Chapter 5
O'Neill and Teal'c trudged off toward the Jaffa camp. Unfortunately the Jaffa were still there. And they were still arguing, although their raised voices were undecipherable at this distance. As stealthy as they could, Jack and Teal'c crept as close to the tent so they could listen in. These Jaffa had abandoned their god, or more truthfully he had abandoned them as he left the battlefield and left them behind. They had gated here in hopes for a life without endless war, endless losing war. It seemed their god was no genius when it came to strategy. The fights that were breaking out were whether to find another Goa'uld to serve, or join the free Jaffa. Or even to return to their sworn Lord. They would eventually need new symbiotes or die. Other fights were over who was in charge. Whoever it was, was berated for choosing this planet with no warmth or food.
There were too many for Jack and Teal'c to pick off. Teal'c estimated there couldn't be more than 16 or so. He based this on the size of the tent, the different voices and the Jaffa coming and going to relieve themselves the two hours they observed them. The warriors were too agitated for Teal'c to come forward and offer them a home with the Free Jaffa. Jack wondered if they'd kill one another and make his job easier. The cold was getting to them, well to Jack, so they made their way back to the caves.
While Jack still enjoyed the brisk weather of a Minnesota winter, this off world cold was getting to him. Maybe he was getting old. Then he thought of Henry Knox. Henry Knox didn't let ice-covered rivers and the snow-covered Berkshire mountains defeat him, hauling 60 tons of cannons from Ticonderoga to Boston. Jack wouldn't let a little snow defeat him and his team.
Considering the supplies they had on hand, the weather and the lack of resources they had limited choices. Carter and Daniel would remain at the cave. Daniel would have time to ogle the handprints and Carter to protect the single minded archeologist. Jack and Teal'c would cross over the mountain peaks to find either game or safer shelter or if lucky both.
As they hiked toward a break in the hills it seemed as though the snow blurred into fog. As they got closer occasionally a breeze would whisk away the fog and they could see a lake which the fog, no, steam was emanating from. It reminded O'Neill of Steamboat Springs in Colorado - a hot spring. And there was an encampment around it.
While O'Neill and Teal'c became aware of this village, the warriors of this village were aware of them. As the weather began to clear Jack turned back to the cave where he had left Carter and Daniel. He saw to his amazement men clad in skins and furs falling to their knees as Sam, golden in the sunlight, stood at the mouth of the cave.