by Ron Foster
“Dixon says come on up and that they will wait on you. How far are we anyway? Oh, and they heard the news on the radio about the Central Bank and are anxious to chat.” KC said studying David.
“We got about 35 miles to go. Ask them if my mail rider has come by them yet today.” David said leaning forward. After a brief conversation, KC said he hadn’t been by yet and Dixon has beef brisket sandwiches for them when they arrived.
“Hey Ted, we are in luck, Dixon says beef briskets are on the menu today!” David called over to him and his group and received smiles and shouts of ‘great!’ and ‘hell yea!’ back.
“Well, they are happy campers for the moment. I wonder where my mailman is at, he should have been there by now and he is not one to turn down a free meal at Dixon’s Diner. I wanted to know how clear the roads were.” David said, concerned.
“He might be hanging out at Rendezvous looking for news.” Troy said wondering the same thing.
“Could be but I got two mail carriers there and two news runners, oh well his horse could of thrown a shoe or something. Let’s head out and find out what they know about the latest traveler gossip.” David said thinking without the mail carriers, everyone’s social network shrunk to just the people within a few miles of themselves or what was said on the radio occasionally.
“David, you don’t need me to go to Rendezvous anymore, do you?” Troy asked awkwardly, knowing the time might be right for such a question.
“I guess not, I still haven’t talked to Gauge yet, though. I may want go to visit over there for an hour or two maybe though, if you feel like tagging along. I guess it’s all going to depend on a variety of things like what Dixon and that Central Banker says, in addition to how long it takes me to parlay at the riverboat.” David responded.
“Now I am all in with you on seeing that big Casino barge but KC and I were talking about the mood of the people at Rendezvous. She figures that the fear, uncertainty and doubt will be overwhelming to those people over there once they hear the news of the banks gold getting confiscated and it might not be too safe.” Troy said looking for David’s take on the conditions in that encampment.
David hadn’t really given the matter much thought in regards to the attendees being safe to be around. He was more worried about any government presence showing up but she had a point. He remembered the riotous panic of ‘broken door shoppers’ that had ensued when news that 40 million people’s welfare was cut off when the great catastrophe of the solar storm was first announced. Everyone who couldn’t get money from their banks and ATM’s joined in and it was pandemonium.
“Hell of a point to think about, KC. Thanks, but I think people, I take that back, I hope people learned the last time we had an economic collapse that there is more safety in keeping your sanity and composure and not participating in any mischief. The only ones that should be worried are the bankers and the traders most likely have them segregated off and guarded. Most peoplewho have survived thus far are just trying to make it one more day. We live every day with only one goal: survive.”David said, still considering what kind of turmoil might go on at Rendezvous but thinking not much since everyone was pretty much armed and of the friendly trading sort.
“Maybe so, David, but you know the old saying, “Never trouble trouble unless it troubles you.” KC said, still thinking it wasn’t a good idea.
“More than likely I will be traveling back to our end of the lake shortly after we meet up with the riverboat. If not, you and Troy need to take some stuff back to camp for me, ok? You can follow Luke and the Flat bed back, maybe Dixon too, we will see.” David said still not sure of his actions but releasing the couple from having to visit Rendezvous.
“Thanks, David, I am sure you’re probably right but I think staying close to home is a best course of action at the moment.” KC said before everyone sort of agreed and went back to their vehicles and got back on their way.
David’s little convoy met Dixon’s scout car about 10 miles from his camp and followed him in on the deserted county road.
The big council fire was out and a Dakota fire hole was being used to stealthy hide its smoke while keeping a big pot of coffee warm.
Fires are easy to spot in fields and plains. The Native American Sioux Indians in North Dakota invented the brilliant Dakota Fire Hole to hide camp fires
Good idea, thought David; they could just fill in the holes with dirt and be on their way without worrying about burning the woods down. It didn’t look like there were any tree roots to consider catching on fire around.
“Dixon, my friend, we are once again meeting in odd places for odd reasons again I see!” David said cheerily once he exited his truck.
“That we are, Buddy! I think trouble follows you just like it does this old scoundrel. David meet Farley, he blew in here a couple days ago with his own problems and aggravations.” Dixon declared as an introduction.
”No, is this the David from the Lake or the one from the Plantation?” Farley asked, shaking hands.
“I am from the lake, last name’s Dupree. Do I know the David you talking about from the plantation?” David said, eying Dixon for confirmation.
“We got to figure out how to keep you alls names and faces separated, for right now I am just going to call you Dupree if it’s in reference to you.” Dixon said motioning Farley towards a picnic bench.
“I don’t get out this way much; looks like you have been trading out here regular this winter.” David said indicating a bunch of falling down or recently used brush and branch shelters with firewall reflectors to keep the occupants warm.
“ Ain`t no way to heat a tent so lots of people opt for that style of shelter or rent a cot in my command tent for a few cents where I have a wood heater to make everyone comfy.” Dixon declared before pointing over to the coffee pot and advising David he better go get him some before it was gone.
“That’s the Central Banker over there next to that red lawn chair.” Farley said, pointing over to a twenty-something year old man.
“Kind of young for the job, ain`t he?” Troy asked walking up on the conversation and overhearing the comment and eying the young man who didn’t appear to be even wearing a sidearm.
“Yea, I thought we were dealing with a banker not some kind of citified courier?” David said raising his eyebrows.
“Ha! Hot damn! I said the same thing when Dixon introduced him to me. He is a banker all right, though, has all his seals and authorizations in order. His name is Montage Morrissey, ain`t that a mouthful?” Farley said chuckling.
“What sort of fellow is he?” David inquired.
“He is not a bad sort and not new to the job by the sounds of it and to answer your unspoken question, David, yes he will exchange paper and metal with you before Rendezvous. We had us a long talk after hearing about the Feds gold confiscation.
“You just made my day, Dixon! I thought I would have to argue with him the next hour and a half and maybe have to get a bit forceful about just that!” David said, greatly relieved at how this meeting was going.
“He still wants to go to Rendezvous though; I couldn’t talk him out of that.” Dixon advised, stating the boy had said he had a job to do and he was going to do it come hell or high water until he heard from his superiors to do something different. Dixon then told him that if the kid wanted to go, he had to also go by contract and that was that.
“He might not want to go after I tell him how many notes I want exchanged. Any idea how much he is carrying? He might not be able to afford to.” David asked hoping to be able to dump the entire community’s holdings on the man and making Weatherman deal with him directly.
“No, and he won’t tell, I have asked him more than once or twice already and Farley has been badgering him about it thinking he can make a nickel all day.” Dixon said looking over at him.
“I am not! Well, not directly anyway. Hell Dixon, you thought my idea was a good one and wanted in on it before you figured out it might could cost you in the lo
ng run. Now don’t tell him nothing about my idea, Dixon, let him hear it for himself and judge for himself and you hush, ok?” Farley said fussing at Dixon.
“I will talk it over with you later, Farley. I need to talk to that banker first.” David began before the man objected.
“Wont take you but a minute to hear me, ok? It has to do with exchanging metal anyway so you might want to have a listen first.” Farley said, turning on the sales charm.
“Ok, if it won’t take too long, mind if I have lunch while I listen? Dixon said something about a Beef Brisket sandwich on the radio and I have been thinking about it ever since. Did you all eat already?” David asked.
“Oh yea, we ate hours ago and those are good! You heard the man, Dixon! He needs a sandwich and some of that hot mustard or horseradish you got hid. Now Chop! Chop!” Farley said, bedeviling the traveling diners’ owner to hop to it and fill the order before he was told to shut up by Dixon and Farley said some horseradish would be nice but not a lot of it.
“See, David, my idea is to be kind of like an assay office and kind of like a jeweler or pawnbroker. That banker is carrying mostly coins of one sort or another. Now, if you got jewelry you want converted into coins, I can help you there. I will pay you SPOT price of whatever notes and metal is trading for, less a very small handling fee. Think of me like a refinery redeeming scrap gold. See, I got me a little sideline business going on the jewelry end of things with a handicapped boy back at my camp that can do manual machine engraving and minor jewelry repairs. Tell you something you might not have thought about! The reason most folks ain`t wearing no rings these days ain`t cause they done traded them off for food or are scared somebody is going to hold them up and steal them. No, the simple reason is they don’t fit no more! Ain`t too many people running around these days that haven’t lost a lot of body weight so me and my buddy make a few nickels sizing stuff or looking for certain pieces of jewelry.” Farley said in a rush as he saw David’s understanding and interest grow.
“How much of a “handling fee” are you thinking this service is worth?” David asked, regarding him skeptically.
“Well, I guess that would depend on weight and worth or maybe work. Be less than a percentage point, just depends, I am very flexible and reasonable.” Farley stated before Dixon came back with David’s sandwich and murmured something about it wasn’t as simple as all that until Farley reminded him he had promised to hush until he got done describing the deal.
“Ok, Farley, I am interested, get with Troy here and shoot me a quote. He is holding and in charge of all the metal security on this trip. I will go talk to that banker in the meantime.” David said, surprising Troy and escaping the conversation, motioning for Dixon to come along and introduce him.
“Montage meet David, Weatherman sent him over from the lake to talk to you and negotiate some notes.” Dixon said and hung around as they exchanged greetings.
“Ah, I know your little community, you guys still use some of them things you call Bernie Bucks as well as Trade Dollars! I must say I got a good laugh when I first heard the story about how those things came about and why you still use them but they make sense, I guess. What can I do for you David? I know Your End of the Lake has substantial holdings in our secured notes.” Montage said with a smile.
“Well, not to be a smart ass or anything, but we aren’t feeling very substantial or secured at the moment and we would feel a lot better redeeming a large portion of those promissory notes.” David said, eying the man carefully.
“Oh sure, hang on a minute I have Weatherman’s order he put in ten days ago as a Call on Metal. Just a second, let me go to the bus and get my ledger.” Montage said before leaving to go get his briefcase.
“Damn, Weatherman left that bit of news out, I didn’t know he had a standing order for metal to be exchanged for paper, and I wonder how much that was.” David said looking to Dixon to see if he knew anything about it.
“He didn’t contract with me to pickup or move anything, of course he usually never does; you all handle your own metal movements as far as I know or you got a different service on transporting hired.” Dixon said, not having a clue about how the community bank worked on the lake.
“Ok, I got you down for $35,000 equal mix of silver US coins and rounds and AU metal is that right?” Montage said looking up from his paperwork. Traders use the word AU to speak of gold on both radios and talking to each other in case they are overheard. AU is the element symbol for gold and using that term doesn’t draw near the attention the word gold does around a room full of people. People’s ears perk up if you even whisper gold.
“Well, no, not exactly, thing is Weatherman didn’t mention that shipment he just said cash in all I could and try to get you to come see him at the bank or just get what metal I could. See, we don’t know what the Central Bank is going to say in regards to valuing things since they seemed to have lost their underlying assets.” David advised.
“And neither do I, sir, but the value remains the same with me and my shipment we pledged to redeem. In other words, dollar for dollar it is the same today as it was yesterday and the month before that. How much do you have on you in notes with you?” Montage asked.
“I have $50,000 in notes physically here but Weatherman is sitting on a pile more back at the lake we want to discuss. I also have some dory bars.” David declared with a sly smile. ( Dory gold (or dore gold) is gold that has been directly extracted and refined from ore at the mine into a bar containing 90% gold usually) David’s clan had established itself as a bullion bank that could hold and trade metals with the Central Trade Bank based upon known chains of physical depository control and evidenced purity of metals. Not everyone could trade physical metal with the bank and David’s group was specifically licensed for this. David had his hands in the melting down of scrap gold into refinery size dory ingots that were easier to move and trade in for some time. However, the bank just got recently inspected and its scales and refining capability tested.
“Well, I have that much gold and silver on hand but our banks rule is that anything over $100,000 must be dealt with on the depositor’s level face to face in a bank with a bullion officer present. You’re in luck since I am also mandate for one, since yours is a bullion bank with the reserves and security and are willing to follow the specific protocol we can depart here and go to your place to do the transaction.” Montage declared and awaited further instructions and questions.
“Damn, I am taking a liking to you, Montage, hell, I am even liking your Central Bank you represent even better but don’t you have a duty to perform at Rendezvous? I mean, if we take all your metal closing out of our accounts for ourselves, won’t that leave you a bit short doing the same with the other traders?” David responded, wondering why all this sounded too good to be true as well as the current financial as well as goods exposure he had out himself, at Rendezvous, with Stewart and Farnsworth trading for him and the community.
“We never state our balances publicly without reason, David, and I see no reason to disclose my current precious metals inventory to you at this time. Please be assured that steps are being taken to be representative in exchanges at Rendezvous.” Montage said.
“Told you he was a real horse’s patoot about how much money he is carrying.” Farley whispered to Dixon who chuckled and disturbed the conversation as Farley looked away feigning disinterest with a slight smile.
“Ok, no problem, I just don’t like being accused of an inside takeover or some kind of favoritism. If you don’t mind however, I got business to do trading up the road and will take that 50 grand of metal you got in exchange for this pack of notes.” David said producing a yellow manila envelope of Central Bank paper.
“Sure thing, Dixon I need access to the bus’s cargo bays, please. Where would you like to perform the exchange at, David?” Montage asked, wondering if David wanted some privacy.
“You can exchange paper and metal with my security man, Troy, and his wife will record the tr
ansaction for the bank and sign off on your receipt. Delivery on the ticket will be my truck. Hey, I want to thank you for a memorable and smooth transaction. I look forward to doing business with you very soon.” David said before wandering back over to the fire and getting Cookie the chef to spike his next cup of coffee in celebration of getting the banker burden off his shoulders for now.
After all the paper was exchanged and the funds distributed, David made ready to leave.
Caveat for the day,
“Young men think old men are fools but old men know young men are fools.”
10
OLD MAN RIVER
A bizarrely painted paddle boat, a resurrected wooden relic of a bygone era slowly chugged its way slowly into view while navigating an early morning fog-saturated bend of the muddy red Alabama River. You might say that it was so foggy, the birds were walking. That ghostly boat silhouetted thing looked like some kind of mad Mexican Jamaican Caribbean beach house painting party gone all wrong with garish colors of greens and yellows with aqua blue trim and ox blood red designs, etc., going on with an occasional flower.