The Narrow Road Between Desires

While Rike is busy across town, Bast goes to the boy’s home. Although the fields have been left unplowed for a long time, the small house is tidy with a well-tended garden. Rike’s mother, Nettie, is at home with her two young daughters, Tess and Bip. Bast asks about her husband, and she tells him that Jessom will likely be in his trapping shack all night. Somewhat sheepishly, Bast inquires if there’s any work that he can do in exchange for carrots. Nettie smiles in a way that eases the weary lines on her face and tells him that she has some wood that needs chopping. She gives him six carrots in exchange for half an hour’s work. Nettie gives Bast some water, and the shirtless man pours half over himself and then asks if there’s anything else he can help her with. He notes the apiary near the house and mentions that he’s good with bees. Nettie explains that only two of the hives are in use due to a series of economic misfortunes and natural disasters. When she says that maintaining the hives might not be worth the trouble, he replies, “A little sweetness is all any of us have sometimes.