Sinagua Rising: A story of survival after a worldwide catastrophe

by R. G. Andersen-Wyckoff

  “I’d be honored,” Bishop replied, “even though I’m not qualified by anything but desire. But, I guess, under the circumstances, I suppose that’s all that’s needed.”

  “Well,” said Matt, standing as the applause died down, “we also have an announcement. Hank and Mattie have asked us for our blessing to get married and we and the Stentons have agreed.” There was a moment of stunned silence and then the applause started again and Philip and Jesse gave Hank and Mattie big hugs as both blushed under the sudden attention.

  “Does anyone else have an announcement to make?” Bishop asked, looking at Jason and Kathleen, both of whom looked embarrassed and shook their heads. “Okay, then, I guess we’ll have a double wedding and a one-year Post Solar Event anniversary in a couple of weeks, if you lovebirds think you can wait that long,” he said, looking at the two excited couples. That elicited unanimous laughter from all, even the children, who had no idea what they were laughing about.

  Henry Stenton got everyone’s attention and said, “I think, under the circumstances, that us Stentons need to be headin’ home ‘tamorrow, so’s we can check up on things and git back here for the weddin’. Maybe we can even roast us another pig for the occasion.” His announcement was met first with a groan, that they were leaving, and then with applause that they’d come back with another roasted pig. “And, of course,” he added, “we’ll make sure to bring the groom back with us,” he said, laughing heartily.

  “I’ll do the rest of the rock work on the new Meeting Hall when we come back,” said JR. To which Colby nodded with a smile and mouthed, “Thank you.”◘

  Chapter 40

  Preparation

  The next two and a half weeks flew by for everyone but Mattie, who missed Hank. There was plenty of work to be done on the new building in addition to all of their normal routines.

  Bud, Matt, and Colby got busy laying the drainage pipe and drain in the new bathroom and then mixing and spreading the concrete floor. All the electrical wiring and water piping would be in the walls. While the concrete was setting up, they moved the stainless steel tables, sinks, a ventilating hood, and other equipment into the new kitchen, where Michael indicated it would work best. The last things to be installed in the kitchen would be the actual cooking equipment, which would be removed from the field kitchen, and the refrigerator and freezer. Jack assured Michael that there would be enough solar energy generated to operate the kitchen, though it would be best to do as much cooking during daylight hours as possible, saving the batteries to operate the refrigerator and freezer during the night.

  Jason and Manny did their twice-a-day security tours and then assisted Travis and Tate in the greenhouse and other planting areas.

  The children, under Jen’s supervision continued to gather the red rock stones that JR would use to skirt the entire building.

  Jack and Philip kept busy running the electrical wiring and plumbing in the bathroom walls as they had done in the kitchen prior to it being closed in. They had also run wiring and installed outlets in the Meeting Hall before it was buttoned up.

  When anyone finished a job they were assigned to, they took turns varnishing the T1-11.

  The women eagerly took on the task of fashioning wedding dresses for the two brides. They also quietly discussed the problem that having two weddings and only one honeymoon suite presented. It was Carly who came up with the solution and, with the other women, began adjusting the sleeping arrangements in the various family tents and adding homey touches to the honeymoon suites.

  When the sound of the trumpet was heard—two shorts and a long—on the afternoon of July 2nd, everything was in readiness.

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  Matt answered with his bugle—two shorts and a long—and he and Jason, with Mattie in tow, headed to the Ranger Station in Colby’s truck. They opened the fence to the maintenance yard, moved the large truck, and then unlocked both gates. Matt directed Henry to enter the maintenance yard, locking the two gates behind him. He then led Henry through the fence, across the dry creek and marsh area, and directly to the motor home. The ladies, with Bishop and Jack’s help, had strung camouflage netting the men had liberated from Pro Build above the motor home, because Carly felt it would help keep the motorhome cooler and help shield it from prying eyes, if ever there were any. They did the same to the honeymoon suite—for the same reason. Matt informed the Stentons that they would spend the first night in the motorhome and the balance of their stay would be in rooms arranged for them in the family tents. With a wink to Mattie, who was hanging on to Hank as if the two and a half weeks they’d been separated was a lifetime, informed all that the motorhome would be the honeymoon suite for Hank and Mattie, leaving the other honeymoon suite for Philip and Jessie. Tanner’s Jeep was parked beside the motorhome to be used as a shuttle vehicle, though the current dry conditions would allow Henry to drive his truck up the hill to the village.

  Matt informed the group that everyone was planning on having a relaxing afternoon swimming in the creek and sunbathing. The Stentons gathered their swimsuits and followed Matt up to the village, driving Henry’s truck rather than unloading it twice.

  The Stentons were greeted as old friends as multiple hands helped unload the truck bed: bushels of fresh corn, sacks of potatoes, onions, carrots and broccoli, more chicken feed—and another fresh pit-roasted pig. There were also eight more of Mrs. Stenton’s famous apple pies, because she had learned last time that four pies were not enough, a five-gallon bucket of ground corn, and a #10 can of popping corn.

  In short order they were all relaxing in the cool pools in the creek. The creek was still high following the spring runoff, but was not flowing fast. The debris that the spring flow had carried with it was stacked up just downstream from the swimming holes, leaving the swimming area clean and clear.

  “This is a right nice swimming area y’all have here,” Henry said. “We have a creek but it’s not big enough for much swimmin’. What y’all need to do is build a rock damn right there where the debris is piling up, and then a lower dam upstream before the water gets here, so y’all will have a nice swimming area throughout the dry season. You could even introduce some of those trout of yours into the lake so the kids could do some fishin’.” Henry had a big smile, as if he’d just made a major contribution to the Duwa lifestyle. In fact, he had. Bishop, Tanner, and Jack immediately began to talk about the possibilities and agreed they would pursue the idea once the creek was low enough for them to begin cleaning out the pools, removing the debris, and moving the abundant supply of river rocks to begin the downstream dam.

  “Thanks,” Bishop said to Henry, “you’ve just made a great suggestion and, next year when it’s warm enough to swim again, you’ll see your suggestion made a reality.”

  That night, for dinner, Michael prepared spaghetti with his secret sauce—the end of the spaghetti supply; and Maria baked a large supply of cornbread from the dried mix. Michael felt they didn’t need a large meal that night, looking forward to the celebratory feast they would share the next day.

  Following dinner, Matt and Jason prepared a campfire while the others moved chairs and their musical instruments to the fire pit. Michael surprised the children by popping popcorn in the kitchen and bringing it out to them. He even made some with honey-topping, thanks to Travis’ collection of honey from the hive.

  The temperature, as it is known to do in the Sedona area, quickly dropped from the high 90°s in the daytime to a very comfortable 75° once the sun had set. The sky was perfectly clear and it was a waxing gibbous moon, illuminating the village with a comfortable glow. It was a wonderful, relaxing evening. Everyone noticed, but no one said anything about, the fact that the three young couples were not at the campfire.◘

  Chapter 41

  Wedding Day

  The wedding day, July 3rd, dawned bright and clear. There were only thin wisps of clouds to be discerned on the northern horizon, songbirds were singing, and the tantalizing smell of coffee wafted thro
ugh the tents. The soon to be newlyweds were among the first to arrive at the Meeting Hall for breakfast—no doubt wanting to build their energy stores for the coming day’s events.

  Breakfast was prepared and served buffet-style by Michael, Maria, Estella, Olivia, and Tina. As each person came to the serving station they were handed a plate and silverware by Tina. Estella put a small helping of fried potatoes on the plate and Maria added a scoop of fresh scrambled eggs. Michael added a couple of strips of fried beef, strips of the roast they had served at the barn raising, and Olivia added a sourdough biscuit to each plate. Those who wanted coffee could help themselves to a cup when they entered the Meeting Hall and pitchers of Tang were already on the tables. The service line moved quickly and before long everyone was seated and enjoying the food and company. After everyone had been served, there were leftovers for those who still had some space in their stomachs to fill.

  Bishop got everyone’s attention. “I think it goes without saying, but I will anyway, that this breakfast is very special; not only because it’s the start of a special day in the life of Duwa, but because of what Michael and his helpers have prepared. I think the kitchen crew deserve our applause.” And they got it—unanimous and vociferous. “And, we need to thank the Stentons,” he continued, “because they’re responsible for the eggs, indirectly,” he chuckled, “and the potatoes. And, even though we’ve just eaten, I can already taste the roast pig we’ll be enjoying later today.

  “Speaking of later today, the wedding ceremony will take place here in the Meeting Hall as the sun moves over the south end of Horse Mesa, about three-o’clock,” he added. “That gives us time to do our chores, have a relaxing afternoon in the swimming holes, and then clean up for the festivities. After the ceremony we’ll enjoy another feast in honor of our newlyweds and the anniversary of the solar event—one PSE,” he added. “Oh, and before I forget, I think we’ll be skipping the mid-day meal today to give Michael and his crew time to relax before they start preparing for the feast today.” There wasn’t even a moan among them as each was well sated from breakfast.

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  While those who had chores to do did them, Carly, Mel, and Elle put the finishing touches on the honeymoon suite, adding candles and some potted flowers that were in full bloom. They had Ruth and Cathy Stenton move their belongings from the motorhome to sleeping rooms Carly had previously arranged for them, and then added candles and flowers to the motorhome. That would be the honeymoon suite for Hank and Mattie. Carly, Mel, and Elle then turned their attention to the Meeting Hall; stringing the colored lights they’d had at Christmas time and putting candles and potted flowers on each of the tables. At the west end of the Meeting Hall, where the sun would shine in the waning hours of the afternoon, just in time for the ceremony, they built an arch using a piece of rebar Matt had bent for them and seated in two five-gallon buckets of sand and gravel. The arch was gaily wrapped with ribbons. The chairs were lined up, meeting style, facing the arch. All was in readiness.

  Some of the men had Kris trim the long hair and beards they had grown during the winter and hadn’t bothered to trim since. Again, they gathered the cut hair for Travis’ gardens.

  After a swim everyone repaired to their tents to dress for the wedding. Though the brides had pretty white summer dresses to wear, donated and altered to fit by the ladies, and ribbons for their hair, everyone else simply wore clean clothes—except Bishop, who had managed to find a bright Hawaiian shirt to wear.

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  As the sun dropped down to sit on top of Horse Mesa, everyone gathered in the Meeting Hall. Bishop and the two grooms stood to the side of the arch awaiting the entrance of the brides. Jack turned on his boom box, playing Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender,” and then Jessie and Mattie entered from the east end, escorted by their fathers, Jorge and Matt. It was hard to measure who had the biggest smiles—the brides or the fathers. They slowly walked down the aisle and, at Bishop’s direction stood, beneath the arch. The fathers went to sit with their wives, and the grooms stood to the side of their brides-to-be. Nervousness had set in with the couples.

  “Dearly beloved,” Bishop intoned, as Jack turned the music off, “we are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of these two fine couples in matrimony. I have no license to perform this ceremony other than the goodwill and concurrence of those in attendance and consent of the parents or guardians of these young people. He turned first to Matt and Kristen and then to Jack and Celeste, all of whom nodded in concurrence. Then he turned to the couples again.

  “Marriage and family are the ties that bind us all together, that make us a community. It is the glue that has allowed us to become one big family and to survive the effects of the solar event. Though I’ve only known Jessie and Hank a short period of time, I’ve known Philip and Mattie since they were babies and, I know they have selected mates who will make them happy.”

  Turning first to Philip and Jessie, he said, “Philip and Jessie, having accepted the responsibilities of marriage and asked to be joined as husband and wife, do you vow to be faithful to each other, to care for each other, and to be respectful of each other’s needs?”

  “We do,” they said in unison.

  “Philip, I understand you have a ring to place on Jessie’s hand.”

  “I do,” responded Philip. “This is the wedding ring I retrieved from my mother before we buried her. I know she would have been proud to have you as her daughter and proud to have you wear this ring.” He placed it on her finger and wiped a stray tear from his cheek.

  “Thank you,” she said, giving him a big hug.

  “And now,” Bishop said, “Hank and Mattie, having accepted the responsibilities of marriage and asked to be joined as husband and wife, do you vow to be faithful to each other, to care for each other, and to be respectful of each other’s needs?”

  “We do,” they said in unison.

  “And, Hank, I understand you also have a ring.”

  “I do,” Hank replied. “This ring belonged to my Grandma Stenton, and was given to me by my father for this occasion.” He placed it on her finger and Mattie responded with “Oh, I love it,” and gave Hank a hug.

  “Now, with the authority that has been placed in me by your respective families and friends,” Bishop said, “I now pronounce you married. Men, you may now kiss your bride.” Which they did.

  Turning to the Duwanians, he said, “We have a wonderful community, one very large family, and we are proud to welcome these young people in their new roles as husbands and wives. We also welcome the Stenton family and we know we’ll be seeing a lot of each other in the years to come. Why don’t we join now in welcoming our newest couples, Philip and Jessie Chapman and Hank and Mattie Stenton?”

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  Following the feast that evening, replete with a wedding cake baked by Estella, the parents escorted their respective newly married couple to their honeymoon suite, and then returned to the Meeting Hall for conversation and music from Jack’s collection.

  Jack also took the opportunity to scan through the radio waves, as he had been doing almost nightly since the last Presidential message, without success. There was virtually no radio communication going on. Once in a while he would pick up a foreign broadcast but even that had disappeared. “It would appear,” he indicated to the men gathered around him, “that the shortwave radio operators have lost the ability or desire, or both, to continue broadcasting.”

  “Well,” said Travis, “I for one would rather have no broadcast than to listen to another one of those self-serving messages from the President about how they were going to help us out. I think we’ve done pretty damn well on our own, without their help.”

  “Amen,” the group responded.

  The conversation turned to other topics, like what the newlyweds were doing in the honeymoon suites, which gemerated much laughter from the adults and questioning looks from the children, and then to the next day’s work on the new Me
eting Hall building.

  Even though it was the Fourth of July, they planned to work on the building, especially the rock work that JR would do. And, because it was the Fourth of July, Bishop said he would not break with tradition and would cook up some barbecued beef for dinner the next night. They all groaned, massaging their very full stomachs, but all knew that when tomorrow night arrived they would welcome Bishop’s special barbecued beef.

  That night, as Carly was wont to do, she wrote in her journal. “…This has been a rather special day, with several firsts to add to our list of firsts since moving to Duwa. In fact, we had a double first today with the marriage of Philip and Jessie, and Hank and Mattie. Now that I think of it, we have another first; the joining through marriage of our community with the Stenton Farm group, the first, I’m sure, of several to come. Spirits are high in our little community and, I feel, will only continue to grow as we complete more and more of the permanent structures.…”

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  The next morning, as everyone gathered in the Meeting Hall for breakfast, the honeymooners were conspicuous by their absence. When the children asked where they were, Carly commented, “They have lots of planning to do for their futures and need quiet time by themselves to do it. So, you children are not to bother them or play out by the tent.” There was no need to worry about them going down to the motorhome, as leaving the village area without adult accompaniment had been off limits from the start. The children seemed to accept Carly’s explanation, even Kiera who offered, “Sometimes my Mommy and Daddy close their bedroom door and do planning, too,” and then returned to playing with the kittens.