The Convoys

Morning found Artesian Hill alive with sounds no one had ever heard before.

The deep rumble of diesel engines echoed across the valley as the first convoy climbed the winding road toward the Planetary Roundtable.

Men stopped framing walls.

Women stepped out of the creamery and bakery.

Children abandoned games in the schoolyard.

Everyone turned toward the hill.

Slowly the white tractor-trailer appeared around the bend.

Its engine settled into a steady pull as it climbed the last grade.

Behind it came another truck carrying the carousel.

A third followed with the Tilt-A-Whirl and bumper cars.

Horse-drawn freight wagons brought up the rear loaded with chains, blocking timbers, spare parts, tools, and hundreds of carefully marked canvas bags.

Samuel stood quietly beside Rebecca.

"I don't suppose many Amish settlements have welcomed commercial trucks before breakfast."

Rebecca smiled.

"I don't suppose many have welcomed elephants either."

Mike parked beneath the giant cedar trees overlooking the valley.

He climbed down, walked to the livestock trailer, and released the heavy side latches.

The long side panel swung open.

Jumbo stepped onto the ground first.

The great bull stretched his trunk high and announced his arrival with a trumpet that echoed across the countryside.

Daisy followed calmly.

Rosie hurried down the ramp, paused to inspect a butterfly, then trotted after her parents.

The gathered crowd couldn't help smiling.

Mike carried a soft rope in one hand.

Instead of fastening it around Jumbo's neck, he gently looped it around one front ankle.

Samuel watched with curiosity.

"You lead them by their foot?"

Mike nodded.

"They know where we're going."

"The rope is only a reminder."

Jumbo started walking without hesitation.

Daisy followed.

Rosie hurried between them.

Together they climbed the gentle slope beneath the spreading cedar trees where a long wooden trough overflowed with cool artesian spring water.

The elephants drank deeply.

A wagon rolled quietly beneath the cedars.

Samuel climbed down first.

Rebecca followed carrying two fresh cabbages while Samuel lifted a bale of hay from the wagon.

Another bale followed.

Rebecca placed the cabbages in front of Rosie.

The little elephant accepted one with surprising delicacy before crunching happily through it.

Samuel spread the fresh hay.

Jumbo walked over and began eating.

Daisy joined him.

For several quiet moments nobody spoke.

Only the sound of hay being pulled apart and contented rumbles filled the shade beneath the cedars.

Samuel looked at Jumbo.

The great elephant lifted his head.

Their eyes met.

Jumbo answered with a deep, gentle rumble.

Samuel smiled.

"They're incredible."

"So much strength..."

"...and so much gentleness."

Rebecca rested her hand against Daisy's shoulder.

The elephant answered with another soft rumble that seemed to vibrate through the earth itself.

Rosie wandered over hoping another cabbage had appeared.

Rebecca laughed.

"I think she's adopted us."

Samuel scratched Jumbo gently behind one ear.

"No."

"I believe we've been adopted."

Jacob Yoder arrived carrying his corncob pipe.

He watched Rosie searching Rebecca's apron for another cabbage.

Jacob smiled.

"Nobody can explain to Rosie she isn't Amish."

Laughter spread beneath the cedars.

Rebecca reached into the wagon and produced one final cabbage.

Rosie's ears flapped with delight.

Samuel looked across the valley.

"That's the nature of the Good Earth."

Rebecca looked at him.

"The Good Earth responds to honest work..."

"...with good..."

"...and plenty."

Jacob quietly nodded.

"Amen."

While the elephants settled beneath the cedars, work had already begun below.

Mike walked from trailer to trailer directing every movement.

"No."

"Set the carousel center column over there."

"Leave room for the horses."

"The Ferris wheel sections will need twice this much space."

Nothing was unloaded without purpose.

Every trailer had been packed in reverse order.

Every load came off exactly as Mike had planned.

Buck stood watching the men work.

"I've never seen unloading look this organized."

Mike smiled.

"That's because unloading started three days ago."

Buck laughed.

"We were still forty miles away."

Mike nodded.

"Exactly."

"If you don't plan where something goes before you load it..."

"...you've already made the job harder."

Within two hours the carousel horses rested beneath canvas covers.

The bumper cars stood in neat rows.

The Tilt-A-Whirl tubs waited beside carefully stacked steel framework.

Samuel looked across the growing collection.

"It already feels like a carnival."

Mike shook his head.

"Not yet."

"It feels like possibility."

Buck checked his watch.

"We'd better head back."

Samuel looked surprised.

"So soon?"

Mike nodded toward the now-empty trailers.

"The carnival is still waiting."

Three trucks remained at the old carnival grounds.

Another day's work was already under way.

There was no reason for these trailers to sit empty.

Samuel extended his hand.

"Travel safely."

Mike shook it firmly.

"We'll be back before long."

Buck climbed into the lead truck.

Mike climbed into the second.

The diesel engines came to life once again.

Children waved as the empty trailers rolled back down Artesian Hill.

Rosie watched them leave from beneath the cedars.

She gave one puzzled little trumpet.

Daisy gently nudged her with a trunk.

Jumbo continued eating hay as though he understood perfectly.

Forty miles away...

Jacob heard the familiar sound of diesel engines long before they appeared.

He looked up from the Ferris wheel.

"They're back."

The remaining crews had not been idle.

Another trailer already held sections of the Ferris wheel.

The Scrambler arms rested neatly on blocking.

Generators waited beside loading ramps.

Canvas bags filled with labeled hardware hung from pegs inside a supply wagon.

Mike climbed from the truck and slowly looked around.

He smiled.

"Looks like you fellows stayed busy."

One of the younger men grinned.

"We figured you'd just tell us to load it this way anyway."

Mike walked over and inspected the trailer.

Every section rested exactly where he would have placed it himself.

He looked at Jacob.

"I believe you've created a crew of Gazoonies."

Jacob removed his pipe.

"I don't know what a Gazoony is..."

"...but they seem willing to work."

Mike laughed.

"That's close enough."

The afternoon settled into a steady rhythm.

Empty trailers became full.

Full trailers headed north.

Empty ones returned south.

The old highway became a moving assembly line stretching between the abandoned carnival and the Planetary Roundtable.

No one hurried.

No one wasted motion.

Every mile carried another piece of laughter toward its future home.

As the working light beneath the Glove softened into evening, Buck pulled alongside Mike.

He looked in the mirror at another loaded trailer following behind.

"You know\..."

Mike glanced over.

"What?"

"We're not just moving rides."

Mike smiled.

"No."

"We're moving memories."

Ahead of them, Artesian Hill waited.

Behind them, the old carnival grew smaller with every trip.

With each convoy, one place quietly faded...

...while another came wonderfully alive.