The Valleys
The Valleys were beginning to warm, and the first signs of the thaw were showing. The thick layers of snow covering trees, buildings, and the banks of streams had begun their constant drip, drip, drip — turning to trickles that fed the streams and waterfalls into an impressive rush of white water. Early spring flowers — snowdrops and jonquils — pushed up their heads, heralding warmer days ahead.
There had been the usual concerns, from the usual voices, that the beaver dam would give way under the pressure of the melt. However, this particular family of beavers were excellent engineers, and their dam was a sturdy structure that had survived many seasons.
Altai and Jaak had come down into town — the row of small stores that supplied the valley with most of their day to day needs. There was a grocer, green grocer, butcher, baker and a hardware store. Anything not immediately in stock could be ordered from Aoraki — if you didn’t mind waiting a couple of weeks by road, or a few days by air.
Arriving in town, Jaak promptly disappeared into Gazza’s Gas and Grease to see what he and Tag could unearth in the shed to repurpose into some new wacky invention. Altai was in no hurry — he made the rounds of the different food stores to replenish the larder. It seemed to empty itself the day after he restocked it. Knowing that Jaak would be happy for a couple of hours, he decided to drive up the road to The Black Plum Brewery to restock his supply of coldies.
With the warming weather, the new season’s crops were starting to be planted, and it brought a welcome splash of spring colour to the usual white winter-scape of the valleys. The Schwarze Zwetschge — or Black Plum Brewery — was run by Zwettl, a Bavarian beaver. Altai pulled up outside, the snow in the carpark soft, wet, and slushy under the pickup’s tyres.
The doorbell tinkled as Altai entered the taproom, the fresh scent of hops and barley wafting toward him. Zwettl smiled broadly at Altai as he entered, greeting him warmly — his plate like tail firmly slapping up and down in welcome.
Zwettl: Guten Tag — Altai mein freund! How are you today – you have come for my finest ale again – Ja?
Altai: Yes of course Zwettl! I always come here for your finest! What do you have to offer today?
Zwettl: Come, Altai, come and pull up a stool — I have some of the very last of last season’s finest brew, that I have kept aside for special customers! Please — wait and I will fetch for you. From the cellar.
With that Zwettl promptly disappeared down the cellar trap door.
With nothing in particular to do Altai sat on his stool by the small bar and let his mind wander.
Layan: Well? Do we have our numbers?
Altai: I recommend that we re-run the program.
Layan: Re-run? Again? Another two days?
…real …or …potential?
Altai: Potential.
Layan: We run with the numbers we’ve got.
We run with the numbers we’ve got…
We run with the numbers we’ve got…
A small wooden keg barrel rose through the trapdoor and plopped onto the floor, followed closely by a head, a red scarf, a blue tunic, and a prodigious plate-like tail.
Zwettl busied himself by inserting a tap and placing the barrel onto a wooden cradle behind the bar. He then produced an ornately decorated lidded beer stein and filled it expertly.
Zwettl: Prost!
Altai again let his mind drift as he enjoyed the beer’s complex rich flavours, accented by a hint of sweet black plums.
The tinkle of the shop bell barely registered in Altai’s consciousness as he sat with his back to the door.
Tap, tap, tap — sounded across the wooden floor.
Zwettl: Layan — mein freund! Willkommen! Come in! Come in! Come take a seat — I pour for you my finest — Ja!
Altai’s silent reverie was suddenly broken as he became aware of the newcomer.
Layan: Good afternoon Zwettl! Good to see you again my friend! Of course I will partake of your finest!
Once again, Layan was faced with seeing Altai somewhat unexpectedly. He had however, been given a slight heads up, seeing Altai’s pickup parked outside. He could have chosen to call back another day, but something inside him he could not quite put a claw on, told him to continue with his planned visit to the Black Plum.
Good afternoon Altai.Once again, Layan found himself unexpectedly face to face with Altai. He had, however, noticed Altai’s pickup parked outside. He could have turned back and chosen another day, but something inside him — something he could not quite put a claw on — urged him to continue with his planned visit to the Black Plum.
Altai: Good afternoon Layan. I didn’t know you liked Zwettl’s beer.
Zwettl chattered indignantly.
Zwettl: What nonsense Altai! And why not? Everyone likes my beer! It’s famous!
Altai: Of course Zwettl — no offence intended — I just didn’t expect to see Layan here today. Please. Pour him a stein on me — and another for me too — thank you.
Easily mollified by Altai’s assurances, Zwettl poured two fresh steins. The two snow leopards now sat side by side on stools at the bar. Zwettl passed the drinks across and then disappeared back down into the cellar busying himself with his next chore.
Altai and Layan sat in silence for a few minutes enjoying the beer. Without looking directly at Layan, Altai was the first to break the silence.
Altai: Jaak told me what you said about the data.
Layan swivelled slightly on his stool in Altai’s direction — one of his eyebrows raised and gave Altai a hard stare.
Layan: Oh? Is that so?
Altai: He said that you told him it was not my fault. Jaak said that I had followed your instructions and that it was your responsibility. That you made the decision to go with the data — despite the anomaly.
Now that he had started, he was determined to finish.
Jaak said you told him that the computer did exactly what it was told to do. It was not the computer’s fault — it was the instruction that was wrong.
I knew he would find out someday. It’s part of our planet’s history. I just didn’t expect it to be this soon.
Layan’s hard stare softened — in fact he seemed to deflate.
Layan: It has taken me a long time to admit it.
I was arrogant.
I was wrong.
I’m sorry.
Altai: It was decent of you to tell him that. I’m grateful you’ve said it to me now.
The explosion has weighed heavily on me every day for the last thirty years.
Layan: As it has with me Altai.
As it has with me.
Altai gave a slight nod in agreement.
Altai: I also need to thank you for taking Jaak in and looking after him that evening he got caught out in the nor’ lazy. I also want to thank you for helping him with the steam engine.
Layan: You are very welcome my friend. Anytime.
The two snow leopards raised their steins to each other and fell into silence once more.
This time, they sat as two veterans of kindred spirit, having finally spoken of the past they shared.
Outside the Black Plum, the spring sun continued its work, softening ice and snow into thaw.
End of part one.
Previous – Episode 12: Beaver Dam
Next – Episode 14: Summer Flowers
Screw Pile Developments 
A butcher… A baker… But no candlestick maker. 😦
And a possible rekindling of a friendship over a beer? That’s a nice way to go about it. 🙂
Beer was the CATalyst. Buy candlesticks at the hardware store.