Jacob, “I don’t know, the cables look good to me, you just need to run new power lines to the wenches. Your windmill puts out enough juice, even in a mild breeze up here, to run the thing. Of course you will need another palette of batteries as a backup, and cutting the call to the rest of the floors would help.”
I said, “yes, only the elevator controls and top floor, I have a key for that.”
Jacob, “has anyone tried to use it since the power went off? That is to say get it running again.” I said, “it’s been locked in place here on the top floor, the last place it was when all hell broke loose. I never tripped the holding brakes or put juice to the systems, but we may as well see what will happen.”
So we got a palette of batteries and set them up near the lift wench, then rand a new line over to my generator. I used my heavy-duty rubber gloves, and made the connection, and nothing blew or started on fire. We looked over the breakers and all seemed well, so I sent it to the bottom. The wench turned on with a jump, and the box shook the cables as it started to go. Then Jacob said, “is the bottom clear?”
I said, “last I looked, but that was months ago.”
We listened as the cable ran out its stretch, and twanged while the dust got shook off of it, waiting for the cargo elevator to hit bottom or something else. Thirty stories it had to go, and the time dragged on as we heard strange sounds coming from the shaft. Then the wench stopped and we heard the echo of a bell ring, and a few moments latter it rang again. I pushed the button for it to come back up, and the wench started up again, with a wine that sounded like it was in pain. Then as it keep pulling the motor smooth out, and the cable wrapped smoothly, we would soon see the lift again. We lit up our pipes and went around to the doors, waiting for its return, as I said, “well now that was the easy part, which one of us tries it first will be the hard part.”
He said, “not at all, your house, I can find my ownway down thank you,” then the doors opened and the bell rang with him saying, “don’t ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” I blew a puff of smoke at it and said, “let’s get Brandy to try it, she will try anything.” Then we went back up to the roof and the women, and as we got near the table Barb said, “did you men fix what you were working on?”
Jacob said, “yes, go try it out, we need a test subject.”
I said, “no, that’s Brandy’s job.”
Jacob, “I just thought it would look less suspicious if they dint go together, if you know what I mean.”
Brandy, “we can send the car down in it first, then I’ll decide if I have further need of it.” I said, “do you think she put me through all that work just to get rid of the car?” Jacob, “I try not to think around women, it’s not good for the health.”
We sat down and had a tall glass or tea with honey, and talked about what we did. Brandy said, “I hope this new hook up will not put the lights out, but then you were always good at finding things in the dark.”
I said, “yes, but remembering what happened is another thing.”
Barb, “feel grateful, I got way too many times in the dark I want to forget, but then he says good morning.”
Jacob, “I stopped saying good morning to you a long time ago.”
Barb, “only because when I’m looking at your face I say, “what’s good about it?” Brandy, “yes, they do tend to misunderstand things like that.”
I said, “here’s an idea, party until just before dawn, then sleep until afternoon and avoid morning all together.”
Jacob, “sounds like a plan to me. How many rabbits have we caught so far?” Barb, “the drums said two dozen by the time you came up, that’s rich trapping grounds.” I said, “I would raise some to eat, but why bother when they’re so easy to catch.” Jacob, “it’s never the catching that’s hard, it’s the keeping, and seeing to distribution that puts the sweet into it.”
Brandy, “that’s when having a reputation works for you.”
Barb, “and not one for pulling short hairs out of your teeth either.”
Jacob, “I told you, I was drinking raspberry brandy, that’s why it was red.”
Barb, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Jacob, “neither do I, that’s what happens when I try to think around women.” Brandy, “they both can stop at just think.”
I said, “hay Jacob, want to go for a ride in my car?”
Jacob, “sure, start it up and point me toward the edge.”
We all laughed and brandy said, “no driving that thing on the roof, even if you do find fuel that will work in it.”
I said, “we don’t need to start it, I can push it with the power palette jack.”
Brandy, “in that case the car will never be in the way, and it does have a nice sound system, I guess we won’t be needing that elevator after all.”
Barb, “but nice work men, we’ll let you know when to bring up a truck load of food up in it.” Then the two of them started to laugh, so I said, “Barb, are those your panties with the hockey sticks and words “penalty box” written on them, in my hot tub room?”
Jacob, “is that where she left them last night?”
Barb, “oh you can have them, I have thirty more at home just like them.”
Jacob, “next month I think she is going with a yellow G string.”
Brandy, “I need a new leather thong, the last one was chewed threw, and I don’t think it was the rats.”
I said, “you know she makes things all the time, just to see how far it will go, but I have not chewed a thong in a long time.”
Barb, “this one is always chewing on something, it’s hard to believe what he puts in his mouth.” Jacob, “I don’t know why, most of it is put there by you, including many of my words.” And Jacob and I did a high five with a good smack, the he passed the pipe. We all started laughing again, and were not sure at what. I took a puff and just shook my head at what a trip it is to have company. As the time passed, so did the suns power over our day, and I went to get the rabbits we would use for tonight. I stayed at the field just long enough to get four rabbits and hear the word about all the rest, then back I came, just like going to the store for supper. This time I left the music off, and listened to the wind as the night sky was coming for us, and floated home in silence to land safely. With a string of rabbits in hand I returned to the barbeque area, and setting them down said, “the drums may have been ahead of themselves, the count was just at two dozen when I got there, here are four of them.”
Brandy, “more than we need, I’ll have them ready soon.”
Barb, “I’ll help,” and they took the rabbits to be cleaned.
I sat down and lit my pipe as Jacob said, “a buck, two dogs and now all these rabbits, you are having a good day, and I’m glad to be in it.”
I said, “a snake as well, and I finally got those short hairs out of my teeth.”
Jacob, “were there ever any there to start with, or has this just been another game the two of you have been playing?”
I said, “confirming or denying anything, defeats the purpose of saying nothing.” Jacob, “keeping my own mouth shut is my problem as well, saying what I shouldn’t and not saying what I should , I think the animals are better off.”
I said, “the animals do their share of talking as well, and sometimes what is said leads to blood.” He said, “that’s what I mean, a animal will get to the point right off, you always know where you stand. But with a woman it’s always a game of being keep off balance, and so called communication is just infiltration for intelligence to be used against you.”
I said, “and yet you keep talking.”
Jacob, “yes, I can’t help myself, and she loves ever moment of it.”
I said, “I hear ya man, I really do.”
Jacob then said, “hay, want to put a bit of a scare into them? Let’s take the elevator down and bring up a palette of something.”
I said, “that would put a scare into me not them, your stoned.”
&
nbsp; He said, “I certainly hope so, I’ve been smoking enough. But I was thinking of just sending the palette jack down, and we us a zip drop off the side of the building where it’s safer. It will look like we rode in the the lift.”
I said, “you’re still too stoned to do a thirty story wall drop, so that means you will have to take the elevator.”
Jacob, “you’re right, it’s just not worth the effort,” then he hit the pipe again. The women were soon back and the grill was cooking again, as we turned on some jazz and talked about the past few days, how much had happen and the goods traded. Then TT came in on the zip-line. I greeted him as he unhooked and welcomed him back to my place, then we went to the barbeque area.
Brandy, “so nice to see you tonight TT, did you come back for lost underwear?” TT, “did you find them? They had hokey sticks on them.”
Brandy, “very funny TT.”
TT, “house rules, give before asking, so I give humor.”
Brandy, “and what are you asking for this time?”
TT, “just the chance to remember last night, and a few minutes of your husbands attention.” Brandy, “a lot of people are still trying to remember last night, but if you want my husband’s attention, I find putting my ankles behind my ears does the trick.”
TT, “I’m not as flexible as I once was.”
Brandy, “please set down and tell us all about it.”
He sat down saying, “thank you, it all started when I was dating the triplets, but I’ll save that for another time. I want to trade for the rabbits being caught by the field, so half can be farmed this winter for meat, and the rest pay workers for the field.”
I took a drink then said, “you move right in don’t you?”
TT, “I see an opportunity here, and a way to make it even better with no work for you.” I said, “you have my attention.”
TT, “just tell them I’m taking half of the live rabbits, the rest will take care of itself, and I will take care of you.”
I said, “sure, you can farm rabbits for me. We will catch them and you can feed them, then all winter long we get fresh rabbit to eat without going out to hunt it.”
TT, “and the field is safe from them, without taking away winter food.”
Barb, “that’s thinking ahead TT, now what are they going to plant?”
TT, “what we have, a joint venture of some growers that will transplant their crops or give seed for others, I’m still working out the details. But we will set it up so the horse drawn equipment can do most of the work, and people will have to work together on this.”
I said, “I think we are making a good start, Laurence has some ideas for a dear fence that can be put up quickly, and power to a wire.”
TT, “yes, a number of people are in on this one, and there will be more. When the time comes to pass out the profits there will be hands out more than once, that’s when I will need strong word to keep control, we may work hard and get little at first.”
I said, “the word is the rabbits that get caught in our traps belong to Jacob and myself, so people know what we do and what to expect, your just farming them for us. As for what comes off the field, we will deal with that as it comes, and anything else that may come up. Is there anything you want to add to it Jacob?”
Jacob, “sounds about right to me, and in just a few we will be taking care of four of those rabbits.”
TT, “then it’s an understanding. I’ll leave you to your meal, and thanks again for last night.” Brandy, “such a short visit TT?”
He said, “lots of things to do before I stop to eat, this day has been a full one, and tomorrow just got fuller.”
Brandy, “well then it’s been nice to see you, and if I find her underwear I will save it for you.” TT, “they’re not hers their mine, I like the silk ones better, it’s a comfort choice.” And with that he was off. I saw him to the zip line, and we had a few brief words, then over the edge he went zipping to the next building. I went back and sat down saying, “looks like what we started this morning has got a lot bigger.”
Jacob, “and better for us without the work, I like doing things early in the day, sets me up for the night.”
Brandy, “set up for a lot of nights now, wow, this is a major deal.”
Barb, “it sure beats eating rats in the winter.”
I said, “or the cat that ate the rat, or the dog that ate the cat, but the bear will be my new liven room rug. We have rabbits being raised for us as well as a crop, milk and cheese from goats, plus fish in barrels. The dear just won’t stay out of my sights for long, and our garden is doing good, yes I think we are set for now.”
Jacob, “don’t forget lots good smoke and drink, as well as supper ready.”
Brandy, “add to that two beautiful women, to share with you, and you have it made.” I said, “okay, but we didn’t cook for six.”
She tossed a small wet towel at me and said, “wipe your eyes, before I whip your ass.” I wiped my face clean and said, “and you got a new whip to do it with, thanks to Jacob.” Barb, “can I see? A good whip is what I need.”
Jacob, “don’t let her near it, she’s dangerous with those things.”
We started eating and Barb asked Brandy what she put in the sauce, she said some new spices that she got and some brandy. We poured shots of that for each of us, and the potatoes that were roasted with the rabbit were delicious. The whole meal was a nice way to end a very good day, and we dragged it on until the coals were out, and it was time to get some alone hours. Then Jacob and Barb thanked us for another evening, and headed home on the zip-lines. We took little Sage down with us to the liven room, and kicked back for a bit there, decompressing from the day.
Brandy said, “well this has been another one to write about, you sure did some trading today.” I said, “yes, overall a good day, set us up a bit.”
She said, “I should think so, it would take you all day tomorrow to beat this one, so why don’t you just sleep in until afternoon or so.”
I said, “don’t tempt me, it may happen anyway.”
Brandy, “where do you think TT is planning to keep all the rabbits?”
I said, “I don’t know, maybe he has a deal with High Harry, I think his labs would take care of a few hundred.”
She said, “it’s the perfect combination, I only hope he doesn’t start cloning them, or doing weird experiments.”
I said, “I want blue rabbits with orange stripes on them.”
Brandy, “whatever for?”
I said, “I just think it would be cool as well as futuristic, and if they ever got out they would make easy targets.”
She said, “I’m sure we can airbrush a few to try your theory on, should we use glow in the dark as well?’
I said, “now that would help, with my new night scope I would spot them right off.” Brandy, “I don’t think we will be doing any sport hunting, that cannon would not leave enough to salvage.”
I said, “if we had glow in the dark bunnies running around here, we would not need night lights.”
She said, “true, our feet would of already have stepped on, what bare feet should not.” I said, “then we better leave them to just mushroom dreams.”
Brandy, “that’s where they came from in the first place.”
I said, “well I don’t need either of them tonight, I am beat.”
She said, “yes it’s been quite a day, I’m ready for bed myself, and I mean sleep.” I said, “lead the way, I’ll work on the rest.”
So she got Sage ready for the night, and I made my way to bed. After she slipped in with me, and we got comfortable, we drifted off together for dreams of hidden thoughts. The morning cry of daybreak and baby Sage woke us, and I grabbed Brandy’s breast and said, “got her first.”
She hit me with my own pillow and said, “it’s not noon yet, go back to sleep,” and rolled out of bed.
I said, “okay, but you can’t say I wasn’t first this time.”
Brandy, “didn’t y
ou say that it was not always good to be first?”
I said, “that sounds like something I would say, but I’m not first all the time, once in a while it is you.”
She said, “I’m not getting into that right now, go back to sleep.”
And she went out with Sage in her arms, as I laid back and closed my eyes again. I stretched my arms and legs, then yawned, and took a deep breath. The sound of birds chirping outside of my window, and the warm sunshine on my face, put dreamland behind me. I tossed the covers off and laid there for a moment, then rolled over and sat on the bed. My eyes opened wide to look out at the morning, and only blinked a few times as I got them focused. Some light rain was in the air, and it had a clean crisp smell to it. I put on my heavy robe and slippers, then went to the bathroom. After washing my face and taking a piss, a fart later I was ready to head for the kitchen. Finding the water hot I made a cup of tea, then stoked the fire and put more wood in it. Then I got out my sourdough, and put part in a bowl with the ingredients for pancakes. I was stirring it as Brandy came in saying, “I thought you were going to sleep until noon?” I said, “I am asleep, and dreaming of making pancakes, the stove is stoked and ready,” then I dipped a finger into the batter and took a taste saying, “yum, I sure do dream good.” Brandy, “dream up some sausage links while you’re at it, the sweet ones I like.” I said, “look around, there must be some crawling somewhere.”
She said, “not those, the ones made with maple syrup.”
I said, “I’ll dream up some hot apple pie while I’m at it.”
Brandy, “don’t forget the whipped cream, oh what the heck, toss in ice cream as well.” I said, “with hot fudge and sliced cherries.”
She said, “sounds good to me, I’ll start with a cup of tea first then work my way up to the rest.” I said, “one cup of tea coming up.”
I sat the bowl down and got a cup for her, and she took it from me saying, “the kitchen is no place to still be dreaming, go sit down and I’ll cook.”
I said, “okay, but don’t eat all that pie up on me while I’m gone,” then I sat at the table with my tea. I readjusted my bathrobe and rubbed my arms saying, “there’s a bit of a nip in the air this morning.”
The Fell Good Flue Page 21