5 Hard Nosed Elder

After Three kicked in the door she flung Joe off of her shoulder " Free ride is over fat boy Elder is going to look you over and then we are gonna set you on the track for the pain train. Choo Choo motherfracker."

There was a small plywood shed with a tar paper roof just past the gates on the right. It had a small wraparound porch with empty terracotta pots of various shapes and sizes scattered all about it.

" Who seeks truth seeks sorrow. Hard work begets pain. You shall find plenty of each here." Bellowed a gravelly voice from inside the shed.

Out stepped a hunchbacked old man with whispy eyebrows and a bald speckled head. He was wearing a polka dotted fuzzy bathrobe. It was white base with yellow dots.

Joe couldn't help but belly laugh. Young Three open palmed slapped him on his back. It knocked the wind out of him.

"Glad to see you are learning some restraint Young Three. This time at least he has remained conscious." White Tides said with some sarcasm.

"Young Three it seems this journey has done you some good. You have returned with a new helper and the lesson of restraint. That deserves a reward. You shall clear out the southern Black Bamboo forest and plant another 100 acres of potatoes. I expect your new helper to work with you. I don't care how long it takes. Use this opportunity to improve his body and his spirit. Now thank me for this honor."