelling;

You are so silly. Why do you not run? The wasps are not friendly. I am always here for you, anytime.

BOY said;

The wasps are not home and I will move their nest away from here at dark. I need you here to ride the air.

AMI leapt onto BOY as she loved to do. They hugged and kissed tight to each other. He turned away and pulled the swing from the branches. He unfolded the swing and held the cords apart and smiled at her. He said,

This swing is for you as you love the swing. Sit here. It is safe. You can ride the air. I will push you to go and you can soar up more. Sit here. It is safe.

6 AMI looked stunned. Her hands folded under her chin. She smiled so wide. Her cheeks rose and tears came down her cheek as she looked at him with her huge smile. She giggled and then laughed and jumped onto the seat. BOY told her to hang on to the cords and he pulled the swing back and off the ground. She leaned forward then backward when he pushed her ahead. Her feet went up and she screamed with delight. BOY laughed and pushed harder. AMI pumped her feet harder and yelled;

YIPPEE

The swing swung, and swung. She sang as she felt the air blowing through her short new hair.

Work is to grunt as play is to fun. I Vision the grunt to be fun. We are finding the way. We are building home and a future for our children to be. The grunt and the play and the sleep must all be.

BOY said;

I feel larger my Vision each pass. The memories we make will be consumed in our vision. Each vision of life, we will forever know in Harmony. Run with me AMI there are flowers to see and we can gather the stones and many berries.

AMI said;

Hand of my Love, give me more than your words. Bring your body to me.

He lifted her high and placed her legs over his shoulders. She felt the wind as he ran. He ran to the fence and sat her on top. BOY sighed and dropped to his knees and held on to hers. They both smiled with eyes locked. AMI put her hands on his hands.

BOY said;

You forever are my life and my purpose.

As we know, this life is for our mission. We are on a mission for AZ and will suffer through this journey. We will suffer through our choices and what luck can happen. We must enjoy each moment as for our existence in Sanctuary.

Here we will raise our children, and show them the GOOD.

When we have each completed our forward-time event, we and our children will all pass as yet unknown to us. As we came from Harmony, to be born here, each of our children must know in the end GOOD will make them new, and they will be born into sanctuary.

Whatever the cost, I would rather my death of slow agony than any cost of harm to you.

He certainly left no shred of doubt. Everything he was, was for her.

AMI said;

Whatever happens will happen. You feel you are me, and I feel I am you. Yet we speak different things, and have varied loves of. You love to make tools. I love to ride the air. I help you make the tools. You help me ride the air. We are of each other and we each have our own.

AMI stood up on top of the fence and walked along it holding his hand. She jumped off the end and ran with Ahoo and Oink chasing after. BOY caught her and asked her to run again. They pounced and jumped and played all around. There could be no greater happiness. They were together in all manner could be. They held hands skipping and making sounds of the animals around their garden.

5_THE BEAUTY

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They had left tools and baskets by the garden and picked up two baskets to play. The flowers were in bloom everywhere, mostly in the fields. There were colours and forms, all beautiful, so bright. So many new smells to bring to Sanctuary. The flowers were many and varied and beckoned one close. AMI grabbed one so gently and stared at its beauty then said;

There is the beauty in all AZ creations. There is the beauty in the small and the big. Beauty lies in the unsightly and the pretty. Beauty lies in hidden sounds and smells. There is beauty in the hidden. This is the beauty not hidden. I love you. I should like to call this pass of joy, the Joy-pass.

BOY remarked,

Yes, I will bring this beauty home to plant in a pot for you. We can nurture it to live with us.

He took out his knife and dug around the plant with the magnificent flowers. He dug it out with all its soil and put it in the basket.

Evening was closing. The sky to the fall turned red and red clouds streaked across the setting Big-light. Stars were appearing and the patterns emerged. They sat at home around the fire and talked with their friends. Serene, peaceful, a great feeling of comfort passed through me. The darkening skies were lit by colors and the sparks blipped in and out.

I saw the circle of bright sparks they knew well. It was right in front of them. A glow had settled in the middle of the circle and was passing through each night. It looked more than half way out of the circle and would soon have passed through. As night settled in, this view appeared to me like all the world and the center of it. A feeling of enormous freedom came over me. I could sense everything, like my heart fluttering, but for me no substance at all. AMI said;

There are grains throughout the fields. We can make foods of the grains and cook them to eat. We can make pan with the help of an emergent or two.

As our garden will grow we can take seeds from the emmer and plant them together. If we tend to the crop they will reseed themselves and give us food.

There are also the pods that grow by the creeks. We can eat of their seeds and bring the best to our garden.

For sure we will need the one to help turn the soil and do the grunt.

AMI marked the eight-mark on the wall and scribed a line of poles overlapping, and the swing and a round rock flying. It was a great day.

They ate well and dove into their now raised bed. BOY had built their bed high off the ground with large tall stumps supporting a square of joining poles from each corner. Then cross poles were laid across the width. AMI weaved a large mattress of fibers and stuffed it with the softness of the white balls of fluff. The mattress fit over the cross poles. It was a rough cut four-poster bed, or four-stump bed. They must ready for the morrow. They slept well on this Joyful day. The Codes continued into The We Day.