“…staying for a few days?”
Hal continued to be a man of few words, but no one ever seemed to misunderstand him.
Ham and Martin hadn’t had a chance to talk about their plans, such as they were. Ham looked at Hal, looked at Martin, and said “Why not?”
“Not a reason I can think of, youngster,” said Martin.
And so it was that Ham and Martin chose to stay in the village of Wait for a few days, enjoying a roof over their heads and a bed they could take turns sleeping in. During the days, Ham would wander through the village, meeting some of the Huddlers there (when he could get them to look up and speak to him). Ham particularly paid attention to how each of the Huddlers performed their tasks, and made an effort to learn something of several different skills. Martin spent most of his days sitting on the logs by the well in the center of the village, watching the folk of Wait shuffling to and fro.
In the evenings, Ham and Martin talked about what they would do next, where they would go. Hal would come around for a bit, every evening, and just sit and listen. Then he would get up quietly and go off to be with Rachel.
On the third day of their stay in Wait, Hal caught up with Ham where Ham was watching the hut-builder. Hal had another young man with him.
“…Walt,” said Hal. “…wants to go with you.”
Ham, taken aback for a moment, looked Walt up and down. “You want to go with us?”
“Yup. Hal showed what he learned, and told about places, and I want to go.”
Ham’s first reaction was to go talk it over with Martin. Then he realized that he was traveling on his own quest, and didn’t really need to talk about it. Then he thought oh, why not.
“Okay – come to our hut this evening and talk to me and Martin.”
“How about my sister, June?”
“What do you mean, how about your sister?”
“Can she come too? Wants to.”
A girl traveling with them? Well, why not – it’s not like they had run into wild animals or bands of roving bandits.
“Bring her tonight, too.”
Ham felt a bit distracted for the rest of the day. He’d never planned on Hal joining him, and it had just happened. Now Hal was sharing what he’d learned and done, and others wanted to join him. He didn’t know if that meant anything, but it felt… important.
And, of course, there was Martin. Old, odd, mysterious Martin, who had come looking for them. Ham wondered why Martin was there, and what he expected to happen.
That evening, while Ham and Martin sat by the fire in Hal’s soon-to-be hut, Hal and Walt and June arrived. Ham explained to Martin that Walt and June wanted to travel with them, and that he – Ham – couldn’t think of any reason why they shouldn’t.
“Young folks, why do you want to go with Ham?”
“Learn and see,” said Walt.
“Be more, do more,” said June.
Martin smiled one of his strange, knowing smiles, and looked at Ham. He shrugged his shoulders, as if to say “I don’t see why not.”
Ham thought about staying in Wait for a few days, as if they’d been – well – waiting for something. Maybe they’d been waiting for Walt and June?
“Okay – you can come with us. We’ll leave day after tomorrow. Tomorrow you have to get together the things you’ll need on the journey. Hal can show you what to do, right Hal?”
“…mmhmm…”
