The next morning Jemman got up before either of the wolofs. She ran two laps of the compound, singing in what she was sure was a strangely Australian accent. Letting herself become completely uninhibited she tried to howl like a wolf and chirp like a bird. She whinnied and carried on. Her idiocy was to open up her vocal cords. Susie had always been a big believer in doing what it takes to achieve your goal. You never understand a person till you speak their language. So she would learn the different languages in her new world starting with Wolof, or whatever they called it.
Having finished she went and found a secluded spot in the garden. Her mind and body began to get in touch with the little ecosystem. She took time to feel the breeze on her arms and the two suns on her face. Eventually Jemman could tell the difference between the cool of Caro and the heat of Krema.
Feeling pleased with herself, she had decided to try blending into the environment so that none of its inhabitants took any notice of her. It was a form of becoming one with the world. Just at that moment she felt something against her neck. It was Jardin and he had the birch twitch in his hand. He had run it across her throat like an assassin's blade.
"Aren't you supposed to be taking note of what's going on around you? Yet I can walk up to you and run a blade across your throat?"
Jemman looked at him, her eyes big with fear. "If you're going to be so unaware then you're not going to live long enough to start cultivating, let alone become a Kenstar."
Usually, an incident like this would have caused Jemman to lose her confidence. However, for once she kept believing in herself. She knew that she'd been closer to nature than she had ever before.
"I knew you were there. I just couldn't be bothered to stop meditating for the sake of an old wolof."
He just laughed a growly chuckle.
"People's lips often lie. Their eyes sometimes lie. But only an absolute expert can have their body lie."
Jardin looked into her eyes. "You're young enough that even your eyes can't lie yet. Nice try though."
"How did you move so silently?" she asked. "I really was in a deep state and noticed numerous details about what was going on around me. But you didn't register at all."
"Well, it's not really that I move silently, and I don't try to hide. Rather, I wait until I've settled into the environment and I move with it. If a bird is moving I move in sync with it. If there are cold rocks around I let myself be cold and move like a part of the ecosystem might move. That way I don't feel unnatural to the one I'm hunting.
"I do the same when I'm fighting too. It doesn't make me invisible but I'm a little harder to follow. You should try developing the skill. It's even more useful for a delicate little flower like you."
They spent the rest of the day fighting and hunting together. Kraem was nowhere around. For some reason Jardin thought this particular skill was vital for Jemman to learn and tutored her solo. By the end of the day she was exhausted. 'Active attunment' is what she dubbed it. It didn't seem like she'd made much progress until just before dinner that night. Kraem was cooking a lamb saag and Jardin gave her the job of "assassinating" him before the meal was served.
Jemman stood outside the cooking area and waited. She listened to the fire, felt its warmth. She watched a gecko scampering around catching oversized moths. Then as the lamb sizzled and the spinach was minced she moved. Her steps flickered with the light and fluttered with the moths. As the cooking knife came down on the last piece of spinach her little birch switch slid across Kraem's throat.
"You're dead, Baby Puppy. Can we eat now?"
She lightly dodged the meat knife as it flicked toward her.
Meanwhile, Kraem's scream was high pitched. It was the complete contrast to Jardin's deep laugh. "Kraem!" he yelled, "Settle down. It's hard to scream if your throat is cut. You're clearly alright. Finish cooking while I have a little chat with Only Eight."
Jardin took Jemman outside and sat her down on a small bench.
"That was fun. Can we do it again tomorrow? I had a really good time." she asked.
"You can do it tomorrow but I won't train you anymore. I'm not actually allowed to train any non-wolof to do that. If anyone finds out I taught you I'll definitely be an outcast for life."
"For real?" Jemman asked sounding sceptical.
"For real."
"Then why did you teach me?"
"Three reasons, each more important than the last. Firstly, you're the first human whose ever treated me with real respect. I can tell you don't look down at me in any way. I honestly believe you wouldn't betray me or my race. I'm willing to risk my life on this trust.
"Secondly, you will never cultivate the Four Heavens unless you can deeply understand the nature of the four creatures that have given rise to their cultivation methods. Today's lesson will enable you to understand the deep nature of the world around you and therefore the creatures you will need to understand.
"And lastly, you need to be able to hide. The Four Heavens is a powerful method in the long run but weak in the beginning. Unless you can hide your weakness until you are powerful you will never survive. Use what you've learned today to hide: your weaknesses and your strengths. Use it to build fear of you from both your friends and your enemies. Then, perhaps, you might get somewhere.
"Remember this Jemman, the martial world doesn't waste time or energy on the weak."
To Jemman it seemed there was a fourth reason. She didn't know what it was and she was too polite to ask.
The saag was delicious.