Damien then said, “Our village can use ten prey to trade for one jar of salt. Let’s trade five jars. Three days will be sufficient. You’ll have enough new clothes then as well.”

Irina didn’t dare to say much, nodding as she said, “Oh, oh, oh. I’ll do what you say.”

Four days later, as Damien predicted, they already had 50 prey at home. After smoking them for one day and one night, they were hung up the willow trees next to the river to dry. Every family did this, and the trees along the entire stretch of the river were hung with jerky. They were like wind chimes, swaying...