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

Day 17:

The wagon has been riding through the night by the light of several oil lamps. In the end, it had been Vinco’s decision to do so, after attempts to revive Aggen had failed. Keela held onto her sister, after she had collapsed in grief. Yusna was now sleeping a restless sleep.
Vinco had told Pato that time was now of the essence, if they still wanted to arrange a proper burial for Aggen. He estimated they would be able to reach home by midday.

As day breaks, the oxen get a short respite to drink and eat something while the men and women get to sit down and eat as well. Only then does the realisation sink in that Aggen has gone, for good.
Bora hopes that Yusna has had enough time to talk to Aggen in the last few days, while he was still there.
Joni goes to check out Keela, to give her some food as well. Putting an arm around her shoulder, he realises it could have been him for all that matters. He wonders if it should have been him climbing down the waterfall. Seeing Aggen with Yusna the last few days magnified his feeling that he was missing out on something with Keela. If only he could find out what.

After the break and with daylight to guide their way, the group keeps plodding on.

Keela ponders on what to think of Joni’s sign of affection this morning. Maybe all is not as bad as it seems between them. She will have to talk to him. Just not yet. Not now.

The valley has now widened so much that it can accommodate a plain. As they reach a particularly wide area, caused by a side river valley joining, Pato sees that a lot of the plain has been cultivated and harvest is underway. One farmer looks up from his work, then sends one of his children to them and another to the settlement further down the valley.
It is not before long that a horn call resounds through the valley, calling in the inhabitants of the settlement and at the same time imposing vigilance. As the first kid comes closer and waves in recognition, it veers off to share this new information.

This settlement is much bigger than the previous one. Better organised too.
When the wagon reaches the surrounding stone wall, a sort of welcome committee has formed at the massive gate.
Several elders come forward to celebrate the safe return of their children, but joy quickly turns into grief as the fate of Aggen becomes clear.
The wagon is led inside to a central open space. Aggen’s body is carried to the largest of the mud brick buildings to be laid out. Bora, Aryna and Keela help a heartbroken Yusna inside.
Pato must admit that despite the mud brick construction, this house is much better quality than what he has seen in the previous settlement. This one is rectangular, containing two rooms separated from the central space. The roof goes quite high, allowing for a loft on top of the rooms.
A large man with a trimmed beard introduces himself to Pato and Bora as Avi, the father of Aggen, Vinco and Joni. After Joni tells that not he, but Vinco has earned the birth-right, it is Vinco who further tells about what has transpired since they left for the mountain, sometimes helped by Bora, especially the bits that are still a bit hazy for the men. Vinco is not sure Bora’s story is exactly accurate, but he decides this version is a lot better than some of the alternative versions that have surfaced in some of his darker dreams.
Avi tells them that he still vividly remembers the time he went up the mountain to meet his wife who, to the surprise of Pato and Bora, turns out to be Uri’s younger sister. A new wave of sadness follows as Pato tells of the death of both of their parents.

Later that day, they move Aggen’s body, now dressed for burial, inside an earthen mound that is still containing some of last winter’s ice for better preservation. A lot of preparations have to be done.

As they go to survey the burial ground, Pato notices that not two graves are alike. It is clear that a lot of experimentation has taken place over the ages. Some larger mounds are side by side with smaller graves in the ground and a large pile of rocks. Keela tells Avi that she overheard Yusna and Aggen discuss burial practices during the night in the previous settlement. She says that maybe it is best to ask Yusna if she is aware of any last wishes on how Aggen wants to be buried.

After marking a promising spot, they return to eat and then go to sleep.

It has been a long day.

And it seems it never gets any easier planning a funeral.

All the things we have in common with these people from long ago. Hopes, fears, joys, sorrows, relationships...

Yes, we recognise their heartaches and their concern for one another.

I think I'm beginning to understand why Aggen died. This story was built around what little is known of this society based on burial mounds.

Hi Paul, that could have been the case in this case, it is more that the story had less potential with four sort of happy couples than now. My set of various sided dice may also have played a part. (you all decided he was dead before I did. (I just mentioned he wasn't breathing and stopped the chapter at that bombshell.

Even with modifier, he still had a 35% chance to survive.

After sorting that out, I got to researching Kura Araxes burial rituals and compare them to the Maykop variants.

As a student, I used to listen to a learned German at the University of Munich droning on and on about 'die Bandkeramiker'. You have made these people MUCH more interesting. Thank you.

Thank you either way.

Later chapters mentioned Aggen's funeral. I respect these characters too much to assume that they would bury someone who was not dead.