Stan, “yes, the others have been looking for them while cutting brush, we hope to have a controlled burn soon.”
I said, “that will drive them out of hiding.”
Stan, “then maybe we can plow some grown up, Teddy is redoing a harness that should work.” I said, “we will need some fence around this place as well, the dear alone that run through here would tear up new plants.”
Stan, “Laurence said he would help with that, but a lot needs to be done before then. We have people doing just lookout with rifles, some on the ground and a few on the nearest building, but a long range heads-up would be helpful for running to safety if need be.” I said, “with the firepower some of them carry here, only a large raid would take them on, and right now only the horses would be of interest. So if I see a army coming your way I’ll let you know.”
He lead his horse on and I walked over to one of the field guards. He was checking the brush while keeping an eye out for snakes in the field as well.
I said, “trading time for time today?”
He said, “yes sir, if it all works out. The memory of last winter tells me we better make use of what we can, and if the memory of my standing here gets me one more day of food next winter, then I’m going to do it.”
I said, “good man. How goes the snake hunting?”
He said, “got enough to eat for three days already, that brush cutting is driving them out, it’s a lot better than hunting them on your own.”
I said, “and there is someone around if you get bit, which is what we will try to keep the others from. Keep your ears open to the horse, if it spooks you better be ready to catch it.” He said, “horses scare me, anything that steps on me instead of me on it, does. They can catch the horse, and I’ll get the snake that scares it.”
I said, “fair trade, keep an eye out.”
He said, “yes sir,” and he searched the brush some more.
I took a few steps then bang! And turning around said, “there’s another for you.” He said, “thank you sir,” and put it in his bag.
I then pulled out my scope, and looked at the guard on the nearby building, to see him giving me the thumbs up on that snake. Then I checked out the ends of the field with it to see what I had missed from the air. A few rabbits were moving, so I put my ear plug in and slapped the scope on my rifle. A 9mm at your side is not bad on the ears, but this cannon was not going to get to them again. I pulled out my new shooting glasses and took a crouching position, carefully keeping an eye out for more snakes as well, then made a map in my head as to where everyone around me was. With a glance I was ready for far-sight, and scoped in on the last place I saw those rabbits. People were working this side of the field, so none were going to be in my way, and could not see what I did. The rabbits showed themselves again, hopping into the field near the stream. I had them in sight when a dear jumped over them, with three dogs on its tail. I adjusted my aim and down came the dear with the dogs about on it, with my next shot dropping one at its hind leg. The two others broke off, and I dropped one more before the roof guard got off a shot that stopped the third dog, then running up the field guard finished it off. I stood up and yelled toward the roof, “you’re getting slow up there.”
He yelled back, “I’m just not as greedy as some.”
Luckily Stan had a good hold on the horse, and the extra help that was already there made quick work of the kill. The rabbits got away, but my rifle most likely would not have left much anyway. With another dear being taking care of for me, and the dog meat going to trade, I got back into the sky. I took another look at the area, and what might have been scared away by the shots, but I could see nothing but a few rabbits. So I flew to the goat park, and landed in the yard again.
Laurence came over saying, “was that you again and someone else I heard?”
I said, “their first day on the new field and its snakes and wild dogs.”
He said, “how many of which, I heard a number of shot from over there?”
I said, “first I shot a snake, then a dear and two of the dogs after it, a roof guard got the last dog.”
Laurence, “then there was another shot.”
I said, “yes, the field guard had to finish that last dog off.”
He said, “looks like you picked the right time to drop by there, a pack of wild dogs could of torn people up or killed someone before that many were shot.”
I said, “they had other guns there, I just got off a few shots first, like four of them.” Laurence, “no doubt about it, you’re the fastest here, even a cat can’t get past you fast enough.”
I said, “talking about cats, did you think any of that meat tasted like that, because I have these short hairs in my teeth this morning.”
He said, “the meat was not the cause, but I had the same problem, until she flossed them for me.”
I said, “can you spare some? It’s almost affecting my aim.”
Laurence, “and something to rinse with as well, come on in.”
So we went in and he found his supply, then gave me a bag of floss-picks saying, “they don’t taste like mint anymore, but it does the job. Try some of this brandy to wash away that plaque with.”
I took a sip and said, “that will kill some germs,” then pulling a short-hair from my teeth said, “I know that cat was not a red head, and neither is Brandy.”
He said, “it’s the raspberry brandy, the evidence had been contaminated now, so we may never know who’s it was.”
I said, “I think I prefer it that way. How’s the wolf, have you taught him any new tricks yet?” Laurence, “not my job, but you see how far away the dogs were.”
I said, “I guess he is doing his job just by sitting there, unlike guards that just sit there.” He said, “you got that right, so I’ll have some of that dog brought to him so he won’t feel left out, a workman is worthy of his meat.”
We then went out to see him, and I slipped him a piece of first cut from the buck. Laurence said he put in a run line that went sixty feet along the fence, but was not ready to try it yet with the wolf, if he got loose in the fenced in yard they would have a hard time catching him again. I said, “yes, he could live off of the rats for a long time before falling for the doped up free lunch again, we would have to use big nets.”
Laurence, “which gives me an idea for a dear fence. There is lots of camouflage netting that is not good for much but being seen, if we run it out like a high fence around the field it will turn the dear. Then we can run a low hanging electric wire for when they look for ways in, they won’t just run through it with the rag-fence there.”
I said, “it will shade the outside rows a bit, but we can’t build a twelve foot storm fence everywhere we want, they just don’t make that stuff anymore.”
He said, “there’s a lot of things no one makes anymore, so we work with what we have.” I said, “yes, but the 90% that died off did leave us a lot, it’s just that sometimes we can’t get to it.”
Laurence, “and the things we can get a hold of don’t mean much anymore, what with the way most have to live. I remember thinking I was in trouble if there was not enough toilet paper, but then I found out how easy it was just to wash my ass when I shit.”
I said, “yes I too learned early during the apocalypse, that you should wash any part of your body your hands touch, not just wash the hands themselves. Think about it. How many times a day do you wash your hands when they do not have shit on them? Then ask yourself why you would want to just wipe it off with paper.”
Laurence, “my hands get shit on them more often than my ass, so my ass takes less time to take care of, but then some people still miss paper towels.”
I said, “they never did the job right either, just more spreading it around than cleaning. Water and a good towel that can be washed from time to time is the best way to go.” He said, “half the time I dry my hands on my shirt and say to myself, “well, you just washed them.”
I said, “I do the same, but often my hands are not as
clean as I thought they were, but I haven’t seen tracks on my underwear in years.”
Laurence, “me either, I don’t wear them anymore.”
We laughed and went back around to the flyer, thanking him again for the floss-picks and brandy. Then I took to the sky again, and did another fly over the new field before heading home again. I landed on the heliport pad and lowered it down to the next floor, then rode my bicycle to the rest of our apartments.
Walking in the back door I said, “I’m back!”
Brandy yelled out, “I’m in the changing room.”
I walked in there to see Sage getting more use out of our last shopping trip.
Brandy said, “you weren’t gone long before I heard the shots.”
I said, “some dogs were chasing a dear at the edge of the field, and a snake got in my way as well.”
Brandy, “word that you’re up has stated to spread, and for good reason, you don’t leave the house for long without killing something these days.”
I said, “it helps to have the right weapon on hand, the field guard said he already had a three day supply of snake, and that was before I shot another one for him.”
Brandy, “so your 9mm is one down and you gave the food to him.”
I said, “it buys eyes on the field when I’m not there, and we have new dear meat to eat.” She said, “what about the dogs? I heard your rifle discharge three.”
I said, “yes, I got two dogs as well before the roof guard got the last one, the meat is up for trade and the buck is being taken care of for me.”
Brandy, “when you go out to say good morning, the whole town hears about it, and we are set for another week.”
I said, “I have had some good luck this week, and Sage is making use of the time spent shopping.”
She said, “yes he is, soon I will need to put him in the goat yard, and let him run free-range. Then we will not need to change him anymore, just hose him down before taking him home.” I said, “would that be after the terrible two’s? I think that the wolf and him could grow up together until then, and I’m sure Laurence can spare a little more straw.”
Brandy, “I guess we should wait until he’s running around first, then he can catch a goat to nurse on.”
I said, “I don’t know, women are easier to catch than goats, that’s why Laurence has Betty.” She said, “yes, this one got a hold of me right after it got born, and he just don’t want to let go.” We headed into the liven room and I said, “I know the feeling, that’s why I hate to stay away.” Brandy, “well if you didn’t get your fill at the goat park, then there is some in the cooler, Sage has dibs on the rest.”
I said, “no matter how early I get up, he always calls dibs first.”
She said, “he’s up more than you are, sometimes thrice a night.”
I said, “I remember something about thrice a night and still no milk, but I can’t remember what I wrote about it.”
Brandy, “sounds like a personal problem, you should see someone about it.”
I said, “that’s Brandy for, “it’s time to talk about something else.”
She said, “we can talk about anything you like dear, perhaps the floss picks you got from Laurence. Was there anything in particular you were trying to get out of your teeth?” I said, “short hairs, here is one of them.”
Brandy, “this is from a redhead.”
I said, “Laurence gave me some raspberry Brandy.”
She said, “that sounds like it would go good in a cup of tea.”
I pulled out the bottle and said, “make two.”
So we had tea and bread with peanut butter, as I waited a bit to see what the day would bring. The drums outside told of my shoot, meat that was being traded, and that rabbits have been seen near the field to be worked. I looked the streets over from my window and cleaned my guns, then Jacob came over and we had a smoke on the roof. Brandy put together a few thing for a cook out, and we used our scopes to spot for things to shoot, but the only things we saw were too small to shoot with our rifles. If you want to eat a squirrel or rabbit you don’t want to blow away the wall behind them as well. Jacob said the 22s the field guards were using were just right for small things.
I said, “yes, but not good when it come to beating an ark at long distance. I bet if we walk the brush and spray it with our machine guns we can get a few rabbits.”
Jacob, “yes, but that would be a waste of ammo, better to pick them off one by one.” Brandy, “traps would be more sensible, but someone could clean them out before you got back to them.”
I said, “unless you already had guards to watch things for you, then it’s just run some traps and check them.”
Jacob, “so we run a string of them around the edge of the field near the stream, then check latter for the rabbit BBQ.”
Brandy, “the traps are somewhere near the sporting goods area of the mall, near the field, a horse could draw a palette of them for you.”
I said, “and I even know people that will do the set work for us. What do you say, want to start something?”
Jacob, “smoking with you always starts something, finding the end is another story. Can we both fly there?”
I said, “well you’re a bit much for me to carry, but you’re welcome to use my flyer.” Brandy, “then you will barrow mine, nice move.”
Jacob, “well I guess you have tested it enough to be safe, some of the zip lines out there are not.”
So we had a brownie for the air, and took off when we were ready. There was enough compressed air in the tanks to keep the fan running, with the engine off on takeoff, and we launched ourselves into the sky. A run over the edge and up we went, over the other buildings we would have had to zip one to the other from, if we were not airborne. We waved to a few that were on watch, and I got out my loudspeaker saying, “death from above!” Then as we got close to the field I turned on my music with the speaker blasting my attack. We glided down to the edge of the field, and I turned the music off, then went to talk to the man with the horse.
Stan said, “that was quite an entrance, I thought we were being invaded.”
I said, “you were, we are here to steal your horse.”
He said, “no need to seal what is gladly offered, how can I help?”
Jacob, “a palette of rabbit traps from the mall to the edge of the brush.”
Stan, “what a good idea, I wonder why none of them have done it by now.”
I said, “because they were waiting to see if the top guns wanted to do it first, or we see things quicker than others.”
Stan, “no doubt about how quick you are, both in eye and wit, let’s go for it.” So we headed to the mall with a few we picked up on the way. The crowd there was light, as a matter of fact it was dead, so taking what you wanted was only hampered by a few snakes. The metal traps were in a dry place, so they were still in new condition, and still on their shipping palette. We put a rope to it and made our way back, stopping once when a man had to clear the path from a large rattle snake. He was far enough ahead that the horse did not get scared, and had it in a bag shortly, another meal for some one. Then onward we went to the field, and unloaded it all. We told them where to set the traps up, and went scooting the area near the stream. Five men were behind us looking for signs as we walked the water’s edge to see if we could find fish, but the sun was high and they were staying in the shadows. We helped them move some of the traps, and set up a few ourselves, then headed back to the flyers. Stan said, “that will cut down on the future pest problem, and feed the workmen as well.” I said, “and that’s how we get things done, keep a close eye out for snakes, and hang on to that horse.”
We were then off, up into the air we came out of, with my music playing a Viking opera. I quickly turned it off and yelled out to Jacob, “if I play that too much they will start to shoot at us.”
He said, “if you play that too much I will start to shoot at you.”
Then once more I let it rip on my way in to my
roof top.
Brandy was up there at the time and said, “you sure do make an entrance. How did they fly?” Jacob, “like a zip-line in the sky.”
Brand, “were the traps still there and in good shape?”
I said, “still on the palette, and the horse dragged them to the field, then the men did the deploying.”
We sat down and had a drink of ice tea Brandy had made, but the ice had melted, though it was still cold and good.
Jacob lit up and said, “now all we have to do is wait for supper, with any luck it will be barbeque rabbit.”
I said, “yes, and most of the work was done by others, but they can have all the extras.” Brandy, “did you bring me anything from the mall?”
I said, “I was focused on moving a load, I was notshopping.”
Jacob pulled out a five foot leather whip, and setting it on the table said, “I saw this and thought of you.”
Brandy picked it up and gave it a crack saying, “this will go nicely with my collecting, nice to see someone was paying attention to more that their load.”
Jacob, “I don’t like to go anywhere empty handed, and that’s not making its way back to my place, she don’t need one.”
I said, “it’s not about need, she just likes to have something smooth and hard in her hands.” Brandy, “and don’t forget about long, I like long ones.”
I said, “that’s because you ware out the short ones.”
Jacob, “are we still talking about whips?”
Brandy took a sip of her tea and smiled, I did the same.
Jacob then said, “never mind, I don’t want to know.”
I pulled out the raspberry brandy and we put a shot in the tea, then passed the pipe around. During the next half hour the drums told us two rabbits were already caught in the traps we set out, then a few more during the rest of the hour, as we sat back eating cheese and relaxing. Barb stopped by to see what we were up to, and the two women worked in the garden for awhile, as Jacob and I went to look at my elevator.
I said, “I told her I would try to get it working again, but I’m not sure if it wouldn’t just be safer to make it drop.”
The Fell Good Flue Page 20