Oondalagnadak
part 4
At the city gates, Daniel and Sam stood among the crowd of worried natives. Only six teams had returned so far, O'Neill and his boys had not been among them.
Sam stood on the platform, looking out over the wall, her hands shading her eyes. There was nothing moving as far as she could see. "They're not going to make it."
"They have to," Daniel insisted. "They'll turn up."
"Daniel, even if we could see one of the teams out there, they wouldn't make it back here before dark," she told him, waving at the orange ball of the sun that was already dropping into the trees.
Daniel chewed his lip, then, with sudden determination, turned away, scrambling down from the tower, back toward the village. They'd waited patiently all week, but no more.
Sam was hurrying after him. "Daniel, what are you doing?"
He ignored her, hurrying on.
She grabbed his shoulder, pulling him around. "Daniel?"
"I'm going to get Teal'c and go out there and find Jack."
"And what good would that do? We don't have weapons..."
Daniel dropped his voice down to a whisper. "Jack had his sidearm
in his boot when he went off with the natives. He told me to hide it in our room when he left. In case of an emergency. I think this qualifies as an emergency."Carter's voice was equally low. "One handgun? Against those creatures?"
"It's more of a chance than Jack has without one," Daniel strode away, going first to find O'Neill's weapon, then heading for the house where Teal'c had been a 'special guest' since the second day, when the priests had apparently overruled the mayor and the attitude toward SG-1 had turned, if not hostile, then certainly less than welcoming. Not that the natives had called Teal’c’s current state confinement, but Teal'c had not been allowed to leave the building unescorted ever
since.Just like the natives hadn’t called it theft when on that second morning the three remaining members of SG-1 had all awoken long after dawn, plagued with raging headaches, and discovered all their gear was gone. Everything had been taken, packs including food, extra clothes and first aid kits; their guns, Teal’c’s zat and staff weapon, even Daniel’s journals and Carter’s scientific equipment, and the GDO. All of it taken, so they were told, because such alien devices might offend the gods. The atmosphere had suddenly changed from open and friendly to suspicious and hostile. Carter was sent off to work with the women, and Daniel found himself no longer welcome among the priests in the temple. Apparently, Daniel learned after long talks with those few still willing to talk to him, Ooolagak had been overruled in his support of the alien visitors by the hardline attitude of the priests. They were no longer seen as guests but viewed suspiciously as enemies, or worse, infidels and heretics.
Walking nonchalantly up to the native who guarded the doorway, Daniel smiled disarmingly. "I've come to visit my friend. That is all right, isn't it?"
The native, who was used to Jackson's frequent visits to the Jaffa, simply nodded, lulled by the human's previous compliance with the wishes of the natives.
Daniel entered cautiously.
"There is trouble, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c inquired in his
ever unruffled manner."Big trouble." In a quiet whisper, Daniel explained the situation. “We have to get you out of here,” he stated.
Teal’c nodded. “I have ascertained that the covering on this window is loose,” the Jaffa pointed at the window at the back of the room, which opened into the alley behind the house. “I will remove it.”
Daniel looked at the window dubiously. “I don’t think you’ll be able to fit through there, Teal’c. But I could,” he said softly, his mind whirling with an idea. “Okay! We don’t want the locals to know you’ve gone. I’ve got an idea.” Daniel waved a hand at the Jaffa. “I’ll be back in a few minutes with Sam.”
Jackson left and hurried to find the Major, quickly outlining his plan as they walked back to Teal’c’s quarters. They nodded at the guard as they entered, all three speaking loudly together for several minutes before Sam walked outside.
She smiled as she walked past the guard, and repeated the words Daniel had just taught her, “Hi
. I’m Sam and your name is?”The young man looked at her, surprised to hear the alien woman speaking his language, and said something she didn’t understand.
Carter laughed, stepped closer, answering in English, “I don’t understand.” She had his attention, and sat down on the edge of the step to replace her sandal, her actions pushing up the hem of the long skirt the native women insisted she wore, revealing a long, slender calf.
The guard was staring at her.
Inside the hut, Daniel quickly shucked out of the native cloak he'd taken to wearing. “It’s nearly dark, so take my robe…”
“Such simple subterfuge will not fool the guard.”
“Not if he’s looking right at you, no. But he’s looking at Sam.”
Quickly, Teal’c donned the robe and hurried out of the hut.
Slowly, Carter finished fixing her sandal, stood and muttered “good night” in the local dialect, and fixing the guard with a smile, walked away, adding a little extra sway to her hips, just to make sure she kept the guards attention.
Just minutes later, Teal’c hurried along the alley behind his former 'cell,' just in time to help Daniel remove the window covering, then watch the younger man squeeze through the window and climb out.
“I left your clothes and the blankets all bundled up. If he just looks in, he’ll think you’re sleeping,” the young archaeologist whispered breathlessly, handing the Jaffa Jack’s gun.
--------
Sam was waiting for them along a quiet street near the town wall. Daniel had spent every day exploring the city, Sam, too, when she'd been able to escape from the women's work group, and they'd found this spot during one of their seemingly aimless strolls through the town: a doorway in the city wall, one that looked unused for a long time. Like all the exits from the town, it was not guarded. Guards weren't needed. No one was insane enough to voluntarily leave the safety of the city walls. They'd managed to open it, checking that it did indeed lead outside the wall, unsure how they would use the information, but knowing it could be important.
It was now.
"Sam, you'll have to stay here," Daniel whispered, "to let us back in."
"What? Daniel..."
"Sam, you'll be missed by the other women. No one pays any attention to me, or where I might be, I'm always wandering around."
"Daniel, you broke Teal'c out of house arrest. Won't they be suspicious?" she asked.
Teal'c disagreed. "The night guard believes I have retired for the evening. He will not notice otherwise unless he enters the room, and he has not done so on previous nights." The Jaffa looked at both of them. "You should stay here as well, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c insisted.
"But I can help."
"O'Neill would not like it if I exposed you to the dangers of the wasteland."
"I'm coming, Teal'c, either with you, or I'll wait until you're gone and follow on my own."
Teal'c stared at the scholar for a long moment, then nodded. "I understand why O'Neill calls you stubborn, DanielJackson. You may come. But we must hurry. Night is almost upon us, and we must find them quickly."
Daniel turned to the Major. "Sam, we'll do whatever we can to help them get back to the main gate..."
"Why not just bring them here?"
"Then how do we explain how they got back in? We can leave, but those boys and their families would still die. They've got to come in the front door, Sam. The arrival of a team should create enough distraction that you can come back here and let us in."
She nodded unhappily. "I know, but if you use that gun, won't they be suspicious?"
"The natives do not have such weapons," Teal'c reminded her. "They will be unfamiliar with the noise. They may suspect, but they will not know."
Sam held the door open as they stepped out into the dusk. "Good luck," she told them, watching their departure with worried eyes.
--------
The land was pitch black without the moons, even Teal'c couldn't track in such inky darkness, and they did not dare use a torch-such light could be seen for miles. But Daniel had carefully observed where the six returned teams had come from, and as soon as they reached the area, a trail was plain. Once on the path, Teal'c picked up the pace.
They moved steadily before Teal'c called a halt to let Daniel catch his breath. "What if we don't find them?" the young man asked.
"This is the path, DanielJackson."
"But what if they're not on the path? What if they're late because they got lost, or tried a shortcut or something?"
"That is unlikely. All the other teams came from this direction, did they not?"
"Yes."
"Then this is the most likely direction for us to find O'Neill and the others. It is our only choice to find them in the dark."
------
Team O'Neill was still moving, though slowly, exhausted by the task of hauling the travois. O'Neill
, too, was trudging forward, staggering with weariness, leaning heavily on the native boy who helped him.The town was just a cluster of small lights against the encroaching darkness, still impossibly far away.
The likelihood of reaching safety grew less and less with each passing minute as the darkness became so complete they could barely see their hands in front of their own faces.
O'Neill would not let them quit. They had to try.
Each of the boys was armed with a sharpened tree branch spear, their knives lashed to the tips, the best weapons O'Neill could improvise. They were primitive and probably useless against the massive predators, but at least they were
something, he consoled himself. Pushing his lagging feet to keep moving, the Colonel encouraged the boys and himself with a steady stream of inane chatter-- the latest SGC gossip, a summary of last week's episode of Poochinsky, and a play by play of last year's Colorado Avalanche victory in the Stanley Cup final.The boys didn't have a clue what he was talking about. It didn't matter, though, they needed to hear his voice as much as he did, a constant, steadying sound to drown out the feeling of dread rattling around inside his own head.
It was pitch dark now. The faint stars shed almost no light.
A noise, far to the left, a faint shuffling sound, the sort of thing a large creature might make while moving slowly through the darkness.
O'Neill stopped, squinted, trying to see, wishing for night vision goggles, a flare, a flashlight, hell, a match, anything to illuminate the area.
He could see nothing, but the noise continued, the sound of oversized footfalls getting ominously closer.
The hair on the back of Jack's neck rose as he shivered. Clutching his meager weapon, he turned to face the thing, nothing more than a large shadow against the darker night. He could smell something odd now, a faint whiff of carrion on the night breeze, a scent of death that made his nose wrinkle and his stomach churn.
Without warning, something big and dark and fast charged silently out of the impenetrable night.
O'Neill stepped forward, between the thing and the boys, brandishing the sharpened end of the walking staff.
The creature barreled into him as he jabbed the stick toward the beast's heart, or where he thought its vital organs should be. The animal roared, turning toward him, a huge appendage swatting him aside. Jack hit the ground with a grunt of pain, rolling, fighting to his knees despite the agony flaring across his back and a new pain awakened in his shoulder. He stumbled forward, toward the sound of shouting native boys. They'd done what he'd shown them, formed themselves into a circle, spear sticks pointing outward, Homer in the middle, their loud, defiant shouts trying to cover their fear.
Stumbling, shouting, Jack hurried back toward them as quickly as he could.
The beast roared.
-----
"What was that?" Daniel asked, cold fear racing up his spine at the hoarse enraged roar of some unknown creature which followed a familar sounding shout.
"I do believe we have found Colonel O'Neill, and quite possibly one of Orphradra's beasts," said Teal'c, breaking into a run toward the sound.
It was difficult running in the dark. Daniel tripped, getting a mouthful of gritty sand, but pushed himself upright to try to stay with the racing form of the Jaffa. He could just make out Teal'c as a shadow in the night. Please don’t let us be too late, he prayed silently as he ran.
------------
The creature roared again, charging toward the boys, but it had learned the bristling spears did damage. It circled, a low rumbling, growling noise rising from its throat.
It sounded pissed, O'Neill thought.
He knew he had only one chance to stop the creature, a slim one, true, but Jack O'Neill never admitted defeat. If he could get the beast to charge hard enough at him, the creature's own momentum might drive his primitive spear deep enough into the animal's bowels to do some real damage.
Maybe.
If he got really, really lucky.
So yeah, it was a piss-poor plan, but it was the best he could do with what he had
.Dropping to one knee, he wedged the spear hard into the dry, rocky ground, holding it fast. "Hey, beastie, hey, you, over here. Here!"
The animal's blunt head swung around toward him, and it growled again, its
attention now focused on the lone prey, prey that looked so much more vulnerable than these others.The thing took a step toward O'Neill, and then it charged.
It was fast, and it was big.
Bracing the spear, Jack held his ground, even as he felt the ground shake and smelled the predator's fetid breath.
The creature didn't slow, running straight toward the waiting human, impaling itself on the wooden spike, screaming its
pain and rage even as it lost focus on its dinner. Thrashing in pain, the beast didn't hear the human's answering cry of pain as it trampled the man. The creature staggered, turning back in rage to find the thing that had wounded it. Eyes accustomed to hunting in the dark, it had no trouble finding the thing crawling along the ground. With a scream of rage and hunger, the creature turned to charge again.A thunderous noise rang out.
The beast screamed again, flinging its head around, searching for this new source of pain.
Another contained thunder shattered the quiet of the night.
The boys were shouting as the creature, maddened by its wounds, surged once again toward the helpless human.
More shots rang out as Teal'c ran at the creature, emptying the clip into the animal's bulk at close range.
The creature slowed its rush, staggered, dropped to its knees, bellowed, and crashed to the ground.
Silence prevailed as the humans and Orphradine stood silent.
A moan galvanized them into motion, all of them running toward the dark form of O'Neill lying motionless on the ground.
"O'Neill!"
"Jack?"
"Chac?" echoed four worried voices.
Teal'c reached the Colonel first, relieved to hear the labored breathing, but breathing at least.
Daniel slid to his knees beside O'Neill, his hand reaching to find a pulse, thready, but there. "Jack?" he asked more softly.
The still form shuddered. "Hmmmm."
"Jack?"
"Daniel?" there was confusion in the voice. "Wha...? How'd you get here?"
"Teal'c and I came to find you."
"You shot that thing?" O'Neill mumbled weakly.
"Teal'c did."
"Good timing, kids."
Teal'c nodded. "Thank you, O'Neill. Are you injured?"
O'Neill snorted, the sound morphing into a moan as he tried to push himself to a sitting position. "Dumb question."
Jack brought his hand around and even in the dim light, they couldn't miss the dark stain on his hands. "Oh, yeah."Daniel's hand found the bandage the boys had applied to the old wound. "This?"
"Attacked a day, two days ago," O'Neill weakly waved a hand. "Some other team was after our... food... fod... that stuff," he was feeling pretty groggy. He rolled his shoulder, felt a sharp pain race across his back. "At least that thing picked on the same shoulder," he mumbled through gritted teeth, hunching forward as Daniel applied pressure to the new wound.
"Broken?"
He shook his head. "Don't think so. But that thing had claws."
The boys were surrounding them, chattering.
"Daniel, tell them I'm okay," Jack ordered.
Jackson talked to the worried natives as he made a makeshift bandage from a shirt one of the boys had handed him.
Teal'c came over to join them, kneeling beside his injured CO. "We must help you get back to the town, O'Neill, before another of those creatures finds us."
The Colonel suddenly remembered the quest. "Shit. How the hell did you get out here? And doesn't this mean we've broken the rules?"
"One question at a time, Jack. First, they guard against people, or things, coming *into* the village, not against anyone crazy enough to want to leave. Sam is covering for us, and if we get back in time, no one should notice our absence. And yes, we did break the rules, but we'll help you get back near town and then Sam will let us back in. Hopefully, the Orphradine will never know we helped you, so the boys can go home..."
"… they'll be safe, their families, too," Jack sighed in relief.
"Yes." Daniel had done his best with the bandage. "Think you can walk?"
"There is no need for O'Neill to walk now," Teal'c suggested. "I will pull him on one travois, and we can place the fodder on another. DanielJackson, if you help, the boys can pull the other litters."
Daniel nodded, helping Jack onto the travois which Teal'c immediately began to move toward the distant lights.
They moved quickly then, all of them eager to reach the safety of the town.
Team O'Neill and its rescuers were about a half mile from the city walls when Teal'c stopped. The cessation of movement caused O'Neill to rouse.
"Jack, you awake?" Daniel asked.
"Sleeping like a baby with this air glide cushioned suspension. Nothing like a nice smooth travois ride to send a guy right off to dreamland," O'Neill answered sarcastically. "Teal'c, I know we're not from the same planet, but didn't anybody ever tell you the idea is for the travois to *miss* the rocks and holes?"
Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "I will endeavor to do better next time, O'Neill, but it is now time for us to leave you and make our way back to the city. You must proceed on your own from here if you are able."
"Oh, sure, I'm able. Always able, that's me, Jack Able O'Neill," he muttered.
The Jaffa took hold of his CO's good hand, pulling the man slowly upright, the Colonel unable to mask the sharply drawn breath. Once on his feet, he held onto Teal'c's shoulder for a long minute, eyes closed, needing the time to adjust his body to being upright once again. Once the dizziness faded to a controllable level, he opened his eyes. Even in this dim light he couldn't miss the anxious expression on Daniel's faces.
"Half a mile or less, Jack, you can do it," Daniel encouraged.
"Chac," the boys echoed softly, looking up at him.
O'Neill nodded, waved a thumbs up. "Half a mile. Piece of cake."
Redistributing the precious load of fodder, the native boys once again took up the poles of the travois, and with O'Neill walking carefully
, but steadily in the lead, they headed toward town.---------
A hundred yards from the main town gate, a guard spotted them, a mighty shout going up within the otherwise quiet village. Dozens of amazed villagers raced for the gate, hoping it was their son or clan brother in this group, the seventh.
Never before had a team returned after nightfall.
One lone person who saw the hubbub, instead of heading toward the village gate, slipped off down a dark quiet street to keep a different rendezvous. By the time Teal'c and Daniel reached the gate, Carter had it open, waiting impatiently.
Her eyes lit up when she saw them, her smile fading quickly to a frown when she spied blood on Daniel's shirt. "Daniel? You're hurt!"
He looked down, surprised to see the dark stain. "Don't worry. It's not mine. It's Jack's."
"The Colonel's? Is he okay?" worry tightened her throat.
"O'Neill was able to walk the last distance to the gate," Teal'c informed her solemnly. "He is injured and will require medical assistance, but he lives."
The Major let out a relieved sigh. "Good. Then we'd all better get over to the celebration. And Daniel..." she pointed at the blood stained shirt.
"Right," quickly he took off the long sleeved shirt, tucking the stained garment under a pile of debris along the wall, and clad only in his t-shirt with his jacket over it, they hurried back toward the gathering crowd.
--------
Team O'Neill trudged forward, coming at last to stand before the city’s gate.
"Who wishes entrance?" Ooolagak, the city's leader called. O'Neill didn't understand the words, but he was sure of the query.
Alfalfa stepped forward, and answered. "The sons of Orphradine, and the stranger from afar. We bring our payment, fodder for the god."
"Show us," Ooolagak demanded.
The other native boys pulled the travois forward, a murmur going through the villagers at the strange contraptions the youngsters were using. All eyes leaped to the tall stranger, who simply stared back.
The leader turned to others, words exchanged that none of Team O'Neill could hear.
"We bring our fodder for the god. Open the gate!" Alfalfa said again.
"Quiet!" ordered the village leader. "We must decide if you have obeyed the rules..."
Daniel's heart sank. He couldn't see what was happening outside the wall, just hear the shouted questions and answers. Had their subterfuge been somehow detected? Had someone discovered Teal'c's escape? The Jaffa had gone back to his house, staying unseen, hoping to simply slip past the guard and back into the house. Even if he was seen outside, they doubted that would be a problem. They'd planned to meet at the Stargate and make a run for home as soon as O'Neill and his team were back inside the city.
But O'Neill's team wasn’t back inside yet. The elders were standing near the gate, arguing in quiet tones. Daniel worked his way through the crowd of villagers, needing to get closer to hear, straining to catch the words and the rapid fire exchanges.
"What's wrong?" Sam whispered.
"They're arguing whether Jack's team has met the conditions of the test, or if by coming in after dark they've lost."
"But they're here. And with the plants they were supposed to bring."
"Right. But no one's ever returned after dark before. They're reluctant to open the gate."
Far in the distance, everyone heard a muffled roar, and another. More beasts were hunting, and seemed to be drawing closer.
Using the last of his strength, O'Neill straightened his shoulders, biting his lip to hide the cost of the move. "Hey, you guys," he suppressed the cough that threatened to erupt from his throat. "Let us in! We're here with your damn feedstuff. We've met your damn test. Let us in!"
Thank God the mayor and priests didn't know what Jack had just said, Daniel thought, shoving farther forward to make an attempt to intercede on his friend's behalf. "Jack is right. The team is here, with the fodder for the god. That was the test, wasn't it?"
One of the elders turned to the alien visitor. "Yes. But we do not open the gate at night. Never. It has not been done for centuries."
"But there's no rule *against* opening it for those who've brought fodder, is there?" Daniel insisted.
The elders turned away, conferring. "You are right, Stranger Jackson. There is no rule against opening the gate." The man waved at the guards, and the huge town gate began to swing open.
--------
The gate was moving. The Colonel almost collapsed with relief. Frankly, he wasn't sure how much longer he could stay on his feet, the pain and exhaustion having sapped his remaining strength. Jack forced himself to step forward, to walk through the gate, toward the worried, familiar faces of Daniel and Carter.
He let a small smile form on his lips. "Hi, Major. Have fun here with the villagers did ya? Missed a great tour of the landscape, kids. Trees, rocks, sand, dust, nasty beasties. And did I mention all the scintillating conversations?" Jack coughed and stumbled, and Daniel rushed forward to catch him.
"Save your strength, Jack," Daniel whispered at his teammate. "We've got to head for the gate before they figure out what we did. Teal'c will meet us there."
"We're going home now?"
"Yes. Now." Jackson helped O'Neill lean against Carter. "Jack, go with Sam. I'm going to demand our gear back from Ooolagak and the others, while they're busy celebrating the team's return." Daniel turned to go, but Jack stuck out a hand and grabbed his shirt. "What?"
"Tell them, tell the boys," O'Neill nodded at his native teammates. "Tell them they're good kids, good men. Tell them..."
"I know what to tell them, Jack. Now go."
Daniel watched a moment while Sam staggered as she pulled the Colonel's arm over her shoulder, helping him toward the Stargate on the far side of the town.
He turned to find himself face to face with the mayor. "Ooolagak, our clan-mate has returned safely with his share of the fodder. We ask for our reward, the return of our equipment. We would be happy to wait for its return, but we have medical potions that we need to help O'Neill."
The native leader nodded, "You are all free to go. The fodder has been gathered. The gods will be pleased." Oolagak waved at one of his guards, who returned in a few minutes with all four packs.
"Thank you," Jackson tried to sound casual. "I must hurry now to help my clan-mate."
"You will return for the ceremony? It is most impressive, a true tribute to the gods."
"Oh, yeah, sure. In a bit. Once we get Colonel O'Neill fixed up," Daniel answered. It wasn't a lie, not exactly. They'd have to get Jack fixed up, and by that time, the Orphradine's little ceremony would be over. Long, long over.
Trying not to look like he was in too much of a hurry, Daniel turned away and started toward the street where Sam and Jack had gone, Teal'c joining him along the way. Suddenly, a small form was in front of him. It was one of the natives who'd been with Jack.
"Will Chak live?"
"Yes, he will. Thanks to your help."
The boy shook his head. "No. We live thanks to his, and yours," he said, glancing around furtively, being sure no one over heard them. "You must go, and quickly. Tell Chak we are safe and well, even Hom'ra, and we are grateful."
Daniel solemnly shook the young native's hand. "Chak was proud to serve with you. He told me to tell you that you are good men." Jackson fumbled for more words. "And, ah, live long and prosper."
With that, he turned and hurried away.-----
By the time Daniel reached the Stargate, the others were already there. He pulled out the GDO, handing it to Sam as he dialed up the gate, Teal'c propping up a wobbly O'Neill as they waited impatiently. The gate kawooshed and Sam quickly punched in their iris code. "Got it!" she cried, and they headed for the gate, the first sounds of curious townsfolk already coming down the street behind them, alerted by the light and sound of the gate activating.
Daniel was the last one through the gate, pausing momentarily, waving at the natives. "Ah, it was fun, folks," he said, and stepped through.
--------
By the time Daniel's feet hit the gateroom ramp, the medical team was already gathered around O'Neill. Janet was barking orders as the man was loaded onto a gurney, mumbling his objections but too weak to prevent the orderlies manhandling him onto the stretcher.
"What happened?" Hammond demanded as he hurried into the gateroom.
"It's a long story, Sir," Carter said, beginning to tell their tale even as they all followed the medical team toward the infirmary.
-------
Jack remained unconscious for four days while his fever raged. Dr. Fraiser had needed several dozen stitches to close the wounds in his back, the first made by some sort of knife like weapon, the second by the dirty claws of the predator they'd killed. Finally, the fever broke, and O’Neill’s restless, fevered sleep deepened and eased into restful slumber.
------
Daniel stepped into the infirmary hearing, his team leader long before he glimpsed the man sitting up in bed, leaning forward as a nurse changed the dressing on the wounds.
"Geez, Lieutenant, think you could make it hurt a little more? I don't think we've reached the true agony potential of this situation yet..."
O’Neill complained. "Just yank my arm around behind my neck and you can probably tear loose a few more pounds of flesh."Hearing the outburst, Daniel wasn't sure he should enter, but he pitied the nurse and stepped into the room. "Hi, Jack."
The nurse shot him a grateful smile.
"Hey, Daniel," O'Neill welcomed the distraction.
"I see you're doing better."
"If you call this better," the Colonel groused.
"Well, compared to yesterday, when you where comatose, I'd imagine this is better."
"Hurt less then," O'Neill wasn't ready to give up being grumpy yet.
"I suppose so." Daniel stood beside the bed. "Doc says I shouldn't stay too long. You're still running a fever and need your beauty sleep."
"Right. Sleep. That's all I've been doing, and nobody's told me what happened back there," he waved a hand, "after I uh fell asleep."
"Passed out, you mean."
O'Neill shrugged. "So, Teal'c said you just talked ol' Goolagong into giving us the GDO and our stuff back."
"Yes."
"Good going," the nurse done, O'Neill leaned gingerly back against the bed, wincing as he tried, and failed, to find a way to ease the soreness in his back. "So..." he added.
"So..." said Daniel.
"Did you pass along my message?"
"Oh, yeah, told the boy who had your hat..."
"Alfalfa."
"Alfalfa...” Daniel shot his CO an inquiring look. “Alfalfa?"
Jack shrugged. "I needed to call him something."
"Ah, right, well, I told 'Alfalfa' that you were okay and that you said they'd done a good job."
"They did," O'Neill said softly. "Thanks for passing on the message."
"No problem." Daniel shoved his glasses up on his nose, unsure what to say next
. "I thought you'd like to know, the boys from your team, they're heroes, because of the things you taught them. It's amazing really. We went back for their ceremony this morning and I'll bet I saw ten people using travois to move goods around the city. And all the youngsters are wearing these new style hats, they look a lot like baseball caps, actually,” Daniel said with a grin. “It seems they were quite taken with your innovations.""The boys all okay?"
"Yes.” Daniel’s voice got suddenly softer. “They told me the team who attacked you didn't make it back."
Jack nodded. Part of him was glad, after all, they'd tried to kill him and the boys on his team, steal the fodder needed to earn their place in the city. He understood they were desperate and that they were just kids, too, but kids willing to kill rather than earn their own way. He shook his head. Talk about a messed up place.
"Hammond's got SG-9 working on a treaty with them.
"What?"
"Carter's tests showed there's a small amount of Naquadah on the planet. So we're going to trade them the technical know how to expand their city, give them enough room so they don't have to continue Oondalagnadak as population control."
"Good," Jack felt suddenly weary, and found himself fighting to keep eyes from sliding closed as he leaned back on the bed.
"Ah, how long is Doc going to keep you here?"
"A couple more days," O'Neill answered disgustedly. "I'm fine and I'd be even finer at home, but Doc thinks I need to rest. As if I get any rest here, with people poking and prodding and waking you up to ask you how you feel..."
"So, ah, anything I can bring you? Book to read or something to pass the time?"
Jack threw him a look. "Not one of your books, Daniel, I've seen what you read. Nope. Maybe I can borrow something more interesting from Doc, like one of her medical texts. I'll be fine, thanks."
"Good. Well, guess I'll go, then, seeing as you're okay." Daniel took a step toward the door, but Jack's voice stopped him.
"Say, Daniel, did you ever find out what that fodder stuff was for? I mean, we about killed ourselves to get it. What do they do with it?"
"Ah, well, the high priest explained it. In about a week, when it's had time to dry, they pile it all up in front of the Stargate and set it on fire."
O'Neill's eyes widened. "They set it on fire?"
Daniel nodded.
"Burn it up?" the Colonel asked, incredulous.
Daniel nodded again.
"Just turn it into smoke and ashes?"
"Uh huh."
"We went through all that so they could have a bonfire and what, toast marshmallows?"
"That’s pretty much the extent of it."
"Oh, for crying out loud....."
**FINISH**