Chapter 11: Free time
While Rafael was doing small talk with the old couple, at another house other conversation was happening. "Sir, I managed to see what he asked Richar to make, it was a square wooden frame with cloth around it. I also heard he saying about turning wood into a pulp, that's all sir". Amis, the spearman, said.
"Hmm, could it be a canvas? But what is the meaning of turning wood into pulp?". Cenric was sitting on his chair with a plate of food on the table. 'When I inquired that farmer, he told some really interesting things about his encounter with that man. Also, my scout confirmed that he found no signs of people around that thing'.
"I don't know sir. Hmm, about the canvas, could he use it to draw our village layout and informations about our forces and smuggle it to an enemy?"
"Its possible. He said it was an experiment and that he would show me today, so let's wait and see. Continue your observations and report to me anything you discovers about him". The man nodded and returned to the streets.
'Tonight the scout will arrive at Baron Frederic's city and deliver my message. I just have to wait for an answer'. He thought while eating.
Rafael was finally eating something cooked and hot. It was soup that, although a bit blend because of the lack of salt, was really good and it was accompanied with a hard brown bread. But what intrigued him was the cup of ale in front of him.
"Wait, you're telling me that you all drink this instead of water? Even when you're thirsty?"
"Yes, what's the problem with that? I don't know how is the water from where you came but here everyone knows that you'll certainlly get sick if you only drink water".
The beer had a sweet taste and less than 3% of alcohol. 'At least the taste isn't bad'.
'I remember the book using distillation as a mean to purify water and other liquids. I think I'll have to make some changes in my sequence of inventions'. The old man finished his bread and asked:
"So why do you need wood grinded?"
"It is a little experiment I'm doing. If I manage to succed, this will change a lot of things".
"When will it be finished?". The man was taking the last spoon of soup from the plate. "It depends on when I get my hands at that grinded wood". Rafael said, finishing his soup too. "You really want that, don't you? Ok, I'll focus my afternoon on grinding some wood as you asked but only if you tell me what you're going to do with that... And of course if you pay me"
'This guy only thinks about money?'. Rafael thought.
"Fine, I'll tell you. I'm trying to make paper". Rafael said with a big smile.
"Paper? Hmm, that word isn't strange to me but I just can't remember what it means. Hmm..."
His gaze was wandering to the side trying to remember what paper was. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll remember when you see it. But right now thank you for this incredible soup and I don't want to disturb you during your work so I'll be going". Rafael got up and went for the door.
"You think I forgot about my payment? 10 coppers for my work and 20 for the food".
Cursing the man on his mind, Rafael picked his money pouch and was about to give the money to him when he remembered. "Wait I gave you that silver coin, isn't that enough for everything?"
"Yes, right, you did pay already. Sorry, I forgot. Here is your part". The woodworker said with a placid voice while searching for some money before giving to Rafael.
'This motherfucker forgot shit! If I hadn't remembered he wouldn't have returned the money'. The coppers were in a small pouch. "How much is in it?"
"Are you really a merchant? There is 30 coppers in there"
'Hmm, I gave him a single silver coin and after deducing 70 coppers I have 30. So it seens that 1 silver coin equals to 100 coppers'. He put one pouch in each pocket of his pants. Richar, the old man, wasn't looking anymore to Rafael to see it.
"Again, thank you for the food. I'll be leaving now". He understood the grunt that Richar did as a goodbye so he exited the house. 'What should I do now? There isn't much to do in this place so I think I'll just find another thing to create'.
Back at his place with the book open. 'The first option is to create a clock. It's pretty easy and the only hard part will be the bit of calculus I'll have to do. The next option is to produce soap but is a bit more complicated. Another is tanning but I don't think there is enough animal skin laying around here to do this. I can invent cement and concrete... well, maybe'.
'I'll try the easiest one, so a clock it is'. Opening the sub-chapter where it explains how to create a clock, he read:
[10.7. "It's Late and I'm Cold, and I'd Like to Know How Late and How Cold it is"
(...)
10.7.1: CLOCKS
"Being with you and not being with you is the only way I have to measure time."
-You (also, Jorge Luis Borges)]
Reading the prerequisites he understood that currently the only type of clock he would be able to create was a sundial. 'I can try to create this sundial in a small scale and then ask for some fundings from Cenric to create a bigger one and place it somewhere in the village for everyone to see'
[Modern wristwatches use tiny pieces of quartz to keep time, (...) and it has a useful property called "piezoelectricity".] "Yeah, too complicated. I'll stay with the sundials..."
The book explained what is and how to make a water clock and also an hourglass. Finally coming to the part where it explains about sundials, it starts saying that if the reader want a precise sundial clock, he'll need to know his latitude and also the true north direction or at least the magnetic north.
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