One More Step

When Anna woke up it was almost lunchtime. She could hear low clamor outside and she slowly got up from the bed and peeked through open doors and the sight made her mad.

In the rush, she put some working clothes on and rushed outside where the Jafar brothers brought more and more of the wheat and put it in the corner of their yard. But that is not what made her angry. It was already noon and Kyra was as it seems to rush to make lunch and helping with the transfer of the wheat stalks.

''Kyra, why didn't you wake me up?'' She pointed angrily at the sweaty face and huffed. A smile emerged on Kyra's small face and hse just took her by the hand and dragged her to outside.

''If you have the power to complain then you have the power to work as well. Come let us finish this and then we can calmly spend day after that.'' She took a bundle of wheat stalks and walked quickly not giving Anna even a chance to continue complaining.

With Jafar brothers help the wheat was soon transported and when the peace again descended on them Anna stared at Kyra with cold eyes. ''If you dare to do anything heavy next couple days I won't talk to you for a very long time.''

Kyra snickered. That kind of punishment would be worse for Anna but she didn't want to say it. ''Fine, fine. For the next few days, we will let these stalks get really dry and then slowly put them in jars and in our other cellar. There is still some space. We can do that now comfortably, and slowly.''

Actually she planned to dry the stalks anyway for a few days and not move anywhere as she felt quite tired anyway. But that nagging feeling in her heart just made her feel giddy.

''Let's bring the two pigs back here. Like that, we can feed them early in the morning, take care of plants before the biggest heat and just enjoy the rest of the day lazily. In the evening we can go water the plants and just enjoy it for a couple of days.'' She made Anna believe it's her idea, but does it matter who's idea it was it. It was really time for both girls to relax a bit.

They quickly spread the stalks of wheat around most of their yard and went to eat. It was actually more dinner time than lunch but they slowly ate it and enjoyed the tea after that.

''Anna, When the time becomes colder I want to make real cookies. I will ask one of those blacksmiths in town to make something I need. This winter I think we are ready and from now on, I promise we can just comfortably live our days.''

Anna nodded contently as she saw Kyra's relaxed expression, but her next words made her take back her positive feelings.

''It's time we replant some of our vegetables in our winter garden. Just for fun. Please. I will feel happier.'' Kyra looked at her with big begging eyes so all Anna could do is to agree under Kyra's cheers.

So next morning Kyra chose the smallest and biggest plants in the garden and transplanted them under curious eyes of her friend.

''Why the biggest and tiniest. Will this one not die?'' Anna touched a small plant that was just a dozen cun tall.

''Not only will it not die, but I am also sure it will live longer and produce more than this big stalk we transplanted. These plants are just a test. I already planted seeds for the winter season. These plants just need to survive and give us fresh vegetables until the small ones don't start producing. This place of ours is not too big so we can only plant some of these.''

They planted just a dozen tomatoes and few dozen other plants all over the room making it comfortable. As the days were still hot they let the doors and windows open so the plants could soak fresh air as much as they could.

One week passed, the sun started burning more and more and Anna looked at Kyra's face that started getting worried by the day.

''Anna, let's check the wheat today afternoon. If its dry let us beat the wheat and gather stalks. I promised you we can rest for a couple of days, but they are gone now. There is this feeling again, but this time, it's getting worse. Like something punching my stomach every day. I will go fast to Chief Jafar's house and ask for his sons to come and work for us and take care of wheat cleanly. After that, we will gather as many vegetables as we can. Luckily those vegetables and animals in the cave are somewhat protected.''

''Kyra, can you tell me what do you think will happen?'' Anna gave her a glass of ice tea that they made for themselves.

''It's just guessing. You can feel this hot heat, but it's somehow stuffy and makes you feel uncomfortable? I think a huge heatwave will arrive soon and straight on that pouring rain as well. One that can make all the plants rot. I hope I am wrong. And I fear one more thing. This kind of weather won't be just here, everywhere. No matter what country or continent.'' She drunk the ice tea and jumped on her horse to rush to chief Jafar's house.

''Oh, Kyra. Wanna hat with my father?'' Osman's face was smiling but his eyes seem to be serious and solemn.

Kyra just nodded and entered the huge yard that was filled with stalks just like her place.

Chief Jafar just motioned to her to come and sit with him. ''Say it, child.''

As usual, Kyra was very straightforward. ''We need someone to take care of dried wheat and stalks. I can see that you are not done yet as well...'' Then she looked straight t his eyes and continued.'' Is it possible to send a few of your sons to our home? We will pay as usual.''

Chief Jafar just nodded. ''They will come tomorrow.''

After that Kyra just nodded at him and bowed. With a fast pace, she went out, jumped on horseback and rushed back to her own house.

''Everyone out. Women take care of wheat and men come with me, let's gather as much corn as we can. We need to hurry.'' This year all produce was done almost at the same time. The potatoes and sweet potatoes should be ripe by end of the year but they were already big and ripe enough to be taken out the earth.

They took out the potatoes, the wheat was dry, now corn needs to be harvested. Luckily Chief Jafar had a large family so all men, including young boys, rushed to the fields and gathered corn cob by corn cob. By evening they finished the whole field of the corn and stalks. They took the stalks to their stalls where their cows ate them as their fodder and corn cobs they took to now clean yard.

They just dropped all the corn in middle of the yard and women started to scr.a.p.e the corn seeds of the cobs. The men went to eat and sleep while women stayed longer with corn.

The next morning the corn was still there but covered and men left the house to gather the vegetables that they had. Beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, all kinds of beets, turnips and radishes as well were dug out and transported home.

As the villagers saw their actions they suddenly all started to rush into their fields. Somehow his action moved the whole village and two days later whole fields were clean of the grains.

Surrounding villages smiled and even talked behind their back for being too rushed as it was just summer. The plants still needed the time and sunshine. But in every village older people could feel the change of wheater and started pushing younger generations to harvest.

So some villagers still had a bunch of golden wheat that stood on their fields and proudly shone in the sunlight and small breeze. But a couple of days later the wheater changed abruptly over the night. The wind started rushing all over the town giving everyone refreshment after long heat and everyone thought about upcoming rain.

Kyra and Anna closed everything up. The glass windows on the greenhouse were covered with wooden plates and secured, the pigs, chicken, rabbit cages and horses were in the barn. The dry grass and dry wheat stalks were on the second level of barn giving the animals food for the next few days. But that night all animals became silent and hid in corners as much they could. Even pigs hid between the wheatstalks in a corner together with chickens while horses comfortably ate and just turned their ears in the air, as they listened to the grumbles coming from far.

As the two girls sat comfortably in their kitchen next to the newest art of stove and enjoyed their tea and cookies the wind started outside and soon after that rain with hail came suddenly over their head.

Kyra felt slight thinge of the pin on her heart at all those plants that they had in their garden but felt comforted at the amazing amount of food they had in their storages. So she just comfortably sat by the fire and sipped on the recliner with her legs up and smiled at Anna that cuddled into soft blankets she ordered from the Jiangs.

The storm fell like heavy punch over whole city while people in foreigner villages sent presents to Chief Jafar. If he didn't start the action, they would have lost everything in their gardens. He took all the presents and just went to the city, sold them and then bought as much as he could of grains from a good friend of his before the price change.

On the other side of the capital, two big men had the same thought ''Luckily I listened.'' at the same time.

Lord Jong sighed in relief as he listened to his guard's report. ''Lord, We got as many grains as we could from different regions of this country. We heard that the crown prince had the same thought and bought off all the grains in the south. We bought a lot from foreigners as well that imported a lot of grains from other countries and now our storages are full. What now?''

He smiled. ''Those children probably have some ideas. Wait for them to act. About the crown prince... let him gain the favor of the nation. It seems he got reports about drought on the north, his plan to save those people will actually save a lot more. People in this country will think of him more kindly. The Emperor is now happy and proud. We will just follow the girl's act. When they start moving we will, just like they told us.''

Guard smiled. ''Who would have thought that the girls had such insight.''

Lord Jong sighed. ''Her mother was one that was connected to Nature powers. I knew that when I was with her together. Her daughter seems to inherit her powers and now she will save a huge amount of people. But she will never be able to gather any gains from it. It is against their tradition. Her wish to help others will come out soon. And the change in our countries mind about foreigners might change after this year. Right dear?''

He looked at his wife that held a small baby in her arms. She smiled softly and nodded. ''Yes. I felt at first thinge of jealousy I have to admit that, but after meeting her I could feel the amazing greatness seeping out her pores. If my foolish brother didn't do that stupid mistake, we could have stayed with her in direct contact. But after that, we couldn't let them get too much attention to those people. It's not time yet.''

''I know. Where are our two little devils again?'' She just rolled her eyes and motioned with her head at a big recliner where two girls were sleeping soundly while holding two handmade toys.

Kyra made them for each girl by hand herself. One girl had cute pink rabbit and the other had cute whitish cat. From the moment they got the toys they didn't let them go. They would carefully wash them themselves and then even go to sleep with them.

''It seems they can feel her love from their big sister. I wish we could tell them about her. So they could love her. I am sure these kids would adore her.'' Lady Wang took the yawning baby and put in the crib not far from the fireplace.

Outside thunders and winds raged for days now, but here inside this room, the cozy family picture could be seen. Lady Wang smiled as he thought of Kyra.

''Who would have thought that she would send us the money every month to pay off the house and land they actually got form us as a present. With the money, she hid the short notes about their well being and her plans. It seems she thinks on us as much we think on her.''

He looked at her watching the rain sliding down the windows and the light nights shining in the darkness and hugged her from behind. ''She knows now her true story. I loved her mother and I love you. But the two loves are different. I loved her with youthful passion and admiration. But for you, I feel grown-up passion, deep love and a bunch of l.u.s.t.''

As his voice became deeper the guards escaped the room and stepped a bit further away from that place as their heads were beaded in cold sweat. Their Lord is really l.u.s.tful wolf and the worst, he doesn't even hide it...