There were nods around the room from those familiar with the evening custom, but obviously the mariners were left wondering. Always sensitive to any current in the room, Judy said, “Our habit is to try not to belabor any discussion. If people agree, they silently nod. If not, they speak up. Please don’t interpret our silence as a lack of enthusiasm. It doesn’t. Our custom keeps things moving. You just received unanimous agreement and remember, you vote as well. Why don’t the three of you organize a work party for us?”
This time everyone around the room nodded.
“Ready to change the subject?” asked the Chief. Nods again.
“Fundamentally, I’m a military man. Consequently, I’ve always believed in order and readiness. I’ve heard of your experiences and I’ve noticed a few readiness fundamentals that I should share with you. These subjects might be sensitive among some of you, but need to be resolved, okay?” More nods.
“Alright, first are your weapons. Most need critical attention, especially your hunting rifles. Nearly everything needs cleaning and care. If you had used those fifty caliber guns the other day, you would have had difficulty. They’d been left outside, unprotected. They would have jammed as soon as they heated up. Fortunately, we have a technician among us who’s an expert. If you’ll first give her your rifles, she’ll service them and move on to the big guns.
“The lodge… It’s a beautiful building whose designer never considered our fateful new world. Eventually, the reputation of this splendid place will spread around. Those less fortunate might be envious. In its current state, the building is defenseless, especially with that blind spruce covered hillside directly behind us. I’d like to have a look around and make some improvements. I think a little training might be in order as well… just some defensive measures for the future, nothing dramatic.
“And then there’s the matter of readiness. Over time, I’d like to get better organized to defend ourselves whenever we might experience trouble. Each of us should know exactly what we’re expected to do if we’re surprised by the unexpected… even a fire or a grizzly bear prowling at night. I think Ahtna may be the only one among us who really knows how to conduct himself in the bush. That’s understandable really; most of us are city folk. Hopefully, he’ll teach us.
“That’s a lot to digest all at once. We can’t do everything immediately, but we should begin with good weather this summer. Okay? ”
“You know, I’m the preeminent city guy,” said Hirsh. “I’d just as soon leave the guns and the military training to all of you. That’s not my style. By now, there are plenty of you to defend us. But for a fire or a bear, I certainly am willing to participate.”
“You know yourself best. Thank you. Anyone else?”
“I’m game for better defense and readiness, but perhaps you could explain your strategy as we go along,” said Lazlo. “Most of us don’t understand such things routinely.”
Nods all around once again.
“Then I have one more important matter if this isn’t too much all in one day.”
“Please continue,” said Judy. “This is necessary and timely for us.”
“I’ve been thinking about the future as I’m sure we all have. What better time to ponder than over a glass of brandy. I was reminded of our situation by that grand dinner table this evening, and the contrast to our recent experiences. The tradition of a chief petty officer has always been to be mindful of reality above all else. That beautiful silver service and so many of the remarkable comforts of this lodge might encourage us to misjudge the true nature of our condition.
“The reality is that one day, much sooner than we expect, we’re going to consume all that we’ve gathered and wear out nearly everything that we’ve assembled. Who knows how much of our culture and technology we’ll be able to preserve?
“I think I understand what will happen because I’m already the perfect example of what I’m talking about. I moved up through the ranks in my naval career as a nuclear technician. The Navy ran the most reliable nuclear program in the world, but that’s all finished now. I will probably never again talk about an undertaking I spent my whole life learning.
“That helicopter will most likely be the first luxury we’re forced to abandon, especially without fuel. But forsaking that luxurious machine will be followed by one cultural achievement after another until we reach some plateau of skill we’re able to maintain.
“Imagine if you were asked to craft that rudimentary copper hatchet there on the mantle from scratch. Where would you begin? Find some copper ore first, and then refine it? You might say that copper is all around us in the form of scrap. But after that was consumed, understanding its root beginnings will be necessary. Most of us have never experienced the genesis of anything in our lives. Our little band will be forced to adapt to that situation one day… and certainly will our children. For example, exactly how will our grandchildren kindle a fire fifty years from now?
“I’m sure you understand. The answer is… our survival depends on the knowledge and skills we pass down to them… our culture!”
Ahtna interrupted, “My people have been fashioning copper tools in this valley for a thousand years. We’ve long been passing on those simple skills.”
“Well, there you are,” continued the Chief. “We need to change our long habit of deferring such duties to others. There are no more schools to teach children on our behalf. Education doesn’t require our foremost attention, just honoring what’s important to us every day, every way we can… mustering our resources, then hopefully teaching our kids to read, to think, to be creative, how to work together and be respectful of one another, and to keep that faith.
“Together we can be successful and accomplish all that our little band strives to achieve. Many of the luxuries we now enjoy will fade beyond our capability for the time being. But sometime in the future we can trust that our descendents will begin to build back. Perhaps they will be even better adapted to our natural surroundings than we were. In the meantime, if you want to be a musician or silver smith… why not? Who knows, someone may even create that beautiful silver dinner service one day if we preserve a tradition of artistry.”
“Now you’re talking my language!” said Hirsh, who stood up for emphasis. “I’ve been trying to say much the same for months, but you say everything so much better. I’d like to help organize our new life, especially the education. Anyone object to that?”
“I hoped that one of you would volunteer,” said the Chief. “I know of several others who would enjoy running with your enthusiasm.”
Thereafter, the room fell into a fervent buzz of simultaneous conversations. Listening, Mac realized that the Chief’s and Hirsh’s enthusiasm was infectious. Everyone in the room was discussing his thinking. In three short days, the man was well on his way to becoming their undisputed leader. Mac had relegated similar concerns to the back of his mind. But the Chief had taken the initiative addressing many fronts at once… without putting anyone off… and even encouraging passion.
To Mac’s surprise, the exchange wasn’t over.
During a lull in the conversation, Mary Ann spoke. “When I heard about the opportunity to join all of you, I jumped at the chance. I never imagined how lucky I was about to become. A year ago, I was so cynical that I would have run from the very thought of living in a commune. I liked city life. But after all that’s happened, I realize now that I’d been running away from happiness all my life. And this is such a happy group… and to find three newborn children here is an inspiration for the future. I only hope I haven’t waited too long to bear one of my own. So I say congratulations and three cheers to Lazlo and Christie!”
After the cheers died down came the call for Lazlo to give a speech. Instead Christie said, “Lazlo can be teased into only one thing and that would never be in front of a crowd. I love him. Would I bring down bad luck by say
ing that the worst imaginable experience of our lives is finally over? But that’s just the way I feel. During the worst of the calamity, I despaired of ever being truly happy again. The birth of Julius (glancing at Lazlo) has turned the corner for me. Mary Ann is exactly right. Our child has given me the inspiration to look forward to planning the future. And all along, happiness was being nurtured within me. I love you all.”
After fond acknowledgements to Christie and Lazlo, everyone returned to the buzz of pleasant conversations. The field garden, the roof garden, and their quarters were all topics of plans for improvement. Mac remembered Tony’s perfected electronic gold sluice and wondered who among them would lead such innovation in the future. Then again, if making cell phones was held off for awhile longer this time around, that would be just fine. Mac thought the evening was finally winding down full of good will when another woman raised her hand for attention. It was Gladys, the boat’s former communications technician.
“I realize my timing may be off,” she said, “but a better moment just didn’t present itself all evening. I need to ask your approval for a mundane thing. I’ve set up my radio inside the lodge intending to hear news of the outside world. But in this valley, the radio doesn’t always receive clear signals. Would anyone mind if I set up my big antenna mast on the hillside behind us? Our transceiver will work much better if I do.” (Here it comes already, thought Mac smiling.)
“Hearing from other survivors will be wonderful,” said Judy. “Will you be able to talk to them as well?”
“I think so, but when I do, that brings up another thing. We should have a moniker… a name that explains something about us that people will remember. We’ve been calling ourselves ‘our little band’, but that doesn’t say much. We should have a distinctive name.”
“How about Renaissance Band?” suggested Judy. Mac smiled broadly. Finding renewed life was everything he had hoped and worked for!
Flight To Pandemonium Page 67