To the north, east and west of the land was a titanic forest that spread out for miles. To the right of the lake, the edge of the forest was only a few feet away and could be reached by crossing over the stream using the stepping stones. The amount of forest was overwhelming. It was endless. She had never seen anything like it.
She scanned back across the field to the left of the landscape, where she spotted several log cabins, some side by side, others facing towards her in a rectangular plot over a hundred yards away from where she stood. There were at least twenty cabins altogether.
The grassy, rocky hill they stood on was landscaped with yellow stone slabs forming a pathway around the building. Steps led down to the left towards the fields, vegetable patches and cabins. She fixed her eyes on the stone slabs under her feet as she followed Edda and Alf step by step. When they reached the lower ground, Jaz saw that the path led north towards the cabins, as well as east which connected to another path that led towards the lake. The same path also disappeared behind the side of the main building, perhaps to the front.
She swivelled round to glance at the main building and was surprised at what she saw. It looked like it had been carved out of the rocky hill by hand, except for the glass dome, which was perched on the far right of the building, reflecting the merciless sun. The straight lines of the various sized windows looked odd against the rough and smooth curves of the rock. It was beautiful and yet completely alien to her. Something she could admire from a distance but never imagine living in.
Maria touched her shoulder lightly. Jaz turned to look at her and Maria smiled, flicking her chin towards Edda who was strolling ahead and Alf who was walking at a slower pace behind her, both unaware Jaz had stopped. It was then that Jaz realized how close the community people were to her. She picked up her pace to catch up with the others as Maria sauntered close behind.
Jaz peered to her side as they made the long walk up the path, beside the fields and vegetable patches. There were men and women working in them. Pulling up weeds, watering the fruit and vegetable plants.
The nearest field to Jaz looked like cabbages and lettuce. They were in a plot that could have fitted two cars inside. There were also carrots, potatoes, rice and corn plants further along. To the north-east, closer to the stream, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and other fruits were blooming; Jaz couldn't see them from such a great distance, but she identified them by their smell.
She noticed she could smell all the fruits and vegetables in the air. Flowers: some she recognized, others she didn't. She could smell sweat and perfume and knew which scent belonged to who by gauging distance, whether it was male or female, young or old. She tried to keep a straight face as she followed behind Edda.
Edda took off her baseball cap and wiped the sweat from her ruddy forehead. Then waved to a group of people huddled together, drinking lemonade. Jaz could smell that too. All fifty feet away. Her apprehension increased tenfold.
They waved back smiling, offering Edda and the others a glass. She declined with a grin, telling them she had work to do. That's when their attention was drawn to Jaz.
A man with pink skin, brown, fuzzy hair in a buzz cut, with a face like a rectangle, black dots for eyes and a thin wide mouth, was holding the tray of drinks whilst he gazed her way. He was thin and tall, but lean, and smelt sweet and pungent like musk. He looked to be in his thirties.
On Buzz Cut's left was a young woman with long, jet-black hair down to her unnaturally small behind, her Oriental-shaped eyes scrutinizing Jaz. She stood tall in her beige, mesh high-heeled boots that seemed ridiculous to wear for gardening; her thin figure was clad in tight Aztec-patterned leggings and a clashing tribal vest. Her scent was overpowered by the perfume she was wearing -Chanel, Jaz recognized, though she couldn't remember which one- with a hint of fresh and old sweat mixed in.
On Oriental Eyes' right was a young, pretty, curvaceous, red-head with bright, hazel eyes who seemed to have an obsession with floral patterns. She looked to be the giddy type cursed with a high, screechy laugh that could make nails on chalk-board seem like heavenly music. Right on cue, the red-head knocked her head back and giggled loudly over something Oriental Eyes had said.
Jaz cringed. Wow, I was wrong. It's much worse.
But she noticed, Buzz Cut and a young man on his right with sun-gold hair, bright green eyes and a boyish grin, seemed to find her laugh... alluring. They were practically drooling as they googooeyed her.
Maybe Jaz was missing something but to her, the red-head's laugh just sounded really annoying.
She looked away from them and stepped across the path avoiding the eyes of the other workers who were digging and planting nearby.
They reached the two, south-facing cabins at the end, stopping at the nearest one with a number 2 engraved in the wood on the left side of the panelled door.
There was a wide front step covered with wood decking, decorated with flower beds either side. Edda stepped onto it and unlocked the door with a key from her pocket. The door creaked as she opened it and she walked inside.