One More Step

The slow-motion of his carriage made Chen sleepy but he had to keep awake. Soon the caravan will take a break so he needs to stay awake at least that long.

His cold face and empty eyes have other people odd feeling so they didn't interact much with him, but he paid just like everyone else his participation in the caravan so they just ignored him.

But Chen didn't care much. The trip just started a couple days ago. At first, he ate the stuff from the layers box the girls gave him. Then on the way, they passed a couple restaurants and he tried their food. But as it seems his taste buds changed.

Before meeting the girls it was not important what he ate as long it could satisfy his hunger he'll eat it. But since they started cooking for him, everything changed.

He slowly opened his eyes and turned his head to look at the few crates behind his back and a small smile appeared on his face. With one hand leafing the horse and the other hand opening the casket he almost missed the small piece of paper tucked under the lid of the crate.

He Owly opened and his eyes became bit reddish.

"Uncle Chen.

We realized long ago that you could read and write. How can a simple man be educated? That question we never wanted to have answered.

To us, you are uncle Chen. We have no idea who you really are and what kind of background you come from. And we do not really care. You took care of us and we took care of you. Now it seems you have some plans in your life and we hope you can start caring more about yourself.

We gave you five crates. Two are with rice balls. Two more are with something we call basic food. And one crate is filled with different kinds of medicinal plants and mixtures.

We know too little about medicine to give you complicated stuff, but these will help you in worst moments. Sorry, we couldn't do more.

Uncle Chen, please start caring more about people. It is time you become human.

We will forever remember you and keep you in our hearts as our family.

Goodbye, uncle Chen. Your Anna and Kyra."

His eyes become glossy and one after other tears started sliding down his face.

At the next stop, he looked through the boxes and each had a note about his health, or recipes or explanation.

"Uncle Chen, this is a basic meal. You will have three. One with rice, one with noodles and one with potato flakes. You just need to pour double the hot water than the amount of the food you put in your pot. You can eat it just like this or add some meat before that and mix it with these. Try it."

He looked at the glass jars filled with various colors from vegetables and took the one with noodles. He cooked some water on the fire, added some dried meat and then put some of the noodle mixes inside.

After not long the noodles and vegetables expanded and the amazing smell started floating from the pot.

He inhaled the smell with closed eyes and when he opened he realized that they made this kind of thing often when they had no time to cook. If they put more water it turned into a stew and less water it turned into porridge.

He took one spoon of it and burst of different tastes hit his tongue as it was perfectly seasoned.

As he slowly enjoyed his meal with content expression the rest of the people stared at him with hot eyes. The smell spread over the whole caravan and everyone got hungry.

Suddenly a small girl shyly took her bowl and stood next to him with begging eyes.

"Uncle, it smells good, may I have a small spoon of it? I'm hungry." She stood there with her little bowl and blinked at him with those eyes.

He remembered the two girls and their hearts and just nodded. ''Come, give me your bowl.''

The small bowl was filled to the brim with the porridge and she happily went back to her family to show them what he gave her. Everyone strangely looked at the man that just ate calmly.

No one else dared to ask him about the food but their attitude to him changed from that day on as they included him more into their traveling plans.

The funny thing, from that day on the little girl would come once a day and eat what he cooked. He would smile only to her, give her food and then again get an indifferent expression. In him, he always thought about those two girls and somehow had a feeling that he has to pay back for their care.

Months later he realized how much food they actually gave him. Those jars never actually got empty when he arrived at his destination. He let people put the jars in his room and for a long time, he could eat the hearty meal that was filled with care and love from girls that were not even blood related to him. They changed him completely. And the change actually saved many people in the future...

On the other side, Kyra and Anna started every day traveling. As they had horses and not carriage the travel would be faster on their way to the city. They would buy each two smaller bags of grains bring it home, let it sun dry more and then close it in jars.

Days passed. Once a week they would leave their place on foot. Each would have a backpack filled with a big glass jar while their horses would carry dozen each on their backs.

They planted the vegetables in the cave as well. But they made a huge fence so that neither rabbits or chickens or any other could eat their garden stuff.

Rare plants they planted in wall gaps or protrusions. Like that even the walls started having a lush green color. The huge meadow was enough for those animals to live fearlessly.

Kyra was right, the grass nests they prepared before were used by wild chickens so after a while when they arrived they could see bunch small chicks running around and catching small animals or just picking at grasses in the meadow.

They finished the house and the roof two months later and started preparing dried or preserved vegetables for the wintertime. Even rains fell this time occasionally making everyone sigh in relief, but somehow Kyra was feeling so uneasy for a long time.

At night she would feel stuffy and go out to look at stars and inhale the air while mumbling. ''Something is going on. I am sure of it. Somehow I feel something will happen. My gut never lie to me.'' She would restlessly pace for half night and then go to bed and sleep for a couple of hours.

On their way to town, Kyra's eyes had dark circles while she stretched and yawned. Anna glanced at her in worry. ''What is wrong?''

''I don't know. I have a strange feeling that something will happen soon. Something big, but what I have no idea. Anna the scented oils we made this time will bring us bunch of money. let's stop by Chief Jafar's home. I must ask him for a favour.'' She really had a strange feeling lately.

On the gate, she saw the brothers preparing to go to their vegetable fields. Osman waved at them with a smile.

''You two are quite early today. Going to town?'' As he spoke even Village Chief Jafar came out the gate and smiled at them.

''Chief, can we speak to you. We have a request to make.'' Kyra smiled at him but the strange look in her eyes made him nod and invite them into his house.

This was first time they entered this place since they came. Everything was a house and the yard was in mid of the huge house. She suspected that already, as she saw the way the roofs stood when you looked from outside. In mid of garden was stone well and the surroundings were simple. Just stone flooring and few potted plants in the corner. The house had two levels and it seems tens of rooms. No wonder when you consider the size of his family.

They were invited to sit in the garden on the bench with a table. Suddenly a girl in strange attire came and brought them hot tea. Then she just went back to the rooms where they could hear talking in a strange language and bunch laughs, chatter and children's voices as well. But they couldn't see anyone else.

Kyra and Anna ignored that as everyone had their own traditions and rules. It's not on them to interfere in that if they were not directly confronted with something bad.

''I didn't see you for a long time. how is it going on in your garden? How is life? Can you handle it alone? Should I send my sons to help you?'' He started shooting questions as he cared as Village Chief.

''Garden is filled with all kinds of vegetables. So we are busy. From time to time we would go to city with our horses but we enjoy our days I have to admit. the pavilion that your sons made is a thing that is helping us in these summer days. Life is fine and we don't need help with anything. We want to ask you could you think about how much will there be approximate of the wheat this year around?'' Kyra was straightforward as something bothered her.

''The entrance should be quite a lot. This year's growth was amazing as we had enough sun and rain. The wheat cobs and seeds seem to be large and it will be abundant. Why do you ask?'' He started feeling strange as well.

''How long until the wheat could be harvested?'' She shoots again her next question.

''It grew well this year so in two dozens of days or maybe even less if there is no rain.'' Now he knew that something is up as he saw her face change expression.

''What is the earliest time you can harvest?'' Kyra's face became whiter as her mouth pressed into a straight line.

''Next week the earliest if not even one drop of rain falls. What is going on? What is the rush about?'' He could see her shaky hand taking the tea and bringing it to her blue lips.

''I know I am just a small girl. But I hope you will trust me and gather it as soon as possible. I am feeling anxious now for weeks and I have feeling something big is going to happen. Gather as many vegetables as you can. If you can afford, don't sell on single grain from this year and keep even grain stalks. If you have money, buy more grains in the city. If you don't trust me then let's do it this way. You harvest just the amount that you wanted to give me. Rest you harvest when you wish.''

Kyra's face turned back somewhat pinkish but her small lips still didn't regain the red color and were now pale. She took Anna by hand and just nodded at him while leaving his house leaving him in deem thoughts sitting by the table.

Anna knew Kyra's predictions never failed so far. So whenever they could they would rush to the forest and gather as many mushrooms as they could. But today, Kyra's expression didn't look good at all.

Kyra just gave her a weak smile and shook her head as she had no strength to speak now. ''I will explain to you tonight.''

The city shone already in the sunlight when they passed a bunch of happy people and the crowds on the streets. Kyra's eyes crossed everyone as her smile again turned stiff. ''Poor people...''