Three Sisters

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Three Sisters Page 36

by Nikki Lewen


  He reiterates his mission was to search out possible relocation sites and then turns things over to Sadie. She’s careful with her word choice and remains vague regarding how many people actually live on the island. Sadie informs them she’s been designated as the spokesperson for Three Sisters and before she left, it was determined how many more people could possibly be accommodated there. She offers very few specifics about the island’s resources, but states safety and sustainability are of utmost priority.

  Without getting too detailed, Sadie announces her plan to meet with those interested in leaving the colony to determine, who, and how many, can return with her. Sadie’s statement kicks off a flurry of concerns, frustrations, and emotional responses. Several colony members argue about her authority and want to know what right she has to limit and decide who gets the opportunity to leave. Caleb, growing upset at their reactions, argues back, defending Sadie. His frustrations, along with those of the colony members around him, continue to escalate as Sadie continues to remain silent. As the discussion shifts to a heated yelling match, she steps forward, calmly raising both arms. When the crowd quiets, she speaks.

  “Folks, I feel your concerns and…more than understand your reaction. I came here simply to offer what help I can. We’re faced with enough challenges…and together, we’ll figure out ways to overcome ’em.” Seeing the tension still hasn’t eased, Sadie continues speaking in a calm, methodical manner, “Three Sisters,” (she finds it odd referring to her home’s new name, but nonetheless, there’s a point needing made) “isn’t capable of supporting everyone here. We killed our planet and…we don’t want to make those same mistakes again…nor risk destroying my home, but…I hope some of you will be able to help…and, together…we’ll find ways to secure the livelihood of everyone who needs…and deserves it.”

  Several of the colony members return to their seats, and Sadie knows her words are beginning to have a positive effect. Not wanting to lose the momentum of their acceptance, she keeps the same mannerisms and reveals more of what she intended to share in the first place.

  “I realize you don’t know me or my intentions. We’ve all suffered…lost, and had to fight to survive. But…I think…if a few of you are willing to trust…and work with me…we can find a way to help us all. My hope is…together…we can develop sustainable ways of living that’ll support more of us…and provide opportunities for everyone.” Sadie pauses long enough to make eye contact with everyone as she scans the crowd. “I’ve brought what goods I can share, and trade…in hopes of creating a system to ensure our mutual survival. I’d like the chance to talk individually with you, to…determine who’s interested and…who’s willing to try to contribute to the efforts.”

  Gus gets up, stands near Sadie, and addressing the group, suggests they sleep on it, while reiterating the positive outcomes—they’ve finally discovered a place where some of them can safely relocate. And hopefully, those that do leave can work on making it possible for others to follow. He closes the meeting with more uplifting comments, and Sadie appreciates his tact and leadership.

  A low murmur of chatter spreads among the group as they leave. As the last person disperses, only Gus and Caleb remain with Sadie. They leave together and head back to headquarters, where she’s decided to sleep. Along the way, Gus suggests using the headquarters’ office to conduct her interviews and asks what the needs are for increasing Three Sisters’ productivity. When they reach the structure, Gus departs their company, leaving Sadie and Caleb alone. It’s been a long day, and Sadie, appreciating Caleb’s support in the meeting, thanks him, then asks if he’s available to help move supplies in the morning.

  “Sadie, you don’t need to ask. I’ll be here first thing in the morning unless…” his eyes take on a sensual look and Sadie senses what’s coming, “you’d rather I stay here…with you tonight.”

  Seeing his joking, yet seriously-hopeful comment didn’t have the effect he wanted, Caleb stammers a quick goodnight as Sadie turns to leave.

  FORTY-FIVE

  Early the next day, Sadie wakes all sweaty and sticky. Even at night, it didn’t cool much, and she’s yet to acclimatize to the different weather pattern and lack of moisture. Despite how nice the sunshine felt upon their arrival, Sadie knows the area’s relentless heat will soon grow tiresome. The colony labors in it daily, fighting to scratch out an existence, and finding ways to sustain themselves. Sadie can already tell today’s going to be a hot one and leaving the small room, she quietly slips out for a predawn walk. The silence outside gives Sadie a chance to organize her thoughts and contemplate the events arising from last night’s gathering.

  Walking deeper into the heart of the colony, Sadie loops through the lower campground, casually observing the people’s homes. Several miniature posts display faded site numbers, and each place, with its own distinct character and makeshift living quarters, nestles snuggly near the allotted neighboring spaces. Some colony members live in actual campers and RVs, years beyond being mobile, but serving instead as permanent residences. The most basic of quarters are nothing more than patchworks of tarps, keeping their owners sheltered from the elements.

  At the entrance of a second loop, a faded sign reading Upper Pines still stands. It conjures images of a family vacation Sadie remembers from childhood. The area no longer has the same majestic beauty nor the huge expanses of forest, but walking among the campsites and the fallen giants, Sadie recalls the trip and the excitement she felt exploring the wilderness and hiking the park’s trails. Finishing the circuit amongst thoughts of times past and current, Sadie’s grateful for the fond memories and the life she’s now experiencing.

  Nearing the mess hall, she hears movement and notices a small group of ladies preparing the breakfast meal. Sadie wanders over, saying good morning, and inquires about the food rationing and meal choices. At first, their kitchen manager is defensive and unsure of the intent behind Sadie’s questions, but as the conversation continues, things become more comfortable. By the end of it, the woman is thanking Sadie and looking forward to the promised goods. Walking away, Sadie’s satisfied and feels validated with the food she’s packed.

  Returning to Gus’s office, Sadie is greeted by Caleb. He smiles upon seeing her approach and then speaks of the volunteers he’s found to help unload the copter. They’ll meet up with them after the morning meal, which Sadie thinks is perfect timing. She turns to Gus, standing nearby, and asks if he’d be willing to hang back a bit, but before he replies, Sadie makes the request more enticing.

  “Tell you what,” Sadie begins, “you stay, and breakfast is on me.”

  Gus can’t refuse the offer. There’s barely enough food for the colony and every chance to find an alternative source for a meal is a blessing. Besides, it’ll give him the opportunity to learn more about this mysterious woman, who’s suddenly playing a vital role in the colony’s longevity.

  “Okay, you gotta deal,” he says.

  Sadie tells Caleb to go on ahead, assuring him she’ll see him afterwards. He hoped to be invited, too, but seeing Sadie pull out a notebook, he thinks differently. Remembering the barrage of questioning he faced, Caleb looks at Gus, exchanging a quick, yet knowing glance. Gus, seeing the subtle change in Caleb’s facial expression, second-guesses his decision and wonders what he may be getting into. Sadie doesn’t fail to notice, either.

  “Don’t worry…I’ve only got three questions…at least…for now,” she says, with a widening smile.

  As Caleb leaves, she retrieves everything needed for breakfast and gets a batch of oats cooking.

  “All right…when we first talked, I asked about the colony’s population. Did that number include everyone? Or…were the lookouts patrolling along the perimeters excluded?” Sadie asks, while they wait for the food to cook.

  “No…I included ’em,” he answers casually.

  Sadie thought so, and with confirmation, she gets to the heart of it. “Okay, then…what I need…is names. Who should stay?”

 
Gus hesitates long enough in answering that Sadie rephrases the question.

  “Whose absence would…be detrimental to the colony’s survival?” she asks, trying again.

  Gus, wrestling with how to answer, isn’t sure he wants to exclude anyone. It’s not an easily answered question, and thought needs to be put into it. While he contemplates how to respond, Sadie adds her last inquiry.

  “While you’re thinking, I’d also like suggestions on who to take…who are the best candidates…people that’d do well…working with me, on a team.” Sadie gets up, letting him ponder her requests and returns with breakfast.

  Setting down a bowl, she understands the dilemma Gus faces and doesn’t push the matter. Instead, taking a few bites, Sadie waits patiently. He lets the hearty meal nourish his body and mind before attempting any response.

  “I’m not sure…I’m comfortable sayin’ who should stay…and who should go,” Gus begins, “and…I know my opinion’s an obvious place to start, but…this is gonna take a lot of consideration…I need to let it simmer. In the meantime, let’s get you talkin’ with folks…start gettin’ a feel for the ones that might fit. Tomorrow, you can set up here…it’ll be easy to spread word at dinner.”

  Sadie nods politely, appreciating the wisdom of his response and thanks Gus for his offer of using the office. Letting him know, she’s still contemplating what approach to take, Sadie suggests not making any announcement yet. First, she wants to focus on unloading and organizing the goods still in the helicopter. Sadie knows, getting a feel for the colony members is going to take time and a little delay may help with the monumental decisions that face her.

  Cleaning up their meal, Sadie hears Caleb approach. Three men follow him, and suddenly, she’s very aware of their masculinity. One’s wearing a thin, tight-fitted t-shirt, another sports a sleeveless buckskin garment, and the third is completely bare-chested. Obviously, they’re the local muscle and Sadie finds that her chores just became a little more enjoyable. She shakes each of their hands, and Caleb notices Sadie’s subtle body language revealing her appreciation of the men’s physiques. Growing self-conscious of his still weakened frame, Caleb realizes the best men for the job may have been the wrong choice. He picked strong workers, not thinking of them as potential competition. Trying to hide his jealousy and pushing away any negative connotations, Caleb leads the way.

  Along the trail, the men make small talk with Sadie, enjoying her company and genuinely interested to see what the new girl has brought. The trio calls themselves Delta Force, since all three have names starting with D, and they work together as a perimeter patrol unit. Off rotation now, they normally spend their time away, making sure no one breaches the territory. Sadie—very interested in their protocols, where they patrol, and the resources available—asks very precise questions. The men not only enjoy the attention but are intrigued by her line of questioning and the knowledge she obviously possesses.

  By the time they reach the copter, Sadie’s learned a great deal and the men are smitten with such an intelligent and attractive woman. Caleb, who’s remained silent for the entire walk, feels left out and looks forward to a change in conversation as they pull back the camo netting and open the helicopter’s door.

  “Alright, boss…where ya wanna begin?” Caleb says.

  Sadie smiles at Caleb, making him immediately feel better, then, she turns businesslike, directing each of them with specific tasks. Among the five of them, they’re able to unload the supplies rather quickly, getting everything out and organized into piles that only Sadie understands. The Delta men, astonished with what Sadie’s brought, can’t believe it all fit in the bird.

  “Okay…this pile,” Sadie pats a stack of food bags, “goes to Marla at mess…she’s waitin’ and has a cart we can use. You think you boys can handle these?”

  The trio’s machismo takes over and they joke amongst themselves about who can carry the most. They start by shouldering four sacks, two on each side that Sadie checks, making sure their loads are balanced. Then, Sadie hands a box to Caleb and sets a second on top. He nods before she even asks. The other men left, carrying well over a hundred pounds apiece and all he has is the light load, which he knows she saved for him.

  Understanding Sadie’s caution and his recovery process, Caleb tries not taking it personally or as a challenge to his manhood, but once again, he’s left feeling inadequate. Caleb makes sure Sadie doesn’t see his embarrassment, as, so far, the day hasn’t gone exactly the way he envisioned it. With the men gone, Sadie opens a few packages, reminded about how much work Jose did to help make all this happen. Thinking about him also brings up thoughts of Clara and Anna, and she hopes all is well back home.

  It doesn’t take long before the Delta boys appear again, with Caleb following, pulling the cart. They’re all sweaty and Sadie mixes a batch of electrolyte orange drink and offers it to them. They down it quickly before savoring the second serving, while Sadie looks over the wooden cart, deciding how much weight it can support.

  “Marla said you could use it for as long as you need,” one of the Deltas shares. “She was ecstatic…we’ve never seen her so happy. Said it was even more than you promised!”

  Sadie, glad to hear it, begins moving items around. The men immediately get up, eager to assist. They manage transporting the last of it to the ranger station in the heat of the day, and afterwards, Sadie makes another batch of drinks and invites them to stay for lunch, which they accept. She pulls out three separate food buckets, asking the Deltas which meal they’d like, and removes only one pouch from each container as they pick. When she gets to Caleb, Sadie opens a different container, already knowing his favorite. While eating, they share more about themselves and Sadie never seems to run out of questions. The men happily answer and at the end, Sadie presents them with the buckets they picked from. The trio balks at the gift.

  “No…it’s too much. We didn’t help so we could…get somethin’ in return,” one of the Deltas says, while the others nod in agreement.

  “I know. That’s why it means even more,” Sadie responds.

  “Sadie…really…we can’t.”

  “Yes…you can…and…you will,” Sadie states very matter-of-factly through a huge grin. Before they try to refute her again, Sadie continues, “You boys spend most of your time away from the colony makin’ sure it’s safe. I know living off the land…especially ’round here, can be challenging.” She looks slowly at each one of them. “A day may come when you need these rations, and…if it does, you’ll be glad they’re there. Take ’em on your next perimeter duty…build three caches…spaced strategically along your routes…” she pauses, making certain they follow, “and let the others know where they’re hidden. I want to contribute to Yosemite’s safety…and the first line of defense is you patrollers. They could make the vital difference...and everyone here…depends on that difference.”

  Her logic is too sound to refute, and the team accepts the supplies.

  “Good, with that settled…we can move on…Here,” she opens a parcel and hands them enough new clothing to outfit each from head to toe.

  It’s quality outdoor gear, designed for both comfort and for surviving the elements.

  “I thought Delta Force could use some upgrades,” Sadie says.

  “Okay…now this…is too much,” one Delta says, attempting to hand things back.

  Sadie’s look amuses Caleb. He knows she’s getting ready to get her way while simultaneously making them feel good about it. He listens as she works her charm and logic on the team. By the end, they’ve not only accepted the new gear, but have tried most of it on, making sure they’ve gotten the correct sizes. Caleb gives Sadie a sly look.

  “What?” she says, in a near chuckle.

  “You know what,” Caleb says, shaking his head.

  She laughs and the sound is music for his soul. As the men gather their gifts, Sadie offers another thanks and sends them on their way. In their absence, Caleb cleans up, stalling his own departure, hop
ing to spend as much time with Sadie as she’ll allow. While he finishes, Sadie checks her inventory list, making notations in the margins. Lost in thought, she fails to notice Caleb watching her. Eventually, Sadie looks up, sees him, and decides it’s time to move.

  “How ’bout…you take me to see the animals?” she asks.

  His smile is enough of an answer, and along the way, Sadie has a few more questions for him. She keeps things fairly light and Caleb doesn’t mind. When they make a stop at the medical facility so she can talk at length with whoever’s working, Caleb grows bored, quits listening, and wanders about, looking at the old photos and posters. When Sadie calls to him, they once again depart.

  As they near the animal pens, a worker appears, and Caleb introduces Sadie. Her attention is focused on what the farmer shares and the details regarding the colony’s livestock management. As the conversation transitions to in-depth specifics, Caleb once again loses interest. Sadie’s appetite for information is endless and her inquiries spark excitement among the additional workers joining the conversation. Sadie, noticing Caleb lagging behind, tells him she’ll catch back up with him at dinner. He nods, and while leaving, Caleb overhears a fading conversation about chickens that makes him smile.

  FORTY-SIX

  Settling into a routine, Sadie slips out for a predawn walk. It’s her third morning in the colony, and so far, things are going rather smoothly. She eats breakfast and lunch from her personal supplies and joins the others only for the evening meal, where she casually interacts with various people. Sadie has yet to barter any goods but has given away plenty. Besides the food stores, she’s provided medical supplies and an assortment of seeds that will hopefully sustain the colony even longer. Everyone she’s interacted with has been pleasant and her generosity hasn’t gone unnoticed.

  Nearing the campsites, Sadie makes a decision. She’s ready to talk with candidates interested in relocating and believes visiting people in their homes is the best way to go about it. In the comfort of their own surroundings, they’ll be more relaxed, allowing Sadie a better chance to gauge their personalities. She’ll make an announcement at dinner and her instinct about this feels good. As she nears an outhouse, its door opens and Luna emerges. The child looks up, and seeing Sadie, runs the distance between them.

 

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