(Rose)
While the work on the boat was still far from complete, Nok got really ill.
Her tummy cramped and ached. She vomited more than usual and broke into her first real fever.
She felt awful for days. I nurtured her in her recovery over the days. With more stories and hugs.
Given the low control I have over half the crap she eats while she plays around, I’m surprised she doesn’t fall ill like that on a regular basis. I’m not too worried for her though.
She can sweat as much as she can cry, which rapidly proved uncomfortable and borderline unsanitary in the living room. So I kept her warm and hydrated in the garden under sunshine most of these days.
Hush hush my little one. I kept reassuring her as the disease ran around her, soon to be caught back by her defences.
It took a while, but eventually her immune system awoke properly and fought back whatever was inside of her.
I myself got a little sick at that ti too, but suffered nothing like she did.
And slowly, I had the pleasure of seeing her recover he strength, her spirits, her insane appetite, and soon her smile.
Stronger than ever.
She wanted to eat sothing more... substantial, now that she could run again.
So we took our bows and went to hunt sothing bigger in the woods.
~
We found and carefully followed animal trails in the depths of the old city. Where the jungle starts isn’t where the city ends by far. It was still very urban, the sa city, but in the part completely overrun by the younger forest.
Trees everywhere from streets to buildings roofs made it all in the end a part of the forest, with rocky walls, artificial caves and very straight trails along them.
We passed by small animals, but Nok was hungry for sothing much bigger.
After a while, we slled it. And it probably slled us as well, since that huge bull attacked first.
I can’t bla it.
I rolled on a side and rushed inside the nearest ruins. More agile than , Nokarlık climbed so poles and the artificial cliff that a building façade was.
Her from a ledge up there and from a window, we sent two arrows at it.
They pierced the big animal deep. It scread and ran away.
I reunited with Nok, now with a hunter’s gleam in her eyes.
We breathed and tracked our ga deeper into the woods.
~
We went deeper and deeper into the old end of the city.
The bull went galloping for far longer than I thought along this vanishing street. We ended up walking after it for nearly two hours.
It was lying in a park, seemingly dying. It slled us approaching and stood up again.
Another charge. Two arrows straight ahead. One of us missed the head and grazed the shoulder. The other hit the nose and reached the brain.
It collapsed in its montum, near the place we were a mont before, as we were running for safety. We turned back as we saw it collapsed.
R - Hold it. Watch the head.
Nokarlık held its back. I watched for the legs and dug my knife deep into the chest toward the heart.
A last yell.
Then for the following minute, we let it breathe and die in peace.
We rest for a while and drink a little.
Nokaranlık starts gathering dry wood for a fire. I find a place to hang the ga to skin it.
It’s a big and heavy animal though.
I let Nok begin suspending it while I go get the necessary tools to work the skin and flesh.
~
We left the bull bleed and cool down over there, hanging by the rear legs above the place.
When we returned the next morning, for it wasn’t sothing we could work overnight, it was as we left it. Almost.
Bits of its head had been eaten by sothing else during the night. The skin had traces of claws here and there.
We’ll leave the carcass for whatever else lives around and enjoys at as well.
Nok helps skin it, and then gut it. Carefully. It’s much bigger an animal than last ti.
Nokarlık plays poking the shiny lumps of flesh that we take out. A few of them still twitch slightly.
Blu brings the axe she crafted for the occasion and the long tallic spike to guide its cuts.
The bones and the spine get cut through.
I spend nearly six hours cutting the whole animal into slabs that Nok and Blu can smoke, salt and dry just next to . Although as expected, drooling Nok eats and cooks more of the at than she preserves for later.
The huge liver is roasted in slices for dinner. It has a pleasant taste.
Nokaranlık is back to her healthy self with these mouthfuls.
~
We thrive.
And slowly but surely, Nok grows in more ways than one, except physically.
The boat also grows between my hands as I sculpt it. No engine yet, but a sail is getting threaded and sown.
I wash my face in front of the mirror on the morning.
I know it’s nothing new, but I don’t recognise myself. Who is this woman whom looks older than my mother ever were?
Tiny blood vessels are visible in my eyes. Next to the crow’s feet my skin keeps. My forehead wrinkles never leave fully anymore. My hair is mostly grey now, with uneven patches of white or older colours.
I’m not aging gracefully.
But mostly, there’s nothing left of the frail and sickly old . I’m not slouching as I used to in my teen years.
My eyes are looking old, eyelids tired but not sunken anymore.
I’m clearly closer to the end and past my pri, but I look more steady, and I’m smiling. I like my soft smile. It didn’t change.
A good day starts.
Night and day rise together and I give my child a warm morning hug.
I’m happy you’re there Nok.
Rise and shine my sweet paradox.
My beautiful child.
My starry sky.
Soon, we will sail.
We will cross the Caribbean sea, and head toward the northern Arica.
We will sail together. I’m happy.
~
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