I had taken prepared wood to my room and worked in secret. It took me several rotations. When Odum came early to the ranch, he found me on a ladder nailing the placard over the barn door. I went down to him and awaited his response.

Odum turned from the sign to me and said with a straight face, “Never read or write. Just talk.”

Deflated, I said, “Well, it says Odum's Ranch.”

Odum looked back at the placard. He stared intently before turning to find my eyes. He asked, “That Odum's name?”

I said, “Some of your work requires that you read and write. How about we take a turn each rotation, and I'll show you the basics.”

Odum said, “Hard worker. No time for read write and basics too.”

I said, “Let's meet by the falls at mid-turn each rotation.”

Odum nodded and walked past me to his duties. I put the ladder away and hurried to help. We filled the feeders for eager animals and put water in the troughs. The reward of such work is that you get to see how the animals appreciate your labor.

Apple bypassed the hay, deciding to nuzzle me for her treat. I had a pitted peach in my pocket. I unwrapped it slowly, and Apple stamped in nettled anticipation. She took it from my hand, chewing with an animated nod of her head, her long mane dancing across her neck.

Odum said, “Apple not like Odum.”

“Horses get attached,” I said. “Pick one of the others. Treat it well.”

Odum pointed out a sable mare. “That one,” he said.

I said, “Give her attention and patience. Groom her. Give her treats and a name. She'll be yours.”

“Call her Hay,” said Odum.

I laughed. “Okay,” said I. “Get her to trust you, and I'll teach you to ride. I'm heading to the fisheries. Don't forget to come to the garden at mid-turn for a lesson.”

Odum stopped me as I turned to leave. I looked into his brown eyes, and he dropped his hand from my arm. His expression was serious as he spoke without reserve. “Odum need all of barn. Ask Jeez to move tree work to other place. Odum build place for tools.”

I was caught off guard by Odum's request. “Okay,” I said slowly.

He said, “Boss Odum big man at Odum's Ranch. Have name now.”

I nodded and offered an agreeable smile. “That's right,” I said. If that was his way of saying thanks, I would accept. “I'm sure I've picked the right man for the job. Make me proud.” He did not smile, but I saw him stand a bit taller for my words.

We faced the falls with our legs beneath the bench; it was just the right height to be our table. I had written out the letters and Odum had copied them. I wrote his name slowly while sounding it out. I did the same for my name. I wrote and sounded the words, falls, and bench. Odum displayed a natural aptitude for writing and seemed happy with his achievements. I wrote out the words he needed to know; ranch, barn, cow, bull, horse, Apple, and Hay.

He set the pen aside and stared at the falls. Our time there was peaceful. He turned to me and said, “Name little cows Hoh, Pah, and Bea.”

“Good,” I replied. “See if you can write them.” At his hesitation, I said, “Sound them out and write the letters as you go.”

Odum stared at the synthetic pages; one had the practice letters, one had the names. He took the pen with slow deliberation and held it above the latter page. Then, he began vocalizing the names. He wrote Ho, Pa, and Be.

“Very good,” said I when he looked at me. I asked, “Why those names?” I touched the names he had just finished.

Odum looked back at his names with a smile, and after a moment, he said. “Old Kee. Hoh is want. Pah is take. Bea is vow.”

I took the pen from Odum and slid the name page in front of me; there was still a little space at the bottom of it. I wrote Odum's name, and under it, I wrote the name Ava. I said, “This is you and this is Ava.” I circled the two names and said, “Together.”

Odum took back the page, rubbing his hand over the names. He seemed lost in the connection. After a reverent pause, Odum turned to me and said, “Hard to wait.”

I wiggled free of the bench and stood. I removed my top and my sandals. I said, “Let's swim.”

We splashed and laughed like children. It is a memory I hold dear. Afterward, we simply floated. There was not a lot of talk, so I was surprised when Odum blurted out, “Odum alone. Watch animals. All have mates. All males give and all females take. Not Odum.”

Loneliness was something I understood quite well. I felt sad for my friend and tried to console him. “Be patient. It won't be much longer.”

“Odum know patient,” said he. “Not patient with patient. Waiting make Odum angry.”

I had no answer for him. His frustration had to play out. No one could help him with it. I found the shallow bottom and waded to shore. I put on my top and sat on the bench to dust the sand from my feet. I had not yet put my sandals on when Odum called from where he was still afloat in the cool blue water.

“Odum look through door,” said he. “Can't get hand outside. Bad pain.”

I turned and watched him float a moment before I answered. “I have an invisible guard set to keep wild animals out. It's a big and dangerous world out there.”

“Want to see,” said Odum.

I said, “Once we get a horse under you, we'll go out.” I thought about Odum outside facing wolves or armed primitives. I stood and added, “I should teach you to fight and use a weapon. One mistake can cost your life.”

Odum sat up and waded ashore. After he dressed, I shifted us to the side to remove the water. Odum took the pen and pages and we set out through the enclosures. Wild animals ran from us seeking safety. We parted without speaking, Odum for Thusa, and I for my room.

In time, Odum tamed the heart of Hay; she sought him on all occasions, looking for a treat. Together, we got her in a saddle, and Odum walked her around the field. Hay took to the saddle, and Odum regularly groomed her, standing on a stool and leaning across her back for the tools and rags on the fence.

Aside from Hay, and writing exercises, Odum and I met just before dark mode to spar. I thought I had something to teach him, but he was a natural fighter. The thing that kept me ahead of him was the military training. I tutored him in knives and blunt weapons; he seemed quite handy with a quarterstaff. By the time he graduated to a bow and arrows, he was riding. Hay seemed as happy with Odum as Apple was with me.

We took our horses on a ride through the fourths. The gentle hills of second fourth challenged Odum's new skill. We moved with slow deliberation through the fisheries, and then across to fourth fourth, stopping at the falls to let the horses drink. From there, we rode through Hope, and Thusa before returning to the ranch. I actually saw Odum smiling.

“Odum riding now,” said he. “Soon go outside with Jeez.”

“Soon,” I replied.

Odum said, “Odum saddle not as Jeez'.”

“Sorry,” I said. “I did the best I could. I'm better with wood than leather. That's not to say you have to keep it.”

“You give Jeez saddle?” he asked.

“No,” I answered. “You can make your own. You know where the leather is.”

Odum looked crestfallen, but not for long. I noticed how far along his beard was. It was a healthy growth. He cast a rye gaze my way and grinned.

“Bet Odum saddle better than Jeez',” said he.

I returned his smile and said, “How can I bet against you? You're good at everything you do.”

Odum tilted back his head and laughed. Nodding, Odum said, “Now, you know Odum.”

Dark mode caught us at Thusa. My belly growled, and we laughed. At the ranch, we unburdened our mounts and gave them treats, then raced back to Thusa. Odum easily beat me. Winded, we attempted to laugh, but the result, itself, was laughable.

We grilled fish and vegetables and remained by the ebbing flame long after the meal. It had been the best rotation in recent memory. The tension between Odum and me seemed a thing of the past. I remember laying on my back to watch the star patterns above. They had been the same since I was young.

“GM,” I called.

The Great Mind answered, “Yes.”

I asked, “Can we change the overhead mapping to reflect the sky of this world?”

“It is done,” said the GM. I must have blinked; I didn't see the difference, but I could hear Odum snoring softly.

We had the horses saddled for our first excursion. Provision bundles, tools, and ropes were tied behind; Hay danced under the strange load. The intent was to work the garden, store supplies in the cabin, and cut and haul trees for future work. Odum seemed excited and carried his quarterstaff like a lance as we rode away from the ship.

The star was bright, birds sang loudly, and everything amazed my wide-eyed companion. We dressed alike; light work pants and sleeveless vests. I had my guns in my belt, while on my arms, I had my pen and wand affixed and we carried food in our bundles, expecting to work late. The air was sweet, and while Odum marveled at the new world, I kept a wary eye on our surroundings.

We left the clearing and entered the cool closeness of the trees. Deer skipped away, while Odum, childlike, pointed and gaped. It was a pleasant camaraderie we shared, unspoiled by conversation. The path narrowed and Odum rode ahead of me in silent reverence. I, too, was still enthralled by the beauty of the new world. I relaxed; I let my guard down.

A bear jumped from cover, and with a jarring growl, took a swipe at Hay. Hay reared in a panic and Odum tumbled. Taking flight with wild eyes, Hay disappeared down the simple trail. My own mount had also reared; before I could think to shift, I fell hard on my back. Apple kicked at the bear and fled through the trees.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. A young black bear stood over me, and with nothing more than a feral snort, fell on me. I did not have time to draw a gun or reach for the pen. We were face to slavering maw when Odum struck the bear from behind. I saw it clearly in the corner of my eye; the quarterstaff broke in half, and as the bear raised and turned, Odum rapped its muzzle with the half in his hand.

The bear raked Odum with long claws. The wood was knocked from his hand as he fell back. Then, the bear was atop him with a growl. My heart was pumping as I jumped to my feet. Odum held the bear's head with his hands and yelled mightily in the bear's face. Odum was strong, but not strong enough; the bear took Odum's shoulder in its jaws and reared back to shake its prey. That's when I stepped up and touched the bear with my stasis pen. Both bear and man were instantly unconscious with the bear solidly atop my friend.

It took all my strength to push the bear off Odum I slapped his face repeatedly as I called his name. I was alarmed by the wound on his shoulder. Odum started and struggled from my grip. He awakened angry and immediately jumped to his feet. With a broken half of the quarterstaff in hand, Odum fell on the unconscious bear with a howl of fury. He stabbed the bear repeatedly with the pointed end of the staff.

All I could do was stand back until Odum fully vented his rage. Finally, falling to his knees, Odum sought to catch his breath as he leaned on the bloody stake. He looked up at me, chest heaving. I was amazed; Odum was clearly shaken.

“You're bleeding,” I said. “We need to get you back.”

That is when I heard the growling of wolves behind us. As I turned, Odum jumped to his feet and walked into the jaws of the wolves. It is an image I will never forget. Odum stood with one wolf by its throat while expertly working the other with his stake. They died with frightened yelps, and Odum stood back to survey his work. Then, he fell to his knees and caught himself by stabbing the earth and holding on.

I took my friend in hand just as he fell to his side. I scanned the surroundings and perceived no further threat. I shifted Odum to the Seed Ship, and went for the horses; once I had them back, I returned to Odum. He slept and bled on the path to the central tree.

“GM,” I said. “Ready the med lab. Anesthetics and antibiotics. Wall cot, lights, and surgical suture.” What a brave man, I thought.

Odum refused convalescence; I had to threaten his position at the ranch just to get him to stand still. Seven rotations after the bear encounter, Odum was back at the ranch, his arm in a sling. He missed Hay and met her at the fence with a treat. I put out bundles of hay and changed the water. I fed the bull and cleaned up. Odum's work on the new stall was incomplete.

“Let me finish for you,” I said as he entered the barn.

“Odum finish,” was his grumpy response.

I added, “There's not much you can do with just one arm.”

“Arm heal,” said Odum. “Odum finish work.”

I sighed and said, “Well, don't rush. The arm needs to heal completely. You saved me from a bear. Anything you need, just let me know.”

Odum said, “Don't forget wolves.”

“How could I?” was my response. “I'm headed for the fisheries. You can come with me if you like. Bring your pole. I'm sure you can fish with one arm.”

The stolid response was, “Say goodbye to Hay. Meet you.”

I left Odum with his horse and walked along the back fence. Apple followed me to the end, where I stopped and gave her a second treat. The first pond was the largest, and it stood below tall conifers. I opened the storage shed and brought out two traps. I tied them down and tossed them out; I preferred to catch the things with claws that way. Being pinched once was enough.

It was cool below the towering pines as I walked to the second pond. I cleared pine needles from the fox gloves and lilies on my way. The sound of flitting birds, and the occasional chirping was tranquil; I could have stretched beneath a pine and napped, but there was work to do. I climbed the short hill and stood looking down at the second pond. It was smaller than the first pond, an oval in a clearing, surrounded by an earthen mound. The storage shed had no door, and a small net was draped over hooks in the outer wall. I saw my foxes among the cattails.

Turning at a noise from behind, I saw Odum climbing the hill with his pole and a small cage with black crickets. I turned back to view the pond and wait. A moment later, Odum stood beside me raising the cage for my inspection.

“Found volunteers,” he said.

Odum sat on the raised bank putting a brave volunteer on the end of his hook. I placed the small net on the far side. He cast his line just as I raised my eyes, then, he placed the pole in the elbow of a buried limb and put his bare foot on the base of the pole.

I called over, “Guess I'll do the last pond. Enjoy your fishing. I'll leave some mushrooms by the longhouse.”

Odum called back, “Don't forget.”

“Forget what?” I asked.

He answered, “Ava wake soon.”

Ava's rousing was just rotations away. It was not like I would suddenly have two friends on the ship; Odum was a jealous soul. I turned from thoughts of future friction between the two of us and settled my mind on gladness for Odum's gain.

Odum called over, “Odum do consummation. Very animal. Like Lamet.”

I pictured the bull with the cows and shook off the raw imagery. “You sound desperate,” I called back.

Odum replied, “Very animal.”