Chapter 02 part i

Transparency

Bringing out bits of brush from her walk, Mary pulled bits of wood and branches, building a small pyramid of small rocks, and dead detritus. “I think three feet should do it,” thought Mary, as she cleared as much grass, branch, and other potentially flammable materials about her. With the area policed, Mary considered. “Hmm … and how am I supposed to start a fire?”

Thinking through her meager possessions, Mary focused on shelter. “I believe I saw some branches that should do nicely for a roof,” said Mary as she headed toward the building materials. “Maybe I’ll find something to start a fire as well,” commented Mary, as she walked toward the trees. “At least I started setting up camp while the sun was still out – everything is easer to find.”

As Mary walked closer to the trees, several fallen logs caused her to walk awkwardly, in a side-ways fashion; Mary’s attention was gently diverted toward her right knee. As walked closer to the trees a small light appeared on the ground near her foot. “I wonder what that is,” considered Mary, as she slowed her pace. “I don’t remember seeing that earlier.”

With the sun heavily overhead, and having cleared the fallen logs, Mary looked back over her path. “Where is it,” wondered Mary, as she retraced her footsteps several times. “I know I saw it here somewhere.” Not having any success, Mary walked back along the way she had come, again hitting the portion of the path that required her to walk side-ways. As she stepped carefully between fallen trees, Mary again noticed the light. “What? I just looked over here,” responded Mary, as she stopped to take a closer look.

The light moved back and forth slightly as Mary continued wondering at the source. “It might be easier to see if I got a closer look,” said Mary to her shadow as she began to kneel. Mid-kneel, the small light suddenly disappeared, and Mary stood up slowly; as soon as Mary stood, the small light appeared again.

“Curious,” said Mary, as she looked at the light. Intending to get a better look at the light, Mary began to walk around it; the light followed Mary’s exact motion. As Mary would move toward a rock, a nearby tree, or the path, the light moved in unison. “Ah, perhaps …” though Mary as she traced a path from the light on the ground toward herself. As her eyes walked up her pant leg, she realized the only thing on that side of her body was the flask.

Turning her head toward the flask, the sun beat down upon Mary’s unprotected neck. Looking down, Mary realized were the small light was coming from; the cap of the flask, so recently drawn from the stone well, held a brushed metal exterior. The top of the cap revealed bits of the interior of the container, spring water sloshing about, with bits of light reflected back toward Mary. “Wow, what a beautiful device,” said Mary appreciatively, as she moved the flask back and forth. The array of colors brightly shone back in her eyes – and the small light on the ground moved in unison. “This makes no sense,” responded Mary, as she watched the light in her eyes compliment the dimmer copy on the ground. “Why am I even seeing that light on the ground?”

Looking at the flask itself, the brushed metal exterior revealed nothing; letting the sun bake her brow a bit, Mary uncapped the flask and began drinking some of the precious spring water.

The flash nearly blinded her.

“Ah!” yelled Mary as she slammed her eyes shut and fell backwards. “The bottom is transparent too!” Excited, Mary closed the flask and held it level in both hands at roughly waist level. The small light appeared, lazily drawing lines to match her hand’s motion.

“I wonder if I could use this to …” thought Mary, as she headed back to her camp. Moments later her small outcropping came into view and she stood near the small stack of kindling. “It was so very bright. I wonder if turning it upside down could somehow focus the sunlight into a single point.” Curious, Mary held it above the small stack of grass, dead leaves, and miniature branches.

“I feel like an idiot,” complained Mary, holding the flask in an inverted position. “It sounds good in theory, but who ever thought of starting a fire with water?!” Mary continued in this way, experimenting with height, angle, and water level through occasional sips. Ten, then twenty minutes followed one another, and still Mary saw now flame. “If this doesn’t work in …” said Mary immediately prior to being interrupted by a small bit of smoke on the kindling below.

“Ooooh, that is hopeful! What did I do,” asked Mary, as she remembered her last few steps. After moving the flask a bit more at an angle and a little lower, the smoke grew, touching another bit, another bit, and eventually gently igniting the pile. Dropping down slowly, Mary blew on the pile. Small bits of red and orange invited other bits of brush and dead flora to sing praises of heat and light.

“Yes!” cried Mary, as she proudly and slowly stoked the small fire. Glad that she had already cleared an area around the growing fire, and keeping an eye on the small sparks that leapt from the collection of brush, Mary walked to where she had piled several longer branches. “I shall build a bit of a shelter,” said Mary as she grabbed two of the longer and lighter branches. “It would probably have been better if I’d built the shelter before the fire,” chided Mary, as she slowly generated a bit of protection against the near evening. “It is, however, my first fire; I’m so surprised that it worked!”


So, what should Mary do now?
1) Continue keeping an eye on the fire?
“I have never been on this island before,” thought Mary, as the flame danced slowly and brilliantly to her side. “It doesn’t look like it gets much rain. I probably won’t even need a serious shelter; but, that fire looks dangerous. Better safe than sorry.”

2) Reinforce the fire circle?
“I’ve watched some of those nature shows,” thought Mary, as the flame seemed to walk in jerky circles around its center. “Too many forest fires have been started by careless hikers and campers. I had better widen the fire circle, just in case the wind picks up, bringing a burning ember onto a nearby collection of grass.”

3) Dig a bit of a trench around the fire, creating a barrier of sand?
“It is probably a bit obsessive,” thought Mary, as she began moving small mounds of sand around the campfire. “I’ve heard sand is a great way to keep a fire in check.” It won’t be pretty, but at least the forest will be safe.

4) Put out the fire, build the shelter, reinforce the fire circle, and then restart the fire
“I bet I can probably get the fire started again,” thought Mary, walking toward the fire. “In addition, I need to build shelter and thus will be unable to watch the fire, I think I’ll put it out.” Grabbing a handful of sand, Mary softly littered the fire. Hissing, the small flames flickered. Not seeing any other embers, Mary began drawing the branches together. In short order, the fire was out, the shelter was quickly constructed, and Mary sat back, enjoying her labors.

5) Your suggestion(s)?