R7 middle era time period: “Farmer” (primate)

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Rimnoy and Rigeus begin meeting at the edge of the field in the morning. It’s a much shorter walk, so Rimnoy is happy to meet Rigeus and cut across the field on the way to the Learning Center.

Rigeus stays late at the Learning Center most of the time. Rimnoy is still uncomfortable about going through the field by himself. If Rigeus isn’t there, Rimnoy goes around the field. Rimnoy can either wait, study more, or walk home the long way. 

Rimnoy usually takes the old path to get home.

The latest capnorple crop grows up around them as they routinely cut across the field in the mornings. 

This morning, as the two are cutting across the field, Rigeus is talking about his boat again. Rimnoy doesn’t understand much about boats, but Rigeus seems happy to talk about it. Rimnoy just lets Rigeus talk and occasionally grunts an “Mmm” or a “Huh.”

Suddenly a booming voice calls out. “Hey! What are you kids doing here?”

The boys jump in surprise at the sound of the voice and the old farmer leaping out of the tall crop.

Rigeus is startled, but he has a plan in case he ever runs into the farmer. “We’re just saving a lot of time and effort by going across the field instead of going around it.”

The old farmer tries not to smile but can’t help it. “Well, I understand about trailin’ through.”

The farmer makes a late point. “. . . as long as you’re respectful!”

The farmer looks at the two boys, still trying not to smile. He does a double-take at Rimnoy.

The farmer barks at Rimnoy. “Have you been eating my capnorple?”

Rimnoy stands stiff, with his hands behind his back. Rimnoy has a mouthful of capnorple, which he hasn’t been able to chew or swallow since the farmer suddenly appeared. 

Rimnoy stares wide-eyed at the farmer and vigorously shakes his head.

Rigeus follows up on his earlier planned statement. “No. We’re just walking through to the Learning Center.”

The farmer’s demeanor is clearly more friendly. “Well, I don’t mind if you have some occasional good food.”

The farmer adds quickly, “As long as you’re respectful!”

The farmer seems to recite from memory, “That means no damaging the crop. And don’t be taking a lot of produce, or selling them or something. Most importantly, don’t be wasteful.”

Rigeus likes the old farmer. “We just want to travel through. We wouldn’t want to cause you any needless stress.”

The farmer is enjoying the talk with the kids. “I understand about taking the shorter path through my field.”

The farmer thinks about how things have changed, compared to when he was young. Sometimes, it’s difficult to comprehend. There are so many people now. Almost all of them are strangers, too.

The farmer gets serious, yet still friendly. “As long as it’s just you two. If a lot of people try to come through here, I’ll have to prevent everybody from being on the property.”

Rigeus is happy to hear this. “We understand. Thank you.”

The farmer shows concern for the boys. “I use some dangerous equipment working the fields. You need to be mindful. If you ever hear the equipment, you need to get out of the field as fast as you can.”

Rigeus smiles. “I know. I’ve watched you harvest many times. It’s very impressive how your machines collect the food.”

The farmer nods. “Yes, it is. Those machines are amazing.” He looks around at his crop. “Well, I’ve got to get back to work. You boys get on to your studies.”

The farmer starts to walk away. He turns back to the boys. He points his hand at them. “Don’t forget about being respectful!”

Rigeus is glad to have met the farmer. It was good to talk with him. It’s good to know that they have permission to cut through the field now.

Rigeus looks over at Rimnoy—he’s standing there, stiff as a tree. He looks terrified, like he’s about to pee his pants. He also has purple capnorple juice all around his mouth.

The farmer moves off to the side to let the boys get on their way. He chuckles to himself. He knows about trailin’ through fields.

Back when he was their age, everybody around had to trail through each other’s fields to get to most places.

The farmer has watched the movement of the kids through his field for a time. A few times, he followed the kids until they left the field. He’s seen these two boys trailin’ through and listened to them talk.

They seem like good kids. He wanted to meet them. He also wanted to lay down some of the ground rules.

Watching the kids scamper off, the old farmer feels a sadness in his heart about the things that have been lost.

Like with the trailin’ through—there was a sense of community about it. Everybody was happy to share a bite of food with the neighbors traveling through a field and everybody got to sample some different foods as they traveled.

That’s not the way it is anymore. It will never be that way again.

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