Chapter Thirteen
The Planting
The greenhouse is overflowing with healthy tomato seedlings.
The children proudly tend their small learning trays, but Amos Kline smiles as he watches them.
"They're learning the beginning," he says.
He points toward thousands upon thousands of mature seedlings growing on long benches.
"Now it's time for the grown-ups."
The children aren't disappointed.
They've learned their lesson.
Now they get to watch a civilization put it into practice.
Amos Takes Charge
Samuel asks,
"Who's going to lead this?"
Buck quietly points toward Amos.
"I think we've already found our farmer."
Amos walks the fields.
He examines the soil.
He chooses where the first row will begin.
The first stake is driven.
The first guide string is stretched.
Nobody realizes they're watching the most important row of the season.
Preparing the Equipment
Old tobacco setters are found and repaired.
Frank's carpenters replace broken wood.
Blacksmiths straighten bent iron.
Jake's apprentices glaze greenhouse windows while watching the preparations.
Harnesses are cleaned.
Water barrels are filled.
The old Belgian mares are selected.
Not because they're fast.
Because they're steady.
Amos says,
"Fast horses win races.
Patient horses plant civilizations."
Planting Day
Before daylight the valley comes alive.
Guide strings stretch across the fields.
The horses settle into an easy walk.
Two women ride each setter.
One hand...
One plant...
One rhythm.
Click.
Splash.
Press.
Click.
Splash.
Press.
Behind every planter stretches another perfectly straight green row.
Buck moves constantly.
Checking horses.
Moving seedling wagons.
Keeping fresh water available.
Making sure no crew ever waits.
Rebecca arrives with breakfast and coffee.
Nobody stops for long.
The planting continues.
Amos' Lesson
Samuel watches the straight rows disappear into the distance.
"They're beautiful."
Amos smiles.
"They're practical."
Samuel laughs.
"Explain."
Amos points down the endless row.
"When we cultivate..."
He points again.
"The horse follows this row."
"When we weed..."
"The hoe knows exactly where to work."
"When we irrigate..."
"The water follows the row."
He smiles.
"Straight rows make every job after today easier."
Samuel nods slowly.
"That sounds like wisdom."
Amos answers,
"No.
Just farming."
End of day
The last seedling goes into the ground.
The horses are unharnessed.
The transplant setters are washed.
The guide strings are rolled up.
Workers stand quietly looking across hundreds of acres of tiny green plants.
Nobody cheers.
Nobody shouts.
Amos slowly walks the first row.
He kneels beside one plant.
Presses the soil gently around its roots.
Then stands.
Samuel waits.
"Well?"
Amos smiles for the first time all day.
"They've got a chance."
The worry quietly leaves his shoulders.
Samuel sees it.
Not excitement. The tomato seedlings had taken the fields.
For the first time in days, Amos Kline walked without the tightness in his shoulders. The guide strings were wound, the transplant setters washed, and the patient horses had been turned out to rest.
Relief.
The work they could control has been done.
Now they entrust the rest to the care of the Glove, the soil, and time.
Epilogue
Far ahead of Earth's slow journey toward Nibiru...
An ancient Anunnaki vessel silently observes the wandering world.
An elderly observer enlarges the image.
Not cities.
Not weapons.
Not factories.
Horse-drawn transplant setters.
Children carrying seedling trays.
Families planting fields.
Another observer asks,
"What are they doing?"
The elder answers quietly,
"They are investing in tomorrow."
He studies the tiny green rows.
Then says something no one else on the bridge expects.
"A civilization that still knows how to plant its own food is one that intends to survive."
The Earth slowly drifts onward beneath the protection of the Glove.
Far below, Amos Kline looks across the fields one last time before heading home for supper.
Far above, an ancient civilization quietly wonders if humanity has remembered something the rest of the universe has forgotten.
The Good Earth • Saga #1 of the Planetary Roundtable