Page 170 of Circle of Days

Then he and Tem lifted the giant. It came up, lifting the rope, which was draped across the knot. The pointed feet sank into the ground. Seft stopped them when the giant was still leaning slightly toward the stone.

Now the rope ran from the stone over the knot of the giant, then down the other side into the hands of the volunteers.

Joia began to see the purpose of the giant. It would do the same as the convenient tree branch that Tem had wished for. Although the volunteers were on the ground, the height of the giant meant that the stone would be pulled upward, and would therefore come upright instead of sliding along the ground.

Seft and Tem were still holding the giant’s legs. Seft said to the volunteers: “Take the strain.”

They pulled the rope taut.

As they pulled harder, they drove the pointed feet of the giant deeper into the ground, making the whole setup more stable. The harder they pulled, the deeper the legs would sink. Joia was struck by how clever that was. Seft was brainy in a special way. She should have known to trust him. But there was so much at stake.

Still holding a leg of the giant, Seft nodded to Joia. She said: “Ready… heave!”

The stone did not move.

Seft said: “Ten more volunteers, please.”

More women and men took hold of the rope.

Joia said: “Ready… take the strain… heave!”

The thin end of the stone lifted off the ground.

“Keep going, keep going!” Joia yelled.

It moved higher.

Seft said: “Some of you get ready to shovel earth into the hole around the fat end. But wait for my word.”

Several volunteers grabbed shovels.

The stone continued to rise. The sight filled Joia with pride.

When it was approaching the upright position, Seft said: “Try to hold it still now.” He turned to those with shovels. “Fill the hole and tamp the earth down.”

When that had been done he turned to those holding the rope and said: “Very slowly, very slightly, release the tension.”

Joia bit her lip.

The stone rested back a little.

“A bit more.”

The stone seemed to settle.

“And again.”

The stone did not move.

Everyone stared hard. It remained still.

“Drop the rope,” Seft said quietly. “We’ve done it.”

Not many people heard him, and anyway his tone was too matter-of-fact for such a joyous announcement. Joia raised her voice. “We’ve done it!” she yelled. “We’ve done it!”

The valley rang with shouts of triumph and delight.

And Seft dreamed that up while we were having lunch, Joia thought in amazement.