Riding the Rift

 

A/N: update coming soon

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Miriam’s head swam as she awoke from her most peculiar dream.  She jerked as she realized she wasn’t in bed, but leaning on some hard railing. Someone’s voice, a man’s voice, shushed her and tried to sooth her as she dealt with a great disorientation.  When she was fully awake she found herself on a horse, and the ‘railing’ was the man’s arm holding her on as she had been sleeping in front of him.

         “I’m sorry to hae frightened ye, but you were about to fall.  We’re near the camp some o’ the villagers hae been using since our land was taken.  Yer bag is tied to the saddle, and although yer dress is a bit mussed, you look better than I do for the night’s sleep.  ‘Tis good you wake before we enter camp, you’ll be wanting to make the best impression you can.  Our village was split on the decision to go to you for help, and we’ll both be facing some hard looks.”

         “I’ll do my best.  I think the first thing I’ll need to do is make breakfast.  I was supposed to eat after the wedding at the reception brunch.  That won’t happen and I think better full.”

         “I don’t think our fare will be what you’re used to milady...”

“I brought food. It’s in the bag I brought. There will be enough for everybody, if the dream I had is right I can feed us for a while. Even if the food I brought runs out, I can go hunting.  All I need to make breakfast is water.”

         “A stream runs behind the camp.  What magic food needs only water to feed a whole village?”

         “Dehydrated eggs.  I have three weeks, four if I stretch, of breakfasts in a tub so big.” She indicated a box about six inches by six inches on any side  “I also have beef stew mix for lunches and dinners, and a mix pack of fruit jerky for snacks.  Not much variety, but I always supplement with hunting when I’m on a run.”

            They entered what might on a very good day by a charitable person be called a camp. The tents appeared to be hastily slung, and the few huts built were ramshackle but clean.  The people too at were worn thin and hopeless looking, not a one wearing clothes that weren’t extended and patched.  Miriam thought of the way they must think of her wedding dress.  She made a mental note to pack it away and wear more appropriate clothes.  As she dismounted she purposefully looked in as many faces as she could.  These people were starved for food and for hope she decided.  The first was in her grasp.

            “Might I have use of a fire and a pot to cook in?  I would like to make breakfast for everyone.  It will be simple, but good for filling empty bellies, mine included.” She waited for some sign she was being accepted, and felt more inadequate than she had since her sophomore Sadie Hawkins dance.  Finally a harshly built woman came forward and took her arm, guiding her to a fire with a moderate sized cauldron on a hook rig over it.  Next to the fire was two buckets, one full of debris filled water, one clean and empty.  The buckets were beaten copper, not tin, as Miriam used at home, but the purpose was clear.  The dirty water was for safety, the clean empty one for carrying cooking water.  Miriam immediately realized her dress would hamper her ability to cook.

            “Can you fill the cauldron with about one and a half buckets of water while I change out of this dress.  It isn’t suited to cooking…” Miriam asked praying silently that she wouldn’t be heard as commanding.

            “O’course I can. Tent there you can change in. It’s Mina’s and she took fever a day ago, so she went down stream so she won’t pass it on.”

            “I have medicine for fever that might help. I’ll take it to her with her portion of food.”  Miriam gladly took her go-bag and went into the tent.

As Miriam emerged dressed in black pants and a denim jacket over a light flannel shirt, she saw that the cauldron was full and simmering.  She pulled out her box of dehydrated eggs and her small containers of salt and pepper.  She looked at the water level and guessed it was right for a thin scramble, using the whole box.  She then pulled out a long handled cooking spoon from her bag and proceded to mix in the powder in her egg box.  As it cooked she added a small amount of salt, saving the pepper.  She wasn’t sure how well it would be liked.  When the eggs were almost done she went to the nearest person in sight of the fire and asked them to pass word that breakfast was ready, and for people to bring bowls.