Carter wasn't sure how long night would last on this planet so she figured she'd give O'Neill at least five hours so the pain pill wouldn't leave him too groggy for his shift. That was also plenty of time to plot out some of the constellations that could be seen from this planet. She got up and drew out the symbols on the pedestal to use as a reference for her star gazing. Once she was done she settled in beside the General who was already gently snoring.
Carter had to wait an hour before it was dark enough to do much work. The temperature fell below freezing two hours after dark. Although she was absorbed in her thoughts and work she made sure she kept her feet moving. Her socks weren't as thick as she would have liked on a night like this. If she let herself ponder it her jacket could have been a bit thicker too but it was her feet and her ears that were really bothering her.
It took six hours but Carter was sure that they had traveled beyond any area that she had previously mapped. She wished she had brought along a laptop but for no good reason she could come up with now she had left all her work behind. Of course, even if she had brought a laptop the data she wanted wouldn't have been on it.
She nudged O'Neill gently, "Good morning, sir."
"Ugh." O'Neill checked his watch. "I told you to wake me after four hours."
"I know but I needed more time to finish my observations."
The General sat up and slid back so he could lean on the pedestal. "I assume that means you have learned amazing things and have solved all of our problems."
Carter grimaced, "Not exactly, sir."
"In that case save it until after you get some sleep." O'Neill wrapped his arms around himself. "When did it get so dang cold?"
Carter slid under the thermal blanket that still covered O'Neill's legs, "While you were asleep."
When Carter awoke the sun was just beginning to rise. She checked her watch and was surprised to see she had slept for five hours. It was still bitter cold. After stretching out the kinks in her back Carter sat up. The General was slowly pacing around the partially buried gate. Carter wrapped the thermal blanket around her and joined him.
"Morning, sir."
"Good to see you up Colonel. Ready to do some exploring?"
"I guess that means your knee is feeling better." Carter glanced down at O'Neill's leg as she spoke.
"It is tolerable. Let's have a little something to eat and we can pick a direction."
"Considering what we have for breakfast we might as well eat and walk."
They went back to their packs, rolled up the blankets, and pulled out energy bars. Carter thought she might see some trees on the horizon to the west so they headed towards the possible forest. They quietly chewed on their energy bars as they walked.
"So what did you learn last night?" O'Neill was scanning the vast flat plain trying not to stare at Carter as he asked if she knew how to save their butts.
"I'm still pondering it but based on the constellations I was able to match to the pedestal I have no idea where we are located. I also wasn't able to locate any of our usual constellations."
"So what does that mean?"
"That means we are very, very far from home." Carter scowled as she said it. Last night had left her fairly hopeless about any chance of a rescue.
They had been walking at a gentle but steady pace for over two hours, making progress towards the trees, when they first heard a vehicle rolling up behind them. The engine was quiet but as the large truck bumped along the unpaved road the cargo made a loud rattle. It took about twenty minutes for the truck to catch up with them. It slowed down as it approached and stopped just as O'Neill and Carter stepped off the road.
"Good day to you both." The driver stuck his head out the window and nodded. "I am Marl. Are you headed to Uraba?"
O'Neill nodded, "I'm O'Neill and this is Carter." O'Neill pointed his thumb in Carter's general direction. "If Uraba is the next town in this direction that's where we are headed."
The truck driver's eyes narrowed at the odd answer. "I doubt you can make it to town before dark at this rate and this is not be a good time of the year to be in the forest after dark. You are welcome to ride in the back."
"That is much appreciated." O'Neill and Carter headed to the back and climbed up. Luckily everything was secured even though it sounded like it was being bounced all over. The eight hour ride was rough but still better for O'Neill's knee than walking. They each ate an energy bar on the way. O'Neill tried to listen to the ipod he had brought along but the rattle of the cargo was so loud he couldn't really enjoy his music.
They passed a few farms as they got closer to town. The homes were small but well cared for. The farms looked large. Neither of them saw anyone outside however. O'Neill assumed the cold was keeping everyone inside. The truck slowed as they pulled into town. There were a few houses and many stores and shops lining the main road. The truck pulled behind one of the larger stores and stopped.
The driver walked around the back as O'Neill and Carter climbed down from the back. "Welcome to Uraba. I am sure you are hungry after such a long ride. My family and I would be pleased to have you join us for dinner. It would give us a chance to really meet."
Carter glanced at O'Neill and got his approving nod. "We would appreciate your hospitality. I'm afraid our supplies have run very low."
"Please, follow me. Forgive my wife if she seems surprised but we rarely have unannounced guests." Marl led them into a small parlor dining room combination. Two small children rushed out to meet him. He lifted them both up easily. His wife walked in from the kitchen and stopped short as she started to greet her husband.
"Darling, this is O'Neill and Carter. I saw them about to enter the Kral woods as I was coming home so I offered them a ride. I invited them to stay for dinner." Marl's wife quickly recovered from her surprise and warmly greeted them. The kids started trying to climb up O'Neill's leg and he couldn't resist picking up the young boy.
"I will be back in a few minutes. I just need to unload the truck." Marl turned back to the door.
"Let me help." Carter moved to follow as Marl turned around wild a look of mild surprise on his face.
"Are you sure? I'm not one to pass up on an offer of help."
Carter smiled. "I'm very sure."
Marl and Carter walked back out to the truck while O'Neill stayed inside with the kids clamoring for his attention. O'Neill was glad he found a comfortable sofa upon which he quickly sat. The truck was filled with different foods, some books, tools, and clothing.
Sam lifted a heavy box of fruits and placed them on a table inside Marl's storage room. "Do you run a business?"
"I am the largest merchant in town. I sell a variety of products from fruits uncommon in this region to tools and clothes. This store has served my family well for generations. Things are always a bit lean during the cold season because we don't get out and travel as much but it will warm up in a few weeks and I'll be busy again."
"It was very cold last night."
Marl stopped and looked at Carter, "Were you and O'Neill outside last night?"
Carter nodded yes, "We were lost and stopped for the night."
"In that case I am very glad I came across you today. It is too cold at night for you to be out."
"I agree. One night was enough for me."
After they finished unloading Marl and Carter came back into Marl's toasty warm house that was filled with wonderful smells. Dinner included a small chicken, some type of roasted potato, a green vegetable that was a little sweet and looked a bit like asparagus, and some whole grain bread. The kids sat on either side of O'Neill and kept up a constant stream of chatter. Marl and his wife explained Uraba was mostly agrarian. The next closest town was a 14 hour drive away. Marl and his wife knew the gate existed but thought it was an ancient statue their ancestors used for worship. They no longer worship the Gods their ancestors once worshiped. The kids grew bored with the adult conversation and migrated from the table to a room just off from the kitchen.
As Carter helped clean up after dinner she could see the kids playing in the bedroom that was attached to the kitchen. The little girl was coloring and the boy was running a truck across her drawings, which resulted in quite a bit of yelling and a few attempted slaps. Neither of the parents jumped into the fray. They let the kids work it out. Eventually the little boy decided annoying his sister was less interesting than crawling under the bed.
Marl's wife looked at Carter as she was stacking up the clean dinner dishes, "Do you have a place to stay tonight?"
"Ummmm, not exactly but we are used to camping out when necessary."
"That would not be acceptable. Let me speak with Marl." She left the kitchen before Carter had a chance to respond. After drying the last dish Carter went back to the parlor where O'Neill was talking to Marl and his wife.
"Carter, we've been invited to stay the night in the barn out back." O'Neill tilted his head back towards the barn that Carter had not yet seen.
"It will be good to be under a roof tonight." Carter smiled at Marl to show her thanks.
Marl nodded his agreement, "It will be warm and dry, much better than the forecast for the night."
O'Neill and Carter found the barn to be quite toasty thanks to the geothermal heating system that brought warm steam up through pipes that ran across one wall of the barn. O'Neill had to force Carter to stop investigating the heating system so they could get some sleep. The straw was more comfortable than either of them expected and the sounds from the animals that lived in the barn were relaxing. It was still dark when they both woke. The nights and days included more hours than Earth, which was throwing off their circadian rhythms. After being up for about twenty minutes they each ate an MRE and Carter used the extra time to examine some of the equipment in the barn. The technology seemed to be close to Earth's level but much cleaner, Carter didn't see any evidence of fossil fuel use.
Marl came out a couple hours later to feed the animals. Carter and O'Neill pitched in. When they all went in for breakfast Marl told them he was calling a town council together that night. He explained that although he was happy to have them stay for a couple days making it for the rest of the cold season would require more help than he could provide alone. He told O'Neill and Carter that the council would either provide them with enough goods to help them get to the next town, about a week away if riding a horse, or help them establish a home if they wanted to stay here.
O'Neill and Carter spent the day exploring the town, learning more about what they had decided would be their home until Stargate Command was able to reach them. The gate was a day's ride away so it made sense to stay as close as possible. After dinner with Marl and his family they all went to a small community building where twelve men and three women sat around a large table. There were extra chairs along the walls for visitors. Marl sat at the large table. O'Neill and Carter took seats along the wall. Many people had come to see the visitors that had been wandering town all day.
A large man at one end of the table stood and the room went silent. "Marl, please introduce our visitors and tell us all why you have called us together tonight."
"I met Jack O'Neill and Samantha Carter while I was returning from Otif. They are travelers looking for a new home. They have run out of supplies and as we all know there are many weeks left before planting begins and even longer before harvest. I have asked you all here tonight to see if the people of Uraba can provide them with assistance." Marl sat down after his brief speech.
The man at the head of the table looked over at O'Neill and Carter. "Welcome to Uraba. I am Framel, speaker of the Uraba council. From where do you hail?"
O'Neill stood, "We come from Cheyenne Mountain. It is very far away."
The occupants of the room started whispering to each other. The man held up his hand, "I have never heard of Cheyenne Mountain. It must be a long distance off."
"It is indeed." O'Neill nodded his agreement.
"Are you planning to return to Cheyenne Mountain?"
"Although we would love to go home I am not sure when that will be possible."
The man nodded as the rest of the room stayed focused on O'Neill. "Are you and Samantha Carter planning to stay in Uraba since going home may not be possible in the near future?"
O'Neill started nodded as he spoke, "We looked around your fine town today and found it to be beautiful. We would be happy living here and we would like to find a way to contribute to the well being of Uraba." Marl had recommended offering to work towards the benefit of Uraba so O'Neill made sure to throw in their willingness to work.
"Our community can use strong people willing to work hard. I propose to the council that we allow Jack O'Neill and Samantha Carter to pick one of the two abandoned farms to establish as their new home. If we allow them to establish themselves in our community we would be committing ourselves to help them until their first harvest. Those in favor of welcoming Jack and Samantha please vote now." There was a series of thumping sounds from under the table.
"Those not in favor of welcoming Jack and Samantha please vote now." There were two lone thumps.
"Welcome to Uraba. I suggest that you find ways to be useful and make many friends until your harvest." Framel bowed towards Jack. "In the morning you can examine the two farms and pick the one you would prefer to occupy. Your neighbors will make you very welcome."
"We both appreciate your generous offer. Carter and I are used to hard work. We will begin looking for jobs and make ourselves useful immediately."
"I suggest you speak with Jamale if you wish to find a job. This time of the year he has the most need of help." The man tilted his head towards the other side of the room. A muscular tall man nodded at the mention of his name. The table's occupants got up and began milling around the room. Many came over to O'Neill and Carter to make their introductions and offer assistance.
Jamale was one of the many people crowding around the newest occupant of Uraba. "Welcome to Uraba. I am looking for help at my machining shop. If you are good with your hands and can repair equipment I would welcome your help."
O'Neill tilted his head towards Carter. "If you are looking for someone that can repair anything Carter is your woman. Carter's a mechanical genius."
Jamale gave Carter a look with which she was all too familiar. "I have never hired a woman before but if you can do the work I need the help. My sons are still learning so they are slow. The machines needing repair are growing in number and they need to be ready when the weather turns warmer. Tomorrow morning go look at your potential new homes then join me for your midday meal. After we eat I will show you around and see if you have the skills necessary to find employment with me."
"I look forward to seeing your shop. I hope I can exceed your expectations." Carter smiled politely. She had every intention of making sure this large muscular man quickly learned she could tackle anything he threw her way.
They spent the night in Marl's barn. They had a small breakfast that tasted a lot like warm granola before heading out to look at their potential new homes. Marl gave them directions and they set out early. Both farms were to the west so as long as they were quick they could look at them both and get back for lunch.
The first farm was about an hour's walk from town. It had a barn and a small house with a fenced in vegetable garden off to one side. The house had a main room that served as a living room, dining room, and kitchen. There was one bedroom with a connecting bathroom. The house had geothermal heat and a fireplace. There was a generator that used geothermal power to provide electricity for the house and barn. The roof of the house and the barn needed some work but both buildings seemed structurally sound. The farming plots were grown over with weeds and the closest creek was a good ten minute walk away. There was a well near the house though.
The second house was about 30 minutes further from town. The barn was in need of major repairs but the house seemed to be doing well. The house was a little larger, with one bedroom, a bath, a kitchen dining room combination, and a small living room. Geothermal was also used to provide heat and electricity for this home. There didn't seem to be a vegetable garden and the fields seemed to be just as run over with weeds. The well still had water and a creek could be heard at a distance but time was running short so they decided not to look for it.
They chatted on the way back and decided that the first homestead was their better option. It was a little closer to town and needed less work overall. It also featured more furniture, including a nice sized bed and a semicircular sofa. A vegetable garden that had already been tilled a couple times was a bonus.
They made it back to town as the sun reached the midpoint of the sky. They stopped at Marl's to tell him they preferred the farm closest to town. He approved of their choice and said he would talk to Framel.
Jamale was just putting the midday meal on the table as they arrived. "You are here at the right moment. Please join us." Jamale motioned to the table where two teenage boys were sitting. "This is my oldest son Saff," Jamle pointed to his left," and my youngest son Thale." Everyone nodded their greetings and sat down. The meal consisted of a savory meat that tasted like game but not like anything O'Neill or Carter had eaten before. There was a potato like vegetable and some canned fruits that were sweet.
The boys stayed to clean up while Jamale gave O'Neill and Carter a tour. The machinery included tillers, irrigators, tractors, trucks, and other farming equipment. They used biofuels and batteries recharged by generators powered through the geothermal energy they harvested to run the equipment. Carter knew she would be able to handle working on these machines since the technology didn't differ too much from what was used on Earth.
Jamale stopped at a table with a large motor sitting upon it. "My son's have not been able to figure out why this motor will not start. I am curious if you can discover what is wrong and fix it."
Carter smiled. "I will do my best."
Jamale and O'Neill left her to work. O'Neill went back to Marl's to collect what little stuff they had left in the barn. He was surprised to find that some supplies had already been dropped off for them. Marl donated a small cart so they could load up these new supplies to take with them. Jack headed back to the machine shop after about two hours of packing and chatting with Marl. He was surprised to see Sam helping Thale sharpen a tiller blade.
"How goes it Carter?" Jack leaned on the table where the broken motor used to be sitting.
"I think things are going well." Carter smiled as Thale kept working.
"I would agree with Samantha." Jamale walked up behind O'Neill. "She is very knowledgeable and will be an asset here. I know you both have much work to do at your new home but I hope you can return the day after tomorrow to begin work. I have many customers anxious to get their tools back before it is time to prepare the land for sowing."
Carter glanced at O'Neill who nodded his consent. "Day after tomorrow it is. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
"If what I have seen today is any indication I think I will be thanking you." Jamale smiled and went to the back of the shop.
Carter searched through their donations and put together dinner while O'Neill did a more thorough examination of the repairs needed. They made a plan for the next day over dinner. Carter took the sofa and O'Neill took the bed, after Carter insisted.