Back To Our Beginning

by C. L. Scholey

  “I don’t know if you should go so far away without me,” Clint said. He’d been dismayed to hear how far Tansy and Shanie had lugged those garbage bags full of things. Granted they were useful items, but a bed sheet wasn’t something to risk your life for.

  “It’s not too far, and if I can get a rabbit or bird it would be worth it.”

  “Why don’t we all go get the washtub? I saw some other things we might be able to use, and we require some help retrieving our belongings. It would be beneficial to be clean and with everyone’s help we could have the tub back here and set up in no time. We have some food to share that should suffice for another day if eaten sparingly,” Ethan said.

  Deciding this was a better course of action, they set out. Clint held Mike tied to his chest in another sling carrier he had fashioned from one of the bed sheets Tansy returned with. The child was well wrapped against the biting cold in layered clean sweaters and shirts found in the small home, snuggled against his warm chest, pressed against his shirt. The route they traveled was too snow-covered for her tiny legs. She was malnourished and succumbed to sleep with the rocking motion and soothing warmth of Clint’s body.

  Although Clint brought his bow and arrows, slung across a shoulder, he was doubtful they would catch anything with such a loud procession. Tansy had made sling packs for her and her daughters; they brought an old duffel bag found at the house.

  Tansy found herself wondering at what food the others had. Hopefully Ethan wasn’t mistaken and it would suffice for the day.

  Ethan kept a close eye on Ricky. The boy was eager to search out every nook and cranny, gamboling about like a small puppy on an exciting adventure. Emmy and Shanie made certain they stayed close to their mother and Clint. Emmy was still wary of the two men, yet watched Aidan, taking in his features when she was positive he wasn’t looking. He moved with the calm assured physical movements of one used to command. She noted he was handsome and well built, his chest was broad and muscular. She blushed crimson when she wondered what he would look like with his shirt off.

  Once they reached Aidan and Ethan’s old basement camp, Clint was amazed at the arsenal of weapons. Aidan and Ethan had fashioned light spears, a bola, slingshots, bows and arrows. Their arrow tips were made of flint or tin as well as their spearheads. A few of the spears were topped with sharpened kitchen knives; other heavier spears were burned then whittled to a deadly point for setting within larger traps.

  Aidan had made hooks for fishing; he used many different items such as bone and wood, a pin and nail, thorns. For floats he used a cork from a wine bottle, dried deadwood pieces and rolled birch bark. He’d strung a crude but serviceable fishing net together with many gathered shoelaces from corpses, weighted at one end with heavy metal loops from a curtain rod.

  A small hammock for Ricky had been constructed out of many belts. It was up off the floor and lined with carpet and a thick ragged comforter. An old dirty frayed doll sat atop the filthy covers.

  They had some dried meat of various animals and fish. Aidan held up a small sack he said contained pemmican. It was made up of fat mixed with pounded dried lean meat along with crushed raspberries. Aidan had found the raspberries shriveled and dry on a small vine. He explained to the others the pemmican was a useful staple food and one they best get used to preparing and eating.

  Aidan had a bag he carried nuts in. Any time he found a rodent’s nest he would rob it of its contents, insisting the nuts would provide protein.

  Listening to Aidan speak about living off the land had Tansy’s hope soaring for their survival. But it made Clint uneasy. This man was smart; he was ‘Cord’ smart. Clint had known what Cord was capable of, he didn’t know this man. Clint suspected even before being told Aidan had a military background. Both Cord and he dabbled in the militia together and he knew some of the signs and mannerisms Aidan displayed. Clint also suspected there was something this man wasn’t telling them. A lie perhaps, about parts of his background. It would remain to be seen if Aidan or Ethan could be trusted.

  Moving the washtub was more difficult than it looked. It was large and full of dirt, mud, snow and ice that had to be removed. It was partly buried in the ground, making it impossible for them to dump it over. They needed to remove the contents, hacking it with thick sticks and sharp hand-sized rocks. Aidan was overjoyed when he saw tulip bulbs buried in the dirt and began breaking the muck around them and putting them into a backpack, critically examining them, he tossed any that looked decayed or suspicious. He told Tansy they could be washed, peeled and then boiled or cooked in ash once the inner bulb was removed.

  On their walk back to the mine, Aidan also collected certain fungus from the trees. He explained to all in general that tree fungus was rich in tannin. You could use it to treat burns; you could also use it for fuel, or cut it into pieces for fishing floats. Later in the summer, they could try and find giant puffballs that were appetizing and had medicinal qualities.

  Upon arriving at the mine, Aidan instructed the girls to fill every pot they had with snow and put them by the fires to melt. They used cold water, snow and sand to scour and rinse the metal tub until they decided it was as clean as it was going to get.

  They decided on the best place for the tub would be in a small dark alcove, near the middle of the wall, closer to the top of the mine well away from general activity. They would need to be able to dump its contents without making a muddy mess of the ground, and without exposing their naked bodies to dangerous drafts; the small cracks in the floor would let the water drain away into the rocky hillside without pooling. Ethan reasoned the area would be easy to drape a sheet around; they would need only one as it was in an alcove surrounded on three sides by white and purplish rock, fluorite and quartz no doubt, with fine flakes of titanite, iron pyrite, magnetite and galena. The less bedding they needed for privacy could be better spent on beds.

  They set up a dark sheet strung between two poles, each sharpened to spikes at the bottom and buried securely into the ground. Then tied the sheets to the poles with barbed wire they found. Clint soon had a blazing fire going inside the enclosure. The firelight danced off the rocks, displaying beautiful patterns on the walls and as soon as the water heated, the tub was filled. Tansy shared the soap she found in the cabin with everyone; she desperately wished for some kind of shampoo or conditioner.

  Later, after washing, they sat around the fires at the large living area in the mine that was more a deep cave in areas; they took turns using the brush and comb Tansy found along with a small mirror from the old home. At the time other utensils hadn’t seemed as important to her as the large cooking ladle she grabbed last minute, but it did set the mood for her train of thoughts. Tansy was stirring a stew made of pemmican, dried fish, dried meats and bulbs. They had their own mugs or bowls for the stew, but not everyone owned a spoon. Utensils hadn’t been foremost in her thoughts as food seemed so scarce.

  She voiced her concerns to no one in particular, and Aidan soon had small sticks sharpened and cleaned on one end. He instructed them to stab at the bigger pieces and drink the broth. Although it made perfect sense to Tansy, she was soon fussing over Michaela who had accidently speared her own tongue. Ethan came quickly to her rescue and offered his own treasured spoon to the child.

  Casting Ethan a grateful look, Tansy soon had her youngest fed and tucked in for the night. Everyone else cleaned their cups or bowls in snow and were soon enjoying tea Aidan had offered to make.

  “This is good,” Clint said. He originally balked at the idea that ‘needle tea,’ as he called it, could taste good, but at the look of enjoyment on Emmy and Shanie’s face he had relented and tried some. Pleasantly surprised, he gave a wide grin. “You could even drink this without brandy,” he exclaimed, although he added a generous amount to his. Feeling charitable Clint had offered some of his alcohol to the others.

  “Thank you,” Aidan replied. He and Ethan were setting up a comfortable place for them to sleep within the safety of the three brightl
y burning fires. Tansy offered some of the linen to them, to cover over their dirty blankets until they could be washed.

  “Are we hunting tomorrow?” Ethan asked to no one in general.

  They’d been disappointed their bathtub trek hadn’t included the find of a fresh meal. Ethan’s gaze strayed absently to Ricky who was playing near the small cooking fire with the toy cars, occasionally swiping at tired eyes. It was apparent the boy was battling exhaustion, but Ethan hesitated to send him to bed, not wanting to hear his mournful complaints that made him feel he was doing something wrong as a father. His wife had been so much better at that sort of thing, with Ethan offering her backup. Now there was no one to back him up.

  “Now that we’re settled we should start organizing,” Aidan said.

  “Like what?” Clint asked.

  “Well,” Aidan began. “The sap should be running soon if not now, birch and maple. At least I think it’s spring or close to it; with any luck it’ll come at all. We should be prepared for that just in case; we need it. We’ll need more beds off the ground when flea and tick season start.”

  “I wish we could make a stove in here,” Tansy said wistfully, glancing around. “Cooking over an open flame is hard. Even roasting the meat, sometimes it burns on the outside and isn’t cooked on the inside. If the flames aren’t watched, the pot will scorch leaving everything inside tasting burned.”

  “I think I could,” Aidan said. “Let me think about it for a while; I’m certain I could come up with something serviceable.”

  “We should be prepared; the storms could intensify again, now that the warmer weather is on its way,” Ethan said.

  “How’s that?” Clint asked.

  “Tornadoes are associated with low atmospheric pressure. They develop when surface air warms and a column of air descends from the base of certain storm clouds,” Ethan answered.

  “What?” Clint asked, giving his head a shake.

  “It’s getting warmer, so if we get a bad storm we could also get a tornado. You know, like really bad summer storms only far worse, maybe even hurricanes, torrential rains, maybe some flooding,” Tansy explained worriedly; she was remembering the brutal beginning storms that never seemed to cease.

  “You think this ole mine will be safe?” Clint asked, looking around; he could see Tansy’s apprehension. Even though the occasional storm still came through, they weren’t nearly as frequent as they had once been a few months ago. Clint had been hoping that meant they would be seeing the last of them.

  “Yes, being underground is best against flying debris. We shouldn’t be at risk of flooding; we’re not in a valley. When the next rain hits, we can track its descent and build culverts to detour the rain away from us,” Ethan began. “But if a tornado or hurricane hits, we might be better off in one of those smaller tunnels. They’re deeper underground, away from the mine opening and flying debris.”

  “I thought maybe we could use one of the tunnels for wood. If we fill it or come close, it will have a chance to sit a bit throughout the summer. That way we won’t be carting in wet wood during the worst of the winter months and trying to dry it when it comes again. It smokes so horribly when wet,” Tansy told them.

  “What about the other tunnel? The one that’s not as long but more at the back of the cave?” Ethan asked.

  Tansy thought for a moment. “Yes, I guess, but I think I’d like some shelves made into it. Once warmer weather hits, we can look for more cellars with preserves or bushels of potatoes that might have been collected before the storms. If we’re lucky tapping the trees, we can store the syrup in it as well. Maybe we could find a bees’ nest and get some honey.”

  “Sweet tooth?” Ethan inquired, smiling at her.

  Reddening, Tansy ducked her head then said, “I thought it might help my tea.”

  “Darlin’, if the brandy don’t help, I can’t see honey doin’ the trick,” Clint told her then groaned as she hit him with her fist into his ribs. He couldn’t help laughing; he had meant it as a joke and could see her smiling, even as she called him a heartless jerk.

  “As for hunting,” Aidan said. “I think it’s time we plan a hunt for big game. We need the meat but also the bones can be used for tools and weapons. We can use the hides on our beds or for footwear and clothes.”

  “Wait, for clothes?” Clint asked, somewhat surprised.

  “Well, who do you think is going to make clothes from now on? It’s not as if we can stroll into a handy Walmart,” Aidan retorted.

  “It’s bad enough I’m livin’ like Grizzly Adams, now I gotta look like him,” Clint snapped.

  “Guys,” Tansy said.

  “Don’t you get it?” Aidan began heatedly. “We’re alone out here. The only things we’ll have are the items we can salvage or handcraft ourselves. Do you know how far I’ve traveled without seeing anyone alive?”

  “No, I don’t know. You didn’t tell me nothin’. Ethan told us all ’bout his sick wife and what job he done, and what his life was like before, like the rest of us done, openly. Now that I’m thinkin’ on it you didn’t tell us much at all ’bout anythin’ you did or done before now.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Aidan yelled.

  “Jist what it sounds like. You come here and know all ’bout livin’ off the land, yet you don’t know ’bout TV shows aired five months ago. Hell, Aidan, who won the playoffs?”

  Aidan stood there quietly. He had no use for TV, radio or computers, preferring the gym; his powerful muscles bulging in his apparent anger gave testimony he made good use of it while locked away. He was hard yet emotionally vulnerable. He didn’t feel this man had the right to his respect. If he did, Aidan would have told him. But as it stood, he was angry. What right did this backwoods yahoo have to dictate to him? Aidan had been told what to do and how to do it for too long and he was finished. Another thought flashed quickly into Aidan’s mind; there was no law, there was no jail, jury or judge. Each individual was responsible for his or her own actions.

  “Back off,” Aidan said with quiet menace.

  His eyes narrowed, and his gaze centered on Clint in such an intense way Tansy feared for Clint’s safety. She sensed a smoldering rage coming from within Aidan; his fierce and deadly look put goose bumps on her arms. She jumped up and placed herself between the two, who had risen to do battle.

  “Stop, please,” Tansy begged them fearfully, a hand pressed against each of their heaving chests, as she centered herself between them. “The weather is the only thing we shouldn’t be able to control, not our tempers.”

  “There’s a lot more out there we have no control over.” Aidan responded to her in a deep, deceptively calm voice, his dark piercing brown eyes stayed focused unwavering on Clint, while Ethan watched the three of them.

  Ethan wasn’t concerned for Aidan. Though a good friend, instinct suggested the powerful man could handle himself, Ethan remained ready to yank Tansy from their midst; he could see Aidan’s inner battle of emotions, yet knew where they stemmed from. He hoped in time his young friend would be able to let the past rest. He needed to let go of the anger he felt toward the injustices of the world and the injustices done to him.

  “Yes, out there. We’re in here. We’re the only we that we have. If you hurt each other I’m not sure I can fix you. You are both too important to lose. You mustn’t harm each other. Ethan wanted ground rules, I’m offering the first. There is enough to hurt or harm us without us hurting or harming each other. There will be absolutely no violence allowed anymore, ever!”

  “Then jist how the hell do we settle this?” Clint growled.

  “Like real men. Like men who don’t frighten small children or women. You are both too old to be fist fighting. You figure it out.”

  Tansy walked over to Michaela who had been woken by their tirade; she hugged the child and settled her back down. Tansy then helped Ricky into bed with Mike as there was no place to hang his hammock. They again lay feet against feet and she kissed them both good
night, tucking the blankets in around them. While taking a cue from their mother, Emmy and Shanie also went to settle for the night. Tansy lay down on the bear rug and pretended to close her eyes. Tansy watched, shaking, under lowered lashes as Clint and Aidan squared off.

  Clint ran a hand through his hair.

  “Tomorrow I’m gonna find a bear or somethin’. I’m winin’ hunter a the month. You can keep your secrets and sleep alone. Not only can I protect ’em, I’ll take care of ’em and feed us all... includin’ you,” Clint said with smug contempt, a spurn to Aidan’s abilities.

  Aidan’s face went blood-red at the innuendo. Clint sauntered away and pulled the blankets back off Tansy, who he noted with some dismay was shaking, and snuggled in beside her, positive she wouldn’t rebuff him. He would show her he was a man, not by fighting, but by providing.

  * * * *

  Early morning arrived with excitement. Clint and Aidan’s argument sparked a contest. Each one declaring they were going to find the first big game their new family had seen. Exactly what that would prove was a bit baffling. What it was in reality was setting precedence for future years to come. Arguments couldn’t be won by battling with more than their wits. Each man was equally matched. Both powerful and confidant, in touch with their inner ‘wilderness’ self, as Shanie had laughingly put it. But it was more than that. On a primitive level, the need in powerful men to dominate and control didn’t just hint at existence. It seemed to rule while needing a physical outlet.

  Aidan left with his arsenal of spears and other handmade weaponry. Clint stalked off with his bow and arrows. Each equipped with knowledge of the hunt, each desperate to succeed. Shaking her head ruefully, Tansy left Emmy and Shanie in charge of the two younger children, while she and Ethan struck out back to the small cabin for more supplies.

  They walked companionably for a while. The snow was melting and dripping from tree branches. Listening, Tansy almost thought she could hear spring approaching, the smell of fresh air filtered by the trees. It was a scent she remembered from childhood. The smell of linen hung out on the line to dry.