CHAPTER 6 Part 1
PATER CONTINUES TO EXPLORE
Pater traveled further north, encountering more advanced civilizations. But it was getting colder. He found one city where the citizens had built large glass lenses that focused the sunlight on large rocks laid on a system of rails. At night, they would winch the heated rocks into the city for heat. They would last most of the night then at daybreak they were winched back out to the sunlight. This was a problem when there were clouds or there was snow and ice that would cover the rocks. Then they would have to burn the black honey that they had acquired from the cities further to the south. Unfortunately, they were running out of things to barter for this black stuff. Pater heard of another city that had discovered some black rocks that would burn and that there were even some cities that could burn the gas coming out holes they drilled in the ground. While these northern cities were warm, their occupants were hungry all the time. The rice growing season was too short.
Pater decided he had seen enough of the cold north and decided to travel back to the south. In the warmer southern plains, he found the more rural populations to be more independent since they could grow wheat and corn abundantly. There were large trees called oaks that had seeds called acorns. They were delicious. Sure, some years were more abundant than others, so the rural pigs had learned to store their crops. They had problems with weather, in particular, the availability and timing of rain and snowfall. Water was their most critical resource, but they did not know how to improve on nature. They used animal labor to farm, and this would limit their overall productivity. Lighting at night was poor, mostly from burning lard or animal dung, perhaps, some of the plants and timber. But, their overall attitude toward life was good. They had grown to be a naturally hardy swine, amiable and hospitable to all newcomers. Pater decided to stay for a time on these southern plains near the eastern coast of Laurasland. He requested an update on communications from Lil Redhenny, now the Pollo Express CEO.
“Lil, what’s going on with your organization. I sent a message to my dear Mater some time ago and have not had a response in several months. I know it is a long way back to Pangea, but surely by now I should have heard from her.” Lil clucked nervously, “There have been some changes in geography, as you well know.” Then she discussed the separation from Pangea, the rapid movement of Laurasland, the mountains and difficult terrain, and the difficulty in the maintaining a good supply of chicken message carriers. “We’re not pigeons you know. We can’t fly the way they do. While we can glide a considerable distance, we are too heavy to maintain altitude. Maybe someday we will be able to fly. At least we can communicate. Pigeons don’t know how to talk, they just sit there going ‘coo, coo.’ It is sickening.” Feeling the heat, Pater backed off. “OK, OK then. What are you doing to improve things?” Lil responded, “We are making our way stations into observatories. Instead of just relaying messages, we are going to start reporting things that we see. No opinions, just our observations of what we see.” Pater’s ears perked. He was a military hog by nature and experience. “Say Lil, that’s great. Will you be providing military information? You know, troop movements, strength, maybe even weather reports in each area?” Lil thought a minute then said, “of course.” She had not entertained that idea, but it sounded good. What the heck, why not?
The next day, Mater’s message arrived. “We are on our way to your father’s.” Strange he thought. “Why was she going there. Perhaps to pass some history about my dad on to Oenopides?” He would just put that thought away. At least there was no bad news.
Mater and her family traveled northeast around the small lake and eventually made it to the eastern coast of Laurasland. They were only 500 hog-trots south of Pater’s location. They observed a Pollo Express way station on the top of a coastal ridge line and shook their heads in disbelief. Mater urged the family up the slope to the way station. Mater pushed in through the wattle doorway. “Take this message to my dear husband.” The rattled message taker complied. She began, “My dearest, we have traveled to the far east in search of you. I trust in the Father of All that you are safe. I am placing this message in the care of Pollo Express in the hope that they will be able to find you in good time and in good health. This is a beautiful land, this Laurasland and will make a nice home for us. Your loving Wife, Mater.” Off the message went in a flurry of feathers.
Two weeks later, Pater received the message, “Having a good time at Father’s. All are safe, headed home.” Pater thought to himself, “Well, no need to worry. Everything seems fine. I wonder why she didn’t’ ask where I was? Probably too busy with the new grand-piglet. I hope she found what she needed at my dad’s home.” He settled down for a nap.
Porcus’s newly crafted sea craft rounded the southern tip of Laurasland. There was a lighted bonfire on the top of one of the mountains, a Pollo Express way station. It was the first sign of civilization that Porcus and his family had seen in days. He disembarked and rushed up the mountain slope to the way station. He said to the chicken messenger, “Take this message to my mother on Pangea. ‘Mom, we are all safe on the southeast coast of a continent called Laurasland. Looking for Dad. Love, Porcus. PS: Chorley was fine when we left. I sent her a message telling her we were going to sea to find Dad.’”
The southeastern coast of Laurasland was a marvelous place. The ocean water was warm and teaming with fish and other wildlife. On shore, grapes grew in great bunches from the ridges to the plains. The local village swine were kind and hospitable. They had a magnificent civilization that was basically hidden from view until you were right upon it. Porcus only discovered the many villages when he gained the vantage point of the Pollo Express way station. At night, village lights were visible in all directions from the top of the mountain but not from the coast or off-shore. Porcus would discover that they were placed that way on purpose. No sense in inviting trouble. Well, tomorrow he would explore this land and meet more of the citizenry. There was much to learn.