The startlement was but a whisper in a forest of whispers, but Jakob turned his head and gazed back through the sleepers to see one of his companions sit up and wipe his face. Just beyond, the first of the sun's light sleepily rolled over the clouds above, not yet touching down onto the severe cliffsides on either side of the deep valley they rested in.

Morning had come. Jakob yawned and stood. He'd taken last watch, being the lazy one, or perhaps the one who liked best to have it all in one go. Let the others deal with the need to wake and sleep. Jakob had never been very good at that. The going back to sleep part, that is.

He walked to the almost dead fire and reached out, gathering up some twigs and poking them into the coals. Some prodding and a little of breath (the fire could easily have been remade by one of their number, but Jakob didn't object to doing it the long way) and it flared back to life.

He drew up the canister of water that they'd put aside the fire for emergencies or for morning tea. This, he hung over the roughly constructed tripod which was set aside Pulling the tripod back, he hung canister over fire and settled back on his haunches. His dark eyes found the waken ones and he gave a small smile.

They'd gone too long for him to do more than nod a good morning. He really didn't see cause to get into some long, drawn out conversation when this day would be just like all the rest. Besides, it wasn't like Jakob to break silence. He was the quiet one, always with his somewhat put-upon expression as if the entire venture had been someone else's idea and he'd merely been roped into it. He never stated this because in actuality, he'd grudgingly (he never did anything that wasn't related to planting without silent complaint) volunteered simply because he'd felt that no one else could have done his part. The fact this was perfectly true didn't soothe his injured peace, either.

Still, he had a complacent, calm half smile lingering about his mouth that morning. The rising sun turned the world purple gold and Jakob tended fire for the others, enjoying the last moments of quiet before everything and everyone became more active.

__________________

‘What will my death be like?’ he thought- and knew at once
with abrupt certainty, that it would be just like his life:
... the same balance of bearables.
~Amis