Journal of Miyara Kyosuke (74)

    It is now afternoon in Urudaba.  During the morning we met Pito Popofu (Peter Popoff), who introduced himself as a physician, Miyara told me.  Baraku meditated all morning.  Pito offered to help Hosei with his magic, since Hosei was getting tired pulling fish from his pocket.  It turns out that Pito simply made Hosei less tired when he did his magic.  Pipo dropped by for a while and was amazed that we had so much fish.
    Everyone goes off in various chores while I wander around the town in the snowstorm, marvelling at the digusting barbarians and their rotten village.  Fortunately the buildings have prevented snowdrifts in town, so it is not so bad to get around.  Anything is better than the smell indoors.  I head upwind, intending to spend a couple of hours.  People stare at me as I walk around, but no-one is particularly unfriendly.
    When I return, Goru has already returned with a load of peat for the fire, and with an invitation for beer with the seller of peat.  I am back for no more than a minute when an earth elemental bursts through the door, shattering it and the frame, and heads out of town.  The culprit is immediately obvious when Baraku's clothes turn to dust and fall away, leaving him naked as happened to Rabena when she used the sogin roku remotely.  He is a very hairy man.  He could pass for a beastman, but not as touched by chaos.  Perhaps he is a large monkey.  Perhaps that is how Baraku got his name, it sounds like a monkey call.
    Some of the others take some of the furs from the floor and tack them up on the door frame.  I help them, as at least it's something to keep out the cold.  Unfortunately it also keeps in the stench.
    Pito has been examining the door, and declares it fixable.  Miyara explains that he says he's a carpenter.  The White Fairy can fix the hinges.  Unfortunately the stone frame has also been damaged, but the White Fairy is a stonemason as well as a blacksmith.
    Later, a knock on the door reveals Jean, who is the human girl who is one of the three girls at Querla's Place.  She stands smiling in the cold, looking at Goru for an invitation in.  I look over and tell Goru that he can do the shouting, but not to break down the door again.  She looks disappointed at something Goru said, and goes away.
    I ask Goru what she wanted, and he tells me she probably wanted company.  I don't understand what he means, and then he says cleaning lady.  He tries harder, trying to tell me that men clean too with her, which makes no sense.  I ask him if dwarven men clean as well, and he says they do not clean professionally, that's what women are for.  Goru is looking very embarrassed, and is actually blushing.  I get what he's saying, but milk it for all it's worth.  Eventually I break into giggles and can't keep it up.
    The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully.  Hosei and Sun, with a little help from Pito, puts together a meal of fish.      After the meal, I ask Goru about the beer.  Bollo Maschera Bolo Mashira has invited us over, and I see no reason to refuse his hospitality.  Pito and Ashu join us.
    On our way over, we find that Bollo is at the firepit and well into his drink.  He welcomes us to the party, and introduces us.  Duruluma is a dwarven miner, and there is Anton (new to the town), and also there is the Scholar who can tell us all about the history of Urudaba.  Everyone here is very talkative, but I later learn that they are all miners and their conversation is boring, about how they will hit a vein of silver tomorrow.  Goru talks to the Scholar, asking him about the history of the place.
    Bollo pours us beer, which is only better than Q's because it's colder and free.
    The Scholar is also a miner.  It turns out he's called that not because he's smart and educated, but because he has lots of stories.  I ask Goru if he has a story about a man who drinks someone.  Goru tries to translate it, but it turns out to be what was supposed to be a joke.  Goru tells me what "being drunk" means in this story, and it's what Jean wanted to do.  He grins evilly as he finishes the story.
    It gets too cold to stay out.  It is time to return.