h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

* This view is truly magnificent, you can see not only the whole of the Island but ever a fewer of the other closer Islands as well. The breeze flows through your hair and you feel at one with nature. Just below some rugged ground foliage looks perfect for firewood... *

* there seems to be enough low lying palms trees here to construct a basic shelter... *

*scrambling up the hillside, ox pauses long enough to realize this view is truly the best of the island. With the stone implement ox hacks the lower fronds off several palms and, like plaiting hair, weaves them together, until a long mat is completed. Choosing 4 palms relatively close together, ox then secures a corner of the mat to each of the four palms using strips of palm leaf braided together, tying one side of the mat close to the ground so rain can roll off.*

The cargo net would help a lot, but this will do for now!

* The marshall surveys Ox's deft handiwork with a rye smile. Knowing that the palms used could very well be used in construction of the tribes mainbase... *

* Perhaps not a popular move amongst the rest of the tribe... *

* Ox might very well be sacrificed for the tribes greater good if she is not careful... *

Yes, very nice work...

M.K*

From this hilltop one can see and call to the rest of the tribe! I stand accused and prejudged!

*starts to wonder if the contest is rigged and if the fix is in*

LOL!!!

M.K*

Aha!!!

*returns to hillside with torch, throws the now dried remains of the palm fronds into a heap and lights a fire large enough to be seen from all sides of the island. Opens a coconut with tool, eats flesh inside, saves shell for water*

* The wind starts to pick-up on this exposed part of the Island. Suddenly the torch flickers out... *

*fortunately the fire had already been lit*

* The flames start to dart around as the wind begins to pick-up. Unless measures aren't taken soon it mightn't be anymore than ash... *

*recalls mythology always having the gods testing mortals while hedonistically lying around feasting on nectar and ambrosia...decides to let fire burn out if it will and save energy and wait for others...game seems to be playing itself...*

* despite the precarious nature of lighting a fire on a hilltop without attempting to shield it from the elements, the wind abates for a while if only momentarily... *

*makes it to the top of the hill, drawn by the light of a strangely flickering fire...*
Hi there- mind if I sit here?
The view is wonderful- I wonder when the others will arrive?

*runs up holding a crab, noticing the fire*

Should we not do something to protect the fire, lest it spread and burn down the hill (and our brand new shelter)?

*Dan holds out the crab.*

And where should we put him?

*grabs some bamboo sticks and hastily makes a little enclosure*
Stick him in there for now...
I'm not sure a campfire could burn down a hill...

Hi peeps,
*arrives from the beach*
Nice shelter ox, compact enough to keep us all together, out of that ferocious wind....hope it dies down tho.
if the fire is a bit closer to the mouth of your shelter it'll be less likely to go out, but we can worry about that tomorrow.
Did I see bags of rice around??
Best stash that somewhere dry.
*builds rock enclosure around ox's fire to enclose it a bit and protect the hot base*

*places more rocks at the base of ox's shelter to prevent the wind trying to lift it*
Aha that foliage down there looks like useful kindling for tomorrow
*Borrows ox's stone implement and along with foot long Bowie knife, removes enough for tomorrows fire and stacks it at the bottom corner of the shelter to keep it dry*
Now some coffee and mbougatses would go down well about now.

Hey Tweetie/ Evil good call on the water canister, if it wasn't for the wind I'd say that this could be a breeze.....
*shudders and looks skyward*
*Thinks*............. "but somehow I doubt it"

* The night passes very uneasily for Ox up at this encampment. Despite the fortifications made by the now knackered eatsmice... *

* Although the roar of the wind is offputting, Ox rests with the satisfaction of her timely labours... *

* In the morning when she emerges, a lot of the hard work of thatching the roof with palm leaves has been blown away by the unrelenting winds... *