by Steven Smith
They left the house and walked across the compound as a group. It had stopped raining, but their steps made small sprays in the wet grass and splashes in the occasional puddles. Aedan walked importantly between Christian and Mike, smiling up at each of them and back at Jim and Kelly. In his hands, he carried a long bundle wrapped in burlap.
"I think this should do," said Christian, stopping the group about fifty yards from the apple trees.
As the group waited there, he continued walking toward the trees. Reaching them, he removed an empty pop can from a bag he was carrying and stuck it on a branch about head high. After setting five more at different heights, he walked back to the group and nodded at Aedan. "All right, buddy, show them what you can do."
Aedan untied the bundle, revealing a high-powered pellet rifle with a scope.
Kelly looked over at Jim, who looked back and shrugged.
Aedan handed the rifle to Christian, who broke open the barrel, loaded a pellet, closed it and handed it back. Laying the burlap on the ground, Aedan sat on it and brought the heavy air rifle to his shoulder.
"He knows that a good sniper never gets any wetter than necessary," Mike said to the group with a chuckle.
Aedan held the rifle steady with his elbows pressed against his thighs, looking through the scope. He took a deep breath, let half of it out, waited two seconds and squeezed the trigger. The rifle made a quiet noise and a can jumped off its limb. His face broke into a huge smile and he handed the rifle to Christian, who reloaded it and handed it back.
Taking aim a second time, Aedan squeezed the trigger again and another can flew off its branch. Four more shots took down the four remaining cans and Aedan turned around to the applause and shouts of approval from the group. "Christian and Mike have been teaching me," he said with a grin.
Christian tousled Aedan's hair and Mike patted him on the shoulder. Aedan looked up at each of them, his smile getting even bigger.
"Aedan has something to ask you," said Christian.
Aedan looked at his parents, becoming serious. "Rabbits and squirrels and raccoons and other things get into our crops and eat them. I can shoot them and keep them from eating our stuff and we can eat them instead." He paused, as if unsure whether he should say what he wanted to say next. "Mike says I could shoot even better and farther with a .22."
Jim smiled, looking at Aedan, who stood expectantly fidgeting, then at Mike and Christian. Finally, he nodded. "Mike, I have an additional assignment for you. I would like you to form a junior scout program, age seven and up, boys and girls. Use the air rifles we got from Bass Pro and teach them some sniping, tracking and woodcraft skills."
He looked back at Aedan. "And get Aedan the best .22 rifle you can find. He's our first junior scout and our new field warden."
The sun started to break through the clouds as they walked to the collection of tents in which recent arrivals were staying. Children were running around playing and women were setting out lunches on three long tables. Each adult would get a canned meat sandwich, pork and beans and a serving of canned fruit. Each child would get as many peanut butter and jelly crackers as they wanted, canned spaghetti rings and some fruit. The women set the food out on the table on plastic plates so that each person could come past and get theirs. Drinking water was dispensed at the end from a large tank fitted with a Sawyer filter.
Tracy was at the table, having brought the food down from the main house with the help of a couple of the other women, and was organizing the preparation and setting out of the plates. She smiled as she saw them approaching. "Hey you all! Are you coming to join us for lunch?"
"That depends," said Mike. "What's on the menu?"
"The best cuts of Spam you'll find this side of a Kansas City steakhouse. Plus, you get to eat with me!"
Mike laughed. "How could I resist that?"
They all lined up and got their plates and cups of water, then sat at a picnic table under one of the sun shades that had been erected around the common area. They watched as the kids were called in when fathers arrived from their work unloading one of the trailers into the barn, and families got their food and found places to sit at the tables to eat.
Jim watched as the families got situated. He enjoyed seeing the family unity that was obvious as fathers joined their wives and kids for lunch, and he reflected on how it resembled a simpler time when families focused more on each other than on their activities. He was glad to see that some families said grace before eating, and that everyone seemed to get along.
"You look happy," said Kelly.
Jim turned to look at her and smiled. "I am. You look happy too."
"I am.” She looked around at the people eating, then back at him. “It's hard to put into words, but I feel good about all this. It seems like we should be scared, or at least worried, but it just feels good."
"Great purpose focuses the mind," said Bill. "It reduces one's attention to the most basic elements of life, and joy is found in the simplicity of satisfying one's central physical and spiritual needs without worrying about the superfluous."
The table turned silent, everyone staring at Bill. "Who said that?" Christian finally asked.
"I did," Bill replied with a smile. "Just now."
Everyone laughed.
"Well, I think that pretty much sums it up," said Ann. "I'm not thinking about the latest project deadline, shopping for a new outfit for a charity banquet or trying to figure out when I can pick up the dry cleaning. I'm enjoying being with my family and friends. It feels strange that I'm actually relaxing."
"Me too," said Tracy. "I'm not dreading spending the next year as a go-fer in a Cincinnati law firm. I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is nice."
They ate as they watched the people around them. Families talked among themselves and with others as they ate. Most were smiling, and kids ran around away from the tables after they had finished eating. At one point, they heard a man and a woman arguing from several tents over, and Tracy identified them as Michael and Linda Kant. Others turned toward the argument for a moment, then turned away, ignoring them.
Jim watched as the families finished eating and the women collected the plates and cups, taking them to a large plastic tub full of sudsy water where two women were washing them, one was shaking them then rinsing them in another tub and two others were drying and restocking them. "It looks like everyone is working well together," he said, "except for her." He pointed at a dark haired, overweight woman in a low-cut black sparkly blouse sitting on a blanket on the ground. She was looking up and talking to the people walking around her and stroking the hair of a little blonde girl whose head was in her lap. "Let me guess. Patty Cramer?"
Kelly looked where he was pointing. "Yep. You're good."
He chuckled. "So you keep telling me." He pointed to a man clearing the dishes off the Cramers' table. "And that would be Tom."
Kelly nodded. "Two for two. Would you like to guess my weight now?"
Jim made a show of slowly looking her up and down, then cocked his head. "Perfect."
"Unbelievable!” she laughed. “Three for three!"
Ann jabbed Bill in the side. "Listen and learn, your honor."
"I already came up with one brilliant saying today, dear. As Dirty Harry said, a man must know his limitations."
Jim laughed as Tracy and Mike asked "Who?" in unison, and, seeing that the lunch break was coming to a close, he got up and walked to the main serving table.
Holding up his hands, he called out, "Folks ... folks…" and waited for everyone to stop talking and turn toward him.
"For any of you who arrived in the last couple of days and don't know me, I'm Jim Wyatt. This is my family's place. We're glad to have you here, and happy to see that everyone seems to be getting on fairly well. It's been a rough couple of months and we're still getting things organized, so if there's anything you need just come see me or any of the people under that shade over there and we'll see if we can get you fixed up.”
Gree
ted with affirmative murmuring, he went on. "For those who don’t know, our rules are fairly simple. The Golden Rule pretty much covers it - just be nice and help each other out. That, and every able adult has to work and do their share. I'm not big on shirkers. We offer charity to children and those who aren't able to take care of themselves, but able adults need to pitch in and do what's right.”
He paused for a moment to let that sink in, then continued. "Mike shot a pretty good-sized buck and we've got him prepared, so I want to invite everyone up to the house tonight for a barbecue. Just come about supper time. Have a good day and we'll see you then."
The afternoon was spent unloading a second trailer into the barn and inventorying the contents. They took out several cases of canned corn, green beans and baked beans for the barbecue, plus a case of KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce. Jim, Christian, Mike and Bill butchered the buck and started a fire in the patio pit, over which a large grill would be placed when a thick bed of coals had been established. Several of the women from the camp had come up to the house to help, and their kids played with Aedan, Brody and Morgan while they helped Kelly, Ann and Tracy get everything ready. Christian and Mike drove the Excursion over to the Samuels' and brought Ralph, Mary, Rebecca, Becky and Bobby back for the get together. When they arrived, Mary, Rebecca and Becky pitched in to help while Bobby played with other kids and Ralph joined the men on the patio.
"How's everything over at your place?" Jim asked Ralph as he handed him a glass of lemonade.
"Everything's fine," replied Ralph. “It's good to have the girls back and Bobby follows me around like a shadow."
"It's good for him to be around a man, finally."
Ralph nodded. "Good for me, too. It's nice to have someone who wants to learn about everything. He makes me think about things I haven't thought of in years. Good little worker too. Helps me out a lot."
"You ought to bring him over sometimes and let him play with the kids."
"I will. He's always asking to come with me when I go out salvaging, but I tell him it's too dangerous. Mind if I bring Mary and the girls over too? I worry about them when I'm gone."
"You bet. We need to keep in better contact. Which brings me to a couple of things I want to talk to you about. Let's sit down."
The men sat in a couple of large Adirondack chairs, setting their glasses on the wide wooden arms and looking out on the compound.
"I always liked these chairs," said Ralph. "Been meaning to make me a couple for about thirty years now."
Jim laughed. "Well, when you get around to it, make me a couple more too."
"Okay. Hope you're not in a hurry." He took a drink and let out a loud breath of satisfaction. "I'd forgotten how good iced lemonade was."
"We've got several cases of it. I'll send some home with you." Then a thought occurred to him and he felt ashamed he hadn't thought of it before. "Do you have ice?"
Ralph laughed. "I don't know what I'd make it with since the electricity's out."
"Don't you have a generator?"
"Sure. But it runs on gas and we ran out about a month ago."
"What do you do for lights?"
"What we did when I was a kid. Lanterns, candles and we go to bed when it gets dark."
Jim thought for a minute and then called Christian over.
"I was planning on running up to see Pasquale tomorrow,’ he said, looking up at his nephew, “but something more important has come up. I'd like you to take some of those Harbor Freight solar kits we have stashed in the bunker and install them over at Ralph's place. Take enough batteries to run his refrigerator, fans and some low voltage lights around his place. Take as long as you need to set him up right."
Christian nodded and smiled. "Sure thing. We'll get them set up real good."
"Now, Jim, there's no need for that," said Ralph. "We're doing fine."
"How the hell can you be doing fine without iced lemonade, Ralph?"
"We didn't have ice when I was a kid."
"Well by all means let's do everything like when you were a kid. Are the ladies looking forward to that long snowy walk to the outhouse every night this winter?"
"We have indoor plumbing and you know it. And it's good exercise hand pumping the water from the well."
Jim nodded thoughtfully. "So, indoor plumbing is okay, but electricity isn't. Makes perfect sense."
Christian tried to suppress a smile and Ralph looked exasperated. "Oh, alright. And thanks. Then you keep my cut of the next two trucks."
Jim waved it away. "I don't want anything. I don't need them and it's the neighborly thing to do."
"Well I can't take them and all of Christian's work for nothing."
"Then how about helping me when my mare foals?"
Ralph thought for a moment and shrugged. "Okay. It doesn't seem like much, but okay."
Jim smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Good. Remember when you helped me with her when she foaled a couple years ago? Looks like I'm all paid up now."
Christian laughed and walked off.
Ralph sat there realizing he had been set up and shook his head. "You know, for having such a nice wife, you sure are sneaky."
Jim laughed and took a drink. "Now, what I wanted to talk to you about. Our scouts have been seeing an increasing number of people coming out of the city, and as time goes on they're becoming less savory. We're starting to get some at our gate. How about you?"
Ralph shook his head. "Not yet. You must be taking them all in."
"Yeah, so far. But I'm worried about having them get right up to us before we can talk to them and get them sorted out. It was suggested at one of our meetings that we put a checkpoint up the road about half a mile so we can make initial contact farther away from the property, but I wanted to talk to you first since it's your road too."
Ralph nodded. "That makes sense to me. Do you need my help?"
"I thought we'd put a trailer on each side of the road and fill them with dirt. Could you do a little grading with your dozer and fill the trailers?"
"Sure, no problem. You said there were a couple of things."
"The Eddingtons aren't back. It's been almost two months and I imagine it means they’re not coming back anytime soon, if at all. I don't like having an empty house or unattended land next to me, so I was thinking about putting someone in there, maybe a family. I wanted to see what you thought about it and if you had any suggestions."
Ralph sat for a minute and took a sip of his lemonade, then nodded. "I agree. And I think I might have a suggestion if you would want to wait a little while."
"Who?"
Ralph lifted his chin to indicate something out in the common area. "You see who Christian's walking with?"
Jim looked out and saw Christian walking toward the house with a young boy. "Bobby? You mean Christian and Becky?"
"Yep."
"I knew they saw each other a little when they were younger, but now?"
"Yep. He swings by quite a bit when he's doing his perimeter checks." He smiled. "I feel real safe. I think Becky does to."
Jim shook his head. "I'll be darned. I had no idea."
Ralph chuckled, "And I'm sure you told your family all about your love life, right? I bet by the time Christian finishes the real thorough job I know he's going to do at my place you might have your family for the Eddington place."
They relaxed through the rest of the afternoon, putting more wood on the fire as each load of logs turned into coals and the sun started to dip below the tips of the western trees, throwing welcome cooling shadows over the patio. When the coals were thick enough they lifted the heavy eight-foot grill and placed it over the fire pit to heat.
The camp tenants started to arrive, the women shepherding their kids and some of the men carrying the long serving tables up from the commons to place near the pit. Kelly led the women in setting out the containers of lemonade and the huge platters of venison the men had cut earlier. Soon, everyone was milling around with red plastic cups of lemonade, laughing
and talking, the recent hardships seemingly forgotten as an aura of celebration surrounded them all.
Once everyone was there, Jim held up his hands to quiet the group. "Folks, one of the best things about a barbecue is watching and smelling the meat cook, and we'll get that started in just a few minutes. But I want to say a few things first.”
He looked out over the crowd, and at the individual faces of those to whom Stonemont had become a refuge. "It's been tough lately, and we can thank God and our hard work that we've survived so far and are doing as well as we are.”
A soft murmur of agreement ran through the crowd and he continued.
“You've been working in exchange for food and a safe place to live, and there's nothing wrong with that. That's essentially what we all do when you get right down to it. However, the way we've been doing it is collectivist in nature, where people do what they can and get what they need. But that's not what built America in the first place and it won't be what rebuilds it the way it ought to be rebuilt.
"If you know your history, you know that the inhabitants of Jamestown starved because of their communal economy, and it was only by changing to a capitalistic model that their fortunes were reversed and became the seed of the America we knew.
“Our country prospered like no other until capitalism and self-sufficiency gave way to a growing desire for security, entitlements and governmental inclusion in every aspect of life. The loss of personal liberty and responsibility came about slowly, over a period of many years, and the result was a nation of people who had lost the understanding that protecting and providing for their own security and the security of their families was their own responsibility.”
The crowd was quiet.
Jim went on. "We cannot continue that mentality. The catastrophe we have experienced has thrown us back to the reality that providing for ourselves and our families is our own responsibility. In order to do that, we don't have to invent something new. We just need to return to the original principles and values upon which our country was based - principles and values that were commonly and universally shared by those who sought divine guidance and blessings in their quest for liberty. It is time to return to those principles and values. It is time for a renewal of the dream of America.”