Chapter 4: Construction work
AN: My dear readers, I finally made it! After 4 years of an absolute rollercoaster ride, I passed my final exam with cum laude. My university time is over for now. I am now a certified translator. I still can't believe it...
This is my first story as a professional worker and I am so glad that I will now have a lot more time to take care of all my stories and assignments, so hopefully, you will see more of me in the near future.
But now, no more self-praise and continuing on with New(t's) Life... We remember, Newt got to know the labyrinth and he got the builder fever. He and Alby built the foundations of the Homestead, which they celebrated with a campfire. What ideas will Newt have next?
This fic is from Ritara, but now I am her official translator. :)
Have fun with this chapter!
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Everything else would surely be resolved in time.
We didn't sit by the fire for a terribly long time. In a small pot, we had quickly made a vegetable broth which of course also came from the boxes. But I have to say, it was the most delicious thing I had ever eaten. Now I was sitting with a full stomach and satisfied by the warm fire. It could have stayed like this forever for me. Just a moment without worries. But I felt my eyelids getting heavier and heavier and it took more and more willpower every minute not to fall asleep on the spot. When I heard Alby yawn heartily and then let out a deep sigh, I had to smile. So I wasn't the only one who was dog-tired. But after a day like that, it was only understandable. Still, I really enjoyed sitting here by the fire. But my body told me clearly that it was enough for today. With a heavy heart, I put my bowl aside and stood up, swaying slightly. My right foot had fallen asleep and now it was tingling like a thousand ants. As I twisted my foot back and forth, tensing and loosening my muscles, trying somehow to get rid of the tingling sensation, I turned to Alby.
"I think I'm going to sleep now. "My eyes have been closing this the whole time," I explained my plan.
Alby nodded.
"Yes, I think sleep is a good idea. I will do the same."
Alby rose too. Together we still took the pot and the bowls away, then we trudged towards the hammocks. Now I also noticed that I was having trouble lifting my feet properly, but that was not due to my foot falling asleep. I was so tired that I was just shuffling around. The walk to the sleeping place seemed so interminably long to me. I would have loved to lie down on the spot. Finally, the bed was within reach. But just before I could snuggle into the soft sheet, I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, Newt?"
"Hmm?"
"I am really glad that you are here now."
"Hmm. You're welcome."
My ears did indeed pass the words on to my brain, but by now it was so set on rest that more was not possible at the moment. Thank God Alby understood that. He smiled again, then stepped over to his hammock too. With a relieved "Oof" he laid down in it, grabbed his blanket and passed out. Even though I was really dead tired, I took a little more time. I took off my white shirt and put it on top of my shoes, which I had already taken off for the night. Only now did I also enjoy the comforts of a warm, soft bed. The blanket was nice and fluffy and my pillow was quite thick. The way I loved it No sooner had I closed my eyes and my head touched the pillow than I fell asleep.
The next morning I woke up to the sun shining directly on my face. Blinking and still rather sleepy, I raised a hand to at least protect my eyes from the glaring light. Yawning, I got up as far as was possible in a hammock and looked around. It promised to be a beautiful day again.
A look to the left told me that Alby was already awake and up, judging by his empty hammock. Without thinking for long, I pushed my legs over the edge and let them dangle a little while I yawned again. It wasn't until I was really awake that I climbed completely out of the hammock and slipped on my shoes. I left my shirt lying on the floor, I could already feel myself starting to sweat and it wasn't even midday. In a good mood, I made my way to the stream behind the forest, firstly to rinse my mouth a little and secondly to satisfy an urgent need. The cool water tasted great. I used the moment to wash my face too. Afterwards, I briefly disappeared behind a bush and then ran off to find Alby.
At a leisurely pace, I ran across the still slightly damp meadow. I kept turning my head in different directions. But there was no trace of Alby anywhere. As a precaution, I also ran past the forest and called his name, but I didn't get an answer. I already felt an oppressive feeling in my stomach area. He didn't leave me here alone, did he? I really hadn't thought of him as that kind of person. But I hadn't known him but for 24 hours. So I had no idea what really made Alby tick. What if his nice facade was just a play? What if he already knew how to get out of here himself and left me here now?
My imagination started going crazy. I could already see it in my mind's eye: How I was sitting all alone in the clearing, without any contact with other people. Already a big lump started to form in my throat and I noticed how my eyes were beginning to burn.
"Hey Newt," it suddenly sounded over the clearing.
Startled, I spun around. Alby came running towards me, a large pan in hand. The relief hit with such force that my legs trembled for a few milliseconds and a tear made its way down my cheek. Alby had almost reached me, so I quickly faked a sneeze and discreetly wiped my tear away.
"Hey, Alby. Where have you been? And what are you bringing there?" I wanted to know curiously.
Satisfied, I noticed that my voice was neither shaky nor cracked. Alby didn't necessarily need to know about my emotional chaos.
"I made us some scrambled eggs. I hope you like that?" explained Alby.
Inwardly, I slapped myself on the back of the neck. I had looked everywhere except in the kitchen. And why? Because I didn't even know we had a kitchen. So I had panicked for nothing. While I could only shake my head at myself, Alby handed me a fork and unceremoniously settled down where he was standing. The pan was placed between us and Alby began to gobble up the yellow breakfast. I quickly sank cross-legged into the grass opposite him and grabbed a portion of egg as well.
While we were eating, we made plans for today. Alby wanted to finish the hut as much as possible. We decided to work separately after breakfast. I wanted to start making a bed just in case. Alby had decided to start with the fence for the cattle. Since the place with the wood in stock was at the edge of the glade, we would work next to each other anyway. If one of us needed help, the other would be right there.
We hurried up with breakfast. Less than 10 minutes later we had eaten up, brought the pan back and washed it out. On the way back to the half-finished hut, each of us grabbed a few boards and dragged them towards the construction site. Alby ran off again and got a hammer, nails and strong ropes. Then we got to work. We had built a kind of stool from a few broken boards that were left. This way we were able to attach the wider slats as a roof over the hammocks. Since I was taller than Alby, it was my job to watch, direct and hold from below while Alby hammered in nail after nail above. Then I wrapped one of the many long ropes around the support beams and gave them even more stability. I did this with every beam so that the little hut stood so firmly at the end that even a hurricane would not be able to blow it away. At least that's what I hoped.
Completely exhausted, I wiped my forehead with my forearm. The physical work was very nice and a great pastime, but it was also hellishly exhausting. Nevertheless, I was highly motivated to continue. The hut was finished so far. Now it was the turn of the first bed and the fence for the cattle. Leisurely, we strolled to the other end of the glade. The mountain of boards rose up in front of us and literally invited us to continue building. Alby placed the hammer, nails, rope and a saw next to us. I had no idea where he got the latter from, but I had already gotten used to the glade. Suddenly appearing objects would not disturb me.
First I picked out two long and two short boards. Then I asked Alby to lie down next to one of the long boards. Only now did I realize how long the boards really were. I grabbed a nail and dragged it once across the wood, about 10 centimetres below Alby's feet. I put the other board next to it and did the same. Then I grabbed a saw and cut through both boards, right at the line. I only noticed that the boards were as thick as my upper arm when the saw got stuck for the first time. I jerked and pulled, but the saw was stuck in the wood and didn't even think about moving. Alby had noticed what I was doing and came over. He laughed.
"That saw has always been very special. Look, do it best like this..."
With a flick of his wrist, he managed to detach the hilt from the wood. I could only watch with wide eyes. But I quickly caught myself again and continued to saw away at the wooden beam. Meanwhile, more ideas were taking shape in my head. To design the surface to lie down, I would first build the outer frame. This meant placing the two long boards on the side and connecting them to the short ones at the top and bottom. Then I could attach the end of a rope to the wood with a nail and wrap it around the frame again and again until the entire surface was wrapped in rope. On top of that, there would be one or two sheets. Underneath, you could make four feet out of the thick beam.
No sooner said than done.
After over 6 hours we were finally done. Alby had looked at my bed enthusiastically and begged to try it out. Hesitantly, I agreed. Anxiously, I watched as Alby carefully settled on it and finally stretched out completely. The bed was holding! Joy flooded through me as Alby straightened up again and looked at me proudly.
"You're really made of something, Newt, do you know that? That turned out great."
I grinned gratefully at him and returned the praise in a similar form.
"But your fence alright. It's fantastic. A few more boards and we can leave the first animals in it."
Alby laughed.
"Then I'd say we've more than earned our evening off, what do you say?"
I nodded. Evening off sounded good. So Alby got up, knocked the dust off his trousers and strode off in the direction of the campfire. It was exactly like the night before. We lit the campfire, ate something and talked until it got dark. Afterwards, we sat silently by the warm fire for some time before we laid down in our hammocks again. Before I fell asleep, one last thought shot through my head:
"What will happen tomorrow?"
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EN: This concludes chapter 4 of this story. I hope you liked it. Comments are very welcome. Hopefully, Chapter 5 will be released soon.
Until then kisses and cake,
Yuna McHill, certified translator