a man and his ox - 5

There had been rain. OH walked along the road with a sharp pointed stick. At intervals he pushed the stick into the road surface to see how deep moisture had penetrated into the surface. As he walked back to camp the smoke from the fire rose vertically in the sky.

OX was already in harness and impatiently moving side to side, while waiting to start the day. His coat glistening after his combing, you could almost see him smiling in anticipation. OH had given him some molasses in his feed and he felt good.

True believers were putting their baggage onto the wagon and climbed into the wagon seats, ready for another day. They had readied themselves quickly this morning and were excitedly talking amongst themselves. Some - discussing ticket prices for the day - were heard to be saying $4 in a questioning manner and others just giggled in anticipation.

OH knew this day was going to cover a lot of ground. With the rain, flooded creeks and inevitable mud, the wagon had slowed for the last two days and if fact lost some distance as they had to take side roads. Ticket prices had dropped with this lack of progress.

Last night they had news from Lord John’s keeper of the treasure, Peter. In a surprise, Peter said he had collected a lot of treasure so he was giving some away. The treasure was to be used for more roads, and would employ more knights to defend the land.

Peter had a very bad habit. When people dug up their treasure they kept for their old age, Peter would come and take part to put into Lord John’s treasure house. He said he would not do this any more. Peter hoped this would stop him having to pay so much treasure for the poor old people. It meant a lot more people would be looking to get on wagons and look for treasure on the road to success. Ticket prices for a ride would go up today just from this news.

There was another reason today’s ticket prices would rise even more. When the carrier pidgeon arrived from his old friend Kitco, the news was very good. Gold had gone over 700, silver 14.41, the red metal up to 3.622 and zinc 1.56. Ticket prices would rise considerably today on this alone.

With the ground surface just soft from the moisture and no muddying the ride would be soft and fast. The would make up the distance lost in the first 10 minutes on the road. They should be a long distance forward at camp tonight.

OH went up to Ox and gave him a juicy apple. The OX rubbed his face on OH’s upper arm.

OH climbed on the wagon, grasped the reins, smiled and released the brake.