Dwellers of the New World Chapter Eleven ( Pt 3 ) Trip to the Plantation

Cinnamon stood and watched as the ship builders came down to the beach. One of them was working on the ship Bracus was sailing in. From where she was standing, she could just make out the shape of a wooden fish with wings. The man was carving the shape of the fin tails, it looked remarkably like the fish she'd seen leaping out of the ocean. Deciding to go and have a better look, she made her way across the beach.

 

As she approached him, she became fascinated by his workmanship,

he was using a flat – sharp piece of flint. “That must have taken you a long time to carve?” she observed marvelling at his work.

 

The man looked up and smiled, happy that someone was at last appreciating his skills. “Yeah! You be right...been working on this piece for quite some time.”

 

“I noticed that it looks very similar to the fish that leap out of the ocean and fly.” Cinnamon said, her arms outstretched, as she began to mimic their wings.

 

“Well...you're right again,” he declared. “All the ships have names, this one is called The Flying Fish and hopefully it will fly across the ocean on its journey to Wild Whistling Isle,” he said, giving her a wink.

 

The girl introduced herself. “My name's Cinnamon and I would love to be able to carve wood like you. My mother does wood carvings, she makes jewellery and wooden dolls.”

 

“Well Cinnamon...my names Kai, and there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to carve out wood, it takes practise but if you really want to learn, then I think you should ask your mother to teach you.”

 

The girl felt she'd outstayed her welcome and didn't want to talk about her family, so she smiled and looked around saying that she must be on her way, leaving Kai bemused at her sudden exit.

 

As she walked along the beach checking out the caves, two men with horses came out, Cinnamon noticed that they looked as if they'd

just woken up. Deciding to go over and introduce herself, she made her way towards them. Smiling she called out. “Good morning to you both, have you been in that cave all night?”

 

Ben and Jay were taken aback by this sudden interest in them. “Well yes...we have,” said Jay stretching.

 

“That's a funny place to sleep, don't you feel cold without a fire?”

Cinnamon had never slept in a cave before and didn't fancy the idea of it at all.

 

“We have slept in many caves, they make marvellous shelters from the elements,” remarked Jay.

 

The two men stretched some more breathing in the sea air, feeling slightly light headed after a good nights sleep. “I think I need some food,” said Jay rubbing his stomach...”I'm famished.”

 

“We'd better go up to the cottage and get something to eat, then prepare for a days work...what do you think?”

 

Jay agreed, as Cinnamon wondered what kind of work they would be doing that day. “If you don't mind me asking, what kind of work do you do?”

 

The two men smiled, wondering where this child had come from. “No of course we don't,” replied Ben. “We're helping out a couple, up there in that cottage.” He pointed in the direction of Anna and Devin's home. “They've asked us to take their horse and cart up to their food

plantation and collect some apples.”

 

“That sounds like fun,” declared Cinnamon, thinking she wouldn't mind going as well. All thoughts of home and the travellers had completely gone out of her mind. 'I'm not a child any more!' She thought to herself, 'I'm nearly a grown woman.' “Could I come along? I promise I won't be any trouble.”

 

Ben and Jay looked at one another unsure of whether they should let

a stranger come with them, leave alone a young girl. “Haven't you got to be somewhere...what about your family? they will need to know where you are.”

 

“Oh! That 's okay,” she uttered remembering she was still wearing the borrowed dress. “I've not got to be anywhere today, so I'm free to do what I want.”

 

“But surely you should just let your parents know where you're going?” Ben responded, not wanting a kidnapping on his hands.

 

Cinnamon decided to make up a story in order to go with the two men.

“I haven't got any parents...I'm an orphan...I came down here with some travellers, but they don't really want me...please, please let me go with you...I promise I'll be good.”

 

Cinnamon knew what she was doing was wrong, but now that she knew Varden was here she needed to feel close to him, she also felt these two men seemed nice and that she would feel safe with them.

 

Jay thought that she was taken prisoner from up North and had managed to escape, if she were an orphan then maybe she should stay with them. So it was decided that Cinnamon would go along to the plantation with the two men.

 

Cinnamon stayed with the horses, while the two men ate, not wishing to tell anyone else of who she was and where she was from, enough people knew already and it worried the girl.

 

After a meal of bread and fish, Ben and Jay hooked up the horses to one of Anna's carts, checking that Bracken and Rainbow were okay, due to the fact they'd never pulled a cart before. Although Bracken was fine, Rainbow seemed a bit on edge at being attached, she was more used to carrying people on her back than pulling a cart.

 

As Cinnamon sat up top with Ben steering, Jay walked the horses up the path to where others were ready to leave for a days work at the plantation.

 

The ride was pleasant and Cinnamon was glad she had decided to come. There was a gentle breeze sweeping in off the ocean and again

the sun was shining, the girl felt as free as a bird, with the wind blowing through her hair. She started to hum a song to herself and smiled when Ben joined in whistling. “You know the song I'm humming then?” she remarked, as Ben carried on.

 

“I sure do know the tune...I think it's quite a popular song, one that's sung from way up North to way down South.”

 

Soon they left the coastal path and were making their way further up towards the moors. The ground was uneven and Cinnamon had to hold on as the cart rocked from side to side, her stomach churned as she felt herself bouncing on the bumpy terrain.

 

By now Rainbow was getting used to pulling, so Jay was able to jump in the cart instead of walking.

 

Crossing the moors, they could just make out miles of corn and fruit trees, neither the two men or the girl had seen anything quite like it,

having been used to just forests of trees.

 

As they got closer sheaves of corn stood to attention and potatoes were in abundance. Cinnamon stared and gasped in awe at the sight. “Wow!

I've never seen so many different vegetables and fruit trees in one place...this is incredible.”

 

“I have to say I agree,” replied Ben climbing down from the drivers seat. “So what do we do now?” he enquired of Jay.

 

“I guess we take these baskets and go fill them up with as many apples as they will hold.” Jay wasn't as surprised as Cinnamon and Ben, having been down here many times and helped out.

 

The rest of that day was spent apple and potato picking and making conversation with other workers. Cinnamon ached as she passed apple after apple into the baskets, she was also hot and wishing she had something to drink.

 

“You okay luv?” said a woman with a baby strapped to her back.

 

“No not really...I need a rest and a drink of water, I feel dizzy.” she sat down on the ground surrounded by windfalls.

 

“You'd best sit there...I got some water you can have, didn't you bring any with you?” the woman enquired, staring at the girls dress and thinking, 'this girl's wearing very strange clothing for working in.'

 

Cinnamon realised she'd not even eaten that day, leave alone had any water. In fact she then realised she'd not eaten since since she left the barracks. “I...I haven't got any food or drink, It didn't cross my mind,

but now I'm starving.”

 

The woman put down her basket and made her over to her cart. While she was gone, Cinnamon thought about how angry everyone would be

with her, but she felt it was too dangerous to go back not knowing what to expect. 'At least these people will help me!' she thought to herself.

 

Returning the woman broke some bread and took some meat and gave it to Cinnamon. “There you go...sorry what's yer name?”

 

“My name's Cinnamon and I'm so grateful to you for the food and water...I'm sorry if I've been any trouble.” The girl took the meat and bread feeling famished.

 

“You're no trouble at all dear. My name's Leith and this is Finn my baby boy.” She unstrapped the baby, feeling like she needed a rest herself.

 

“So how did you come to be working up here? I've never seen you before.” Leith put her baby to her breast, as she placed some meat between some bread.”

 

Cinnamon watched as the baby suckled suddenly remembering her mother and missing her family, she felt a pang of jealousy for this little one wishing she had someone to protect her, but she snapped herself

out of the melancholy mood, remembering why she didn't want to go home and that Varden was now as frightened as she was. 'No!' she thought, 'I must be strong.'

 

Leith suddenly snapped Cinnamon out of her thoughts. “Well child...don't just stare into thin air...I asked you a question. How did you come to be up here working?”

 

“Oh yes...sorry about that, I get lost in my thoughts sometimes. Well I'm up here helping out those two men over there and they're helping out a couple down at the bay.” She pointed in the direction of Jay and Ben, who were now helping some men to collect some potatoes and corn.

 

Leith stared at her baby suckling, all her attention now towards Finn.

Finishing her food, Cinnamon stood up and brushed herself down, feeling a lot better. “Thank you so much for the food, I feel ready for some more work now, I'll go along and help my two friends.”

 

The woman carried on feeding her baby, enjoying the time to relax.

She felt there was something strange about the girl, but she was too

tired to work out what the feeling was about Cinnamon. Smiling she wished the girl well as she went on her way.

 

Cinnamon was just about to help out when Ben spoke, “I think that's enough for now...we have six baskets of apples and they're quite heavy. We don't want the journey back to be too tiring for Bracken and Rainbow, especially as they're not used to such heavy weights.”

 

They all agreed, as they loaded up the cart. It was late afternoon when they left, but there were still many people still cutting corn and planting fresh seeds, even though Winter was on its way and conditions would not be so successful, it was always there way to replenish their stocks whatever happened.

 

Again Cinnamon climbed up next to Ben, while Jay walked the horses a while, to get them used to pulling. The three travellers were a lot quieter going back to the bay, than they had been that morning.

 

Cinnamon knew exactly what she had in mind to do and nothing would deter her from her plans, although she felt too many people knew about her and when the travellers came looking for her, someone would give her away.

 

When they reached the bay once more, it was alive with busy people.

Cinnamon could make out some loading stuff onto the Flying Fish.

Bracus was down on the beach, ordering people around. The whole

spectacle seemed really exciting to the girl.

 

When they reached Anna and Devin's cottage, Ben jumped down and helped Cinnamon down too. “Well...thank you for your help Cinnamon, but we'll be okay now.”

 

The girl felt slightly lost. “Oh...Okay!” she wanted to stay with these two men at least until nightfall, otherwise one of the travellers might find her. “Is there any chance I might stay with you a while, I promise I won't be any trouble, it's just that I'm so tired after all that apple picking.”

 

Ben felt sorry for Cinnamon. “I'll tell you what...you go to the cave where we were sleeping and I'll bring you some food later...I'll just let

Anna know we'll be staying another night, I'm sure she won't mind.

 

The girl thanked them and made her way quietly down to the cave. The people were so busy, they were unaware of the girl making her way into the shadows.

 

Settling down amongst the many wooden barrels and large pieces of wood, she found some old sacks. Laying down on the hard ground, Cinnamon covered herself with with the material. As she lay there

thoughts went through her mind, she worried that although she felt

safe with Ben and Jay, someone might ask them about her then she

would have to go back with the travellers.

 

Suddenly it came to her, she'd been too friendly and told too many people her name, she needed to leave this cave and find another place to stay, one where nobody would find her. Coming to standing and throwing off the sacking, she picked up one of them and ripped a hole in the bottom, then made two holes each side for her arms to fit through. Taking off the dress she wore, she changed into the sacking material, she now felt less inconspicuous and more like one of the others.

 

Keeping close to the wall, she peeped out, aware that if she was seen she could be captured. People were still busy loading the ship, it was as if everyone had a hand in this journey that Bracus was going on.

 

'It's now or never!' Cinnamon thought to herself, as she eased her way out of the cave. Sliding slowly along the cliff face, her back to the wall, watching everyone in case any eyes should spy her.

 

Most people were too busy to notice, but then in the distance she recognised Brad. Panicking she ran into another cave, hoping she'd not been seen. Making her way as far back as she could go, Cinnamon hid in the dark shadows.

 

No one came, but she was too afraid to move and feeling well hidden, she settled down surrounded by wood and materials. Feeling secure she fell asleep.