32 *BONUS* John's extensive knowledge

The second trap was something that John didn't know the name of. He explained it in a way that made Lucas sure that he didn't know much about it or that he hadn't ever tried it before.

"I saw a video online about this trap and it made me very excited, I can't believe I get to make it now," John said with a small laugh.

Lucas on the other hand didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The trap was to be made in order for their survival, not for fun that John was having immensely which could be known just by looking at his bloomed face.

'So I guess even adults can be childish sometimes.' He thought and a chuckle came out his mouth.

He hadn't ever seen the playful side of his father or mother, they were either always serious or being parents so he had guessed on his own that people change with time and they have to get serious.

But seeing John right now, he got to know that he was wrong, even in a place this stressful, he found something that he liked and they needed.

"Yes! I can't believe I found it..." John said a loud and surprisingly ran forward leaving others behind.

He stopped at a big slate-like stone a few meters away and started to examine it. Before everyone could arrive, John picked the big flat stone that was 2 meters in length from one side and examined it from the bottom too.

"Dad, be careful... your back will start hurting." Sean came to his father's aid and started pulling the stone too, and so did Barney.

"It's not that heavy, get back now, I am keeping it back there."

THUD

The stone fell again and John kept looking at it with his hand on his chin as if contemplating.

After a few minutes, he went near a tree and broke a thick branch with force. He brought the axe head out of his pocket and started striking it with the makeshift hammer he carried around.

While the others made a circle around John to help him concentrate on what he was doing, Sean was asked to help by John. Lucas looked at the whole process. At first, John split the big thick branch into two and then took some measurements with his hands scarring a spot after what looked like some calculated measure.

John threw the other cut branch away and concentrated on cutting the other one which had the measured scar.

After a while, it was split into two and then John kept them together taking in note that they were of the same size, he made two more specific cuts on both, one on each.

The lines he carved on both of them were on the same ends for both. John started smashing the axe head on the lines and went halfway deep only to take the axe head out again and repeated the process on the other.

When it was done, he picked one up and started hitting the top of the thick stick which was circular. A crack formed that went down until it came out halfway. Lucas came to the realization that John wanted to make the cutting stop at the carved lines part, that's why he slashed it halfway.

He did the same thing again with the other one until he had two half-split branches.

The process later became a bit confusing and Lucas didn't quite catch it.

Before he could make sense, everything was over, the result looked like this. The stone slab was half up and was supported by the two branches John was working on. They were together in a very delicate manner as if a single action would make the branches drop resultantly dropping the slab down too.

There were also two small twigs on the ground connecting a small one that was attached to the main two. (Pic in the comment of the end result.)

"I can't believe I did it..." John kept looking at the piece with eyes sparkling with sunshine. Ella came to his aid and caressed his shoulder while looking at that piece of art.

"I don't want to try it as a lot of work will take to erect it again. But you all get the gist of how it works, right?"

Lucas, Barney, and Sean nodded in unison but Sarah didn't, when everyone's eyes went on her, she awkwardly nodded too with her head down as if ashamed.

"Haha... don't worry, Sarah. This old man had to see the same video, again and again, to understand it too at the first time." John patted her head with a chuckle and went on to explain it.

The two small twigs on the ground under the stone slab were connected in such a way that if something was going to put even the slightest force, it would fall making the whole structure get down with it.

After the explanation was done, Sarah looked at the whole thing with a new light and took a few steps back to play it extra safe.

At last, John kept a small piece of the gimmerroot between the two twigs on the ground with patience and control.

"Now, we just have to leave and pray that something gets stuck under this trap."

"Uncle John, sometimes a wonder how lucky I am that you found the shelter," Lucas said while looking at the trap from all angles carefully cramming in all the details as someday, even he wanted to make this thing.

Lucas was looking for a reaction from Uncle John but there wasn't any for an abnormal number of seconds. At last, he looked back at him and frowned.

'What's with that expression? Wait... don't tell me..."

"I got a skill!" John exclaimed with his face filled with disbelief. His eyes had gone wide and mouth agape.

"Ugh..." The next thing, he held his head in his hands and pressed it. Before Lucas could go help him, he was fine again.

Ella took his arm in both her hands but John just smiled at her.

"I am fine, it was just a little headache..." John said but his eyes darted toward Lucas who tilted his head in confusion.

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Thanks for reading! 2 More to go!