SURVIVORS

Chapters 24. Abandoned gardens. (revision + illustration)

~Dear Diary's,

It's day 12. We have been going nowhere for 3 days. In addition to waiting for Alex and Lena's recovery, Robert's injuries are not as simple as they seem. But last night he didn't have a fever anymore. What a good development.

We are waiting for Dean, Indra and Michael to return from the expedition today. Hopefully the result is good, because the direction of the waterfall is temporarily forbidden to Dean to go to remember the last incident with the bear.

I'm skeptical about going home anytime soon. I feel like this place is no ordinary place. I remember Robert's story of the blue light in the sky that was like a curtain. Are we locked in that curtain of light? When I said that, Dr. Chandra laughed. But Robert is not. He is an open minded person.

I hope my parents are not too sad about my loss. Brother, take care of mom and dad from up there. I'm fine here, don't worry.~

-

"Widuri, have you been able to make the socks that Marianne taught you? Why does it feel so hard?" The goddess showed her formless knitting.

Widuri smiled and closed her notebook and showed me the work next to her "Not much different from you." They laugh together.

"This first result is for us to wear ourselves. So let it go if it's ugly. Knitting is not easy for us who are not used to." Widuri.

"Well, you're right. Lena didn't even manage to make a single line." The goddess laughed again. There Robert and Marianne smiled at him.

"Robert, thank you for making knitting needles for us."

Widuri smiled at Robert who was sitting by the fire. He's smoothing a pine twig to make a knitting needle.

"It's good if I can still be useful. Because this is all I can do while sitting down. My situation has troubled all of you." Robert's eyes were full of apologies.

'Ahh, he looks handsome' Inner Widuri.

"No Robert. You've helped us so much before. We can't go anywhere before Dean comes back, can we?"

Marianne nodded as her eyes continued to stare at the knit in her hand. The work is neat and fast. She was wearing her own warm clothes. Real pretty.

"Hey, Dean's back. Dean's back." The bustling sound outside the shelter made the Goddess rise up and walk out.

"Indra, what are you carrying?" Silvia's voice was heard outside.

"Hey, they're tired and cold.let them come in and warm themselves up first before we lean in with questions." The goddess smiled broadly. Welcomed the other laughter.

Dean came in followed by Indra and Michael. They put their pine-wrapped luggage on the floor. Widuri thrust a teapot of warm water and a cup for the three.

"Do you guys want to eat? I'll grill a fish for a second." The new Widuri will stand but be prevented by Dean.

"No. We had breakfast before we got back. Sit down, I'll tell you the result of our trip." Dean's hand poured warm water and drank it. Everyone then started to come in and sit around the warming fireplace.

"Okay, we've been walking for a day. Stop in the afternoon and make an emergency stay that afternoon. The next morning we explored the location around the place and decided to make a larger shelter that was enough to accommodate team members." Dean paused for a moment.

"In the afternoon we travel again . The road started to decline but not steep. It's just, it's the direction that's away from the lake. We saw wolves in the distance. There are also a lot of rabbits. Before the sky darkened, we stopped and made a place to rest. The next morning we realized that the snow was not too thick. The fireplace we made didn't make a hole too deep on the surface like here. Michael scraped the bottom of the former fireplace, it was really ground." Dean smiled, he looked happy.

"What if it's land?" asked the clueless Nastiti looking at Dean's seemingly happy demeanor.

Dean breathed, but before he answered, Robert first opened his voice: "That means we might find it easier to find plants for groceries. Is the temperature there warmer Dean?" ask Robert.

"Yes, it's a little warmer because there are enough trees blocking the wind. I think also, the thinness of the snow there may be because of the tightness of the trees. But it's true that we found some food source."

Dean asks Indra and Michael to untie their pine leaves. Everyone was surprised to see it.

"Uniii! It's a yam."

"There's carrots too."

"Asparagus."

"Ohh, we ate a big meal today."

Crowded and happy voices were heard. They are very enthusiastic. Dean, Indra and Michael smiled broadly as they answered the enthusiastic questions of the other teammates. Hope began to grow back in everyone's hearts.

"So how's Dean? Are we going to continue our journey?" robert asked ignoring the surrounding fanfare.

"Well, I think we can continue the journey as before. I'll go first with my team. What say?" ask Dean back.

Dean nodded and smiled.

"Okay, it's decided. Tomorrow team 1 will start the journey again. So get ready today."

"Okay, we'll be ready." Dewi and Nastiti who were sitting next to each other immediately replied. Widuri. Sunil followed.

"We're on the road again." Alan was enthusiastic.

That night they ate a big meal, as this time the women made vegetable soup with rabbit meat, as well as potatoes and grilled fish. The warm conversation gradually disappeared as wolf howls began to sound in the distance. Without realizing it, now the howling of wolves has become a sign that it is time to sleep.

*

Finished breakfast, Team 1 led Dean started walking away from the shelter. They wave their hands.

"See you soon." cried Dewi and Nastiti who walked side by side looking back.

Gilang behind him turned his head as well and waved his hand.

"See you."

"Be careful."

Shouted some others at the shelter. They are very hopeful that this trip will end soon and can go home again. The road is declining. Isn't there usually a village in the valley and the foothills? there will be farmers, right?

***

This afternoon Team 1 arrived at the second place Dean said. It's not so windy there. But it's still cold. The men immediately did the task Dean had given them. Dewi and Nastiti prepare the necessities in the temporary shelter that Dean, Indra and Michael have made at that time. Dean and Widuri go together to check the traps that have been made.

Dean took Widuri with him to show her where the yams and carrots were. Widuri. The clumps of yam are very numerous, spreading everywhere. Walking even further, Widuri saw the leaves of carrots sticking out from the top of the thin snow pile. The smooth green leaves contrast with the bleached surface of the snow.

"Dean, could this be a garden that people have left behind?" ask Widuri in surprise.

He could see that although it was not fenced, but the separation of the location of the yam and carrot plants as done deliberately.

"Hmmm, maybe," Dean did not argue or agree. He took Widuri in the other direction.

"Asparagus I found here." point Dean somewhere a short distance away.

Widuri was amazed to see it. The plant thrives, and there are still many young shoots that have not been picked. Widuri was soon busy picking asparagus and then plucking some carrots. Dean prying the yam clump and threw away the leaves just like that.

"Dean, after plucking the yam, the clumps should not be thrown away. It can be cuttings and replanted." Widuri grumbling nagging.

His hands agilely plucked the shoots of the yam leaves and plugged the other stems back into the ground.

Dean, who was initially surprised at being amused, finally smiled and followed the way Widuri showed.

"What are you collecting the leaves for? Can it be eaten?" ask Dean to know.

"Of course it can be eaten. It is very good and good for eye health. I thought, that's what my mother said." Widuri thought for a moment, remembering something.

"Yeahh, at least it's non-toxic," Widuri laughs amused herself. Dean smiled, 'this girl is very attractive' inwardly.

They felt the food supply was enough even for breakfast, so they immediately returned.

The shelter made this time was different from the shelter in a snowy place. They make an elongated center pole for the support of the roof retaining pole that is made oblique. The shape is triangular, but it cannot be too broad. Finally 2 pieces were made.

The first was completed and occupied by Dewi and Nastiti. The roof is still with pine branches. Widuri handed over the vegetables she got to Nastiti. "I'll take the snow to prepare the water" said the Goddess.

"But the snow here isn't thick enough, so it just went a little further and found it."

Dean nodded as Widuri looked towards him. Then he went to accompany the Goddess in search of snow for a source of water.

***

A simple example of A line shelter.