by Starr West
“I was thinking more of a new government. You heard them, they want someone to tell them what to do. Ruben, surely you can see the sense in this,” Lon answered.
“You don’t need us to form your new government, so why exactly are you here?” said Ruben.
“A government needs to provide for the people, give them food and shelter, just the basics will be enough. As you know, I’m no farmer, my thumb’s as brown as the desert. Ruben you can grow things, provide the extra food.”
“We are only just managing ourselves; there’s hardly enough to feed us, let alone a few hundred extras.”
“Yes, yes, but don’t you see? They can work for you. There’s plenty of land and the people to work it. You show them what to do, get them to work and sit back. You’ll have more food than you know what to do with.”
“And have you discussed this with them?”
“What’s to discuss? These are city people. They have no skills of any value. They have nothing. Everyone is equal now, even the wealthiest is no better than a pauper. This has shifted the power, created great opportunity. We have the land, the food and the skills. We have the power. Don’t you see?”
“Oh, I see plenty, but I don’t see how creating a slave economy is beneficial to anyone,” said Ruben, “If you want to teach these people new skills, then you know I will be there; but I won’t enslave them for my own benefit.”
“Slave economy?” Lon was thoughtful for a moment. “No, it may seem like that in the beginning, but really it’s just the start of something bigger. Without a system of government, we’re just savages. Civilisation thrives under good leadership.”
“Thrives? Or gets oppressed?” said Tahinah. Lon continued to address Ruben, excluding everyone else from the discussion.
“Of course, we’ll need to set up a hierarchy and create laws,” he continued. “No one will be oppressed, just organised. We need to control the chaos while we still can.”
“And what of these new laws, Lon?” said Libby, “You mentioned yesterday that you have been working on these laws for a long time. I am sure that everyone here is interested in your new laws.” Again, Lon continued to speak without actually acknowledging Libby’s inquiry.
“The thing is, we have many examples of laws that don’t work and systems of government that have failed. I have researched all forms of government and found them all to be flawed, but most have some benefits. Monarchies, for example, instil respect and gain the love of their subjects. Communism is able to provide equally and fairly. We need a new system, one that combines the best of both.”
“And who would rule this perfect system of government? A king?”
“Come now, Ruben, we wouldn’t actually have a king, at least not in title. I see it more as a shared position, one that evolves naturally. As we provide for the needs of the people, we would become like royalty, but under new titles.”
“Well, I think I’ve heard enough. This is not how I see the future and it is not something I aspire to. Once again, we must agree to disagree, Lon.” Ruben stood up, waiting for Lon to leave.
Lon hit the table with his fist “Damn it! You’re a stubborn man, Ruben! By the time you realise that this is the only way, it will be too late for you and your tribe. This opportunity will be gone and you will be begging me for protection.”
“Protection? We didn’t talk about protection or did I miss something? What do we need protection from? Surely not from your new and improved government?”
“Desperate times, Ruben, create desperate men. All I am saying is there may come a time when we are overrun by bandits and thieves. Raids to your little piece of paradise could become a regular event.”
“I’m sure you’re right, but we will deal with that when the time comes.”
“Join with me now, Ruben. Protect your people while you still can.”
“Goodbye, Lon.”
“Well, you know where I live, but this window of opportunity is closing fast.”
Lon and his three bodyguards left on four-wheelers, blowing thick black smoke.
“Well…” said Ruben, “what does everyone think?”
“You know what we all think,” said Libby. “We have discussed this possibility many times. It just came much earlier than we expected.”
“This is going to bring nothing but trouble, maybe we should reconsider. At least let him think we agree,” Tahinah said, placing her arm around Ruben’s waist.
“No good can come from this, I’m sure,” said Ruben, “but he is a scary man. One we don’t need as an enemy. I may have done the wrong thing today, but I couldn’t agree with him. I couldn’t even pretend for the sake of our safety.”
“Do you think he is responsible for the raids?”
“It’s a possibility, but surely, even he isn’t capable of murder.”
“Everyone is capable of murder.”
Maybe Lon wasn’t capable of murder, but the goons who stood at his side looked capable of anything.
Chapter 6 ~ TRIBAL INFLUENCES
My mind was occupied by thoughts of magick and prophecy as well as raiders and death. Life had become unfamiliar, controlled by forces beyond anything I could understand. The predictability that once made me feel safe was gone and I floundered to fit in. But I had little to complain about compared to so many others. I had food, shelter and water - life’s essentials. Beyond that, I had Libby and the people in the valley. I felt ashamed that I should feel so disenchanted with my life.
Pushing away thoughts of self-pity, I focused on harvesting fruits and vegetables for tonight’s party. The basket I carried was heavy with plump, red tomatoes and sweet-smelling oranges. The branches of the persimmon tree hung low with bright orange fruit and I carefully filled the remaining space in my basket with the sweet, ripe fruit.
Libby was in the kitchen, kneading dough for bread when I returned a second time with lettuces, zucchinis, beans and yams. Together with fruit and bread, this was our contribution to the meal and I was fast learning that sharing was essential to our survival. One person living alone couldn’t produce enough to meet his own needs.
Libby continued to knead the dough, “There are books on the table and enough time for you to study before we leave.” Libby was a relentless teacher and pushed me well beyond my level of enthusiasm.
“We have just passed the equinox, an important day in the wheel of the year. You’ll see references to the equinox in many of these books; some refer to this day as Mabon. It marks the beginning of autumn – day and night are equal. It’s reason enough to celebrate and a good time for you to learn about it.”
“Is that what the party is for?”
“Not really, Tahinah will find any excuse to gather the tribe. It’s a bit late for Mabon, but today is the second full moon this month, a blue moon. It’s rare to get two full moons in one month so I guess that alone is a good reason for a celebration.”
Libby brought me tea while I scribbled notes in my book, not my Book of Shadows, just a notebook like the ones I used for school. We had not discussed the prophecy since Saturday and it continued to trouble me without reason. I felt I was missing something, but I couldn’t figure out what. I had to have missed something or what was all the fuss about?
I turned to the prophecy “The ninth daughter is the dreamer of dreams, She is the keeper of secrets, She is the custodian of the stone, She is all, She is every daughter’s daughter, She is the last.” I understood that the daughters were my ancestors, but if Libby was the keeper of secrets, then she must also be the last. As we headed into an uncertain future, our links to the past were important, so perhaps it was the history that was significant and nothing more.
I carried the baskets of fruits and vegetables along the winding path through the strip of forest that separated our property from Phoenix and his family. The path was wide enough for two, but I followed Libby, ten paces behind, filled with excitement and hesitation in equal measure. Fear fluttered in my chest and the air seemed thick and unbreatha
ble. I stopped walking and forced myself to breathe.
“Come on, Psyche, you’ve met everyone already. There is no need to be nervous.”
It was true, we had many visitors in the first days after we arrived, but that was months ago. When Mum was sick, Libby imposed a quarantine on the house and no one visited. Since then, I don’t know who came to visit and I simply didn’t care. Lon’s visit yesterday didn't count because everyone was too busy with talk of raiders and governments to take any notice of me. Today would be different. I knew I was being stupid and making a big deal out of nothing, but I couldn't help it.
We arrived at the end of the path in less time than it took me to overcome my anxiety. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before stepping out of the forest. Phoenix and his family were our nearest neighbours, but this was only the third time I had ventured beyond Libby’s boundary.
The garden was astounding. Row upon row of fruit trees grew on slopes that rose to the east behind the house. Fences protected vegetable plots and herbs grew in circular gardens closer to the house. Further down the slope, a creek flowed and wound past more trees and gardens. I could see why Lon wanted Ruben as a partner – he needed this.
“Impressive isn’t it?” Libby stood beside me and admired the garden. “Come on, Psyche, the bread will go stale if I wait for you all day.”
I walked beside Libby toward the house. Phoenix’s mother, Tahinah, was standing with three other women.
“Greetings, Psyche, Libby,” Tahinah smiled and nodded, “It’s wonderful to see you’re feeling better. Come, I’ll introduce you to everyone.” Tahinah was beautiful. She had long chocolate-coloured hair and golden honey skin; her smile glistened in her eyes. Her warmth and beauty lifted my fear like morning mist on a sunny day.
The women stood at long wooden tables, cutting vegetables and slicing bread. Tahinah put her arm around me and drew me close. “Everyone, this is Psyche,” even her voice was sweet and flowed like honey, “Psyche, meet your tribe.”
“Or at least the female half of the tribe. Hi, I’m Emily, and this is Trinity,” a woman said as she pointed to a small pixie girl next to her. Trinity looked up and squinted as if I were standing in the sun. Then she nodded and smiled a little and went back to cutting bread.
“And I’m Lilly, I’m Lachlan’s partner. I think you’ll remember him from the markets,” she smiled.
There were others, Abigail and Yale, carrying baskets of food; Selene, tending to a crying child; Luke, supervising a group of teenage boys. I couldn’t remember everyone’s name, but in time, these people would become my family.
Libby handed me a knife and pushed a basket in front of me. I began cutting tomatoes and listened to the women chat while the children played in the yard. I hadn’t considered any other small children besides Phoenix’s sister, Jalani, but I suppose there was a lot about this community I hadn’t expected.
There were children everywhere, playing and running around the garden. Quite a few looked too young to attend school, if schools still existed. A handful looked not much younger than I, and others who looked somewhere in between.
I finished the salads, peeled the vegetables and scrubbed the yams, amazed by the amount of food on the table. There was no sign of starvation here.
The only man present sat on a reclining camper chair, just beyond the fire pit, which was still a pile of cold, grey ash. Basil was Libby’s oldest friend. They both grew up in Mount Misty, went to school together and still lived in their childhood homes. Basil was one of the few people I actually knew well.
“Hello, Basil,” I sat beside him on a sawn log seat, “how are you?” Small talk was pretty much all I had to offer.
“Oh, Psyche,” he sighed, “as good as one can expect, these days.”
“I guess,” I said.
“I’ve had a good life, you know, and seen many changes. When I started school, we rode horses because no one owned cars. Now all these years later, we’re back to where we started. It seems the progress we made was simply time wasted.”
“We were civilized once,” he said, “now we are less than peasants. What will happen to us, Psyche? What do you think will become of us?” Basil poked a stick around in the ash causing puffs of dust to rise in the air.
I shrugged, “Mum said we’re parasites, sucking the life out of a living planet. She thought this was a good thing and Mother Earth would be able to heal herself.”
“She was a strange girl, your mum, sweet but strange. I believe she would have said just that.”
I had to smile, Basil had known Mum her whole life. It’s funny he thought she was strange.
“Your mum and my boy, Gabe, were wonderful friends, you know. Sal and I always thought they would marry and give us beautiful grandchildren.”
Sal was Basil’s wife; she died of the green plague last year. During the quarantine, they blocked the roads in and out of town, but didn’t send in any doctors or medicines. In a town without a hospital, it was genocide. The government did this all over the country. When they opened the roads, those who survived, left in droves.
“Where is Gabe now?” I asked.
“Don’t rightly know. He rang some months ago and said he was on his way home. I believe he was in Pakistan at the time.”
“Pakistan! How will he get home from there?”
Basil sighed, “Don’t suppose he can.”
I didn’t ask any more questions after that, but made a promise that I would pray for Gabe and hoped he made it home safely.
Basil was too old to labour in the gardens, so the tribe made him the official record keeper. He recorded the weather, counted the days, and reminded us when it was the weekend or when to celebrate a holiday. He also kept track of the seeds, made sure we planted enough, saved enough and used up the old seeds before the fresh. Organising the tribe was Basil’s job and he did it well.
As a Christian, Basil observed the regular holidays like Easter and Christmas, but he also tracked the pagan days and kept the wheel of the year for Libby. It meant we had lots of holidays and reasons to celebrate.
“Hey,” Phoenix said as he arrived. I could see Tahinah’s features reflected in his face. “Ready for some fun?”
“Go on. We’re done here anyway,” Libby said.
Phoenix took my hand and led me away from Basil and the women toward the creek that flowed behind the house.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” I said to him.
“I live here, why wouldn’t I come?”
The creek was crystal clear and shallow with small stones and a sandy bottom. It flowed into a series of pools that grew deeper and larger as the creek ran past the house. A wooden platform sat on the bank above the last waterhole, and in the centre of the platform was a bathtub.
“Who baths out here?”
“Anyone who wants to. Dad built it for Mum because we were always out of hot water. There was never enough for everyone to have showers and still fill the tub. The water is heated by the fire, so as long as the fire is going, there’s plenty of hot water.”
Phoenix explained how the fire boiled the water in the drum, but he didn’t explain why the tub was in the middle of the yard.
“You can use it anytime you like.”
“Gee thanks, Phoenix, but we have plenty of hot water and I usually prefer a bit of privacy when I bath.”
“Well, you can always wear swimmers. Mum says everyone should bath under a full moon.” Well, that sounded like fun. Mum would have loved bathing in the moonlight.
Phoenix gave me a tour of the garden, explaining the names and uses of the trees and plants as we wandered along the rows. Just like Libby’s garden, everything had a purpose. He held my hand as if he were afraid he would lose me amongst the trees. He was a gentle teacher compared to Libby. With Phoenix, I wasn’t afraid to forget, so I remembered.
The tour ended at the house, which was made from timber and mud brick, much the same as Libby’s, just a whole lot bigger. Three steps led to a large ve
randa that flowed into the house through a doorway that must have been over five metres wide. Timber doors folded open against each other and created the feeling that the house and veranda were one. It was the same on the other side of the house.
There was a lot of noise coming from the yard. “Dad and Navarre are back,” said Phoenix. We walked through the house, but didn’t pause long enough for me to notice anything else. Standing at the top of the front stairs, I could see that Navarre looked a lot like his mother. The boys shared the same dark hair and honey-coloured skin. We watched the two men walk out of the forest. Ruben held a gun and Navarre carried a bow and a quiver full of arrows.
Navarre also carried an assortment of birds and small animals tied to a stick, draped across his shoulders. The dead animals dripped blood and coated him in every place imaginable. His smile was a contradiction to the death that surrounded him, but I understood that hunting provided essential protein. The only alternative was to butcher our own animals, which were stock bred and kept to provide other necessities, like milk and eggs.
“Oh, that’s really disgusting. How come you didn’t go?”
“Navarre is a very good hunter. I guess it’s in his blood,” Phoenix answered. Tahinah was Native American, or at least her grandfather was and Ruben was a soldier.
“But it’s in your blood, too.”
“I suppose, but I’m not very good. Navarre can shoot three arrows before the first hits its target. He is aiming for six. There are legends that say that some Apache warriors could fire seven arrows before the first hit its mark.”
“Wouldn’t it depend on how far away the target was?” I asked.
“I guess; never thought too much about it, really.”
We watched as Ruben and Navarre turned the carcasses into cuts of meat. Mostly, it was rabbit, but a few pheasants and a couple of wild turkeys lay on the table as well. I’d eaten many rabbits since my arrival and still had trouble separating the idea of fluffy bunnies from our meal. This made my life just a little more difficult. As a rule, they never caught small native animals whose lives were still more endangered than ours were.