Chapter 12: The Mill

For a few weeks Diana and Emil watched and frequently helped as the new settlers began the tasks of laying out fields and building homes. It soon became clear that these new arrivals, while unused to the hard manual labor of farming and building, were honest and industrious. Once Emil and Diana were sure that their new neighbors were getting safely settled and could be relied upon, they began to think again about their own projects. The mill that Chad had mentioned piqued Emil's interest.

"If we could trade at this mill, we'd surely get a better deal than trading for flour with the villagers. We'd cut out the middle man and besides, the trip would be interesting," Emil reasoned.

Diana didn't disagree and was excited about the prospect of traveling somewhere beyond the valley. Once they had decided to make the trip, Emil doubled his hunting efforts, and within a week had killed and traded four feral pigs, three to the villagers and one to the newcomers. In return, he'd gotten a half-dozen old gold rings and a few solid silver coins. The rings and the coins could be easily carried and were the universally accepted currency of the time. They should be able to trade for enough flour to last them through a winter of baking.

It was early in the morning on a beautiful day in the second week of August when they began their journey to the mill. Emil and Diana rode side by side with all four dogs excitedly ranging ahead. They followed the directions that Chad had given them and rode following the river for almost two hours before they came to the narrow gorge where the river exited their valley. Here, the trail narrowed and ran directly alongside of the now swiftly-flowing river. They were forced to ride single file, and it would be a good spot for an ambush, but the dogs indicated no danger so they rode on without delay.

Soon the trail widened and they were through the gorge and into another green valley similar to their own. They rode on for another half hour and came to a spot where the river was joined by another larger tributary. Beyond this confluence, the river was almost 200 yards wide and from the dark color of the surface appeared to be quite deep. They continued on for another half hour and then pulled their horses to a stop when they spied a cable ferry across the river. Chad had described the ferry to them, and they would have to use it to cross the river to reach the mill. As they observed from a distance, they could see the two ferrymen who would pull the ferry across the river lounging on the bank. They approached, and the two men arose, smiles on their faces. The one who seemed to be boss didn't mince words.

"You got quite a group here. If you want to cross, it'll cost you two silver dimes, or the equal in trade."

"I was told it was one dime for a crossing," responded Emil, as he looked eye-to-eye with the man.

"It is, but we'll have to cross twice. With the horses, dogs and the two of you it's too much. We can only carry one horse at a time," argued the man.

While the argument sounded reasonable, Emil didn't like the idea of being separated from Diana by a river, especially in unfamiliar territory. He motioned her aside.

"Chad said these men were trustworthy, but I still don't like being apart. I'll go first to check out the other side of the river. You stay here with the dogs. This side of the river looks safe enough, but the dogs will be good protection in any case."

Diana thought the plan was a good one, so Emil tossed the boss ferryman a dime and then urged Charlie onto the flat-bottomed wooden barge that served as a ferry. At first the horse shied, but when Emil dismounted and led him by the reins he followed. As the ferrymen pulled away from the bank, the dogs barked and whined in confusion, but they stayed close to Diana.

With calloused hands, the ferrymen pulled powerfully on the higher of the two ropes that crossed the river. The second of the ropes dipped into the water and the barge itself rode on it, attached by two large pulleys through which the rope ran. The trip across was accomplished in a few minutes, and as Emil led Charlie from the barge, the ferrymen pulled back for Diana.

While the ferrymen made their way back to the opposite bank of the river, Emil took the opportunity to scout the road that led from the landing on his side. While the far bank was mostly green rolling meadows, this side of the river was heavily forested, and the road along the river toward the mill was narrow and bordered by tall trees and dense undergrowth. Emil checked the road for a few hundred yards, and saw no sign of danger. When he returned to the landing, he was relieved to see Diana leading Peek-a-boo and the dogs onto the ferry.

Diana's trip was as uneventful as Emil's, but as she led her horse from the ferry, she was pale, and shaking.

"Are you okay?" asked Emil with concern. "Did those men do something to upset you?"

Diana was rapidly recovering her color, and she shook her head. "No, the ferrymen were perfect gentlemen, especially after I told them who you are. I was upset because I can't swim and because you were on the other side of the river from me."

Emil was a fair swimmer because his father had taught him in the river, but the inability to swim was common. Unlike the old days, children in these times didn't have the luxury of growing up around the community swimming pool. Emil was touched by Diana's confession.

"You need not have worried. If anything had happened I would have come back for you," he assured her, and then as he thought a bit about all she'd said. "Who did you tell them I am?"

"Emil the Hunter, of course," she replied. "You're famous. The story of your battle with Black Morgan has traveled at least this far. You know that the farmers from the village trade at the mill too."