After a few more weeks, alongside the artisans, we created the first boats. They were simple vessels, using a type of tree similar to African mahogany. I used the last iron ores I brought and those from the carts to create five boats.
Now that I've decided to take a break here, which might last for a few months, although I could go around and reach the other side, I want the flock to have this experience. So, I decided to create some stronger tents using linen. During the journey, the tents were made of stitched animal hides, but after coming across a field of herbaceous plants near the lake, I decided to create linen for clothing and constructions, such as teepee tents and fishing nets.
Now we resemble a North American indigenous tribe, though the species is, of course, forgotten.
After a long time of teaching almost every day, the flock can be considered to have reached the technology level of the indigenous people when the Europeans arrived in the Americas. There are still communication flaws, but it's improving every day. Now, I can give more complex orders, and they can think with greater complexity.
Some started developing tools on their own or found other forms of expression besides painting. Others began figuring out new ways to use weapons beyond bows or creating landscape art. The ones who evolved the most were Cornelius, Joe, Fred, Marcos, and Martins.
These five possess an extraordinary intelligence. Cornelius reached an intelligence level above a 15-year-old teenager, while the others became comparable to 13-year-olds. However, Fred surprised me the most. He may not be the most intelligent, but he has a great talent for art. If Cornelius is an Einstein, then Fred is a Picasso.
Marcos proved to be trustworthy, and Martins accepted defeat during the journey, starting to follow me without questioning.
Something recent was the arrival of babies. Even before we began the journey, the mating season had passed, and, as the leader, it was challenging to escape those wild Australopithecus females.
Girls, I'm sorry, but I prefer less hair.
With the increase in members, more resources were needed, but thanks to the lake, it wasn't a problem. Thinking about the future, and with the average intelligence now at 10 years, I decided to create new groups for agriculture, construction, and exploration.
The agriculture group would be formed by some of the collectors, with a leader I designated as Abbe. He was smart, smarter than most but less than Fred, so I chose him as the leader of the collectors.
The construction group would consist of artisans, with the strongest chosen, but the most intelligent selected as the leader. I named him John, smarter than Fred but not as much as Joe.
For exploration, I would be the leader, with members from the collectors. In fact, I just changed the name from collectors to explorers. We would still have collectors, but they wouldn't be a specific group; some members from other groups would collect what they needed.
With the increase in intelligence, they could understand specific roles and functions. I used to refer to the flock as a bunch of animals, but now I think I'll call them a tribe, and I suppose I'm the cacique.
"Marcos, Martins, gather everyone; I have an announcement."
"Yes, Chief."
Marcos and Martins are like my advisors; they don't have real authority like Joe, Cornelius, Fred, or the new leaders, John and Abbe, but they have respect.
Soon everyone gathered, the last to arrive being those taking care of the Pilus.
"We've been here for some time now, our numbers have increased, and we have resources, but our journey isn't over."
Some looked a bit apprehensive since we lacked nothing now; we had water, food, even animals.
"Don't worry; we won't go too far. We'll go beyond that water."
When I said this, I could see disbelief; probably what was going through their minds was, "This is impossible! How will we cross all that water? We'll surely die." Things like that.
"Don't worry; tomorrow, some of us will cross and light a fire on the other side so you can see that we can cross."
"Chief, is that what you call a boat?"
"Exactly, Cornelius."
"But what about the crocodiles?"
"As for the crocodiles, we'll use this."
"The stone powder, I see, that can work."
Stone powder is what the powder from the plant that causes paralysis came to be called. I tried to teach them to call it paralysis powder, but since they become rigid like stone, it became stone powder.
"Who will go then?"
"Joe, Cornelius, Fred, Abbe, John, and Marcos, you'll stay."
"Martins, along with the collecting members, will be called explorers, those who go into the unknown."