turned it vertically to allow entry into his cage between two upright branches and looked at it smiling in pride. From time to time, making sure that he was still alone and safe from prying eyes, he indulged in a moment of admiration. It was a very nice tool! There was nothing pretentious about thinking that. He was sure that Mahisa would agree. She made beautiful ones, too. Incidentally, it was high time to go and find her. He would bring his evasion handiwork with him to show her.
After once again making sure that he wasn’t seen by anyone, he grasped the tool firmly at the end opposite to the hook and passed his arm outside the cage to try to pull forward a big stone that he had spotted some time ago. Remember that what we’re calling a ‘hook’ was nothing more than about fifteen centimeters of branching that he had left at the end of his pole. By using this tool, starting over several times, with patience and perseverance, he managed to bring little by little the stone towards him. Often, the hook slipped free, but the mental image of Mahisa waiting for him gave him a stubbornness that all the difficulties in the world couldn’t weaken. It took him twenty minutes to achieve his goal. But he had succeeded. The stone was finally there, close to his prison at hand’s reach. Sliding both his arms, one above the other, between two upright branches, he caught it and tried to bring it into the cage. But it was too big; it wouldn't pass in the gap. He turned it in one direction, then in the other, multiplying his attempts, until finding the angle where it had the smallest dimension. Even then, he had to use much force and exertion to get it to cross the gap; had it been any wider, he wouldn’t have been able to get it to enter his cage.
He sat there a moment cross-legged, one hand on this big rock shaped like a ball, panting, sweating and grimacing, as sharp pain awakened in his left shoulder. But he had obtained what he needed. So, his neuralgic stabs decreasing, a smile of satisfaction gradually came to replace his bitter grin. Thinking of Mahisa soon enabled him to completely ignore his shoulder, although the latter still protested a little.
The sun had disappeared behind the ridge of distant mountains, but it was still day. To ensure that he was still alone, he scanned for a moment the forest all around him, and then decided to move to the second and final phase of his plan.
*
Akkal was still in his office. He knew that when he returned home, his wife would once more blame him for spending more time at work than with his family. What could he do? That was the way it was! She worked in an engineering team for a company that manufactured agricultural and earth moving machinery. This activity was her passion, but she knew, and kept repeating it, how to maintain private life separate from professional life. As for himself, he felt less and less passionate, but he had to keep the company afloat.
His four arms resting on the meeting room’s round table, he glanced quickly at each of his five colleagues:
“ So” he said. “What's your idea to counter Ralchadomac?”
Not a single word was offered, all watching each other in embarrassment.
“ We can try to further reduce the cost of the puree...” risked Ykkmaly.
“ How? We’ve recycled all sources of protein. The beasts are already eating retired dairy bovs, their own unnecessary offspring and waste from the rendering off meat bovs. Cereal providers cannot lower their prices at all, we’re strangling them. So, how?”
Ykkmaly confined herself to staring at the table before her.
“ Another idea?” asked Akkal trying to keep his calm. Ykkmaly was a big shareholder. To make her angry wouldn’t fix anything. If she sold her shares... she could very well make their market value tumble. As usual, it was up to him to hold everything together...
He made a second interrogative ocular scan all around. They all remained quiet, but he noticed
After once again making sure that he wasn’t seen by anyone, he grasped the tool firmly at the end opposite to the hook and passed his arm outside the cage to try to pull forward a big stone that he had spotted some time ago. Remember that what we’re calling a ‘hook’ was nothing more than about fifteen centimeters of branching that he had left at the end of his pole. By using this tool, starting over several times, with patience and perseverance, he managed to bring little by little the stone towards him. Often, the hook slipped free, but the mental image of Mahisa waiting for him gave him a stubbornness that all the difficulties in the world couldn’t weaken. It took him twenty minutes to achieve his goal. But he had succeeded. The stone was finally there, close to his prison at hand’s reach. Sliding both his arms, one above the other, between two upright branches, he caught it and tried to bring it into the cage. But it was too big; it wouldn't pass in the gap. He turned it in one direction, then in the other, multiplying his attempts, until finding the angle where it had the smallest dimension. Even then, he had to use much force and exertion to get it to cross the gap; had it been any wider, he wouldn’t have been able to get it to enter his cage.
He sat there a moment cross-legged, one hand on this big rock shaped like a ball, panting, sweating and grimacing, as sharp pain awakened in his left shoulder. But he had obtained what he needed. So, his neuralgic stabs decreasing, a smile of satisfaction gradually came to replace his bitter grin. Thinking of Mahisa soon enabled him to completely ignore his shoulder, although the latter still protested a little.
The sun had disappeared behind the ridge of distant mountains, but it was still day. To ensure that he was still alone, he scanned for a moment the forest all around him, and then decided to move to the second and final phase of his plan.
*
Akkal was still in his office. He knew that when he returned home, his wife would once more blame him for spending more time at work than with his family. What could he do? That was the way it was! She worked in an engineering team for a company that manufactured agricultural and earth moving machinery. This activity was her passion, but she knew, and kept repeating it, how to maintain private life separate from professional life. As for himself, he felt less and less passionate, but he had to keep the company afloat.
His four arms resting on the meeting room’s round table, he glanced quickly at each of his five colleagues:
“ So” he said. “What's your idea to counter Ralchadomac?”
Not a single word was offered, all watching each other in embarrassment.
“ We can try to further reduce the cost of the puree...” risked Ykkmaly.
“ How? We’ve recycled all sources of protein. The beasts are already eating retired dairy bovs, their own unnecessary offspring and waste from the rendering off meat bovs. Cereal providers cannot lower their prices at all, we’re strangling them. So, how?”
Ykkmaly confined herself to staring at the table before her.
“ Another idea?” asked Akkal trying to keep his calm. Ykkmaly was a big shareholder. To make her angry wouldn’t fix anything. If she sold her shares... she could very well make their market value tumble. As usual, it was up to him to hold everything together...
He made a second interrogative ocular scan all around. They all remained quiet, but he noticed
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