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Chapter 5: Where on the world we are? (part 6)

A whistle spread out. The slid was pushed up then slipped aside. Steam came out from the cauldron. The things inside was boiled. Amelinda immediately stood up, moved toward the fire
“It’s boiled. What should I do now?” squealed Amelinda, looking to Gwen.
Gwen raised his head “Stir it well. I’m coming.” he said loudly then bent down to slice the remaining herbs.
Amelinda turned to the cauldron, looked at the slid which was moving up and down because of steam. Loudly whistle still emitted with a lot of hot steam. 
“Do you know how to stop the thing?” said Amelinda, pitifully turned to Heracles.
“Let it to me.” said Heracles. He hurriedly took firewood from the fire. It made the fire turned gentler at one. The whistle stopped and there also didn’t have to much steam coming emitted out. Then Heracles grabbed on the lid, pulled it up. A cloud of white steam flew up when the lid was taken off. Laid it on ground, he grabbed on the big wooden spoon and started stirring. 
“Okay, let it for me.” said Gwen. He turned back at one after slicing all the herbs. Heracles stepped aside, gave Gwen the spoon. Gwen received it, moved in front of the cauldron. He stirred a while, then bent down, put some dry branches into the fire. The fire flared. He still stirred. Later, he stopped then moved to place he put spice jars. He brought all of them back to the fire. Put them down by his feet, he took the jar of olive oil, poured a little olive on the spoon then poured into the cauldron. Then salt, ground black pepper and some other spices were put into the cauldron after that. Gwen continued stirred. That moment grains were well cooked becoming a soup inside the cauldron. A delicious smell following steam came out and went to their nostrils. Heracles swallowed his saliva flush too much in mouth while Amelinda’s stomach growled. 
“It has good smell.” said Amelinda.
“Yes, it has to.” said Gwen smiling. He took half an orange, squeezed in his wooden spoon then poured into the boiling soup. He stirred a while then put all pieces of mushrooms in the soup. He took the lid, put upon the cauldron then bent down pulled firewood back to make fire turn smaller. He left the fire, went to Heracles and Amelinda then sat down. 
“In a few minutes we will have a meal.” said Gwen.
“How long is it? I really feel hungry now.” said Heracles. He smiled.
“Be patient. It’s done now.” said Gwen. He stood up, went to take a bowl and the eggs. Gwen broke the eggs in the bowl. He used a small spoon and started beating.
“What do you do with the bird egg?” said Amelinda, standing beside.
“I will be a part of our soup.” said Gwen. He stopped beating. He stood up, brought the bowl of eggs to the fire. The soup on it was still boiling. Gwen used the other hand to take the lid out; took a little soup from the cauldron, he tasted it. 
“Uhmm, it’s well.” Gwen said. He poured the bowl of eggs down then stirred the soup again. Seconds later, he bent down, pulled all of firewood out. The soup was heated on coals few minutes then was brought out, laid on the ground. The slices of herbs were put on the soup surface after that. Gwen scooped soup into a bowl.
“You first.” he said, handed a bowl to Amelinda.
“Thank you Gwen.” said Amelinda cutely. 
Gwen smiled. “Taste it.” he said, then continued scooped soup into another bowl. He gave it to Heracles after it was filled and then helped himself to have other bowl. While Gwen was scooping soup, Heracles got his spoon then scooped up a spoonful of soup, put into his mouth. As soon as the soup touch on Heralces’ tongue, the sweet of grain and mushrooms spread all over his mouth then greasy taste of bird eggs and olive oil, aroma of pepper and herbs came after another. The combination of them gave him great taste. He hurriedly scooped another spoonful of soup, raised then put in his mouth. 
“What’s about it?” asked Gwen, taking his spoon he just filled his bowl.
“It’s really great.” Heracles admitted. 
“I don’t think that you cook so good.” squealed Amelinda.
Gwen grinned widely. His nose turned red. “It must be.” he said. The meal lasted in few minutes. They all rested at their places a bit before they cleaned after the lunch. It took them few more minutes. Gwen stored his stuff back into his space ring then they moved. They found the way walk along the shore. 
“If you want to find something, head upstream.” said Gwen. Therefore, they walked along the shore heading upstream. The pebbles was left behind they went far and far away from it. It’s about half an hour they went along the stream before to be prevented. In front of them the moment was trees and bushes which stood right next to the water and completely blocked their way. Therefore, they stopped, searching around to see another aisle but it seemed not to any. Heracles decided to wade in water and moved ahead. The stream was wilder and deeper there. Gwen and Amelinda kept staying on the shore watching on Heracles’s back waiting.
“There had no way ahead. We have to go back.” shouted Heracles. He turned his way, walked back to Amelinda and Gwen.
“Trees and bushes covered entire the shore ahead. We have no way choice but to go back.” added Heracles in low voice as he got back to his friends.
“It’s also late the darkness will quickly cover upon this place. We should find the way to go back our tent.” suggested Amelinda. “It’s not safe to wander in night.”
“Honestly, it’s dangerous. We should hurry up” added Gwen.
Quickly they turned back and went. Following the shore which led them to there they headed to pebbles where they rested before. Incidentally Heracles saw some footprints on the way. The footprints seemed to belong to a horse. Heracles’s not sure. Therefore, he hinted the others to stop and observe them. The footprints looked more horse footprints but they were bigger much. However, they all didn’t know which exactly the animal the footprints belong to so they left the place and later, they got back the place where the stream was narrowest. Heracles went ahead wading pass the stream. Amelinda and Gwen were right after. When they stepped on the other side, it started getting dark and seemed to get fast inside forest. They all took out their scepters and used them to light up their way. The people, three light sources moved fast in night. Their speed turned faster and faster they kept walking in quiet, not to speak too much to the others.



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