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Chapter 31 - Laying the Groundwork
🕑 Added 2025-03-25 21:00:07 +0000 UTCThe next morning, Athan was awakened by Wade, who had taken the last shift of the night. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he stretched before heading to wash his face, the cool water refreshing him as he prepared for another day of work. The early morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and smoke from the kiln.
Around him, the settlement was already stirring—sound of conversations, the clinking of tools, and the rhythmic chopping of wood filled the air, signaling the beginning of another busy day. Nearby, the faint cooing of a baby could be heard, the only infant in the settlement, nestled in its mother's arms as she quietly hummed a tune. Still a bit drowsy, he made his way to the kiln, where the fire continued to burn steadily, its warmth cutting through the cool morning breeze.
Before adding more wood, he grabbed a sturdy stick and carefully inserted it through the small opening he had left to check the progress of the limestone. As the stick pressed against one of the stones, he felt resistance. Pulling it back out, he noticed a fine layer of powder coating the tip—proof that the outer layer of the stones had transformed into lime powder, though the core remained solid.
He tapped the stick against the edge of the kiln, watching the powder drift to the ground. The transformation was progressing, but it needed more time. He added another bundle of firewood, adjusting the logs to ensure an even burn, the flames crackling as they eagerly consumed the dry fuel. The radiant heat caused the air above the kiln to shimmer, distorting the space around it like a living, breathing entity. Occasionally, small embers would pop and spark upward, carried away by the light morning breeze.
With time to spare, Athan returned to the riverbank, where the sand deposit was located. Without a shovel, he used a sturdy piece of wood to scoop sand into his wheelbarrow, working methodically as he transferred the grains in small, uneven piles. Knowing he wouldn't be able to lift a full load due to his small stature, he only filled the wheelbarrow halfway. Once he had a manageable load, he set off toward the designated area where the toilets would be built. The lighter weight allowed him to move more steadily, though the uneven ground still made the task physically demanding. His arms strained under the effort, the rough handles of the wheelbarrow pressing into his small hands, but he pressed on, determined to get the job done.
The morning sun had begun to climb, casting long shadows behind him.
Sweat formed on his brow, despite the morning chill.
As he deposited the sand, Lara, noticing his actions, approached with curiosity.
"What you doing?" she asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face, her brow furrowed in mild confusion.
"We're going to need sand and stones here later when we mix the cement," he explained, dusting off his hands.
Lara nodded, then turned to Athan with a reassuring smile.
"We take care of that. You go back to kiln."
She gestured toward Kali, who had just arrived.
Without needing further explanation, the two girls set to work, gathering more sand and stacking small stones nearby, their movements efficient and coordinated.
They worked in harmony, their chatter blending with the surrounding noises of the river nearby. Occasionally, they would pause to wipe sweat from their brows or adjust their grip on their tools before continuing. They made use of Athan's wheelbarrow, taking turns to push it back and forth between the riverbank and the worksite. Their teamwork allowed Athan a brief moment to reassess his tasks. He rolled his shoulders, easing the tension from pushing the wheelbarrow, before returning to the kiln adding more wood, ensuring the flames stayed strong before moving on to his next project.
Grabbing a hoe, he made his way to a spot near the settlement's entrance and began digging a drainage channel beneath the wall. The earth was packed tightly, the dirt had hardened since the rain, requiring extra effort to break through. Positioning the hoe on the ground, he stepped onto the rocky blade and pressed his weight down, using his weigh to wedge it deeper into the soil. Then, gripping the handle tightly, he pulled back, leveraging his weight to pry loose the compacted dirt. Each motion dislodged clumps of earth, sending them scattering to the sides. After a couple minute, sweat beaded on his forehead despite the morning chill, but he kept up the steady rhythm, determined to carve out the trench before the sun reached its peak.
He worked in a steady rhythm, muscles aching but determined, until his hoe struck something solid with a dull thud—the wooden wall. Kneeling, he brushed away the dirt surrounding the trunk, exposing more of the structure. The wood still held firm, securely fastened on both sides. Digging beneath it could weaken the wall's support, an unnecessary risk.
Weighing his options, he decided to remove only the buried portion of the beam while reinforcing the structure with stones. Using his hatchet, he chipped away at the wood, cutting it flush with the ground. The scent of humid timber mixed with the earthy aroma of freshly turned soil as he worked.
Satisfied with his progress, he wiped his brow, glancing toward the kiln before heading back to check on the fire. Periodically returning to feed the flames, ensuring the heat remained steady. About two Hours slipped by, and finally, he had cleared the wooden obstruction. He then retrieved two flat stones, carefully placing them on either side to act as a base before compacting the earth around them, shaping it into a shallow corridor to direct water flow.
Turning to the opposite side of the wall, Athan realized he would need to repeat the process of moving the earth.
However, knowing his father wouldn't approve of him working outside the settlement alone, he sought out Wade, who had just woken from a short nap after his night shift tending the kiln.
Explaining his plan, Athan waited as his father considered it.
Wade, not wanting to let him go beyond the walls alone, agreed to accompany him, taking his spear just in case.
With his father standing guard, Athan worked methodically, completing the outside section of the drainage system, ensuring both sides of the wall would efficiently channel water away.
The work was slow but necessary, and with Wade's presence, Athan felt more at ease, knowing there was an extra set of eyes watching their surroundings.
The occasional rustling of the trees kept him alert, but they finished without any unexpected incident.
Once finished, Wade having observed the drain the boy had made and still wary of Athan venturing outside, decided he would take over the rest of the drainage work himself, since the boy had said they would need four more drain. Athan, shrugging, accepted his father's decision and marked the locations for the next drains using stones. Ensuring Wade would have clear reference points and explain what he had done, making it clear he woud have to go back anyway to encase de drainage in cement. With that settled, he returned to the kiln.
Taking his stick, he checked the limestone's progress once again. After several more hours of burning, the transformation was complete—this time, the stick passed through the rock effortlessly, confirming that the limestone had fully turned to powder. The quicklime was ready.
Athan called for Lara and Kali to bring more sand to the entrance, the two girl nodding before returning to the sand deposit. Turning his attention back to the kiln he knew he had to wait for the kiln to lose its residual heat before handling the lime. Approaching it again, the air around the kiln was thick with the scent of burnt wood and heated stone, the ground beneath it still radiating warmth. Remembering the painful chemical burn he had suffered before, he kept his hands away from the fine white dust that had partially fallen to the ground, resisting the temptation to inspect it too closely. Instead, he observed from a safe distance, having already ensured that the transformation was complete before leaving to prepare the next step.
While waiting for the kiln to cool, Athan decided to check on the sand and stone supplies that Lara and Kali had gathered at the toilet construction site. He walked over, assessing the big piles and estimating they had enough to proceed once the lime powder was ready.
Satisfied with the material, he retrieved a hoe and walked to a higher spot of the river. He would need to channel water from a slightly elevated position naturally using gravity, ensuring it could flow downward and reach the toilets. Positioning his hoe, he stepped onto its rocky edge, using his weight to drive it into the earth before pulling back on the handle to loosen the packed soil. He worked methodically, carving a shallow trench that would guide the water once the conduit was built.
He extended the trench until it connected the river to the cement basin that had already been built. However, he deliberately left the starting section incomplete, not wanting water to immediately rush into the still to form conduit. He paused, observing the earth on each side of the trench, pushing the earth away, making sur it wouldn't collapse under their own weight back into the trench before the cement could be applied. The sun was steadily climbing, and the effort of digging and positioning stones made his muscles ache, but he pushed through, determined to finish the task.
Turning his attention to the next step, he began placing the stones that the girls had gathered earlier. Lara had been careful to sort them, only selecting those Athan had specified were suitable for construction. He was pleased that she had followed his advice. He ran his hand over the stones, selecting the flattest and sturdiest ones for the base. Starting from the basin, he arranged the stones methodically, ensuring they interlocked as tightly as possible while leaving small gaps between them that would later be filled with cement. This approach would reduce the amount of cement needed, conserving the valuable resource while maintaining structural integrity.
He also made sure to position larger stones on either side of the trench to act as a guide for the water, just as he had done with the basin. Ensuring that the flow would remain steady and unobstructed, he adjusted the placement of each stone carefully, making slight modifications when necessary. He double-checked the incline, stepping back to analyze whether the slope was steep enough to allow gravity to do all the work. He knelt down, running his fingers through the soil, testing its moisture. Hopping it would not pose a problem when the cement would be drying.
Still he was satisfied with the progress, wiping the sweat from his brow and shifted his focus to the toilet's drainage exit, which was set to pass beneath the wall. He crouched near the wall, examining the path on the other side, where the conduit would need to extend, visualizing the steps required to make sure the wastewater wouldn't pool near the wall or seep into the foundations.
Realizing that the conduit needed to be extended beyond the settlement, he saw a potential issue. If left unfinished, waste would accumulate too close to the wall, eventually producing unpleasant odors that would linger inside the settlement. Deciding to address the problem immediately, he sought out his father, brushing dirt from his hands as he made his way across the worksite.
By the time Athan reached him, Wade had finished digging the drainage system and had returned to assisting the men with constructing the frame for the building. He was deeply engaged in carving precise joints into the beams, working alongside Ok and Yun. The rhythmic sound of wood being shaped filled the air. When Athan explained the issue, Wade let out a deep sigh, setting down his tools momentarily but nodded in understanding. "Alright," he said, stretching his shoulders before dusting off his hands. He grabbed his spear and gestured for Athan to lead the way, agreeing to accompany his son to assess the situation.
Once outside, Athan studied the hole in the wall and surveyed the forest beyond. Just a few meters ahead, the terrain sloped downward, where the underbrush grew thick, but not dense enough to be an obstruction. This was a relief—gravity would naturally carry the wastewater away from the settlement once the exterior conduit was built. He crouched down, pressing his palm against the damp forest soil, feeling the slight shift in elevation. He envisioned how the water would flow, picturing the ideal placement of the final stones and cement work that would reinforce the path. The surrounding vegetation suggested that the soil could handle drainage well without becoming waterlogged, a key factor in making sure the conduit functioned properly before dumping the waste in the sloped downward, since the water would be permanent, that sloped would make a little creek washing away the waste.
Wade, standing beside him, after the boy mention his discovery nodded approvingly. "This work good," he remarked, stepping forward and testing the ground beneath his wooden shoe.
With a plan in mind, Athan and his father gathered additional stones from beyond wall, left behind after the construction of it. They worked together, carefully positioning the stones, ensuring stability and alignment so that once the cement was poured, the structure would be solid. Athan made sure to add extra stones at key points where erosion might eventually become an issue, reinforcing the durability of the evacuation system. He pressed each stone down firmly, making sure they were nestled securely into the dirt before moving on to the next.
As they finished placing the last stones, Athan stood back and took in the progress. The physical labor left his body sore, but there was a deep satisfaction in seeing the tangible results of their effort. It was hard, exhausting work, but step by step, they were creating something lasting. With the drainage now properly planned and ready for the final cement work, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Each completed section brought them closer to a more functional settlement, reinforcing the foundation of what would one day be a thriving village.
Once everything was done, they passed through the gate, returning to the safety of the walls. As they walked toward the kiln, he hesitated, a distant memory from his past life surfacing as he considered the bricks inside. A manga he had once read about pottery-making came to mind. In the story, they had made potion flasks, and it had warned the reader that opening a kiln too soon after firing would cause the sudden temperature change to shatter the still-hot, hardened clay. He wasn't sure if the same rule applied to clay bricks, but the thought lingered in his mind.
Gazing at the kiln, still radiating heat, the boy hesitated, tempted to retrieve the lime powder so he could continue making cement. After a long moment of deliberation, he let out a sigh and chose caution over impatience, deciding to wait until morning before opening the kiln to check the results. Grumbling to himself, he turned away, searching for something else to occupy his time.
Taking a glance at the fields, he walked over to note the day's conditions, observing the soil's moisture and the health of the crops. The sight of sturdy green stalks reassured him, though he made a mental note to adjust watering if needed. Satisfied, he returned to the fire pit to record his observations in his notebook.
As he walk and looked around, he noticed that several shelters were becoming oddly cluttered with rope. Indeed, production had not only remained steady but had increased since Shala, Kali's mother, had joined the rope-making team. However, with the completion of the wall, they were no longer using rope as frequently. The piles still growing, some neatly coiled, others loosely stacked, spilling over the edges of storage areas.
Examining the bundles, he noticed variations in size and thickness, likely due to different weavers' techniques. Thinking for a moment, the boy picked up several of small length, stretching them out to test their tension and flexibility. Satisfied with their durability, he carried them over and placed them near the women braiding the ropes. Some of them glanced at him with curious expressions, wondering what he intended to do with those.
Next, Athan gathered several branches, selecting some that were straight and sturdy. He carefully cut them into thirty equal pieces before bringing them to where he had left the rope. Taking his knife, he sharpened one end of each wooden piece into a point, then tied a rope to each stake before driving them into the ground in a straight line.
Once the stakes were secure, he tied the rope tightly to the starting stake, ensuring it wouldn't slip as he worked. To keep the rope manageable and prevent tangling, he quickly wound a portion around a sturdy stick, using it as a makeshift spool. He then began weaving it through the stakes—under, over, under, over—repeating the pattern methodically. With each pass, he adjusted the tension, keeping it taut and uniform to prevent sagging. When he reached the end, instead of cutting the rope, he simply reversed direction, continuing the weave back through the stakes. This technique reinforced the structure, creating a strong, unified fabric without unnecessary knots or weak points.
With each pass, the structure became sturdier, the woven layers binding together into a firm, flexible surface. He worked meticulously, adjusting the tension as he moved, making sure the weave remained tight and even. Each strand locked into place, reinforcing the overall strength of the mat while keeping its structure adaptable yet firm. He took his time, ensuring precision, knowing that a well-made weave would last much longer and hold up to frequent use.
After nearly an hour of careful weaving, he straightened his back, rolling his shoulders to ease the stiffness. Several women had gathered nearby, including his mother, watching with curiosity. At first, they had simply observed, but as the woven pattern became clear, their expressions shifted to understanding.
When he finished, he examined his work: a woven mat of plant fiber, approximately 30 cm by 80 cm. Running his fingers over the surface, he was pleased with its texture—firm yet flexible. Smiling, he tied knots at the ends of the cords to secure them, then pulled out the stakes and tied off the remaining ends. Folding the woven fabric over itself, an idea struck him.
He went to retrieve dried grass, selecting long, soft strands, and brought them back to his workspace, along with a bone from the pile they had set aside for crafting. Using his knife, he carefully carved the bone into a pointed needle, drilling a small hole at the opposite end. He threaded a thin but sturdy cord through the makeshift needle, testing its strength before proceeding.
Folding the woven fabric into a rectangular shape, he began sewing the edges together. The process was slow, requiring careful handling to prevent fraying. He tied a knot at the start, securing the stitches as he worked along the sides. Once two edges were sealed, he stuffed the interior with dried grass, pressing it down to ensure an even distribution. The cushion gradually took shape, soft yet firm enough to provide support.
Satisfied with the filling, he stitched the final side closed, securing the seams with extra knots for reinforcement. When he finished, he set the small cushion down, roughly 30 cm by 30 cm in size, and pressed against it to test its resilience. It held firm but compressed slightly under pressure—exactly as he had hoped.
As he looked up, he noticed the gathered women watching him with interest. He picked up the cushion and held it out to his mother with a smile.
"Use this to sit on," he said. "It'll be nicer than sitting directly on the log."
She took the cushion, running her fingers over the woven surface before nodding approvingly. The other women murmured among themselves, some already considering how they might replicate his design.
Packing up his material and tools, the boy stepped back, moving farther away to observe the women's reactions. He had deliberately demonstrated the technique, hoping to inspire them to experiment with fabric-making. By providing them with a small sample, he not only addressed the growing issue of rope storage but also sought to rekindle motivation among those who had begun to lose interest in the task.
As he watched, he noticed some of the women exchanging glances, murmuring amongst themselves as they examined the woven piece more closely. A few of them ran their fingers over the texture, testing its flexibility and strength. A small smile played on his lips—his plan was working.
With a sense of satisfaction, he turned away and made his way toward the three men still occupied with carving the future frame of the communal house. If things continued as he hoped, perhaps in the near future, they would have another option for clothing beyond the old furs they had relied on for so long. The possibility of woven fabric meant warmth, comfort, and durability—something that could revolutionize daily life. Even their bedding, currently made of layered leaves, could soon become a thing of the past.
