40.Recovery

Bob shelters with Belinda and Archimedes during a severe tropical storm on Delta Eridani I. After the storm clears, Archimedes begins crafting flint tools as part of a plan to end the fighting with Caerleon through teaching flint-working technology.

Bob and Belinda wait out a heavy rainstorm in a tent in the Deltan village. Archimedes, still recovering from his kidnapping, shows Bob a spear-head made of flint and proposes using flint-working instruction as a way to resolve the ongoing conflict with Caerleon. Bob encourages the plan and promises support. Using his orbital vantage point, Bob accurately predicts the storm will clear by noon. Once it does, they travel to Archimedes' favorite flint-working site, where Bob observes discarded flakes from previous work and a growing pile that children use for arrow-heads. Over the afternoon, Archimedes produces a dozen rough blanks despite suffering a coughing fit from incomplete recovery. Bob goes on a hunting expedition, monitors orbital surveillance for Caerleon activity, finds none, and hopes the earlier incident has deterred further aggression. He brings game back to Belinda, then returns to Archimedes, who estimates needing several more days to finish the tools. Bob agrees to discuss the plan with Donald.