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Showing results for tags 'cyanos'.
Found 28 results
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Episode 40 – Ham Solo and Chewbarker
Craig-Abcvs posted a City Journal entry in Cyanos: Ice, Wind and Fire
Episode 40 - Ham Solo and Chewbarker -
Episode 36 - Blue Eyed Bugle Boy
Craig-Abcvs posted a City Journal entry in Cyanos: Ice, Wind and Fire
Episode 36 - Blue Eyed Bugle Boy -
Episode 35 - Kaerulaus
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Episode 33 - Balls and Malls
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Episode 32 – Silk Pajamas
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Episode 30 - Awake
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Episode 29 - The Rescue
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Episode 28 – One Small Voice
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Jaak and Tag go to visit Layan and meet someone new, who knows more about the stones. Episode 25 – Grandpa Snow
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The morning school bus ride gets off to a flying start and the boys decide to schedule another visit to Layan. Episode 24 – Airbus
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Jaak, Tag and Dieter make a visit to Layan to show him their find and follow some cookie crumbs. Episode 22 – Cyan Stones
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Jaak, Tag and Dieter go camping together and Tag notices that some things are changing. Episode 19 – Extra Fur
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Dieter’s exuberance gets him into a sticky situation and the boys learn that there are more lava tubes to explore in the valleys. Episode 18 – Trail Tales
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Tag is introduced to a new friend, but not before a reluctant start! Episode 17 – Tag You’re It!
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Dieter arrives at Jaak’s cabin and is given an orientation of the facilities. Episode 16 – Cats and Dogs
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Jaak’s friend arrives from Aoraki, and cultural adjustments need to be made. Episode 15 – Slobberfication
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Episode 12 – Beaver Dam Jaak has a bad night's sleep. An impressive feat of engineering. Altai and Jaak have a heart to heart.
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Episode 10 – Hanne
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Episode 9 – Lizzie
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Jaak’s Cabin – The Valleys Layan: Right then! Let’s take a look at that donkey engine and see what kind of shape she’s in! First things first though – I’ll need some tools – crescent spanners, screw drivers, an engineering hammer and an oil can – things like that. Do you think you can find them? Jaak: Sure I can! There are tools down in the basement – I’ll go and see what I can find. After some time rummaging, Jaak appeared back up from the basement, with a toolbox filled with various tools and a long spouted oil can with a push button lever. The pair then made their way over to the donkey engine and conducted an initial appraisal of their project. As it turned out the donkey engine despite its age, was in reasonably good shape. Layan observed that all the basic working parts and valves were all still present, saying all it should take is a bit of time to disassemble, clean and then reassemble the engine, to hopefully get it going again. Together they set about to take apart the engine’s working parts, using the oil to soak into bolts and fittings that had not moved for years. They laid all the parts out onto a flat canvas sheet on the ground. Jaak cleaned the parts first by soaking in paraffin and then cleaning them with a stiff wire brush and some old rags. They worked steadily all morning, with Layan taking the time to carefully explain what each part, fitting and valve did. Jaak was captivated, asking lots of questions, which Layan patiently answered – sometimes asking Jaak questions in turn as to what he thought a certain part or fitting did, or what it was for. Jaak was a quick learner, and was often able to correctly figure out what each piece did. Finally all the parts had been thoroughly cleaned and carefully laid out on the canvas. Jaak, stood back and admired their progress. Suddenly his stomach growled loudly. One of Layan’s ears swiveled in Jaak’s direction. Layan: Hooyaa! – that rumble will register on the valley seismographs! Why don’t we stop for lunch, and we can get to reassembling the engine this afternoon. At that moment the sound of a pick-up truck rumbled up the drive. It was Tenzing. Jaak: Hiya Tenzing! We were just about to stop and have lunch – you want to join us? Tenzing: Well that’d be perfect timing! I don’t mind if I do! Layan called me on the radio last night and said he was comin’ down here today – I thought’d swing past and see how you two were gettin’ along. Jaak: We’re doing great! We have already got the donkey engine apart and cleaned up all the moving parts. Jaak then went inside the cabin and returned with bread, cheese, cured meats, and pickles. Together they made enormous door stop sandwiches, all washed down with another pot of sweet milky coffee. After lunch they all returned to the disassembled donkey engine. Tenzing: So. Anyone here got the faintest idea how this thing goes back together? Layan raised an eyebrow at Tenzing and put on a mock high cultured accent. Layan: Tenzing – my dear old thing – this thing as you call it is a finely honed piece of mechanical engineering! You don’t think for a moment that my esteemed colleague and I would have spent all this time this morning cleaning and preparing all these engine parts if one of us didn’t know how to put it all back together! Layan paused and gave Jaak a hard-stare. So Jaak old chap – just how do we put this fine piece of mechanical engineering back together again? Inquiring minds want to know – eh what, what! Jaak was now starting to get used to Layan’s quirky ways and played along – although he had no idea how to do a silly high cultured accent. Jaak: Well. Um. It’s all fairly simple you see. Er – well you pretty much sorta kinda take those bits down there and you stick’em together again over there… Jaak waved grandly in the direction of the donkey engine firebox and empty engine bed. …and when you’ve done that you light a fire in that, and yeah – that makes a head of steam and that arm thing go back and forth and that makes the wheel thing-a-ma-jigger turn around! Both Tenzing and Layan chuff-roared with laughter. Layan: Excellent grasp young cub! Now let’s get this grand old lady put back together! Reassembling the donkey engine did not take nearly as long as the disassembly, now all the parts had been cleaned and they had Tenzing to help with the heavier items like the large flywheel. Soon the neat lines of parts on the canvas sheet dwindled, and the donkey engine once again took shape. The winch mechanism was left as it was, – that would not be needed. Jaak then began to fill the boiler using a hand pump that was fed directly from a pail of water. Several pail loads later the boiler was full. One thing that the valleys did not lack was a supply of readily available firewood. Jaak soon had a stack of firewood ready to load into the firebox. He carefully stacked in the wood, starting with lighter twigs and tinder in the centre, then progressively heavier logs criss-crossed on top, allowing sufficient gaps for the air to flow once the fire was lit. Jaak: It’s just like setting the fire in the cabin wood stove really. Layan: Now let’s get her fired up! Jaak struck a match and lit the fire. The fire quickly caught and began to burn vigorously. However the fire box soon filled with smoke and billowed back out the firebox doorway. Tenzing: Uh oh. Looks like the chimney might be block… Before Tenzing could even finish his sentence, there was a sudden woosh, and a huge black cloud of smoke and sparks came erupting from the smoke stack. Bits of charred twigs, ash and feathers came raining back down in a sooty shower. Tenzing: I think the she jus’ sneezed an’ cleared ‘er nose! I’d bet there was an ol’ birds nest stuck in the smoke stack! Once the chimney had cleared, the fire took off properly and they spent the next half hour or so feeding the fire more wood to get the water boiling and produce steam. Layan had explained that they would need around 60 PSI of steam pressure in the boiler to run the piston that drove the fly wheel. The pressure on the gauge slowly rose. Jaak: It’s coming up to 60 PSI! Steam began to escape from the pop off valve as the pressure increased in the boiler. Layan: OK! Now let’s give ‘er some steam! Layan then carefully opened the steam valve that fed the engine’s main piston. Steam then flowed into the piston with a loud hiss, however the piston arm and flywheel didn’t move. Layan: Tenzing! Give the flywheel a little turn! Tenzing gave the flywheel a gentle turn and soon the piston arm started to move back and forth, and the flywheel began to turn. The familiar sound of the steam engine chuff-chuffity-chuff then filled their ears. Jaak: Whoohooo! It’s working! The two older cats and one cub all grinned at each other with boyish glee. For a while they happily watched the engine chuff away, and the flywheel spinning. Layan: Splendiferous! Tenzing: We need to give ‘er a name! How ’bout… Before Tenzing could finish, Jaak quietly but firmly interrupted him. Jaak: Lizzie. Something about the way Jaak spoke made both the older cats stop and look at Jaak. Layan raised half an eyebrow. Jaak spoke quietly. Jaak: Eliza was my mom’s name. Tenzing walked over to Jaak and put his big lumberjack paw-hand on Jaak’s head and gave it a gentle tousle. Tenzing: Lizzie is’a fine name. Their moment of shared reverie was broken by the sound of a pick-up truck coming up the road and stopping outside the cabin. The door clunked – and the sound of paw-foot steps approached. Altai: Well, well well. It seem’s that you have been busy today PJ – and what may all this be in aid of then? Jaak’s full name was Pukajaak – an Inuit name meaning ‘sugar-like snow’ – but his Dad had always called him PJ. Jaak: We got the old donkey engine going again Dad! It’s my science project for school. We’re going to hook it up to an alternator and batteries so we can have some electric lighting in the cabin. Jaak almost said – ‘and to charge up my phone’, but caught himself just in time. At the mention of ‘we’ Layan’s whiskers twitched ever so slightly and he suddenly became very interested in putting another log in the firebox. Altai: I see you have had some help here today. Hello Tenzing … Altai nodded at Tenzing … … Layan. At this Layan could not avoid Altai any longer without being rude. Layan: Good afternoon Altai. You have the makings of a fine young engineer here. Layan motioned a paw-hand towards Jaak. Altai did not immediately reply, but moved closer to the puffing steam engine and examined each part of it carefully taking particular note of its careful assembly and inspecting its freshly cleaned fittings and valves. He adjusted the speed of the engine faster and slower with the steam valve. Altai gave a slight chuff and nod of his head. Altai: Looks good PJ. Be sure to put the tools away when you are done. With that Altai turned and walked back towards the cabin – but he stopped and turned suddenly. Altai: One rule! Don’t blow yourself up! …and don’t let Layan blow himself or anyone else up either! With that he again turned and disappeared into the cabin. Tenzing turned to Layan. Tenzing: Phew – well tha’ was awkward… What’sit between you two anyway? Layan: That my friend is a long story – however now is not the time – we shall leave that for another day. Episode 8 – Kangastralia _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Layan’s Cabin – The Ridge Cresting the ridge and seeing smoke gently puffing out of the chimney, Jaak decided that there was still just enough daylight left, to make a quick visit to Layan, before heading back down the trail to his cabin in time for supper. Jaak knocked on the door. He heard the sound of Layan’s staff approaching. Tap, tap, tap, tap… Layan: Well hello there young cub! What brings you up here again on this fine snowy day? Layan noted the slightly disheveled appearance of his young friend, his wet jeans and the odd bits of twigs, cones and pine needles still stuck in his fur. Jaak: Oh hello Layan – well, um I sorta needed to take a slight detour off the school bus this afternoon from the fire circle road. Layan: Oh? Is that so? Layan raised one eye-brow with a quizzical expression. It looks like you came straight up here through the trees and via a snow bank. Thar up to his old tricks throwing kids off his bus again? Layan gave Jaak what could only be described as a ‘hard-stare’. Jaak considered the old snow cat for a moment. Layan seemed to have the same knack that his mother had possessed – seeming to know exactly what had happened without him needing to utter a word. Bidden to come and sit on a chair by the stove to dry out his wet jeans, Jaak suddenly found himself again stumble-tumbling all of his pent up words out to Layan – like the sudden torrent of water and debris released from a breached beaver dam in the spring thaw. Mom’s accident. Moving to the valleys. Leaving his friends behind. The difficultly of adjusting to life in the valleys. Feeling cut off from the modern world. Finding it hard to make new friends in the valley. The school bus. Thar. The spit-wad boys. His Dad. Jaak: …Dad. He… he… can just be so… so… Jaak’s words trailed off. His mouth had already got him into trouble once today and he found himself unable to use the word he really wanted to. For his part so far Layan had been the perfect listener, only making the occasional – ‘mhms’, ‘hmms’, and ‘I sees’, as he made his sweet coffee, and found a tin of cookies. Layan raised a knowing eyebrow. Layan: F@@king stubborn? Jaak, as if suddenly jolted back to the reality of his surroundings, and who he was talking to, looked up and met Layan’s eyes. Although he did not know why, a spark of full and complete understanding was passed between them. Jaak’s ears flattened. Jaak: Yeah. F@@king stubborn. For a few minutes silence fell between them, and the tin of cookies was made somewhat lighter. Layan was a patient host. Jaak’s ears suddenly perked up again and he looked up at Layan. Jaak: Layan? Could you help me to make a stone powered generator? One of Layan’s eyebrows shot up. Layan: Oh? Well… that is an interesting proposition. The slight problem is that despite being mined here in the valleys cyan stones are not that easy to come by – not impossible, but their use and distribution is tightly controlled by the central committee of resource allocation – CCoRA. Layan paused for a moment his eyebrows creasing in deep thought, his paw-hand on his chin. Hmm. A power generator eh. Well. I wonder if we could get that old steam-powered donkey engine that’s next to your cabin going again…? Layan: Those old steam donkey engines were once used to drive the winch cables that hauled out logs from the forest. If we could get that old donkey fired up again, the flywheel could be connected up to a generator which could then charge up a bank of batteries. This would provide enough electricity to power lighting or charge up your phone. Jaak: Wow! That sounds great! I wonder if my Dad will be ok about that…? Layan: Oh, I think you should be safe with the donkey engine, it is not exactly new technology is it? Layan gave a loud chuff-chortle Tell you what, tomorrow’s Saturday. You get off home now before it gets dark and I will come down in the morning and take a look at that old donkey with you. Jaak’s cabin – next morning Early the next morning the sun crept its way up the valley announcing the new day – firmly chasing away the chill darkness with its magenta glow. The sun’s rays found a chink in the curtains and danced their way across the room to where Jaak still slept. Jaak began to awaken, lost somewhere in that place between sleep and wake, where laughing spit-wads intermingled with cookies that did somersaults into steaming mugs of sweet coffee, all while running through the trees and never quite getting to the land of Steamtopia… Jaak opened his eyes. His room. His bed. His home. He could hear the sounds of his father readying himself to leave for work. Jaak’s Dad worked in the valley mines. He was the engineer in charge of all the machinery and also for the structural integrity of the mines. He had a fierce reputation for precision and safety. Although it was Saturday, Altai worked long hours and was usually gone before Jaak got up in the morning and often worked late into the evening. The door to the cabin clunked, and then Jaak heard the sound of Altai cranking over the engine to their old pick-up truck. Most people in the valleys owned at least one pick-up truck and they varied in age from brand new double cabs, right though to the classic “50’s”. Jaak remembered his discussion with Layan the evening before, and swung himself out of bed. He didn’t know when Layan would come, but he figured he should probably not be still in bed when he arrived. He pulled on his jeans and shirt, and interrogated the larder for any signs of breakfast. Jaak was just finishing his last piece of peanut butter and jam toast – spread thickly right to the edges – when he heard the familiar tap, tap, tap… of Layan’s staff on the deck. The tap, tap, tap... transformed into a rap, rap, rap… on the door. Jaak: Good morning Layan! I made a pot of coffee with lots of sweetened milk from a can, just like you showed me. Want some? Layan: Good morning to you young cub. Why yes I would love a mug of your coffee – just what’s needed after an early morning trek down the hill! Let’s sit in the morning sun out here on the deck and we shall make our nefarious plans together! Soon the two friends young and old, were sitting on the deck chatting happily and scheming together over two steaming mugs of hot sweet coffee. Episode 7 – Steamtopia
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Jaak’s House – The Valleys With a bingity-bang like a thousand tin cans Busby the old school bus came rattling down the road… [1] Jaak could hear the old school bus grinding its way up the long valley road to where he lived at its end. This noisy approach was somewhat helpful, as the veteran driver a grumpy mountain goat named Thar, waited for no-one if you were late. How these two ancient relics-of-transportation-past managed to hold everything together making the twice daily climbs, traverses and descents of the valley’s often icy roads, was truly one of the marvels of the known universe. Although to be fair, placing the lives of the valley’s children in the hoof-hands of a mountain goat to guide a 30 foot bus safely up and over the valleys many twisting and undulating roads, was not such a bad idea. Even though Jaak lived near the beginning of the morning bus run and was one of the first to get on, he had learned very quickly that the social order of rural school bus seating allocation was not to be messed with, unless you wanted your whiskers permanently rearranged into underwear lace or your tail twisted like a rubik’s snake-cube. Elementary in the front seats, high school juniors in the middle and seniors at the back. Jaak frantically grabbed a last piece of toast with one hand, his satchel with the other and tore for the door to make it to his gate – all before Thar had turned the bus at the end of the road. He made it. Just. The bus door banged shut. Thar: Tha’ be cuttin’ it fine laddie – ye be at tha’ gate; or I don’ wait! Knowing better, Jaak said nothing. He quickly made his way to the middle of the bus and flumped himself down on an empty seat. The bus lurched off again down the hill – to collect the next batch of students – all dutifully waiting at their respective gates. The elementary and high school were two valleys away with twisting mountain switch-backs crossing the high ridges. Walking was not recommended. The bus rattled and door-banged its way through the valley roads. Just before the bus took the last long serpentine haul up, over, and down the ridge to the next valley, it stopped with a screech at a pair of cabins. Jaak sighed inwardly. This stop was the reason that despite there being a number of kids already on the bus, the back seat was still quite empty. Ounce and Chewie. Their dads were miners. They sauntered with a smirk onto the bus, the other kids trying not to notice them, suddenly becoming very interested in looking out the windows. As they made their way down to the back of the bus they bumped anyone who may have been even slightly ‘trespassing’ over the armrests into the aisle. As they passed Jaak’s seat, Ounce remarked just loud enough for those around to hear, but not so loud that he could be over-heard by Thar. Ounce: Hey Chewie – I wonder if the city-litter-boy has worked out how to flush his crap-can yet? Unfortunately for Jaak, he had made the tactical error of musing a little too loudly and somewhat disparagingly when he first arrived, about the valley waste water system or lack thereof, – and extolling the superiority of the one in the city. Truth be told, he had learned very quickly that the phrase – In the city we… was not generally well received by the valley people. Ounce in particular had taken a particular dislike to Jaak from the outset. His acolyte follower Chewie, who shadowed Ounce everywhere, was quick to parrot anything Ounce said or did. Chewie: Yeah litter-boy, you worked how to flush your can yet? If Chewie was capable of original thought he certainly rarely exercised it. These two, made the same stupid joke everyday and thought it was absolutely freaking hilarious. Jaak said nothing. Getting into any kind of confrontation on the school bus swiftly resulted in all those involved, innocent or perpetrator, being immediately kicked off the bus by Thar – no matter where on the mountain road they were or whatever the weather might be. Valley High School The bell rang. Miss Asha: …and finish reading the chapter we are on, with a written summary of the main points and principles to be handed in by next class. Class dismissed. The sound of chairs scraping and general exodus filled the room. Miss Asha called to Jaak before he made the door. Miss Asha: Jaak! Can I have a word? Jaak turned and approached his science teacher. He liked Miss Asha, but in a slightly awed kind of way. She could be scary when crossed. Jaak: Yes, Miss? Miss Asha: Jaak, I was really impressed with the power generator proposal you handed in last week. For most, the proposal was just an exercise – however I wonder if you had considered making an entry into the Cyanos science fair? You’d be up against all the well resourced high schools in Aoraki – but a clever city-kit like you – I think you could take them on! Jaak: Erm, um, I dunno Miss – I hadn’t really thought about it. This was not exactly true. The fact was that since seeing the stone powered, steam driven generator at Layan’s satellite station, he had been dreaming of trying to build his own. The main problem other than actually working out how to build a steam engine, was obtaining a stone to drive it. You did not exactly go down to the general store and buy one with your pocket change. The other problem was his father’s dislike of anything modern or even remotely technological. Jaak had not told his father, about the Tet-Net signal now being beamed directly to their cabin. He was fairly certain that trying to build any kind of scientific project at home would be met with a lot of loud unenthusiastic chuffing. Again, Jaak made it to the bus just in time for the ride home before Thar banged the door shut. The bus rattled and banged its way up the up the fire circle road one valley and ridge over from Jaak’s own. Jaak was deeply lost in thought gazing out the window. Thwack! A well aimed spit wad hit the back of his head. Jaak: HEY-WAAH! What the F@@k??!! Jaak lept from his seat, made an inelegant somersault with a half-twist over the seat in front, landed on top of a surprised elementary kid, who yowled loudly, finishing his vaulted dismount spread-eagled in the bus aisle. The back-seat boys were loudly chuffing with laughter, slapping each other on the back. The bus lurched to a stop. Thar turned in his seat and pointed his hoof-hand towards Jaak and then to Ounce and then to Chewie. Thar: Thee three! Oot! Ounce: Awwww! We didn’t done nuttin’! Chewie: Yeah… we didn’t done… Thar narrowed his beady eyes and he lowered his head to show his formidable horns. Thar: I won’ be tellin’ thee three again… now git oot- before I butt ye offa mah bus! The bus door banged one last time and the bus rumbled away leaving the three boys on the side of the road. Ounce spun and turned towards Jaak. Ounce: YOU’RE ROAD-KILL LITTER-BOY!! Jaak did not wait for Chewie’s echo. Jaak was small, but he was fast. He turned tail and ran on all fours, straight up the side of the hill and into the trees. Ounce and Chewie tried to make chase, but due to their tendency in life towards general laziness, they quickly gave up. Jaak however kept on going up and up further into the trees caring little about the low branches that swiped at him as he ran past. Eventually he stopped, breathing heavily. There was no sign of any spit-wad wielding pursuers. He looked around. While he was not exactly sure where he was he did know that his cabin should be somewhere on the other side of the ridge, and he should not be far from the top of the ridge. He also knew that the trail from his cabin that led up to Layan’s cabin continued on down the other side to the road where they had been kicked off the bus. He continued on up through the trees and continued his climb. Eventually he could see a slight thinning of the trees, and just beyond that the ubiquitous rows of parallel logs that lined many of the trails all over the valleys. The going now became easier as he followed the trail on up the hill and eventually as he neared the crest he saw the familiar sight of Layan’s cabin. [1] The Bingity-Bangity School Bus; Fleur Conkling, Wonder Books – 1950 Episode 6 – Donkey
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Layan’s Cabin – Early next morning The sun began to creep its way over the valley ridges and a soft golden glow wrapped itself around the cabin in a warming embrace. The chill nor’ lazy however was still not quite done with its mischief, persisting in its desire to find its way into any small undefended nook and cranny. Layan was already up and doing, busying himself with his morning chores – mending the fire, putting on a fresh pot of coffee and soon the sound and aroma of sizzling bacon began to wend their way through the room. In one corner a patchwork bundle of grey blankets stirred. A nose tentatively poked its way out from under the said bundle to interrogate the taunting redolence wafting from the pan on the stove. Layan: Good morning young cub! Jaak’s tousled head appeared further out from under the blankets. He blinked a couple of times as his dawning consciousness remembered where he was. Jaak: Oh! Um. Good morning! Layan: Hungry? Jaak: Oh yes! Something smells really good – I’m starving! Layan: Well then. Let’s be having you. Time for a good mountain breakfast. Breakfast was just as delicious as dinner from the night before. Bacon, eggs, wild mushrooms, toast and fresh coffee made with sweetened milk from a can – poured in a gloriously viscous stream from one of the holes punched on either side of the top. Layan: The wind is still with us this morning, but I think it will die down a little later on. Why don’t you go and get yourself cleaned up a bit – there is a spare toothbrush in the drawer under the wash stand. Layan’s demeanor, then changed somewhat abruptly as he threw his paws in the air with theatrical alacrity … Then together we shall make our splendiferous plans for world Tet-Net domination! Mwa ha ha ha ha! Jaak wasn’t sure how seriously to take him or not, but there did seem to be a playful glint in his eye as Layan threw back his head and flashed his toothy smile. Jaak was grateful of the new toothbrush, as his mouth was starting to feel like it had more fur in it than on the outside of his entire body. Layan: Excellent! Now about your Tet-Net problem and lack thereof. We must plan – and I have a cunning plan, a plan so cunning you could put bells on it and call it Christmas! It involves a dish! Yes! No, no – not a dish of figgy pudding… you will see young cub, you will see! Now Jaak was starting to wonder if maybe his Dad did have a point – but his interest was piqued. Layan had indeed enabled to him connect very successfully with the outside world last evening, and he had been able to catch up with his friend Dieter. He had got the latest tit-bits of news and goings on from Aoraki – or at least the part of it that mattered to young teenage boys. Jaak: Layan – how do you connect to the Tet-Net? Tenzing says that there is too much interference from the high iron content in all the volcanic rocks around us. Layan: And you and Tenzing would be right – however I think it is better to show you rather than for me to try and explain. I think – if I do say so myself, which I frequently do – you will find it rather interesting. Now. That wind is still fairly fresh outside so I think we shall have to take an alternative route up to where we need to go. Come young cub – come! With that Layan pulled back a rug on the floor to reveal a trap door leading down to the cellar. When he lifted it up, a wooden ladder appeared leading downwards into the gloom below. Layan: Right then. Pass me that paraffin lamp from the side board would you please, and the box of matches next to it. Let me show you how to light the lamp. Layan then pushed down on the lever at the side of the lamp, and the glass and cage lifted up. He then carefully raised the wick with a small wheel. Layan: OK, young cub, strike me a match and light the wick in the lamp. Jaak, selected a match from the box, and struck it causing it to flare into life. He carefully touched the wick in the lamp and it began to burn with a high smoky yellow flame. Layan trimmed the wick back down until just the yellow flame burned brightly, but now without all the smoke. He then lowered the glass back into its original position. Layan: Right then! Shall we? Onward to our quest for adventure and Tet-Net connectivity! Layan peered down into the gloom of the open cellar door… Roll for perception! Jaak just looked at Layan blankly as if he really was a bit bonkers. No? Oh well, never-mind – we can explain that one later… Layan then climbed down the ladder while holding the lamp and when he reached the bottom he held the lamp up so it shone on the steps so that Jaak could see where to place his paw-feet. The cellar was pretty much what you would expect with jars of preserves and food lining the shelves and other supplies and miscellaneous items dotted around the floor. The walls of the cellar were not constructed but were of natural rock. The cellar was in reality a lava cave and the cabin had been built over its opening. It had a sandy floor that sloped up towards one end where there was an opening into a narrow fissure like passage or hollow lava tube. Jaak then noticed that there was a heavy black cable that snaked its way from down under the floor of the cabin, across the cave and then on up, disappearing into the lava tube entrance. Layan led the way, and Jaak followed behind him. The passage led steadily upwards winding in places, and in others the roof lowered so they needed to duck down to pass. The cable ran right through the entire length of the passage. The journey was not overly long and after about ten minutes of steady climbing the tunnel began to level off and widened into another small cave. Jaak could now see a sliver of daylight shining down through a small opening near the cave roof. Layan: Almost there! Go on ahead young cub you will find your way easily now. Sure enough, the cave opened out into a rocky outcrop, the bright morning sun making Jaak blink and squint for a moment as it reflected off the surrounding snow and his eyes adjusted. What Jaak then saw almost made him revert to full frontal potty mouth. Jaak: Holy fluking flying fluff a duck! A moment later Layan appeared behind him. Layan: Welcome to the Valley Tet-Net ground to sky satellite station. The Tet-Net station was a visual contradiction – high-tech meets steam-punk ingenuity. Next to a very large and high-tech satellite dish was an out-house familiar to any of the valley cabins. A regular out-building shed was anything but regular, with a spinning radar and a smaller satellite dish on its roof. Finally a very old fashioned looking steam engine with a large spinning flywheel chuffed happily away in front of the main dish. Jaak: This is amazing! But how does this all work? Layan: Come and I will show you! The pair closed the short distance between the cave opening and the fence that surrounded the station. Layan opened a gate and they were within the yard of the station. Layan: The steam engine here provides for all the power needs of the station and this shed houses the main communications equipment. The outhouse is for – well you know. Jaak: But how do you keep the steam engine stoked? You can’t have been up here since yesterday – even if you had stoked it right up, the wood would not last for long enough. Layan: Well! You are a bright one! You have indeed spotted the one potential ‘flaw’ in this rather brilliant set-up. Come and look – I will show you… Layan then moved closer to the steam engine, and opened the door to the fire box. To Jaak’s amazement, instead of a glowing fire, a bright blue light came out instead. Jaak leaned in for a closer look and right in the middle of the fire box there was a small blue stone about the size of a pebble spinning slowly. It was glowing brightly. Layan: This, young cub is the secret to our planet’s success. This one stone releases enough energy to power this entire station, with a little left over to mooch a supply down to my cabin. This my boy, is a cyan stone. They are mined exclusively right here in the valleys – nowhere else. In fact, you know those Tets up there in orbit? Layan motioned with his paw toward the sky… That’s how they are powered – although they flatly refused to use my steam engine technology. Some pompous clip-board waving twit from the space agency, going on and on about health and safety concerns. Pfft. They do need a slightly bigger stone than this one of course, to power that huge glowing power core. Layan flashed his trademark toothy grin. Jaak: That’s incredible! I never knew such things even existed. Layan: Every day is a school day eh? Now – we are not yet done here lets get over to that shed yonder and see what we can do to help you with your Tet-Net problem. With Jaak’s skepticism fading rapidly, the pair then moved over to the rustic looking shed with its very non-rustic still revolving radar, and small satellite dish. Once inside, the interior was anything but rustic. Along one wall was an entire bank of computer displays and communication equipment, which would have been sufficient to light the room even without additional lighting. Layan then sat at one of the consoles and tapped the keyboard. A wide map of the valleys appeared, and he quickly zoomed in onto the ridge where they were and the trail leading all they way back down to Jaak’s cabin nestled at the head of the valley. Layan made a few more taps and clicks and what looked like a flowing blanket of green lava was overlaid on the screen. Layan: Ah hah! There you see? As I expected there is no coverage at the end of your valley. Normally if you had your own receiving dish at your cabin, you would have been able to pick up the Tet-Net repeater signal that beams across the valleys from this station. Now let me see… Tap, tap, click… The image on the screen then changed, and the green overlay now included Jaak’s cabin. Layan: That should do it. When you go home, you should now have full Tet-Net coverage at your cabin without the need for your own receiving dish. Jaak: Wow! Really? Thank you so much Layan! I don’t know how to thank you! The rest of the ‘quest’ was less exciting, which involved retracing their steps back down to the cave opening, back down the lava tube tunnel and back to Layan’s cabin; re-emerging though the cellar trap-door. By this time the wind had dropped as Layan had predicted and he then saw Jaak back to the trail by the rocky out crop at the crest of the ridge. Layan: Ok then, young cub, follow the trail now – be sure to stick to the trail all the way down and you’ll be just fine. Give Altai, my warm regards! Jaak: Thank you, I will and bye for now – oh and um… can I please visit again? Layan: Of course you can! I shan’t be using that tooth brush myself ya know. With that Jaak grinned broadly, turned, waved and headed back down the trail to his cabin, where he could not wait to try out his new Tet-Net access. Episode 5 – Bingity-Bangity
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Layan’s Cabin – The Ridge Jaak shivered. He approached the door and knocked gently. In reality it was only a moment, but in what felt like an eternity he heard the footsteps of someone approaching accompanied by a tap, tap, tap. Jaak’s thoughts raced, was Layan some kind of crazy peg leg pirate? The door opened and the light from within spilled out on to the deck where Jaak continued to shiver in the cold. A slightly weather worn, rustic looking snow leopard holding a wooden staff stood in the doorway and briefly appraised his unexpected evening visitor. Layan: Well hello there young cub. Now what might bring you all the way up here just as it is getting dark? Never mind that – come in out of that nor’ lazy wind before your paws freeze to my deck. Jaak still slightly in awe of his situation, stumble-tumbled his way in to the warm and cozy cabin. Jaak: Oh, um, hello I’m Jaak, I’m Altai’s son, I came up the hill to try and get some Tet-Net signal, and I lost track of time and then it got dark and cold and now I don’t know how I’m gonna get back down in the dark and yeah – I decided to come and knock on your door, I’m awfully sorry to bother you… Jaak’s words tumbled out like his stumbled entry into the cabin. Layan: Ok ok, my young cub, lets slow this all down a bit, my ears aren’t quite as young as they used to be – but you are very welcome and of course we’ll get you all sorted out. Come over here by the wood stove and you can get warmed up. I hope you like fish gumbo because – if I do say so myself, which I frequently do – I make a pretty good one and it is almost ready. It was then that Jaak began to take in some of the sights and smells of the cabin. A delicious fishy aroma intermingled with aromatic spices was indeed wafting up from a heavy cast iron pot gently bubbling away which was sitting on the wood burning stove. Jaak suddenly realized he was ravenously hungry. He had not had anything to eat since lunchtime and his late afternoon hike up the hill. Jaak: Thanks! I’m starving! I love fish gumbo! In little time, Layan had extracted two wooden bowls out of his side table, ladled a generous serving of chunky fish gumbo into each of them and set them on a small table. Layan: Come young cub, sit. In typical teenage fashion and with little thought to polite conversation Jaak eagerly and ravenously devoured the contents of his bowl. It was delicious. Layan was patient with his young guest and waited until he was finished before speaking again. Layan: So then, you are Altai’s boy. I had heard that you had come to live in the valleys. How do you like it here? Did you manage to get any Tet-Net signal? Layan posed this last question with a knowing glint in his eye and with the faintest hint of a slight toothy smile. He knew only too well that Jaak would have been unlikely to get any reliable signal even up on the ridge, and that he certainly would not have any signal further down at the bottom of the valley where he lived. Jaak: Yes, I’m Altai’s son. I came here after my mum died. It is pretty different here – it takes a while to get used to toilets that don’t flush, and no, I only got a brief signal and I was only able to talk to my friend in Aoraki for a minute. Layan: Well then. We might have to try and do something about that eh. Well not about the toilets – but the Tet-Net signal? Maybe there is something we could do about that. Jaak looked at Layan with a slightly bemused and skeptical expression. Jaak: What can you do about that? I didn’t see any satellite dish on your roof. Layan: Chuff-chortle! You’ll see. Layan walked over to what looked like a plain hutch dresser that looked entirely in keeping with the basic furnishings of the cabin. Then with a small click the panels slid open and to Jaak’s utter astonishment there appeared a bank of blinking computer displays, a keyboard and other modern electronic computer equipment. There was also what looked like a vintage ham radio with a pedestal microphone attached. Jaak: Holy Shiiiieet… erm…vers! Jaak suddenly realised a moment too late that perhaps he should moderate his potty mouth in front of someone he had only just met. Layan for his part didn’t seem offended. Layan: Heh. Well first things first eh. We better let your Dad know you are safe, so he won’t worry. Layan flicked some switches on the old ham radio and turned a couple of the dials. In a few moments once the valves inside had started to warm, a faint hiss and crackle began to emanate from the speaker. A few more adjustments were made and finally the hiss faded. Layan then took the large microphone in his paw and activated the push to talk switch. Layan: Tree Cat, Tree Cat, this is Ridge Cat do you receive over! Hiss. Crackle. Knob adjustment. Layan: Tree Cat, Tree Cat, this is Ridge Cat calling. Do you receive over! Hiss. Crackle. Voice: Ridge Cat, Ridge Cat, this is Tree Cat! Receiving you loud and clear over! Layan: Tenzing! Good to hear you buddy! I have that young cub, Jaak up here in my cabin. He decided to go for a hike in the snow on his own, and well… it got dark and the aroma of my fish gumbo got the better of him and he decided to stay for supper! Can you get up to Altai’s cabin and let him know he is safe for the night – I’ll see him safely back down the trail in the morning once this old nor’ lazy has blown through – over! Tenzing: Oh fer sure I can do that. Jaak’ll be just fine with you. I’ll jump in me truck and git up there straight away, before ol’ Altai wears out his floor-boards with his frettin’, and calls in the mountain safety rescue – ‘though he still might, once he learns where his boy is! – over! Jaak still watching and listening to all this wide eyed, was certain he caught a chuff-chortle just as Tenzing’s last over clicked off. Layan: The young cub and I are very much obliged Tree Cat! – This is Ridge Cat – out! With that, the radio gave one last defiant hiss, and with a slight crackle Layan flipped the power switch and it fell silent. Layan: Well now young cub – we better get you fixed up for the night. I’ve got a spare cot up in the rafters – how about you give me a hand to get it down? Layan and Jaak then managed to maneuver the cot down from the rafters, without disturbing any of the myriad of other accoutrements stored in the rafters that may have fallen on their heads during the extraction. The cot was the old wooden type with cross legs and a canvas hammock. A few grey wool blankets and a patchwork quilt later, and the cot looked invitingly ready for a tired cub to curl up into for the night. Layan: Oh yes, young cub, I almost forgot… Layan tapped is way back over to his computer equipment and a couple of keyboard taps and mouse clicks later he turned to Jaak. Layan: How about you try that signal on your phone again? Jaak eagerly fished his phone out of his pocket, and to his delight it showed full bars of signal! Jaak: I’ve got signal! That’s… that’s amazing! I haven’t had a connection for weeks! Thank you so much Layan! Jaak then curled up on his bed and opened up his video calling app. Soon a familiar mop of orange hair and wet nose appeared on the screen. Jaak: Dieter! You are never gonna believe what just happened to me today…! Episode 4 – Tet-Net
