Susine and I exchanged letters with each supply drop-off. Here are the ones she left for me, starting with her response to my cringey self-introduction.

  Look-see, I don't know who you really are.

  Calling yourself “Dahra, a friend of Miye Jonas” is a flimsy try.

  Sure, you know the names of certain people-- so what? Doesn't prove your trustworthiness whatsoever.

  You could be absolutely anyone.

  So, no thank you.

  I’m not interested in “broadening my social circle” or “connecting gradually over time”.

  Consider yourself warned: If you attempt to harm my near-dear ones in any way, I shall immediately take action.

  I wish you and all outsiders would leave us alone.

  **

  I had hoped to not hear from you again. But there's another one of your notes with the provisions.

  Nir needs to explain to me how you finagled yourself in here.

  You claim to know Professor Miye Jonas. How? Because you heard some stories about him? Because you bought synthetic memories purporting to be his?

  It seems that Nir has given you responsibility for the supply drops. Sigh. He must believe you are who you claim to be. But I have no way to verify it for myself.

  I've been put in a difficult spot.

  Nonetheless, I appreciate the wild honeycomb you left for me. I know Nir stays away from bees and Brivo has no interest.

  So, it's likely that you collected it. And decided to share with me.

  You weren't required to do this.

  So, I wonder, what is it that you want?

  **

  To answer your question: no, I am not surprised that Brivo refuses to talk about me.

  I imagine he feels I've abandoned him. True-tell, I have technically done so-- twice.

  First, I sent him away from the dangers at the Genubei compound while I stayed behind. Then, just after arriving in Vinlandia and seeing him again, I chose to live a solitary existence in the woods here.

  One time he asked to come visit and I said no.

  There's been no communication since.

  He probably still blames me for not being the mother he needed. It isn't his fault, but I never chose to be his mother.

  Tell him sorry, would you, Dahra? In some way he can maybe understand.

  **

  When I read your note with this delivery, true-tell, I was displeased, Dahra.

  Let me be clear, I do not desire visitors or any unexpected contact.

  The rules are simple-- written communication via supply drops at the agreed-upon location and time. No more, no less.

  I haven't and I won't invite you to visit me in person. Do not take this personally.

  My existence is peaceful and complete. It's best that I don’t impose on other people.

  I recognize your curiosity so I will briefly describe my home out here.

  I live in a dome shelter. It's like an upside down basket, woven with willow limbs and covered in cedar bark and moss. It is dry, warm, and comfortable. A water source is nearby and I have a cooking hearth.

  I forage wild cranberries, greens, roots, and mushrooms.

  That's all I want to say on this.

  If you can spare any airtight jars, I would appreciate them for storing my plant materials.

  Please give Nir this pouch of nettle leaves for his tea.

  **

  I received the carved bowl. Thank you, it is a thoughtful gift.

  Yes, I do understand that Brivo wonders about Miye. He probably has gaps and unexplained memory fragments from his early life.

  Here are a couple pages from Miye's journal from the time when he lived with us at the Slab. He would want Brivo to have them. Would you please see that he gets them, Dahra?

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  This little one named Brivo likes to be swaddled against my chest when we go walking. His mother, Susine, seems to appreciate that I take him out. It's very nice that she trusts me with him.

  Brivo and I check the beetle colonies, look at the algae, and walk among the trees. When we get back, he's hungry and Susine gives him what he needs. She never indulges in idle chitchat and neither do I. We agree to simply be. Of course, the little one leads the way in that task!

  Earlier today, he and I lay on a blanket in the sun near the big granite slab. I told Brivo a story. It went something like this...

  Did you know that a small tortoise lives in these woods, Brivo? With a strong, brown, dusty shell and little claws to grip the ground.

  A squirrel lives around here, too. I've often seen her running along that tree branch right above our heads. From up there, Squirrel likes to observe the small tortoise.

  Every morning, Tortoise slowly ambles her way across that rocky hillside over there and then down the ridge towards the stream. Each time she takes a different path.

  To Squirrel, this kind of unplanned wandering seems illogical. Squirrel never roams willy-nilly, instead she travels on established runways between food and nest.

  “I am efficient. I am safe. I survive,” Squirrel thinks. “I've already made three round trips to the outer branches while that inefficient, shell creature down there has covered only a meter across the ground! Ha!”

  One day while looking down from the tree, Squirrel saw Tortoise try to climb that boulder there. Do you see it, Brivo? Tortoise clambered up and, for a moment, balanced the flat underside of her shell on the curved, granite top. Then, she toppled off, rolled downhill, and came to stop, upside down, at the base of Squirrel's tree.

  “Ha-ha-ha-ha!” Squirrel almost fell off the branch with laughter. “You awkward creature! What a shame that you aren't quick-footed and agile like me! Now you're stuck.”

  Squirrel stared down at the inverted tortoise. “What a burden to haul your shell everywhere. I daresay that I've witnessed you humiliate yourself today, tumbling out of control like that. I should spread this embarrassing information throughout the woodland! After all, you're supposed to be the wise one-- ha! What do you say to this?”

  With prolonged effort, Tortoise leveraged her legs against the tree trunk and uprighted her body. Finally, she tilted her head to gaze up at Squirrel.

  In an almost undetectably quiet voice, she murmured a simple message. “You go your own way. It's the only way you know. Even if it is 'ugly' or 'slow'.”

  Squirrel quivered on the branch with indignation. “What! You dare call me ugly, oh you plain, clumsy tortoise? If you think anyone in the woodlands will believe that I am slow, then stupid on you. I dare you to find any creature to support your--”

  While Squirrel rattled on, Tortoise made her steady way through the bushes towards the delicious grasses by the stream.

  Who knows where Tortoise is at the moment, but Squirrel hasn't stopped chattering ever since. Listen, there she is now, Brivo!

  Brivo's eyes were closed as he napped in the sun.

  **

  I received your note, Dahra, and am glad to hear that Brivo enjoyed reading Miye's pages.

  You think Nir misses me. Why would you say such a thing?

  I cannot abide gossip. Straight talk always, please.

  I am including a note for Nir. Be sure that he receives it. Thank you.

  Dahra, I know you are eager to get to know me. I gently point out, dear, that eagerness can trespass into demanding others to comply with scripts.

  Let's not strangle our budding friendship.

  In natural time, our knowing may bloom and bear fruits of trust and joy. There may be decay. Either way, let's embrace the adventure as each day composts into the next. What else is there to do?

  Here's a page from Miye's journal that he left at the Slab. And that I couldn't leave behind. I think it is relevant. If he could have known, I’m sure Miye would be happy for you to have it.

  I have no idea who will ever read this. It's a message in a bottle-- curled, tucked in, corked, and tossed.

  There is an old proverb-- “A liar should have a good memory.”

  Now, in my seventh decade of life, I remember little. I know even less. All I have are my senses to experience truth in the moment.

  “We must accept our reality as vastly as we possibly can; everything, even the unprecedented, must be possible within it.” --Rainier Maria Rilke

  To Whom it May Concern:

  On this quest to accept vast possibility, I hope you encounter joy, adventure, wonder, and freedom. Never forget to feel worthy of it.

  **

  Yes, Dahra, I heard the drone warning.

  Vinlandia is no longer a safe haven.

  I won't passively watch-wait. I know what is at stake.

  Perhaps you remember when I hesitated to leave the Slab. I thought it couldn't be so bad. Then I found myself like a flower blooming during a blizzard. Or a migrating bird blown off course and stuck in unforgiving terrain.

  Don't worry, I won't make the same mistake twice.

  Nir and I are following the plan we set in motion long ago.

  You and Brivo... all I can say is to take good care of each other. You know what to do.

  May memories always be safe in our minds and hearts.

  See you on the other side.

  Yours truly,

  Susine