Scattered Seeds

by Alice Sabo

  “Why?” Nick asked.

  She shrugged.

  “You should rest,” he suggested.

  Everett stood watch by the door. Nick gestured to him to escort the woman upstairs to the room where her friends were sleeping.

  Istvan, Nixie, Ted and Wisp settled in dusty chairs around the room waiting for Everett to return.

  “Is she all right?” Ted asked.

  “Just hungry and tired, I think,” Nick said.

  Everett breezed into the room and took a seat. “Is it what you thought?”

  Nick rubbed his chin. “Sounds like it. She’s escaped from the Stew-goo factory.”

  Ted jolted up, his face a mask of horror. Wisp reached over to put a hand on his brother’s arm. “As a worker,” he said.

  The implications made Nick shiver. He might not be able to eat it again with that thought lingering in his brain. “Yes, a worker. She said there wasn’t anyone to come after her.”

  “That’s not true,” Wisp countered.

  “Do you know where the factory is?”

  “Approximately. I didn’t scout it. There are people there.”

  Ted raised a hand, as if asking to speak, waiting until Nick gave him permission. “Maybe she meant that there weren’t any guards left to come after her. Just the workers. And maybe they don’t want to leave. If they are surrounded by food...”

  “I don’t think I’d want to be surrounded by Stew-goo,” Everett grumbled.

  Istvan made a face.

  “It’s a good point,” Nick said, ignoring Everett’s comment. “If they have food and weapons, why would they leave? Whether there are guards there or not. They might have all chosen to stay.”

  “If the factory is now being held by the workers, I doubt they will continue production.” Wisp said.

  “If the slaughterhouse isn’t operating, what would they make it out of?” Nick turned to Istvan. “You said you knew the ranchers that raised cattle for the slaughterhouse. Is this the last one?”

  “I think so. There were six of them,” Istvan said with grim expression. “The herds were small. Devastated by the Hoofed Flu. They used them all up.”

  “Because they think in the past,” Nick muttered. “They think there will always be more somewhere that they can take. Like their plans to tithe the settlements.”

  “They’re wrong,” Everett said. “If they didn’t leave enough for breeding, there won’t be any more.”

  Istvan shuffled a foot and twitched a shoulder. “There might be a few that went missing.”

  “And I think I know of some more that will go missing also,” Nick said.

  Chapter 62

  “It became a time of winner take all. But you had to know what to look for in the first place.”

  History of a Changed World, Angus T. Moss

  NICK FORCED HIMSELF to stop turning over the little information he had. He couldn’t do anything in the middle of the night. His mind kept circling until he forced himself to sleep. Daylight woke him. A night in a bed, with men to watch his back, had been a much appreciated luxury. He could smell food cooking and hear people moving around downstairs, but still he took his time getting out of his warm blankets.

  Ted had breakfast started. Arms folded, Wisp stood by the sink. Nick had the feeling he’d interrupted an important conversation. “Everything okay?”

  “All good,” Ted replied. He gave Nick a forced smile before turning back to his frying pan.

  “Istvan and Everett went to check on the cattle,” Wisp reported. “I told them where I felt more animals. Might be cattle. Darrell had the last watch. He’s sleeping. Nixie went out. The factory people are still sleeping.”

  Nick helped himself to the pot of tea on the table. To his surprise it was black tea. “Where did this come from?”

  “I found it in your gear,” Ted said with a look of chagrin. “I thought it was okay to use.”

  Nick had dumped all of the food he’d taken from the other vans into the kitchen to be sorted and repacked. “I didn’t have time to look through it yesterday.”

  Wisp picked up a small box, opening it to show Nick the contents. “Sugar packets, too.”

  “Quite the treasure trove,” Nick mumbled.

  “Where does it come from?” Ted asked. He collected plates from the drain board.

  “It’s how they’re paid,” Nick said. “At least, that’s how the Ministry of Health paid the people at the vaccine lab. So I’m assuming that the food people and the train people do the same.”

  Everett and Istvan came in the back door bringing cool air and a whiff of manure.

  “How are the cows?” Nick asked.

  Everett grinned. “Great. They mustn’t have been without food or water for very long.” He slapped Istvan on the back. “It’s great to see them out there. Amazing animals. I’m so glad there are still some of them around.”

  “Did you find a cattle truck?” Nick asked.

  Istvan shook his head. “I think it might be out at one of the ranches.”

  “Won’t they come after it?” Ted asked. “Won’t they just keep doing what they did before? Taking whatever they want at gunpoint?”

  “Can’t use that slaughterhouse,” Everett said with a grimace. “They’d have to power wash and disinfect every inch of it. It’s poison now.”

  Nick sipped his tea, leaning against a dusty counter. “No more Stew-goo.”

  “You’re sure?” Ted looked at him wide-eyed.

  “It’s a domino effect. This slaughterhouse is contaminated, so they can’t process the cows into slabs of meat. No meat, no Stew-goo. No more work for the people in the processing plant.” He glanced up thinking about the people sleeping upstairs. “She said there was no one to care if they left. If the flu cut the number of guards low enough that the workers could eliminate them...”

  “Or coerce,” Wisp suggested.

  Nick agreed. “Like you said last night, with enough food and weapons, why would they leave?”

  “So that means they won’t make any more,” Ted lamented. “And they won’t send out whatever they just made. They’ll keep it all for themselves. If that is the last Stew-goo factory, and Trey told us no one came for the grain he grows for the Crunch factory...train food is gone.” He blew out a shaky breath. “What will people do?”

  Nick shook his head contemplating the repercussions, but Wisp summed up his thoughts.

  “Beg, steal or starve.”

  Chapter 63

  “Goodwill is as important a currency as food or weapons.”

  History of a Changed World, Angus T. Moss

  NICK OFFERED ALL THE factory people the opportunity to return with them to High Meadow. He had the information he needed now and felt it was time to sit down with Angus. The two women were looking better after sleep and a hearty meal, but still limp with fatigue. They both gave weak assent to anything Nick suggested. The dark-skinned woman whispered that her name was Marla. When Nick looked at the pale blonde, she moved her lips with a scant breath of sound. He thought he could make out “Pam.”

  The woman, who still wouldn’t even give them a name, declined his invitation. She took some supplies and left on foot. Nick told her to take a van, but got a look of shock in response. However, she did accept a handgun when he offered. The wounded man, who gave his name as Bob, was eager to go where there might be a doctor.

  “Why don’t we take all the vans?” Darrell asked.

  “One’s got a dead driver,” Nick warned. “I didn’t look at the supplies in that one, but I took everything else. They’ve all got low batteries. We might be able to siphon some energy out of the slaughterhouse to top them off.”

  “We need to make a stop,” Istvan said.

  Nick looked a question at him.

  “The ranch.”

  Nick ended up taking Wisp, Istvan and Everett to look for the ranch. Darrell, Ted and Nixie would sort and pack the confiscated supplies into the two vans then figure out a way to charge the batteries. He decid
ed against taking a third van. Two vehicles might not attract attention. Three definitely would. Until he understood who was claiming which territory, he wanted to be cautious.

  Istvan said he thought he knew a road. Nick told him to drive. Wisp and Everett sat in the back, weapons at hand. The Traveler took them back down the lane to the slaughterhouse’s parking lot. Then he crossed the lot to the far tree line. As he had suggested, they found a narrow road heading off in what Wisp concurred was the right direction. The road went through more thick woods. A few miles later they came out into rolling fields covered with random groupings of sheep, cattle, a few oxen and horses.

  “Look at this!” Everett said leaning out his window.

  “Do you know these people?” Nick asked Istvan.

  “I do.”

  Istvan drove them down a lane that skirted the field. A low house, surrounded by trees and a large vegetable garden came into view. Four men, on horseback armed with guns blocked the road.

  “Stop,” Wisp said.

  “It’s the van,” Nick said. “We should all get out.” The men appeared to recognize Istvan, but regarded the rest of them suspiciously. “Go talk to them about the cattle,” Nick said waving Istvan forward. “We’ll wait here. And tell them High Meadow would like to trade in the future.”

  Istvan gave him a calculating look before walking over to the men.

  “Think they’ll be safe enough here?” Everett asked.

  “They have been so far,” Nick said. “This close to the slaughterhouse, they may have been boarding cattle from the other ranches that were shut down.”

  “What if they’re part of it?” Everett whispered.

  “They aren’t,” Wisp said. “They have a territorial pride in this.” His gesture encompassed the home and fields. “They are angry and suspicious of us, but welcoming to Istvan.”

  Nick looked back to the field that bordered the lane they’d come up. It looked like a Noah’s ark of farm animals. He thought about the people keeping sheep in Clarkeston and the cows at Creamery. Little by little they were gaining a toehold on self-sufficiency. If they could set up some regular supply chains they would be safe through the winter. And he had high hopes for next year.

  Chapter 64

  “As the elders die off and the young take over the running of this damaged world, will they remember any of our achievements? Democracy, health care, space travel, literature, music, will any of these things be relevant in their future?”

  History of a Changed World, Angus T. Moss

  TILLY WROTE OUT A REQUEST on Bruno’s latest form. She added her paper to the pile in Bruno’s bin then started her rounds. They needed fabric for clothes, but most urgently, diaper material. Sadie had gone into labor last night, another new member of High Meadow on its way. But Sadie had been so emaciated, Tilly worried that the delivery would not go well.

  The kitchen crew had lunch underway in the kitchen. Food carts had been pulled out of storage and parked in the back hallway. They would deliver a hot meal to the refugees waiting in the storm shelter. Angus praised her on how quickly she’d gotten it set up and people sorted out. He’d been equally amazed at how willing people were to wait out their allotted time while they were vetted. It would go much faster once Wisp came back.

  Tilly found herself in the hallway to the classrooms, lingering. But there wasn’t any music right now. Coco sat on a bench by the 5 to 10 year olds classroom, stick-thin arms braced her upright. Tilly worried that she should still be in the infirmary. She had been suffering from a deep depression since the loss of her child.

  Tilly approached with misgivings. “Good morning. What brings you out here?”

  The frail woman gave her a huge smile. “My boy.”

  Alarm spiked up Tilly’s spine. “Oh?”

  Coco swung her head toward the classroom. “He found me. Came right over to me. My Willy.” Tears slid down her face. “I thought he was gone, too.”

  The door cracked open just wide enough for Willboy to slip out. He halted abruptly at the sight of Tilly, but he turned to Coco. “Ma?” She pulled him into her arms. He supported her as much as hugging her back.

  A profound pain tightened in Tilly’s chest. Beneath her gladness at their reunion was a bitter envy and anger for all the other loved ones that would not be coming back.

  Forcing herself back to work, she headed for the Wardrobe. Claude had made tremendous progress. Martin had sent Billy to check out all the sewing machines. He’d fixed the ones Claude had chosen. The others he’d taken to the metals workshop for spares. She’d known by the gleam in his eyes that he’d found his place. Like Claude and Eunice, they were doing what they loved to do and that would turn them into model residents.

  Claude had set up an assembly line of machines and work. He divided it up by skill required, so anyone could drop by to do a bit of work. Claude had politely requisitioned an electric kettle, large tea pot and mugs, insisting the work went more quickly when the workers were properly attended. He also managed to get Eunice to bake him a stash of tea cakes. Old Agnes joined him most days now. She and Claude had become best friends in a matter of hours.

  Tilly stayed in the front room, glancing into the workroom, to make sure everything was going well. Machines were humming, and people were talking. The smell of mint tea and hot fabric wafted out the door. Claude stood at the ironing board. Three women and two men were at machines. Someone must have told a joke, because they all laughed, a lovely sound that raised Tilly’s spirits. She eyed the racks full of clothing. There were more of them and greater variety. Claude was working out well.

  Her next stop could be the infirmary. She wanted to check on Sadie and maybe hear some good news. She forced herself to stop there. If the news was bad, fretting wouldn’t make it go away. Three men from the Watch trotted past her toward the school entrance.

  “What’s happening?” she demanded.

  Toby turned to answer her, walking backwards a few steps. He had one arm in a sling, but otherwise seemed recovered from his gunshot wound. “Nick’s back.”

  Tilly quickened her pace to follow. She wanted to dash with the rest of them, but her dignity and tired legs, required a more stately approach.

  There were two vans parked at the bottom of the stairs. Tilly wondered how he kept acquiring them. She scanned the people unloading them, noting new faces. Two women were gingerly helped out, they looked little better than Sadie, Pat and Coco had when they’d shown up. A jittery man with a bandaged arm paced from one van to the next. She saw a long white braid in the vegetable beds, Wisp headed to his rooms. Rosa came around the side of the building, leading her people to greet Istvan. Nixie didn’t seem quite as distant from her father, but that could be Tilly’s wishful thinking.

  Ted walked up the steps with a smile for her. “Back in one piece.”

  “I was worried.”

  “How are the twins?”

  Tilly frowned at him. “We don’t have twins.”

  Ted’s eyes got large. “Didn’t Jean bring them?”

  Tilly scanned the crowd again, hoping that Ted had gotten mixed up. “No. Where’s Clay?”

  Ted pivoted, stumbling in his rush down the stairs. “Nick! Jean isn’t here!”

  Tilly followed, taking the stairs more slowly. Nick had been talking to Martin as they unloaded the van. His head came up at the sound of his name. Then his eyes found Tilly. “Jean didn’t get here?”

  “No. I assumed she was still with you.”

  “No.” Nick looked around as if to catch Tilly in a lie. “Wisp left her at a farm with Clay. Flu took out almost the whole family. They’ll need help to keep it running. Wisp said that he told her to come back here with the kids and speak to Angus.”

  “She’s not here,” Tilly said, knowing she stated the obvious, but needing to speak.

  “Damn. I’ll get Wisp. We need to find out what happened.”

  “Wait,” Tilly grabbed his arm. “You can’t go back out right away. Angus needs to hear your r
eport. And lunch is almost ready.” She didn’t want to let go. Things ran better with Wisp and Nick at home. It was such a relief to have them back. She didn’t want him leaving again.

  “She could be in trouble,” Nick said, but he didn’t pull out of her grip.

  Tilly could hear the concern in his voice, although he smoothed it from his face as she stared at him. “She couldn’t know when you’d be back. Maybe she hasn’t left yet.” She was rewarded with a raised brow and a nod of concession.

  “It’s possible she didn’t want to take the boys away from their uncle so soon.”

  “Why would she do that?”

  Nick tipped his head, the frown creeping back. “Well, I guess they thought that the boys would be safer here.”

  “From what?” Tilly asked, frustration making her voice hard.

  “Right. I need to talk to Angus.”

  Chapter 65

  “We do the research and come back with no answers. The virus mutates randomly and cannot be anticipated. Next year we could return to a Hoofed Flu or a Pig Flu and the recovering livestock could be wiped out.”

  History of a Changed World, Angus T. Moss

  TED TRUDGED TO THE infirmary an arm each around Pam and Marla guiding their faltering steps. They sagged onto him, but managed to keep putting one foot in front of the other. A pattering of small feet told him that the children were on their way. They burst from a side corridor, skidding to a halt in a tumbled bunch when they saw him with the women. Lily skipped into the middle of the hall, Sootie and Willboy in her wake.

  Marla wheezed. Or spoke. Ted couldn’t be sure, but she stopped moving which upset the equilibrium, and he almost knocked Pam over. He steadied them both. “Easy.” Did the children frighten her? He started to ask Lily to take them away when he saw Sootie’s face. Her mouth gaped open in a silent howl. His heart lurched. “What’s wrong?” He couldn’t let go of his charges, and yet he wanted to run to Sootie.