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

Day 6


A short night and zero bears later, it is time for yet another day in the canyon. Pato is feeling slightly lightheaded due to the lack of sleep and possibly due to the increased altitude. The water they drink from the river leaves a slightly bitter taste, something they haven’t noticed before, ever. Overnight, the water level seems to have risen slightly. This does not yet alarm Pato or Bora.

While underway, Bora recites the contents of the history stone while wondering what wisdom she will impart of her own. When once again fording the river she picks up a sharp stone that looks hard with a nice green colour, for when she finally thinks of something. New things usually come from contacts with other Clans. A lot of interesting things seem to be going on within the Clans from the plains. Maybe she can commit one of these things to the stone….

Finally! A first glimpse of the top of the mountain above the edge of the canyon. It is even more awe-inspiring than in earlier encounters. The smoke that has been visible as a slight haze in the sky for the last few days is now much more prominent. Grey and brown clouds escape the easternmost of the two peaks. The normally pristine white mountainside is crisscrossed with black traces, some speckled with orange cracks and pits, steam coming from the edges.

At a large split in the river, they stop and set up their small tents in a meadow along the right hand branch. The horses are left to graze on their own while Bora looks for specific yellow and red porous stones along the river bank. She is amazed at how many different colours she finds. Pato keeps gazing at the mountain, trying to come up with a plan, now that the circumstances have changed so much compared to earlier visits. This time, Uri is not here to guide him in his decisions. And even if they succeed, will the others be there as well?

As night falls, the clouds remain visible in an orange glow. The now nearly full moon looks a bit out of place. It seems larger than usual and slightly off colour.

Light headed through lack of sleep.... Yup!

'zero bears later'...love it! Also those coloured stones!

I'm worrying about our two young people, so close to the smoking mountain...