by Ron Foster
“There is a general store a half mile up the road from it but I say we steer clear of it.” Clem said adamantly.
“Hell I agree, I was just curious if we had to pass any.” David said looking at Clem while thinking about how they ought to approach this mission.
“David you ought to hang out here and let somebody else go.” Crick said thinking it didn’t make any sense for David and him both to be taking any risks at the same time. What’s the old saying? The president and the vice president don’t ride on the same plane? They weren’t holding such lofty positions and pretty much were non self-assuming of any role they played back at the plantation except as organizers but that role was very vital and taken seriously. Getting people fed, sheltered and organized was a 24 hour planning and purposing drudge made worse by everyone’s bitching and lack of cohesiveness. Challenges to authority were not uncommon and everyone was still in a team building mode in some way or another so those that volunteered a leadership role faced both the problem and the followers.
“Ah hell, you two are going to get to have all the fun huh? Damn, sounded like something interesting to go do but I guess you’re right Crick. Julie would probably have a hissy fit for me considering it anyway since there is probably lots of other folks willing to go. How many folks you plan on taking Crick?” David asked.
“I dunno, me and Clem, maybe three others. Sounds like a 5 man foray to me. We could take the two trucks and my trailer and be back in an hour and half if we don’t have any problems.” Crick said.
“Get Coyote to follow you all on his bike and let him lead coming back. He could be your recon or forward observer for that road leading up to you from the country store.” David suggested
“That’s a pretty good idea; he can zip around on that bike of his pretty much anywhere. I like him, good man to have your back in a mission like this. Rossi Ross quit hiding over their snooping behind Clem`s truck and go get him for me please.” Crick said to a much chagrined and discovered Rossi.
“I was going to tell you I was here, it was just Clem’s back tire looked like it was getting a bit low and I didn’t want him to have a flat.” Rossi said as a lame excuse for her alleged eavesdropping.
“Yea right, run along and do what Mr. Crick asked of you and no gossiping or worrying Bertha with what them pointy ears of yours might of picked up.” Clem chided.
“I told you I wasn’t listening to you all but I will go get Coyote for you Crick.” Rossi said and then took off in a flummoxed flash as David asked her if she wasn’t listening then how did she know who Crick wanted her to get? After everyone stopped chuckling at her hasty befuddled departure they returned to business of what was now being called a raid instead of a borrowing or foraging trip.
“I tell you I ain`t worried about this little jaunt boys, ain`t nobody going to be at that old junkyard unless they needing them some vehicle parts and I will take my chances with that. It’s not like we on the edge of no big city with folks fleeing like rats which reminds me, did you all listen to the news about how many of the big cities have uncontrolled fires burning? I can’t even imagine that kind of hell. Why if you were stuck in one the only chance you would have would be if you were somehow able to walk out because the roads would be jammed with cars. I sure would hate to be anyone living in the country too close to the highway. No telling who would come knocking at your door looking for what as the dregs of society as well as the poor and the rich all tried to escape the chaos of a firestorm and societal breakdown all at once. Those folks will be getting stranded out on the highway as far as the eye can see here and there but I reckon most of them folks are dead or trying to barely stay alive somewhere by now. The government says it’s no longer offering assistance on the evacuation routes anymore. Like they really ever did, hell it only took two days before all the dumbasses that left home trying to get to an evacuation center were sitting hopelessly ensnarled in slow moving or nonmoving traffic. Wonder what all those folks ended up doing miles from home and stranded without fuel or water.” Clem said leaving out the obvious and not so obvious conclusions to that dilemma.
“I know what you mean, the highways and the state parks and such probably have miles of tombstone bug out bags scattered about by now. At least some of those suckers had a chance or maybe fate lent them some luck because they were somewhat prepared and were forced to take that route rather than bugging in at home. Eventually all forms of preppers if they didn’t know it already will learn that the key to survival was and still is sustainability, you got to be able to feed yourself long term and a survival fishing kit and seventy-two hours of food is just not going to get it. For most this lesson will be learned too late but for many from what I know have no misgivings about the hardships and suicidal misery of bugging out and have instead begun preparing themselves a place many years earlier or had a solid plan to relocate for the future.” David said thinking about all the realistic and unrealistic expectations expressed of want to be survivors in the prepper community blogs and YouTube videos he had observed.
“I think we all would be amazed at the number of people still getting by even at this late stage of this disaster. People just don’t up and die that easily, they hang on and they die hard and they die nasty. You can be off and on starving for a long time and remain functioning and or dangerous on bits of almost nothing, hell look at places like Somalia and Ethiopia that have operated like that for decades. There are still lots of folks that know some skills to help them get by and like us that don’t have plans on giving up anytime soon as long as there is a new day to try new things. “Crick expressed as thoughts of encountering desperate people willing to do desperate things as a norm sunk into the heavy equipment hijacker’s minds.
“Hopefully everyone’s joining together like we did and see that ultimately survival depends on community and civility. You all just keep your eyes open, keep intervals and don’t dally I think you will be all right.” David concluded before hearing Coyotes Harley motorcycle heading in their direction with a jubilant Rossi Ross with her hair streaming in the wind getting a free ride back for relaying the message.
“What`s up guys? This young’un said you wanted me for riding along on some sort of mission.” Coyote said dismounting his bike and shooing Rossi away from investigating his seat scabbard containing the Mare`s leg Henry 45 long colt rifle/pistol she had a fascination with.
“Hey buddy, we need to go pick up a bulldozer and a fork lift. The dozer I am going to stick on my trailer but I figured you could talk Lowbuck into driving back. Thing is that fork lift can’t keep up with the trucks, we could convoy together at a lower speed but I want him to maybe tote back an item I wouldn’t care to be around if we run into a problem. There is a big propane tank where we are going and it most likely is full of fuel we need. I was going to suggest you play tail gunner for him or we spread out on the road and stick him in the middle while he hauls that explosive thing around. Oh and I guess you need to be told we don’t have permission to borrow these items but they are most likely coming off a defunct abandoned junkyard.” Crick said watching the very subtle emotions playing across Coyote`s cheerful face.
“Sounds like the hardest job will be convincing Lowbuck to come along for the ride” Coyote said with a less cheerful face and then a deadpan look.
“Well so far he is the only skilled forklift operator I can think of, if you all know somebody else by all means get them to transport that tank back here.” Clem said studying Coyote playing with his formidable beard.
“I can’t think of nobody else to get that thing picked up and back here in one piece. You know Kats going to have a fit, what does he get out of the deal but our undying thanks and respect for taking the risk? I mean just hauling it ain`t so bad, it’s the idea that someone might want to take a shot at the tank or it get hit by a stray bullet if we encounter trouble that has me worried.” Coyote said rubbing one eyebrow with his thumb.
“Well that’s why you got to talk him in to it; you and him get
to go into the gas and fork lift business. Let me explain that one for ya. We need LPG gas on the plantation; we need LPG gas on the casino boat. There are tons of gas tanks you all can probably acquire or scavenge for that purpose which are no longer being used and ripe for picking but it gets better. That forklift can be stowed onboard the casino boat. That casino boat is going to be a river trader so you know goods got to be moved on and off at the wharfs. You can start your own freight and longshoreman business eventually.” David offered having already had a previous meeting with everyone on the subject
“Yea I own the ship chandler business and I would be willing to contract with you all to handle the casino boat.” PD pointed out
“What’s a ship chandler? Is that sort of like an outfitter?” Coyote said.
“Pretty much, they are a service that gets all the supplies and groceries a ship needs to sail and specializes in it. You going to have to deal with that old skinflint Clem on how much you are going to have to rent or lease that equipment for though because he is laying claim to a piece of it for having the keys and locations of those items.” Crick said.
“I figured ol Mr. Clem would be in on the deal somewhere. What kind of terms are you offering Clem?’ Coyote said with some interest.
“That all depends on if you and Lowbuck take the deal to running the gas company or not. See if you don’t and just want payment for the trip I can make you an offer but if you want the LP gas company deal I can either lease you my forklift or I will donate it to the company for 20% net of the business. You and Lowbuck get 40% each but if you hire anybody to help you it comes out of your profits. I know every likely place to scavenge propane around here for 25 miles and can keep you busy for years. We going to charge folks that want it on the plantation some small amount like a 20 cents a month silver cause that’s the way I am going to pay around here. I got about $2000 in silver coin saved up in mason jars and that’s going to be my bank. Because it is such a small amount we going to pay way in history wages but its honest money and like David and Crick say, nobody has any idea what a green back is worth these days. The company store takes plantation script, silver or barter. I got me a bunch of old confederate money I found up at the big house that will be plantation script. We will figure out how it compares to silver later but for now that stuff will buy you whatever goods we can all come up with to put in the store. Everybody that is staying here will get a draw against next year’s crop and some extra pay for doing different jobs as I need them done. The things we are doing is a business arrangement, disaster and the world going to hell or not. Many a person has walked up here starving and on hard times before and after the great depression looking for work and they all signed a sharecropper contract to work the land. I figure that system worked then it can work a little longer for now. You got you a chance to get off the farm, ride the casino barge and enjoy the fruits of the plantations labor. So are you in or out?” Clem said regarding Coyote.
“Hell I am in, I have always been in. I just wanted to know what the offer was so I could tell LowBuck. Don’t worry about him; he will be up for doing it I am sure. Probably think it will be fun. I will go get him and his OK and be back.” Coyote said and started up his motorcycle and let Rossi have another ride on it just for the hell of it.
Thirty minutes or so later Coyote and Lowbuck came back and the gig was on for the next morning. Sometime during the night Crick asked Clem where the owner of the junkyard lived and whether or not any of his former employees lived close by. Clem responded with that he knew Mr. Ledbetter lived miles from the place but he had no idea where his employees lived.
“That is going to be kind of messed up if someone sees me pass by with that bulldozer on my trailer and then pretty soon Lowbuck comes chugging along carrying a 500 pound propane tank and they recognize that forklift.” Crick said warily
“Well I guess there is a chance some employee of his might live down that way but I don’t think they would trouble us none even if they did happen to look out and recognize the equipment. They wouldn’t have any way of knowing we weren’t borrowing it or doing a job for Ledbetter. Durn Crick! that is something to look out for but I am more wondering who is still living up that way. Most of the folks who has homes down that road don’t even bother putting in a home garden. If they ain`t moved off somewhere they likely to be more than desperate for food by now. Chances are half of them are deer hunters and pretty much every house will have at least one gun of some type. Now ordinarily there ain`t nothing to worry about so unless somebody has gone insane I doubt they would want to run out in the road to stop us or follow us with their cars unless Lowbuck plans on driving that thing chewing on a turkey drumstick.” Clem said trying to make light of the situation.
“Well folks do go bit nuts if their starving but I see your point. Sounds to me like you just logging chain the hell out of that tank so there is no way to drop it if your hauling ass and just give the forklift a big safety interval but move like your work crew delivering it somewhere.” David said.
“Yea safety in numbers and appearance sounds like the best approach” Crick said and the others at the meeting agreed.
The mission went off without a hitch and except for one guy waving at them from his back garden no one had noticed the departure of the equipment and all that LP gas.
14
Deep Water
“Feed me some slack Loomis” Crick called as he attempted to get into position to pull the heavy rope bowline into position to try and swing the nose of the barge out into the channel once Jimmy and the tugboat snatched it off the bank.
BC Truck had devised a log and truck tire bumper affair for the steel bulldozer blade to push against and reduce the chance of puncturing the barge hull. At Clem’s signal up on deck everybody throttled up their engines and pushed or pulled and after a long pause a huge sucking sound was heard as the barge was wrenched from the muddy bank and began slowly sliding its way into the river.
Once it was floating freely Crick strained his tractors engine to nudge the barges prow into the downstream current. Even though the casino barge didn’t have its own engine it did have dual rudders hooked to a ships wheel to guide it. PD put his considerable strength to turning the old gears and cables attached to the wheel trying to help Crick and Jimmy steer it where they wanted it as Clem capered about the wheelhouse giving conflicting orders as to witch direction he should be turning it.
When Clem went out the wheelhouse door to get a better look at what was going on with the stern of the barge, PD instructed David to go lock the door so they could have a few moments of silence without Clem’s constant banter of throwing in nautical terms he remembered from reading Moby Dick or watching pirate movies but it didn’t last long.
“Avast there you scurvy dogs! Open this door and let me back in you bunch of mutineers!” Clem hollered beating on the door and rattling the handle.
“So much for our moment of silence.” David said infuriating Clem further by waving at him happily from his seat at the chart table.
“I would let him stew for awhile but you know he wont be fit to be around for days if we don’t let him back in.” PD declared waving his own taunting greeting at Clem who was scrunching his face up to peer in through the glass of the big porthole in the door.
“Ill let him in.” David said rising slowly from his perch on his stool to head to the door but deciding first to go stand by PD at the great wooden ships wheel that extended halfway through the deck and look out the pilot’s window.
“I think he is starting to froth at the mouth.” PD said looking over his shoulder and grinning.
“I will let him in directly. Prepare to repel boarders captain!” David said as he went over and quickly unlatched the door to a spluttering irate Clem.
“Now that wasn’t right! You all can’t be playing silly games when this ship is under way. My place is in the wheel house and you know that David!” Clem said looking like a wronged puppy dog.
“Ha! OI know Clem,
we were just messing with you a little. Tell you what; we won’t do it again if you calm down some with the pirate talk ok?” David said still laughing at the man’s hurt school boy distress at being locked out of the wheel house.
“Yea we were just funning you Clem don’t be so upset. How we are looking out there buddy?” PD said trying to calm him down.
“We doing fine, Jimmy and crew are getting ready to cast off lines and swing about and start pushing us whenever we give the signal. We could have used an extra Tug but it is what it is. You two stop your braying like a bunch of jack assess and I will holler down to the steerage room to see if we are taking on any water.” Clem said going over to the ships old brass tube commo system and reaching into a box of marbles and selecting one to send down the shoot.
“Rattle, Rattle, Ding” came the noise of the marble traveling its steely path.
“Hey Herby can you hear me?” Clem hollered down the tube before leaning over it and putting his ear inches over it.
“I hears you Clem, what do you need?” the tinny voice of Herby came back.
“Are we taking on any water down there?” Clem hollered back like he was trying to talk to the next county as PD and David exchanged wincing glances at his bellowing and unsaid belief it would have been nice to have left Clem locked out for a little while longer than they had.
“All clear down here, you want me to put the bilge plates back on now or wait awhile?” Herby’s distant voice called back and Clem looked to PD and David for further instructions.
“I say leave them off for awhile and play wait and see. I just soon sit here an hour or so close to shore and see if we spring a leak than be midstream in the river God knows where and have to abandon ship.” David said referring to the steel plates that had been unbolted so the people in the hold could see down into the steel barges depths for signs the barge had any structural issues.