Think about it. 300 people. That’s it. Three hundred people on a whole planet.
Now, let’s take Old Earth, a planet we all come from and have traded quite a few stories about over the centuries. Earth had billions of people. One planet, billions of us. Humankind. Okay, now go down the road, out of where you live, to a town with 300 folks or better yet a whole county with 300 folks.
Okay, the town of 300 you have picked out to look at has another, bigger town down the road. Which has more goods and things. So it ain’t really a good comparison to an entire planet with only 300 souls.
Also, most of the folks on the Rock are out in the country growing food on their ranches and farms to eat. Meat and taters, even some veggies. Fruit, all the good stuff. The people in the town of MadDog, the only town bigger than a crossroads, are traders and business owners who provide what the farmers and ranchers can’t. The town ain’t got public utilities, whole planet don’t. Too small and the place is full of rugged, self-reliant individuals. Drill yore own well, or get smart and live where you can pipe in gravity flow from a crick. Light a candle or put up some of them solar panels. Things like solar panels, they aren’t made on the Rock, they have to be imported from another planet far, far away. Hence, the shopkeepers.
Only time Old Earth had 300 people was when humans first started. They had a few tree houses or some such thing, on the edge of a savanna. Part of a huge continent called Africa. Just like us Rockers, they was no more than a speck on the planet’s ass.
They was like Rockers. But, they didn’t have tools. Or fancy inventions and such. And most importantly, they didn’t have man’s best friend. The dog. Seriously? Okay, maybe, but I am talking here about the horse. Super fantastical transportation. Carries people or cargo. Goes all day long. Bigger than dogs and they got hooves. Tougher than dog feet.
Think on it a bit. A whole planet. 300 cowhands. Okay, a few are shopkeepers, saloon owners and whores, but more about them later.
Maybe a couple thousand horses. Also, cats and, yes. even dogs. Working cats and dogs. Livestock also. By the way of cows, goats, chickens, guineas, sheep and the like. Lots of wildlife everywhere. We got stills for whiskey, vodka and such. Explains the need for grains and taters. Grapes. Hops and barley. Now, that there is a party!
Come. Join us. As we explore the Rock.
1 All in a Day’s Work
Cowgirl Thrillers Page 52