A Primitive Oven

Gonyaul woke early in the morning and was pleasantly satisfied with how warm and cozy his new debris shelter actually was. He conjectured that it was going to work even when the temperatures would become drastically lower. He undid the door latch on the inside and gently opened the door. He placed his right hand on the tree trunk as he emerged into the light of day. He was so comfortable last night, he actually overslept, the sun was up before he was.

Today his objective was to make a primitive oven. He finished off the last of the dried fruit and nuts he had brought and got right to work. He had made primitive ovens before, several different kinds over his young lifetime in fact.

He was making one with two chambers, a lower fire chamber and an upper cooking chamber. Mass would be less important in this design, as the fire is left burning while the food bakes in the cooking chamber. He stationed the design inside the debris shelter. He would have enough room to crawl right into bed, a foot of space to the right and then the oven placed roughly so it would align with his torso; best to keep the vital organ closer to the warmth.

He decided to use the escape tunnel he dug yesterday as the chimney so that he could bring it inside the shelter. His original idea was outside, but this would be better for cooking and keeping warm at the same time. It would also eliminate the light from the fire inside completely from any unwanted attention. The only thing would be the smoke coming out of the ground at the other end of the escape tunnel. But in the black of night, it is much more difficult to see smoke than it is the light from a fire.

Using the pickaxe he dug all the necessary foundational dimensions. Then he constructed the primitive oven using rocks and mud bricks. Once it was complete he started a fire inside to allow the heat to bake the mud bricks, as well as to test it out. It worked quiet well. And now he need but be patient for the oven to harden and settle.

He was rather dirty at this point; however, it didn't bother him at all. It was around mid-day and it was time to refuel some energy. His hidden fishing net was empty today. So he went on to his backup plan. Gonyaul searched up and down the moving water, which took a while, until he was able to spear a fish with a sharpened limb he made yesterday for that very purpose from the extra pieces.

He cleaned and gutted the fish with his carving knife on his normal flat cutting-board stone. By now the oven looked like it needed a few more hours before it would be ready to use. In the meantime he set to work creating a concealed escape hatch in the side of the debris shelter. He had to undo the layers on the side, make the necessary cuts and ties, and then put everything back in order so it looked as if it was one solid mound. In actuality, all he would have to do is lift himself over the very low stone wall inside the shelter and do a hard roll outward and he would be able to free himself without using the entrance door.

Next he organized and groomed his campsite, followed by practicing meditation and breathing until it was time to check the oven again. It was ready. He placed the prepared fish on the upper level to cook. He smiled at the interior of his debris shelter, the primitive oven, and the delicious smell. As he observed the whimsical movements of the flames and the burning embers' hues, he couldn't help but think back to the redhead he had met just the other day.

When the fish was done cooking, he used two thin rocks as pincers to remove it and place it on a rock to cool. He then took his stone cutting-board and covered the entrance to the lower level of the primitive oven. The flames on the other side of the stone would lick away any remnants of the fish as well as reduce the heat inside the shelter a few degrees. In addition, it blocked the majority of light that the fire produced in the interior as well.

After he finished eating, Gonyaul wrapped his eyes and ears, laid down, and just experienced the rawness of all his senses (without sight) taking in the world; both inside the shelter and any noises on the outside.