On Woensdag morning, Syp rode with Haerm to the village. He went into the community information center and she followed. She had lain in bed the night before and made a long list of the things she would need to know in order to live on her own. She downloaded one document after another onto her tablet.
When Haerm was finished, he went to her. "I'm leaving."
"But I'm not done yet!"
"You can come now or you can walk home.". He strode toward the door. When her download was finished, she went out the door, and the transporter was gone. She walked through the village, wondering if he had other errands. Just as she went around the corner by the bank, she saw the transporter. She called out and waved at him. He looked directly at her, then flew past her.
"Dad!" She watched as he went down the marked airway out of the village.
Frustrated, she returned to the community center. "Since I'm here, I might as well get the information I need." An hour later, she pulled her heavy coat back on, slid the electronic pad into an inside pocket and tied the hood. She was surprised when her gloves didn't fit and shoved them into a pocket.
It was cold and her feet crunched on the snow as she walked toward home. She remembered how Eiske had shown her how to step, and began to walk differently. As she walked, her stride grew and she began to run. After falling over and over, she slowly changed the angle of her ankles and grew steadier. It wasn't long before she was home.
Haerm looked at Syp oddly when she walked into the kitchen. Syp hung her coat on its hook, and picked up her backpack. She took it to her sleeping pad and sorted through the few things in the pockets. After she had warmed up, she put her coat and heavy boots on, then checked the box where old gloves were kept. None of them fit.
Syp gathered her things from the various places that they had been stashed around the farm. She took an old multiple pocket tool from behind a loose board in the storage shed, and a collapsible water bottle, pieces of cheesecloth, mesh, and a small canister of seeds from a hole in a qit tree.
Syp thought about her grandma. A week before she died, Eageltsje had given the canister to Syp. Syp recalled what she’d been told. “These are heirloom seeds, passed down through the generations. Do not share them with anyone. Collect seeds from the plants each year. The big seeds will grow great vines where the soil is moist and dark. The flowers will make a tea that eases great pain. The small seeds will grow into plants that produce a fruit above soil, and tubers below. When the yellow flowers fall, chew them quickly. They allow a person to see what is coming. The more flowers you eat, the more of the future will be revealed. The tiniest seeds are for a plant that will strengthen your heart and circulatory system. Grind the leaves into a tea and use only a tiny amount. Kept dry, this herb will last a long time.”
Syp put the items into her pocket. Syp went to the spot where Eageltsje had buried a bucket for their gardening supplies. It was near the collection of plants that the two had planted together. Syp dug a hole in the snow, and with great effort pulled the bucket from the frozen ground. She carried the bucket to the toolshed and hung some of the garden tools on wall hooks. After determining which backpack fit the best, Syp put a small spade, digging tools, her garden scissors, a newer multipurpose knife, packets of labeled seeds wrapped in plastic, a small tablet of paper, a pencil, and the things from her pockets in it.
Syp carefully considered the items that her father had indicated she could take. Syp spread a tent out on the snow outside the toolshed and checked it for holes and rips, as her research had suggested. She carefully folded and rolled it up tightly before sliding it into the backpack. Syp examined a sleeping pad and winter sleeping bag and took those too. Inside a frying pan, Syp placed a kettle, mortar and pestle, a can opener, a knife for cutting food, and a package of water filters. She folded up a small tripod for cooking, and put a flashlight, chargeable batteries and a solar charger in a different pocket. Syp lifted the pack to her back to test the weight.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
During the noon meal, neither parent spoke to Syp. After helping clean off the table and wash the dishes, Syp went to her sleeping place. She slipped her travel papers into her waistband, the compass and map into one pocket and the firestones into the other. At the toolshed, she placed the items into the backpack, pulled the pack on and walked north to Eiske’s home. Syp knocked on the door and waited. Eiske was surprised to see her with such a huge pack on her back.
“Would you like help with that back room?” Syp asked.
“Why aren’t you in school?”
“Mom has unenrolled me.”
Eiske fought back the foul language that was on the tip of his tongue. “Please come in. Are you leaving home today?”
“No. I’m not ready. I’m practicing carrying this pack. I told you that I’d help you, so here I am.”
The two set to work on the second sleeping room. They sorted through stacks of papers that Siedeske had accumulated, keeping the information about various plants and their medicinal properties. Syp carried out old sleeping mats, stained and worn cloths, and bags of unidentified herbs, which she eyeballed and considered as a potential item for trading. “It wouldn’t be good to trade something I know nothing about,” Syp thought.
“Here’s a sewing kit that you might like to have,” Eiske offered. “A pair of gloves?”
“Thank you.” Syp accepted the kit and contemplated the gloves. “I’d have to cut those and sew them to fit.”
“It might be worth the effort.”
“Yes.” Syp laid them on the backpack.
As they sorted through Siedeske’s clothes, Eiske looked for practical but lightweight items that Syp could use or trade. Everything was very worn, and they carried the piles to the fire pit. They carried out shoes, coats and scarves. Many were holey and tired-looking. There was nothing for Eiske to offer Syp from this room, except a heavy scarf and hat. When the room was empty, Syp scrubbed the floor while Eiske walked around the fields. Syp had put away the cleaning supplies by the time he returned.
"Syp, I have some other things for you. I’d like you to have these.” Eiske gave Syp a tall pair of boots. They had been crafted from a material that Syp had never seen before. “These have special soles to protect your feet on your journey. They have extra layers of soles and are designed by a friend that I met in the city when I worked there. I’ve been in contact with over the years. Please try them on.” Syp removed her shoes and carefully pulled the boots on. “If you tap here, the boots will conform to your feet and legs each time you put them on.”
Syp felt motion around her legs and the boots adjusted accordingly. “That’s amazing, Eiske! Thanks so much!” Eiske showed her how to remove the boots and care for them.
“I found these for you.” He led Syp to the table and gave Syp some tablets for purifying water. “They're from a long time ago. I tested one and analyzed the results. They’re still good. I found this in the freezer when I cleaned it out last week.” It was a big bag of jerked meat. When Syp tried to object, Eiske stopped it. “Here is an ultra-light insulated blanket, an ultra-light set of raingear, and bug repellent.”
“Wow,” Syp said softly, “I can’t thank you enough!”
“You can thank me by leaving your pack here tonight,” Eiske said firmly. When Syp looked at him questioningly. "I think your mother may try to sabotage your preparations. Please leave it here. You can pick it up on Zaterdag.” He stopped and thought for a moment. “Syp, do you know what the word ‘sanctuary’ means?”
“It’s a place of refuge or safety. There are certain places on the planet where . inhabitants or visitors can go to request protection.”
“Did you know that my home is considered a medical facility?” Syp nodded. “It is also a sanctuary. If you say to me, ‘I request sanctuary,’ I will use all the resources available to me through the Protectorate to protect and care for you.”
“Can I just come to be with you and not request sanctuary?”
“Of course. Now, how can I help you?"
"I need to read everything I can about living outdoors on my own."
"You're welcome to stay here and read," he offered.
She helped him build a fire and sat reading until it was time to go home to do chores.