Chương 12: Here's a Tool for You

After my break, I headed towards the field just outside the northern part of the village. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, the same man from the morning stood next to the gate. 'Again making sure I don't escape, eh? Suit yourself, I suppose'. The fields were already visible from the southern gate. I noticed a few people in the field, so I headed there for my next task.

One of the farmers took me to the side, and explained my job. "Your job is to plough the earth in this area". He pointed at a specific area of the field, then added "Do you know how to plough?". I shook my head, and answered "No". He continued "In that case, I will show you how it is supposed to be done. Follow me". We arrived at my part of the field, where he showed me how to plough. I had no idea how ploughing worked, and what was involved. I only knew the name of the tool he was holding in his hand, namely a hoe. He struck the ground with its use a few times to make groves.

After a while, the ground resembled a sort of shallow channel. That was the whole idea of ploughing. Softening the earth, in which seeds could be planted. "Once you are done with one such line, you'll start another one adjacent to this. Here, I'll show you what I mean...". He demonstrated that to me, just to make sure my task was clear. After his demonstration, he asked "Do you understand?". I nodded my head, then stood there waiting. The farmer looked at me confused, and asked "What do you want?". I replied "The tool? What else?". He laughed out loudly, as if I said something funny. Once he stopped laughing, he said "This is mine, so you ain't getting this one of course... I might've something for you".

He told me to stay there, while he fetched a "tool" for me. Upon his return, I narrowed my eyes at the tool in his hand. "Here you go, this will be yours", the farmer said while handing me a wooden hoe. "Wooden hoe?", I asked not amused. "What, you don't like it? Then use your hands for all I care", he replied while laughing and simply left.

'I knew there will be problems, why wouldn't there be?'. A wooden hoe wasn't the greatest tool, but it wasn't my bare hands either. With no other option, I began ploughing the field. The wood was at least thick, so it wouldn't break that easily. There was another problem though. My part of the field had to belong to a forest, because there were many roots in the ground. With a iron or steel hoe, that wouldn't be an issue, I'd simply cut through them. Not so much with the wooden one.

I had enough of ploughing for one day. The only positive side of that task was the ability to take more frequent breaks. Though I couldn't slack off completely, the voice from my morning woodcutting task didn't sound in my ear even once.

Just like that, I managed to reach the end of my tasks for that day. Before leaving the field, a farmer told me to bring my "tool" back to the shed where it would be stored. I complied, and then left the field heading straight to my house.

To my surprise, the meal awaiting me was bigger compared to my breakfast. Besides the two stale loaves of breads, I got two bowls of porridge and some dried fruits. I gobbled up the food like a mad man, but there was no meat. Such diet wasn't the best for a body that constantly demanded food. I wanted to check out that river, but before heading there, I took a break and laid down in my bed.

After a proper rest, I left the house heading towards the river. "Going somewhere?", a young man asked me next to the southern gate. "To the river. It's not far from the village, so no problems, right?", I replied. The young man smiled, then shrugged his shoulder. I took it as 'no problem', and left. The river was... quiet. 'Good, there are fishes here. I just need to make some sort of net, or fishing rod in order to catch them', I thought.

I figured that, fishing rod would be less effective. I could catch one fish at a time, and potentially wait a long time for something to bite. Rod was overly complicated, and to slow. Net was a better choice, and that is what I decided upon. The problem was, "How do I create a net?". If I had a rope or something, it would be possible. The other possibility was flexible branches, vines and whatnot. Without many options, I chose that method.

It was worth a try, I was already proficient with wood due to my profession. I wasn't allowed to go to the forest alone but there were many shrubs and trees around the village. It didn't take me long to gather enough materials for a net. 'I will have to leave that for the next day though', I thought. It was getting late, and even if I finished the net, it would be too late to start fishing. I still had to wake up in the morning, and work. I left the pile of branches near the river, and decided to wash myself before returning.

A few minutes later, I could hear voices getting closer to the river. I quickly jumped out, and put on my clothes. Just in time. The voices I heard belong to some kids, perhaps my age, or younger. I was nineteen at that time, and they couldn't be older than that.

The group consisted of two guys and one girl. They headed towards me as if aware from the start that they'd fine me there. I ignored them, and simply walked in different direction. Although my intention was to simply avid them, their intentions were the complete opposite. One of the guys shouted ,"Hey! You slave, stop!". I had no intention of stopping though. I had no obligation to talk with them, nor complete any tasks for them. I couldn't harm them, but it said nothing about me doing stuff for them.

They wouldn't give up that easily though. The other guy shouted, "Stop you stupid slave, are you deaf?!". While his friend added, "Fucking slave, come over here!". Since that didn't work, they threw taunts at me, "Are you scared, slave?!", "Look at him! Already pissing his pants!". I wasn't impressed. I was about to enter my house, and noticed them halting quite a distance away.

Once inside, they shouted a few thing, but then stopped bothering me. "You bastards. Do you think you are the shit just because I can't retaliate? Don't be surprised if you regret it one day", I said to myself angrily. "Once the year passes, I hope your whole village burns to the ground. You earned it, bastards", I added. No one was there to hear my complaints, and no one would give a damn anyway. With another hard day in front of me, I went to sleep. I needed to restore as much of my energy as possible.