It was exactly 23 minutes before parents started calling for their kids to come eat. Ian knew, because he'd been watching the time carefully. He'd already figured that he was going to go back half an hour after taking the dogs out, whether Jack or someone else came for him or not. When the first kid left, grudgingly parting herself from the dogs (who had been wrestling with each other and the braver of the children) Ian reined the dogs in, calling them off the kids, and headed back towards the village as well. With all the kids who were left following them.

"Did you have fun?" Jack asked as Ian met them outside the lodge they were going to use, his expression innocent but his eyes alive with laughter.

"The time of my life," Ian said sarcastically, ducking into the lodge to check it out – and to avoid the kids – while Jaffer and Jack sauntered over to Jack and Teal'c to say hi.

"Dinner's in a few minutes." Jack told him, his hands playfully tugging on Jaffer's ears.

"Good."

"We're eating with the villagers."

Joy.

Ian looked around the inside of the lodge, but it wasn't all that interesting. There were four odd-looking mats – probably for them to sleep on, he decided – and their packs and equipment. That was about it. Someone had put his pack and his P90 next to one of the mats, so he went over and flopped down on it. He was a bit tired – not so much from the hike to the village, since that hadn't been so bad – but he had used some energy healing that Taylor kid, and out of sorts from being stuck playing referee to a bunch of little kids he didn't even know. All in all, it wasn't something that made him feel up to eating with a group of strangers – although he knew that was part of his duties as a member of SG-1. Mingling with the natives, so to speak.

"You okay?" Daniel asked, coming over and looking down at him.

"Yeah."

"We could probably bring you a plate if-"

"Nah, I'll come eat. I just need a break for a minute."

Jack walked over as well, and Jaffer snuffled Ian's neck as he joined them.

"Kids wore you out?"

"Nah."

"You look tired."

"I'm fine."

As if to prove it, Ian levered himself to his feet.

"Let's go."

OOOOOOOOO

They left their P90s with their packs in the lodge, and left Jaffer and Jack (the dog) to guard them. Not so much that Jack was worried about the villagers sneaking in and going through their stuff – although that was, of course, a possibility – he was more concerned that some kid might get nosy and come looking around, and Jack would never risk a weapon with a little kid again.

Jaffer and Jack (the dog) didn't look all that pleased to miss dinner, but they accepted their duty the same way Ian had. Grudgingly.

SG-1 was greeted with smiles of welcome when they came to the main cooking fire, and were led over to four of the woven mats that seemed to be everywhere. There weren't any chairs or other furnishings, just those mats, but it was better than sitting directly in the dirt.

"Are you settled?" Richard asked as he walked over, leading a small group of the others who were all carrying plates made of wood and covered with broad leaves – which were, in turn, covered with steaming meat, and something that looked a lot like mashed potatoes. A couple others were carrying cups and a pitcher – presumably with more of the berry juice in it.

Jack nodded.

"We are. Thank you."

"Will you join us for our meal?"

"We'd be honored."

See? Jack could be a diplomat when he tried.

At his agreement, the others came forward and served them, handing each of them a plate and cup and filling the cup with juice.

"We didn't know if you wanted something different to drink," Richard said, watching as they were being served. "If you prefer, we can get you something stronger."

"This is fine," Jack assured him. "Thank you."

As they were being served, others came over, sitting on mats that were close by in no apparent order. The people mingled with each other as easily as they did with the newcomers – although there was a fair-sized distance between Teal'c and any of them. Not that any of the members of SG-1 (including Teal'c) blamed them.

A scattering of children sat down close by as well, gravitating towards Ian, much to Jack's amusement. Among them was Taylor, who was sporting an odd-looking brace on his leg that was holding it straight. The little boy gave Ian and the others a shy smile, and with the help of his father and a young woman who looked so much like him that she had to be his mother, he sat down on a mat beside the cadet, who belatedly wished he'd sat between Jack and Daniel – or even better, next to Teal'c, who was being avoided.

"Hi."

Ian sighed – inwardly – but nodded a greeting to the boy.

"Hello."

"My leg feels much better."

"Good."

The woman gave Ian an odd look, but then a slight smile as she left to go get her son some dinner. Braxton sat down on the other side of the boy, already holding a plate.

"Taylor says that you healed his leg…" Braxton said, looking over Taylor at Ian.

Ian looked over at Jack, uncertain what he was supposed to say to that. He wasn't sure that it was such a good idea for these folks to know what he was capable of, and wasn't sure what Jack wanted him to do. Jack spoke up, giving Braxton a smile, and silently glad that Ian had enough common sense not to say anything.

"Young children tend to exaggerate sometimes," he said. "It wasn't as bad as it could have been, and probably just felt like it was being healed."

"But I felt it-"

"Tell me more about this cave, Braxton," Daniel said, interrupting Taylor before he could object further. "You say you've been there?"

The man nodded, more than willing to change the subject if the offworlders were uncomfortable discussing the healing of his son.

"Yes. I've been in it."

"You've seen the carvings that are there?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember what any of them looked like?"

"There are many of them, Daniel," Braxton told him. "All over the walls."

"Pictures?"

He shrugged.

"Some of them. Maybe."

Jack frowned. That wasn't much help. Daniel, however, was used to not having much to start with. And he was far more adept – and patient – when it came to coaxing information out of someone who didn't even know they had the information in the first place.

"Do you think you could draw some of them?"

Braxton looked uncertain, but Taylor was looking up at him, hopefully. The little boy hadn't been to this cave, and knew he wasn't going to be allowed any time soon, since they had been told they were dangerous, but he was hoping for some kind of hint to what was there – just as Daniel was.

Seeing his son's expression, Braxton shrugged, and wiped one hand off on his leather leggings. Then he reached down, and in the dirt in front of him, he hesitantly drew a symbol. He looked at it, and then drew another. Then looked over at Daniel, who had been watching.

"My God…"

Daniel's tone drew Jack's attention from his meal, and Ian and the Colonel both looked over. On the ground in front of Braxton were three letters.

HMS