regained consciousness earlier in the day. She managed to sit up to eat some stew with the rest of the group, then after Ms. Pap had gone, they filled her in on the events of the past couple of days.
She was overwhelmed with all the stories, and lay back down to rest after thanking everyone. Mrs. Osorio covered her with a light blanket the gnomes had given them.
“Denny, how did you come up with those bombs?” Sara asked as they sat and waited for Ms. Pap.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I just like to build stuff. When the nut blew up in the fire before it got me to thinking.”
Mr. Kain laughed. “Well, we’re all glad for your thinking.”
Everyone joined in the laughter and Denny blushed a bright shade of pink.
Mr. Kain continued after the laughter died down, “We’re all going to have to do some thinking — things are different here. Way different. So if anyone ever has an idea for something, don’t be afraid to speak up. We’re short on tools and supplies so this,” he said, pointing to his head, “is going to be our best weapon.”
They nodded in understanding.
Ms. Pap came around the corner and joined their circle. “Well, it’s pretty much as Crank explained to Jenni,” she said after she sat and got comfortable. “We leave in the morning to go to this big city of theirs.”
“Did they say how long it would take to get there?” Mrs. Osorio asked.
“They weren’t very clear on that. None of them have been there in a very long time it seems. But the indication I got was a matter of weeks, not days.”
Groans and cries of disbelief sounded from the class.
“Weeks?” Mrs. Osorio said over the noise. “Oh, my.”
“Why can’t we just stay here?” Marco asked.
Ms. Pap replied, “The Old Ones said they don’t have the supplies or resources to feed and care for a group this large.” She paused. “I also got the feeling even if they did, we really wouldn’t be welcome. They are kind enough, but I think they like to keep to themselves.”
“What about my mom?” Carrie asked her.
“Mrs. Minch and the others that can’t travel will stay and be cared for by the village.” Ms. Pap looked at Carrie. “I asked about you, Carrie, but they said you will need to go with us.”
Carrie’s eyes were wide with surprise. “I have to leave while my mom stays here?”
“I’m afraid so,” Ms. Pap said with sadness. “They were quite firm. All those able to travel must go.”
“Wow,” Carrie said quietly. “I see.” She looked down at her hands in her lap and was lost in thought.
Jenni couldn’t imagine having to leave her mom like that. But then, Carrie and her mom don’t seem to get along very well either, she reasoned. Maybe it would be a good thing for her. But I wouldn’t want to be the gnome that broke the news to Mrs. Minch when she woke up!
“Bottom line is,” Ms. Pap continued, “we leave in the morning, with Crank as our guide. I need everyone to make sure all the water bottles we have are full and everything is packed and ready to go. After that, we get as much rest as possible.”
The class let out a collective sigh, then dispersed to ready themselves for the journey ahead.
8
Morning came too quickly for most of them, but they managed to freshen up, eat a bit of breakfast, and get started on their journey.
The small hills quickly turned to gently sloping plains after the group left the village. Green prairie grasses rolled and waved with the breeze as far as they could see. Birds swooped over the grass, snatching bugs as they went, and soared in the bright blue sky.
They kept the gorge close on their right and, as the day wore on, the steep walls diminished. By the time they decided to camp that evening, the gorge had disappeared, leaving a broad and fast flowing river. They found some Tolenton’naie bushes growing along its banks to replenish their supply of the fruit, and, after Crank’s assurance of the water’s safety, they went
She was overwhelmed with all the stories, and lay back down to rest after thanking everyone. Mrs. Osorio covered her with a light blanket the gnomes had given them.
“Denny, how did you come up with those bombs?” Sara asked as they sat and waited for Ms. Pap.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I just like to build stuff. When the nut blew up in the fire before it got me to thinking.”
Mr. Kain laughed. “Well, we’re all glad for your thinking.”
Everyone joined in the laughter and Denny blushed a bright shade of pink.
Mr. Kain continued after the laughter died down, “We’re all going to have to do some thinking — things are different here. Way different. So if anyone ever has an idea for something, don’t be afraid to speak up. We’re short on tools and supplies so this,” he said, pointing to his head, “is going to be our best weapon.”
They nodded in understanding.
Ms. Pap came around the corner and joined their circle. “Well, it’s pretty much as Crank explained to Jenni,” she said after she sat and got comfortable. “We leave in the morning to go to this big city of theirs.”
“Did they say how long it would take to get there?” Mrs. Osorio asked.
“They weren’t very clear on that. None of them have been there in a very long time it seems. But the indication I got was a matter of weeks, not days.”
Groans and cries of disbelief sounded from the class.
“Weeks?” Mrs. Osorio said over the noise. “Oh, my.”
“Why can’t we just stay here?” Marco asked.
Ms. Pap replied, “The Old Ones said they don’t have the supplies or resources to feed and care for a group this large.” She paused. “I also got the feeling even if they did, we really wouldn’t be welcome. They are kind enough, but I think they like to keep to themselves.”
“What about my mom?” Carrie asked her.
“Mrs. Minch and the others that can’t travel will stay and be cared for by the village.” Ms. Pap looked at Carrie. “I asked about you, Carrie, but they said you will need to go with us.”
Carrie’s eyes were wide with surprise. “I have to leave while my mom stays here?”
“I’m afraid so,” Ms. Pap said with sadness. “They were quite firm. All those able to travel must go.”
“Wow,” Carrie said quietly. “I see.” She looked down at her hands in her lap and was lost in thought.
Jenni couldn’t imagine having to leave her mom like that. But then, Carrie and her mom don’t seem to get along very well either, she reasoned. Maybe it would be a good thing for her. But I wouldn’t want to be the gnome that broke the news to Mrs. Minch when she woke up!
“Bottom line is,” Ms. Pap continued, “we leave in the morning, with Crank as our guide. I need everyone to make sure all the water bottles we have are full and everything is packed and ready to go. After that, we get as much rest as possible.”
The class let out a collective sigh, then dispersed to ready themselves for the journey ahead.
8
Morning came too quickly for most of them, but they managed to freshen up, eat a bit of breakfast, and get started on their journey.
The small hills quickly turned to gently sloping plains after the group left the village. Green prairie grasses rolled and waved with the breeze as far as they could see. Birds swooped over the grass, snatching bugs as they went, and soared in the bright blue sky.
They kept the gorge close on their right and, as the day wore on, the steep walls diminished. By the time they decided to camp that evening, the gorge had disappeared, leaving a broad and fast flowing river. They found some Tolenton’naie bushes growing along its banks to replenish their supply of the fruit, and, after Crank’s assurance of the water’s safety, they went
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