The Event Series (Book 2): The Gospel According to Matthew, Margo & Lance

by Thomas Larson

  “Have you ever thought about heading up to Stanwix, I am sure that there are some eligible candidates there,” I offered.

  “Maybe, but I still am hoping….oh, never mind. I am okay,” and with that, the conversation ended.

  We were back at horse farm at around 4. We released the chickens into the barnyard, unsaddled and brushed the horses. They were watered and fed and then it was time to head back to the main camp.

  While Del and I walked back I told her about the talk that I had with Chelsea.

  “Ya know, for someone who could have been in Mensa sometimes you seem more a candidate for Densa”, she laughed.

  “What do you mean?” I was a little taken back.

  “Well, see, Chelsea is in love, or at least infatuation.” Del said.

  “Yeah but she said there were no eligible guys in the camp and she….oh, OH…I…”

  “Ah and the light goes on….yes, Lance, she is interested in Taylor. She had told Margo about it, about how they had gotten really close for a while, I mean really close, but Taylor either wasn’t ready or is just not ….well, you know”, explained Del.

  The topics of discussion shifted, but in the back of my mind I could not help but visualize, I think it is a guy thing.

  July 8th

  (Matt) Hazy, hot and humid this morning, and afternoon, then a couple of thunderstorms rolled in and it did cool it down a little. They were not wicked storms, no high winds or hail.

  Farmland is all doing well, no bunnies this morning in the traps.

  After lunch Tanya and I took a walk out to the stables and did a little time feeding and watering the horses as well as mucking out stalls. I think that was a good thing. It puts me back in touch with something old, something earthy.

  Vespers tonight were held a little later than we usually hold them, that was because of the last storm rolling through. It was kind of a sparse in the turn out department, just Tan and I along with Mark and Michelle, Stephen and Heather, and Grace. It was a quiet gathering, mostly just looking into the Fire Pit, not much said.

  (Margo) Bo-Peeped it today, it sucked in the morning, by the time I got to the field I was soaked with sweat. Did not move around much; found some shade and that was that.

  The sheep seemed a little pensive, not something gonna eat me pensive, but more there is something out there, on the edge pensive. It made me think that it was not the mountain lion, but maybe a fox, or something like that.

  About 3 or so the clouds began to roll in and I could hear the distant thunder. I brought the sheep back a little early. The storms began around 4 pm and continued until well after dinner. Code and I were just not into the Fire Pit thing tonight so we stayed in the cabin.

  (Lance) What a crappy day, I mean the sun was out, but it was too hot and uncomfortable to do anything. I had no desire to be on a hot horse so we stuck close to home.

  I spent the day trying to get a hold of the Pittsburgh or anyone else that might have been on the Sat-Comm. It is good to be the tech king with an air-conditioner. Del spent the day in the computer room with me.

  Fire Pit tonight was late, and well, we were just not into it. We stayed in my cabin/office and enjoyed the cool.

  July 9th

  (Matt) Fitful night sleep, There were dreams, dreams of chaos, of evil. I would awaken in the middle of them, sweating, but I had little recollection of the specifics, a raven staring at me, and telling me to fly. A flash of a horse and a mountain lion in fights for their lives, but no more, not why this was happening, or what it was about.

  In the morning I asked Tan if she had any weird dreams. She said she hadn’t. Perhaps it was just a dream, perhaps I should let it go, but….

  We did the typical runs to the veggie field and then checked on the cornfields, they are doing well, we have been getting enough rain and it looks like the year will be a good one crop wise.

  On the way back from the cornfields Tanya and I stopped at the horse farm. I spoke with Mom, and everything seems good out there. The horses are doing well and are all pretty used to being ridden. Tanya and I did a little riding on Black Olive and Lemon Drop.

  While we were there we had the chance to watch Del and Lance on their horses. They are going full tilt knight, or should I say samurai. They were riding and swinging their swords while working in unison to deal with an unseen foe. Samurai, Lance’s horse, was just so nimble, it was a warrior, a fighter, and it just seemed to unite with Lance and they worked as one. I think that he has found his spirit guide.

  Dinner tonight was a kind of salad night, Nick is trying to use up some of the old pasta that we have in storage because it is getting to the point where it is really well beyond its expiration date. We try to waste nothing.

  Vespers tonight was just the usual, a few songs, a little reflection on where we have been, and that was about it.

  (Margo) I saw the cubs! I was doing the sheep thing today and had to pee. While I was in the woods I saw Momma, and she had the two cubs. They were on the top of the ledge, looking down at me. They are so cute! Momma did not seem to mind my being there, I think she is used to me; we have a link, a peace.

  It is funny, in seeing her I have the hunter coming back to me. I have been sheep herding too long, I need to get back into the woods and need to hone my skills, and I have become soft. Well, not exactly soft, but complacent.

  It is not like the old days in the winter, when we needed food. With the rabbits and the gardens we are good in that way, but like I said, I am out of practice. Del has been spending so much time at the horse farm we have kind of lost touch with that aspect. We were once known as “The Huntresses”. Now, I am Bo-Peep and she is playing My Little Pony.

  At Vespers tonight I told everyone about seeing the mountain lion and her cubs. I did leave out the part about why I was in the woods, TMI!

  I was still buzzing about it when we got back to the cabin. Code, he was good about it, and listened as I went on and on. I made it worth his while.

  (Lance) Tried to get ahold of the Pittsburgh again today, I think I may have heard a little static that may have been them, but it could also be that they are under water or in the summer we sometimes get some radio interference as a result of solar activity. As I recall, back when I was still in school when there was school, they talked about the Sun entering an active cycle, and that the next two or three years would have a greater number of solar flares and storms.

  Del and I went out to the horse farm today, we worked on horse and sword play. Samurai is just a natural, and we just make a great team. Del is good on Strawberry. Strawberry seems to follow the lead of Samurai. Not that we will ever need to do it, but the four of us, horses and humans work so well together as a fight team.

  Fire Pit tonight was pretty mellow, some songs, some thoughts about the past, like how we have grown as a community, tighter, not bigger, but that may change when Heather has her baby and if it is normal, we may see a “baby boom”.

  Then there was Margo, she was bouncing about seeing the baby mountain lions. She seems to be linked to them, kind of weird, but she is a hunter. In fact, after Fire Pit she was talking to Del about getting back out and doing some hunting, getting back into practice.

  July 10th

  (Lance) I have decided that it is better for me if I sit down and try to do my journals in the morning, I can do my tries at getting hold of the Pittsburgh, or for that matter anyone else on the Sat-Comm earlier in the morning.

  Del and I are scheduled for sheep duty today, so it is going to be a long, boring day.

  Catch you in the morning,

  (Matt) It was very hot and humid today, and we had no storm activities in the afternoon to cool it down. It was a water day for many, even Tanya suggested a little cooling off in the lake this afternoon.

  I was not troubled by dreams last night, or at least nothing specific. Actually, maybe that’s a good idea; I should log my dreams when I can recall them. Maybe even put a little pad and paper by the bed to make notes.

&n
bsp; We skipped the cornfields and the horses today, it is too hot to ride and there is really little happening out at the field. We did our veggie run, and brought back a couple of bunnies.

  Vespers tonight was well attended, I am not sure why, there was nothing much going on. Mom and Taylor rode over and joined us. They told us that they had had a 10th horse show up at the farm. It was a big old draft horse, more for pulling wagons than riding.

  Margo wants to talk with me tomorrow about spirit guides. I am guessing she believes there is a connection with that mountain lion.

  (Margo) I had originally planned on going to the horse barn today, but I had to get out to the area where the sheep graze, I wanted to see if I could or would see the mama lion. I did not have to twist Lance’s arm very hard to get him to let me take his day out there.

  Code came along and we just sat. I was as squirmy as anything, every noise, rustling leaf, anything and I was looking. She did not show up.

  After Vespers tonight I caught up to Matt. I want to talk to him tomorrow about this spirit guide thing. I know that the mountain lion is mine, my guide. OMG, am I getting a little OCD on this? Yeah, maybe, but it seems important.

  July 11th

  (Lance) Up early again, did some time trying to reach anyone on the Sat-Comm. I did get a very weak skip signal from a post or base out in Alaska. I could make out very little, only that they heard us, they were in Fairbanks, and at this point they were okay, but supplies were getting low, and they were going to relocate. But they didn’t say where, or when.

  Let me back track to yesterday. I was supposed to do the sheep thing but fortunately Margo took the slot from me. She and Code covered it for the day. That was good, and although it was very warm, Del and I headed out to do some riding. We decided against sword work and just did a little scavenging to the east. I say scavenging, but really it is more a scout trip.

  On the road we found a couple of houses, and barns, but there was not much in them, or should I say not much of use in them. We did see some small caliber handguns that were next to mummified remains and a few old cans of pet food, but not much that would aid in our efforts.

  On the way back we were heading west on Skyline Trail I thought I heard something, a steady clop, clop, clop that seemed to be following us. We stopped and listened. Yes, it was a horse, and it was coming toward us, actually catching up to us. After a couple of minutes a large brown and white horse came around the corner. It was massive; it was like a Clydesdale from the beer commercials long ago with the white face and feet. It just walked along. When it got to about 40 yards from us it stopped, and stared.

  Finally, Del slipped off of Geisha and started to walk toward the horse. It seemed fine with that, and walked toward Del, they met. Something happened, like it was with Samurai, they connected. After a couple of minutes, they walked back to where I was with the other horses, but when Del started to move to get on Strawberry, the big horse stepped between them. It was weird, it was like, “No, you are my rider; you no longer need that little one.”

  “I get it,” said Del, and with much difficulty managed to climb, struggling, onto the big girl.

  We headed back west, Del, riding bareback, and Strawberry following along. Samurai and I were in the lead. The big horse, no saddle, no reins, nothing, yet she just followed along and it was like the horse was keeping Del on her back, and balanced.

  At one point, Del drew her katana, and waved it around a little; the horse looked about, but seemed fine with it. Samurai seemed to sense that with the sword out there was something going on so he also become very alert.

  We arrived back at the barn and as we arrived Teckla and Tay were just finishing up the feeding and watering of the other horses.

  “Room for one more?” asked Del.

  “Of course, wow, that’s a big old girl” noted Tay.

  “How did you find her?” asked Teckla.

  “More she found us.” And Del told the story.

  “Well, let’s get her settled in, Delany, you best do that, you two have a bond already. What are you gonna call her?” Tay asked.

  “Wow, had not thought of that.”

  So the un-named horse was placed in a stall, fed and watered. Strawberry and Samurai were also bedded down for the evening.

  Del and I headed back to the camp, Teckla and Tay rode over around dinner time and told Del that the new addition was doing fine.

  “Shinigami, I think I will name her Shinigami, it goes with Samurai, and I like the sound.” Del said.

  “Shinigami?” asked Tay.

  “It is a spirit that invites humans to their death, from Japanese culture.” I said, “Del, I think it kind of works, but let’s hope she’s not inviting you.”

  She smiled, “No, you don’t get rid of me that easy sword boy”

  (Matt) Let me start with the dream log, I rapidly wrote down a few things this morning, I did have a dream last night. It was a weird one, and I don’t see how it could have anything to do with anything.

  A changed war, with two types, good Changed and bad Changed in the war. I am leading the forces and feel that the ones standing at attention along the road that we are marching on to get the bad Changed’s fort are good guys. My second in command thinks they are evil and he bonks one on the head with a wooden spoon. The Changed could talk and tells him that he is a good guy and to knock it off. We fight our way into the main evil compound. The good Changed tell us that we can kill the evil Changed by farting. So our guys are going into room after room killing evil Changed.. I have to face down the head Changed and I fart up a storm.

  Yeah, it is pretty messed up. I have no idea what it all means.

  Margo stopped by this morning.

  “Matt, you know I believe that the mountain lion is my spirit animal” she began. “But I am not sure what that means.”

  “Well, it is pretty easy, it just means that the particular animal and you share certain qualities and that the spirit keeps you on the path to being what you are.” I told her.

  “Okay, I see that, but what is the mountain lion, what are its characteristics that make her unique as opposed to other animals.”

  “That is a little more difficult, and you need to think that one through yourself. The easy and obvious is that she is a hunter, and a good and powerful one. She also works alone; she is not a herd animal. She has her mate, and her cubs and she defends them fiercely but that she is also part of the greater circle of nature.” I added.

  “I see” she said thoughtfully.

  “Does that fit who you are, or want to be?” I asked.

  “Yes, yes it does!” she answered.

  “It would appear that another animal spirit has arrived.” I said, and in the back of my mind I thought ‘Poor Lucy’.

  (Margo) I split the day with Jan and Fred to do the Bo-Peep thing. I wanted to catch Matt this morning on the Mountain Lion and why she is so important to me.

  Matt and I talked and he kind of explained the basics to me. I am like the mountain lion, that is a hunter, with strong family ties to my little ones, but that is really basic human stuff. There is more, and I think that she has something to teach me, something else beyond just the basics. I feel she watches over me. We met, we looked at each other, we checked each other out, and she did not kill me, or eat me. There is something else.

  Maybe it is all imaginary psycho stuff, but then, I guess perception is reality.

  Not much happened after I relieved Jan and Fred today. And that was fine.

  Vespers tonight were cool, it was sing along night, Biter and Lucy howled along.

  July 12th

  (Lance) I do not like doing the journal entries in the morning, although it does give me a chance to think things through from yesterday, I am thinking that little extra bed time is a good thing.

  I tried to reach out on the Sat-Comm again this morning and I did get in touch with the Pittsburgh, They are currently in the south part of the Atlantic. According to Captain Katzung they are having some
problems with the communications systems and they believe that it is the result of the solar flares and storms that are going on. Of course, there is no proof of that because we have no NASA to tell us what is going on out there.

  He said that they are going to be going on a dive for a few days; I guess they want to try to approach a couple of locations on the west coast of Africa to check a few things out. They have been getting some transmissions from the region and are unsure if it is an abandoned location with a continual message loop, or if it is an actual group of survivors. But either way, they feel the need to confirm the situation and then they plan to be back in their regular North Atlantic patrol area in about a week to 10 days.

  Yesterday was kind of a nothing day, it was hot, it was humid, and really nothing was going on. Del and I headed out to the horse barn but it was too hot to ride, we just did horse maintenance, clean the stables, feed, water, the usual. Actually, the feeding part was more just let them out and wander around a field close by. In talking to Teckla, she decided that it would be best just to let them roam the field and eat grass. It is not like there are predators that would bother them, and we should save the hay and oats that we have left for the winter.

  A little visit to the lake after fire pit, and then Del and I sat and watched the western sky. No moving lights were seen. I guess that is a good thing.

  (Margo) After breakfast I got my hunting gear together and Code and I headed out. We are going to start getting back into the mode, for the fall. We are not thinking that we want to kill anything, for food that is. Right now we are well stocked, but it would be good to just get the feel.

  It was not as hot in the woods as I would have imagined, but the friggin’ mosquitos and black flies were in full bloom, especially near the stream to the west side of the camp. It got better once we got a little further into the woods.

  We did see some deer, and could have easily gotten one. As I stalked it I thought, “I am a lion, I am patient, I am powerful”. I aimed my rifle. Code was with me the entire time, and we did well in staying quiet, the deer never knew we were there until the click of the rifle hammer hitting down on the empty chamber. The deer looked up for a minute but then returned to eating. Killing it would have been a waste.