10 Fresh Start

The next day, Apo Isko woke up early.

The Pacific Tribesmen also cares about their hygiene. They might be a bit primitive but they have the same senses. They can determine fragrant smell or foul odors, rough or smooth, dry or moist, and clean or dirty.

They may not have soap or shampoo, but they were using plants and other fragrant flowers.

They use round pebbles for scrubbing their bodies, there's fresh water river, small brooks and streams where they can take a bath. There's also a source of warm water, but it will take them 2 hours of walk to get there by feet.

He feels very refreshed after a long bath. He chewed Eucalyptus leaves and finger-combed his hair with aloe vera extract mixed with sampaguita petals before leaving his hut.

He used to do this routine every other day.

Getting back to his concerns, he plans to tackle every problem that his beloved tribe will face.

"Today I'll deal with the Food and other Storage problem!"

After his daily speech which became a ceremony for the Pacific Tribesmen, he called his favorite team, the 10 capable men of the Pacific Tribe.

They lined up and they were rewarded by the tribe. They were given the best 10 stone-blades that Apo Tasyo produced. The best leather from the animal skin were made into light-shoulder armor, and it was weaved by Inang Mabailan. They also received Bamboo poles which can be made into spear if there's a sharp or pointed blade at the end.

Lastly, Apo Tasyo asked them to gather again this noon.

Whenever they were called by Apo Isko, there's always a big task and great results.

Today, they arrived earlier and they're very excited and energetic awaiting for Apo Isko's orders.

When Apo Isko arrived, before he told them their tasks for today.

He drew a big circle on the ground where they were all standing.

"Dig a pit as deep as your chest and as wide as this circle, I'll tell you what to do next once you're all done." then Apo Isko left after saying this.

They all have the same question, "Why?"

"Just what the hell is this pit for? Do we have to lure the wild beast all the way from the forest to our village?"

"or Is this for burying us after a dangerous task?"

Tala laughed and said, "Stop spewing bullsh*t, this will become some sort of place for storing food! Didn't you see that old man is so disgruntled when he saw the leftover fish and meat from our first hunt? He even studied by himself for a month to find out a solution for this problem."

"Don't compare yourself to us, where not prophet or some fortune teller to guess what's this just by the looks or reactions of Apo Isko." Dahas said.

Husay refuted, "No!, Tala might be right! I saw Apo Isko too and now I realized why he hid inside his shelter for so long."

Then the group of men continued their job.

When Apo Isko returned, they we're done digging a pit with a meter and half deep and a couple of meters radius.

"Next, Get your baskets go to the rocky mountain part and get rocks as large as your fists. Gather as many as you can. Then go back here! and one more thing, Make haste!" Apo Isko shouted to his favorite team. The group of men were startled and they started running as fast as they can without complaints.

Their body were unconsciously enhanced as they can now eat lots of meat and fishes. Doing hard labor also removes unnecessary fats and shaped up their figures. Though they we're not pumped and bulky, their bodies were muscly lean.

In less than an hour, everyone gets their baskets loaded with rocks.

Liksi and Lakas made a competition, whoever gets back to Apo Isko first will be the leader of this group. When the others heard it, they immediately joined the fun. "Who says you two can decide the leader of our group? Let us join too!"

Every member of the team were hyped-up, they stopped and prepared for the start of this competition. It might be a friendly competition, but everyone wanted to win! The fire burning in their eyes were so lit that you can feel their excitement and determination.

Lakas will decide the start of this competition. In his signal, everybody will go beyond their limits and do their best to rush back to Apo Isko.

Little did they know, the baskets were so heavy as they haven't tried to lift it up yet.

They only carried the rocks when they filled the basket and the basket is only standing on the ground.

Lakas shouted "START!"

Lakas & Liksi, carried their 2 baskets on each of their shoulders.

Tapang, Tibay & Tikas, carried their 2 baskets 1 on left and 1 on right hand.

Kulit, Likot, and Dahas tried to carry the baskets 1 on their shoulders and 1 on their back.

Husay and Tala scoffed at these brutes.

They both used their bamboo poles and put their baskets from both ends.

They carried it effortlessly. These two comprehended the idea on dividing the force or weight on both sides of the pole. This trick enables them to carry only half of the weight.

The 8 brutes can't even walk properly, no need to consider running.

Kulit and Likot stumbled on the sloping part of the mountain. Lakas and Liksi were trying to run while carrying the baskets. Tapang, Tibay, and Tikas were walking very fast but beads of sweat can be seen on their whole body.

Husay and Tala were walking leisurely at the back. Laughing at their competitors who looks foolish by only using brute force.