A Haven From the Storm

Chapter 8: Young Professionals Networking

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The woman speaking to me in my dreams had a routine also. Every night, she would leave me with some obscure phrase, pregnant with meaning that I could not grasp. Last night, she was speaking of others both of and not of the village who knew of the wounds here.

I had my routine also. After early morning with Wowser, breakfast and Farmer Fran, it was out to work the fields. The first four patches of turnips looked almost ready for harvest, the ground swelled a little, showing the edible root beneath. Weed them out, clear two more patches, do a little of the watering, then time to go to the hot springs.

The afternoon was for finishing the watering, and plenty of thinking while doing so. It was not good, I saw, to dwell on things so that I got depressed like yesterday. I should finish introducing myself to the villagers. In fact, it was a good time to see the Doctor who I had failed to meet that other day. As I finished the watering, the desire to see the Doctor became a compulsion, as if something or someone was pushing me that way.

I put a bunch of red grass in my knapsack as a gift for the doctor, remembering Basil's writing that they had medicinal value. There was also room for a bamboo shoot for Mary, in case I saw her. It was just plain fun watching her eat them as if she were dining at a five-star Continental restaurant. I just hoped that her parents would not be annoyed at me for ruining her appetite for dinner.

A quick run out the front gate and past the blacksmith shop. I had not introduced myself to Saibara, and judging from the way he was shouting at Grey, it didn't seem a good time to do so. Again, outside the winery, Duke was working on his vines. I waved at him and he disinterestedly returned my greeting. I almost stopped at Basil and Anna's. I had reason to thank Basil for the books he had written, and Mary had wanted to introduce us. Perhaps I could get back to the library at four and we could go meet her folks.

At the Mayor's house, I stopped. I hadn't spoken to him since my first day, and I really should do so, even if he was a figurehead - which I didn't know for sure. I knocked at his door and he invited me in.

"Hello, Jack. It's been a few days since we last met. How are things going on the farm? Are you working hard and applying yourself? You certainly look as if you've been laboring outdoors."

I told the Mayor what I had done the last few days.

"Hmm..that doesn't seem like a lot. But you are inexperienced at farming and the fields were in terrible shape. Just make steady progress every day and give your best effort. Don't get discouraged because you aren't a master farmer in one week. Farming is hard work!

"You are trying to get along with the villagers, aren't you? I have heard such conflicting stories about you. Some think that you are a fine, earnest young man, and others..." he trailed off and shrugged.

"Thomas, I hope that I haven't damaged anyone's sensibilities. It takes time to learn about new people."

"Jack, this is true. First impressions, however, are difficult to overcome. You understand my meaning, I'm sure."

I understood. Duke. Oh yes, I understood very well.

"Thomas, I'll give everything here my best effort."

He smiled. "I guess that's all that can reasonably be asked of anyone. Oh, have you met Kano? He is an artist - a photographer - from the city. He is doing a collection of nature scenes here, and I am letting him stay in my house while he works. It is good to capture our natural surroundings for posterity."

A man in his thirties, tall, handsome and well dressed came up and introduced himself. "Good afternoon, Jack, I'm Kano. Good to meet you."

We shook. "Good to meet you also, Kano. I don't know if you're interested in anything in the Erehwon Farm, but you are welcome to take pictures there."

"Thank you, Jack, that is a kind offer indeed. Right now, I am doing sequences of wildlife scenes in the mountains. If I need shots of cultivated land later on, I shall come see you. I understand you lived in Liberty City. So did I. Perhaps we should exchange stories later on. Right now, I need to finish developing a couple of rolls, so if you will excuse me."

"Certainly, I need to go myself. Thank you for your time, Thomas, Kano."

We exchanged farewells and I left, walking towards the clinic. I entered, and Elli smiled as she saw me approach her desk.

"Jack, good to see you again. You're not coming about any illness or injury, are you?"

"No, Elli, just wanted to take you up on your offer to be introduced to the Doctor."

"Of course. Not even any cuts?" she teased.

I showed her my arms, which had a few more minor injuries. "Look here, those weeds and branches will not be defeated without a struggle!" I faked a pained expression. "Oh, nurse, I can't stand the pain any longer!"

Elli chuckled, but the nurse in her came out over the joking.

"They're minor, but they really could get infected from the soil. Come here and I'll swab them with peroxide."

Again, she quickly and expertly held my arms and cleaned the cuts on them.

"I know that you can't avoid some minor insults when doing physical labor, but do try to be careful. All right, let's go see Doctor."

We entered an examination room where the Doctor was sitting, reading a medical text. He rose as we entered and Elli introduced me.

"Doctor, this is Jack, who you've heard about, I'm sure. He's come to pay a social call - there is no medical problem."

The doctor was perhaps in his late twenties, wearing the same serious, slightly grim expression I had seen before. We shook hands and exchanged greetings. Elli then excused herself:

"Doctor, Jack, I've still got these records to file, so I'll leave you now."

"Doctor, I was wanting to call on you several days ago, but got sidetracked."

"Yes, Jack, I heard the story from Elli. A comedy of errors, it was. But who can blame Elli? She's very serious about her profession. Caretaking runs in her family, she comes from a long line of healers. I am the first medical doctor to practice regularly here. Before, it was women of Elli's family who were midwives and herbal healers here."

"Doctor, how did you come to practice here?"

"When I finished medical school and received my license to practice four years ago, I, like my fellows, was presented with a list of possible first posts.

"Most involved assisting some specialist or another in one of the large hospitals. But I was not that interested in large hospitals - or specializing. I had wanted to do general practice.

"Mineral Village was the only such post available, so I took it sight unseen. I had not even heard of the place before. Ellen, Elli's grandmother had become unable to continue her healing and Elli was too young and inexperienced to take her place. I was glad to come here. Your grandfather provided the funds to build and equip this clinic - you are aware, are you not, that your grandfather was a great benefactor to this village. Elli came on as my assistant. Even young as she was, she knew a great deal about healing and the villagers and their problems. From the first day, she has been invaluable to me.

"Well, general practice is what I've been doing here. The villagers are generally healthy - the usual run of minor illnesses and injuries. The bulk of my labor goes into childbirth and the few problem cases we have here.

"For some reason, women in neighboring villages like to come to this clinic to give birth. Some say because I'm the only real doctor in the county outside of Edgeport. Personally, I think it's because of Elli. She has a rare talent for birthing - she has an intuition for tending to the whole person, mother and child, as well as the purely medical techniques. I'm trying to learn her technique and apply it to other cases. The scientific facets of medicine are valuable where they apply, but we tend to forget that we are healing people, not just biological machines." He smiled for the first time. "In some ways, I feel like I'm Elli's assistant."

"You say that you have problem cases."

He returned to his grim expression. "Yes. There's Lillia, for instance. She's had this wasting fatigue for several years now. I can't even diagnose it, much less cure it. I can only treat the symptoms, and not very well at that. Her husband was so desperate, he traveled out to the western desert a couple of years back looking for a herbal remedy he had heard about from Basil and Anna. I don't think his absence is helping her. The stress of that family situation can't be any good for her, either.

"There's Ellen, Elli's grandmother. She has severe arthritis, such that she's pretty much immobile. Even though I'm as helpless with her as with Lillia, it's not so much a personal failure. It's the ravages of age, and nobody in the world could cure Ellen. But Lillia's illness makes me feel useless here. Aside from the little things that anyone could handle - or would correct themselves, most of what I achieve here is birthing. Now, Elli could handle that better than I could alone."

"Doctor, caring for the sick and injured is never useless. Surely you underestimate yourself. And if nothing else, people probably come to you early with illnesses before they progress just because you are a real doctor."

I remembered the red grass in my backpack, pulled it out and gave it to the Doctor."I've read that these can be made into medicine. I was gathering wild vegetables last night and came across this. You may have it if you have any use for it - a getting acquainted offering, if you will."

The Doctor smiled again. "Thank you, Jack. That's a great help! This grass can be made into several medications I use frequently. You've been talking to Basil, no?"

"I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him yet. I read one of his books describing this."

"You must meet Basil. He is the village's...no, the entire county's expert on plants. I have greatly profited from his research and writing. We try to get together at least once a week and discuss herbs and healing.

"I also try to meet Pastor Carter frequently. As, I see it, we're in different aspects of the same profession - healing. I tend to the bodies of the villagers, and he tends to their spirits. We consult each other frequently about people's problems, as together we do - sometimes - manage to care for the whole person. It helps that he has an open mind about...well, the more esoteric knowledge that gets ignored in our scientific times. But I mean no insult to you, I had forgotten that you have such a background. In fact, of all the people here, you've been involved in the most impressive work in the world. Men traveling to Mars! We've heard about it for years, now it's coming to pass."

"Please don't overestimate me, Doctor. The rest of the villagers seem to see me as some super-scientist, but I'm sure you understand when I tell you that I was just a junior engineer. I spent three years mainly working on fuel lines the thickness of your thumb."

"Three years dedicated to a single task worth doing - a person like yourself is not to be underestimated. Combined with the desire to balance people and their differences and needs...oh, yes, the stories about you have reached me! I should guess that a Libran sun and a Virgo moon are very active in you."

I found that most curious. That someone like Karen would like 'does this couple match up' astrology was not surprising. But a medical doctor doing a character analysis? Even more uncanny was the fact that he was right about my sun and moon signs! But I hadn't told him my birthdate and year. Doctor must have seen the puzzlement on my face.

"Ah...perhaps you think me superstitious! As I said, Pastor Carter is open to many things ignored...or trivialized in today's world, and he has opened my mind also. Did you know that medical doctors routinely used astrological analysis in their work right into the eighteenth century? It is now regarded as a discreditable part of my profession's history. But Carter and I have found that these techniques are not totally useless, in combination with more conventional methods.

"You must speak with Pastor Carter. You simply will not be able to understand life here without some of his knowledge."

"Everyone tells me that, and I intend to. It's just I've been so busy getting started, and the church is on the opposite side of the village from my farm. But you are right, I really must make the time."

He nodded. "Carter, Basil and I routinely consult on the problems of the villagers. Together, we make more progress than each of us working alone. We, of course, are in no way an organization, but we do, in jest, sometimes refer to ourselves as the 'young professionals network'.

"I know that you're already overcommitted, getting your farm working. But I think that it would be good if you kept in touch with each of us when you could. I believe you could be of service to the people here. If I have not read you wrong, I believe that would have some appeal to you."

"But how could I be of service, I'm just a farmer..."

Doctor held up his hand. "You are a bright, educated, dedicated and caring young man who is farming because of circumstances beyond your control. I believe you could have something to offer..."

Just then, Elli entered with Stu.

"Doctor, Jack, please excuse me for interrupting. But I don't like the way Stu's knee is swelling. Could you please look at it?"

"Doctor, I'll leave you to work now. Thank you so much for an interesting discussion. I will consider what you have said."

"Please do, Jack. In any case, please keep in contact with the three of us. You can learn more, and it commits you to nothing you are not willing to take on."

Stu said "Hi, Jack. I can't play with you today, my knee is sick and I can't run fast."

"Another day then, Stu. The Doctor and Elli will put it all right. Good afternoon, folks."

I heard the doctor say as I left "Come here Stu and let me look at that knee. Hmm, an infection is starting, all right. Elli, please prepare a topical application of Bogidizer while I see if the wound needs to be drained..."

Both of them were working on Stu, who was taking it quietly, as I left. The doctor certainly had given me a lot to think about. The personal relations were certainly complex for such a small village. The leadership of Doug and Duke - and maybe the Mayor; now, a quiet group looking after the well-being of the villagers. And one with somewhat of a mystical bent at that. What am I getting into? Just several days ago, I thought I was just being forced into being a dirt farmer - and friends to anyone who cared. Now, it seemed I was being considered for initiation into...what? A quiet, modest group of caretakers? A cabal challenging the village leadership? A cult? It was something to take very deliberately and carefully, I thought.

I got to the General Store, entered, and picked up another two packages of turnip seeds. Karen was behind the counter and Jeff was nowhere to be seen.

"Hello Karen, where's Jeff?"

"Dad went to church. He sometimes does that to relax. How are you?"

"Not half bad, and yourself?"

"Better than yesterday, thanks. Rick was in a better mood, and that relieved me. More turnip seeds? You must have a field full of them now."

"Not quite, but I think the first harvest will be tomorrow. Here's the money."

"Thanks, Jack. You always pay cash and I appreciate it. Dad gives anyone credit, even though we're overextended and he shouldn't."

"I always try to keep it on the up and up. Oh, by the way, what do you think of the Doctor?" I was already trusting Karen's judgment about people and wanted to hear about him from her first.

"Doctor? He's a good one, dedicated and skillful. Keeps to himself a lot and seems a little gloomy, but maybe that just goes with dealing with sick people. Only thing I have against him is that he buys on credit. Why ask about him?"

"I just paid him a social call. He seems just as you said, but I gathered he's a holistic type. A little odd for a village doctor."

"Really? I've never known any other type. Before he came, Ellen was the nearest we had to a doctor, and she was like that also. It seems to work. Only time I was in clinic was a couple of years ago with inflamed tonsils. Doctor said he'd try to cure me without removing them, and he sure did. He'd give me those herbal medicines he makes, then taught me breathing and relaxation exercises. Then Pastor Carter would come and pray with me. We did the Rosary together, an hour at a time, and it was so entrancing! A week of that, and I was well again. It's curious, it's like the two of them are members of the same team."

"No arguing with success. They're good friends, then?"

"I'm not sure. They sure don't hang out at the Inn together...at least not when I'm there! Carter's just there whenever spiritual help is needed, and I guess there's lots of need at a clinic."

"OK, well it's good to know that I'll get good care when I disable myself working the farm."

"Don't think you're going to do that. Less than a week here and you already look stronger and healthier."

"Thanks. I'm glad to hear that you and Rick are both feeling better. I must be on my way now. Have a good evening."

"Thank you for stopping by. Anytime you need to talk about things, I'm here for you. See you later."

I thought as I left the store, so Doctor and Carter aren't secretive about caring for the sick together. I might just be imagining things about them - perhaps it's just as Doctor's phrase goes, young professionals helping each other out.

It was just four when I got to the library. I entered and saw Gray putting away a book, preparing to leave. Mary was at her desk, putting away the pages of her novel in progress. Gray was talking to Mary.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow, then. Thanks for everything you do."

"Everything? But, I'm just trying to find interesting things for you to read."

"You talk to me. You're very kind, I appreciate it. Oh, maybe I'm saying too much. Good night."

"Good night, Gray. See you tomorrow."

We exchanged greetings as he passed me on the way out the door. Then I went up to Mary.

"Good afternoon, Mary. That's a completely different person than was here yesterday!"

She smiled. "It sure is. Maybe he had a better day at work than usual. It's good to see - it's so sad to see someone as depressed as he often is. And speaking of depressed, how are you today?"

"Much better, thank you. Whatever was in the air yesterday seems to have blown away. I'm glad to see you're happier, also. Making any progress on your novel?"

"A few pages a day. Oh, I'm going to go with the word 'chantey'. If it's wrong, I'll just say it was your doing" she teased.

I laughed. "OK, I'll take the hit. But if it's right, I expect a cut of your royalties. But I really came to ask a favor of you. I wonder if I could meet your father?"

"A favor?" Now she was laughing. "A favor for him...and me! He's dying to meet you. 'You be sure to bring that young agriculturalist home next time you see him,' he said. Are you free now?"

"Sure am. I'll just wait while you close up here."

"It's done, let's go. I usually go home through the door on the second floor, but that enters into the bedrooms and Mom's a little fussy about people going there. Best we go through the front door."

We left the library and entered Mary's house.

"Mom. Dad. Jack came home with me. He wants to meet you."

"Jack! So Mary finally got you here. I'm Basil. It's so good to meet you."

"Good to meet you also, sir."

"What's this 'sir' foolishness? Don't you know how to say 'Basil'? Sure you do!"

Basil was forty-something, and from his tanned face to his hiking outfit, looked every bit the outdoorsman. His expression was alert and almost childish in his enthusiasm.

"Fine, Basil. What I really wanted was to thank you for writing your field guides. They are a great help for me in foraging for salable plants while I'm waiting for my first harvest."

"Thank you for your appreciation. Scholarship for its own sake is good. In the service of others, it is a privileged calling indeed. When Mary came home day before yesterday and said you came to consult my books, I was amazed. Remember Mary, I said, 'One day here and that young man is doing research. A scientific farmer at last!'" Basil stopped. "I don't mean to imply anything against your grandfather. He was a master farmer, one of the best. But he didn't need to be scientific about it. He knew from a lifetime of experience what to do. Second nature, you could say."

"Well, I have no choice but to learn from books and talking with people. My only experience with plants has been indoor potted plants."

"You are fortunate to have such a fine farm to grow on. We only have a small yard here. If I had your fields, what a variety of specimens I could grow!"

"If you like, you can use a portion of Erehwon Farm for your research. It's large enough."

"That would be wonderful! But I couldn't impose on you like that."

Anna came out of the kitchen. "Indeed you can't, Basil. Less than a week here and you're trying to encroach on Jack's land!" The twinkle in her eyes showed she was joking rather than scolding. "Good to see you again, Jack. Is all well with you?"

"Very well, thank you. You have a beautiful home, thank you for letting me see it."

"The way Mary and Basil have been carrying on about you the last two days, there's no avoiding it. You're about all they talk about. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

Mary and Basil both spoke. "Oh, what a wonderful idea!" "Yes, Jack, please do join us!"

I hesitated, not wanting to impose. Besides, I remembered Mary's reservations about Anna's cooking.

"Ah, I wouldn't want to trouble you. And besides, I had to decline a dinner offer from Lillia and I don't want to appear to be playing favorites."

Basil snorted. "Pah! No trouble at all. And I can't blame you a bit for turning her down. Popuri is good in the kitchen, but listening to her and Rick bickering over the table is a sure recipe for indigestion!"

I was tired of MREs and getting acquainted with Basil seemed to be next on the agenda.

"All right, I'll stay. Thank you."

"Fine. It's ready now, the three of you be seated and I'll serve."

We sat down at the dinner table, set with an elaborate flower arraignment, while Anna served us a vegetable stew, broiled fish and some warm bread. Despite Mary's opinion, I thought the dinner excellent.

"Anna, this bread is really great. Did you make it yourself?"

"Thank you, Jack, I do all our baking. It's very relaxing. I'm glad you agree with us that I do a good job." She struck a slightly conceited pose. "My cakes, if I may be allowed to say, are quite excellent. I think they'd win the cooking festival if it were not for Doug and Ann's cooking. Well, they're professionals, so there's no shame in losing to them. Although I sometimes wonder about their relationship with the judge! Oh, Mary, I've just about finished adjusting your costume for the Goddess Festival. After dinner, please try it on and I'll see what remains to be done."

Anna explained to me. "The Goddess Festival is one of the main public events of the village. We have it on Spring 8 of every year, to celebrate the end of Winter.

"All the single women over sixteen perform a special dance symbolizing the Goddess's returning life to the land. The costumes they wear are passed down from generation to generation. Ours is over a hundred years old. The women are escorted to the dance each by a young bachelor. I wonder if anyone will ask Mary this year?"

Mary blushed and said nothing.

"Anna! You're embarrassing Mary. Anyways, Jack, the Goddess Festival is important in the beliefs of our village. The Harvest Goddess is our local spirit of the woods and fields. For many, She merely symbolizes the fertility of our land. Some take Her rather more seriously."

Goddess worship, I thought. So these odd hints I was picking up weren't just some elliptical way of talking. I knew of a few neo-pagans in Liberty City. Slightly neurotic middle-aged women who kept too many cats and didn't like men very much. But the people here...they all seemed very level headed even if some had some odd beliefs. Best to keep an open mind here - last thing I need is to get into religious disputes with the villagers.

Basil went on. "You know, your family and Erehwon Farm play a part in the system. Your family is reputed to have a special relationship with the Goddess. Your grandfather would never talk to anyone about it that I know of. But perhaps you've noticed something odd about the land?"

"The fact that turnips grow from seed to maturity in four days? I thought it took much longer than that."

"Exactly. Any other place, it would take two seasons. It's not the village, either, it is your farm only. Michael, next door to you at Chicken Lil's, tried to grow turnips once. It took him the usual two seasons. The state your fields are in now...they were in full cultivation last Fall.

"It is a matter of fact that your fields are unusually fertile and vital. It is also a fact that when one of your family does not cultivate them, they go wild very quickly. Folklore claims that it has been that way for as long as people have lived here. The stories claim that this is because the Harvest Goddess blesses your family. The reasons vary with the telling and are so fantastic that one of your background could not possibly credit them. But the observed facts remain.

"Speaking practically, this is why Erehwon Farm is crucial to the villages' prosperity. Even if everyone else here farmed full time, they could not produce what Erehwon does. This is the source of the pressure that you probably feel to perform."

"Basil, I don't mind the pressure, or the work. Being here, on Erehwon Farm, is about the best option available to me now. I've been given a haven from the storm sweeping the outside world now, and I know if I am given, I must return."

"Good. Many people these days are all take and no give, as you doubtlessly know. I believe that is the source of many of our problems."

"Truer words were never spoken!"

"I know you've heard it from others, but you must speak with Pastor Carter soon. He can tell you so much more than the others of us can. And, being of the spirit by vocation, he may be more believable than a plant fanatic like myself. Ah, but it's getting late, and you are, I understand, a very early riser. We won't keep you any longer."

"Basil, he must have a piece of my strawberry cake first."

The talk moved to less serious matters. The cake was as good as promised.

"I thank you all for a delightful evening. That's the best meal, and the best company I've had in a long time. You all are most kind."

Basil said "We're pleased to have you, Jack. You must come again soon. A good evening to you!"

Mary then looked at her parents and said "Mom, Dad, can I walk Jack to his farm. I'll come right back."

"Dear, it's getting late and we needn't bother Jack."

"No bother at all, Anna. I would like the company. Mary, I'm ready when you are. Anna, Basil, thanks again."

We walked slowly, side by side towards the farm.

"You see, both my folks really like you. It's so good for the family to have a new friend. I'm surprised that Dad went into some of the mysteries of your farm so quickly, though."

"I suspect he thinks I have a need to know. Did you know about those things?"

"I've heard the same stories that we all have. About the Goddess being in love with the first man of your family to settle here and the like. It sounds to me as if their originators read far too many Gothic novels! The facts about your land are new to me. I guess I didn't pay enough attention when Dad was talking about them before."

"Well, here we are. I've still got some work to do...wait a second, I almost forgot." I reached into my backpack and gave Mary the bamboo shoot.

"Jack, I appreciate this, but you don't have to be foraging for me every night. You work too hard as it is."

"Like I said, I'll do the foraging in any case. The effort involved in getting one more shoot is much less than the pleasure it gives you, no?"

She giggled. "Now that's spoken like an engineer. I must be going home now, it's getting dark. I wish I could tell you to just go to bed but I know that's not an option for you." She looked serious. "Our family is with you, Jack. Don't hesitate to call on us if you need help. Good night, sleep well."

I watched for a moment as Mary walked back towards her house. Such kind people, I thought. Yes, working for people like that is as worthwhile as anything can be. It seemed like no effort at all to plant two more patches of turnips and water them, then do two foraging runs. It was almost twelve when I got to bed. It was worth it.