“We're going to keep the flour mill open?” Josh asked.
“Keeps the water flowing, keeps the ice from getting a foothold. All we do is take out the drive shaft and the machinery doesn't move, just the big wheel outside,” Jake said. “Now the sawmill, that's almost non-stop. I suppose that eventually it will slow down as soon as everyone has built a home, or we finish up projects we want to build, but for now it's full production every day.”
“I can't see a day when it wouldn't be,” Josh added. “People are coming in every week. Slower now, but they're coming.”
“You should think of something else we can use the flour mill for in the winter, Dustin” Aaron said. “There has to be something.”
“Lots of stuff,” Dustin said. “But the smartest would be to generate our heat from there. A small boiler system could heat everything in the valley. Add a laundry center, or hide washing, processing, which could use the steam heat too. Use the water power when we need it to grind flour, which is really only about a month and a half out of the year, use the water after that to drive steam into the valley. The two won't conflict with each other.”
Jake was nodding. “One thing though. Move the hide processing far away. Down the valley somewhere where it won't contaminate our ground water: Where the stench won't be with us all day every day. I'd really move it completely out of the valley if we could.”
Conner added his agreement. “How hard would it be?”
“Not very,” Dustin said. “I'd put the steam boiler in another building, close by, just run the pumping system from the mill building. We have tons of pipe we bought back. I'd run that pipe about two feet under the ground and right directly under the path we use in the valley. At two feet we should be insulated from most heat loss, but there will be an accumulative effect that will keep the path free of snow or ice. Sort of like a heated sidewalk. A bonus. We can top the path with gravel, install good drainage too so it doesn't end up a muddy mess.”
“Then I'd build the wash house, hide houses separate too. It's just a matter of running pipe to them. We would have our mill; our steam for heating and hot water all from the same building,” Dustin said.
“Dustin, what did you do in the old world,” Conner asked.
“School... Video games, little innocent hacking,” He answered. He blushed as he spoke.
“And how did you learn all of this?” He let his hands rise to take in the entire settlement.
“Oh... That... I like to read. I have a memory that works kind of funny. It's like this: I read something and it goes into my head. Maybe I read something else, other ways to do the same thing. That goes into my head too. Then I visualize it, like I'm actually doing it... Maybe a few times, maybe more, but I see how it works. I see the way to do it. I see the mistakes I could have made too. So when I really do it, it's like I already did it, I already know how,” he said. He looked prepared to be disbelieved.
“Really?” Conner asked.
“Really,” Dustin answered.
“I can see that,” Aaron said. “I've done pretty much the same thing in my head when I'm doing construction work. I work it out in my head and I have it. I didn't trust it at first, but eventually I came to look at the work I was doing in my head as the same as really doing it.”
Dustin was nodding in agreement.
“I've never tried it,” Conner said, “but I will: Apparently it works.”
“Why don't we get together tonight, have dinner together and discuss it, vote on it,” Jake suggested.
“Kate will be up there anyway,” Conner said.
“She and Amy are up there helping with the new work on the clinic, germs; concrete sealed floor, plastic walls... They aren't doing the work all alone, more like directing it. Steve says it will be a big deal... Cut down on infections,” Aaron said.
Conner nodded. “So, she'll be there anyway.”
“They'll come to a meeting?” Jake asked.
“Positive they will. It's a good idea. We'll get all of us together and get it approved,” Conner agreed.
They walked out onto the path that lead back up to the cave. A team of horses was passing by, slowly pulling a sledge piled high with logs toward the sawmill that was farther up the valley. Chloe, who was driving the team of oxen that were pulling it smiled and waved as she passed them by.
~
Lilly waved to Chloe as she passed her a little further down the road, as she waited to cross the slushy path. She was coming from the cave and heading to the school that sat on the other side, the ridge side of the path, nestled up against the steep sides of the valley where it was protected from the winds. The snow next to the path was hard packed. The snow in the field was three feet deep, and there was at least three months of winter left.
A second sledge came following the first, Joe Stevens waved as he approached her where she stood. Jake had hitched a ride from the flour mill, hanging onto the back of the sledge. He peeked around the back of the sledge and smiled. She couldn't help but return it. He jumped off now as he neared her, and walked across the sloppy path, taking her hand.
“May I,” he asked as he helped her to cross the path. “Going back to the school,” he asked as he walked beside her holding her hand.
She stopped, stretched onto her tip toes and kissed him.
“Yep,” she told him as she began walking once more.
“Is that any kind of English for a teacher to be using,” Jake asked.
“Yep,” Lilly told him and smiled.
“Hey, where's my kid who's usually glued to your hip?” Jake asked.
“Annie's watching him. He fell asleep after he had his lunch,” Lilly told him.
“Nice lunch. Lucky kid,” Jake said with an affected leer.
“Yeah, well, when he's done with them you'll get them back,” she said laughing as they walked across the path.
Jake laughed too. “Got a lot to do?”
“Half a day of school. Kids will be back from lunch in just a few minutes. I just stopped off at home to get something to eat myself,” she said.
“Well, I have more to do with Conner and the guys anyway... I just saw you and wanted to see you, you know,” Jake said.
“Yeah? Well, I know what's on your mind and we'll see about that later on,” Lilly told him with a smile.
Jake grinned, watched her walk back to the school, and then turned and walked back to the power plant where the others still stood.
When he reached the power plant and jumped up onto the boardwalk all three of the others were looking up toward the main cave. They all looked concerned.
Jake walked closer. “What's up?” He asked.
“We have a visitor,” Conner said. He jumped down from the board walk and began heading toward the cave with the others.
“Visitor,” Jake asked as he hurried to keep up.
“Rollie,” Aaron said. “The trader? He's bringing our new doctor and a whole wagon load of supplies.”
“Debbie Jenkins has post this morning down the valley. She said he passed by her about an hour ago, so he should be popping up over the ridge directly,” Conner said.
“Came through the old state park entrance,” Aaron told him. “Says the road all the way in is good... Clear.”
“Parkland,” Conner said.
“Right,” Aaron agreed. “I guess I'll never remember the name if I don't keep it in my head. Anyway, Parkland called the day before yesterday. Told us he had gotten there and would be leaving in the morning, that would be yesterday morning. Not bad time for horses pulling a wagon.”
“Hell no,” Jake agreed.
“Who's the new doctor,” Josh asked.
“Emmett Stiles,” Conner said. “Older guy, don't know much about him. Kate talked to him more than anyone else. Says he'll fit right in if he's anything like his radio personality is.”
“Huh,” Jake said.
“Huh exactly,” Josh agreed.
~
They made it to the top of the pass just
in time to watch the sleigh approach the steep grade that would bring it to the top of the pass. An older man sat high on the wagon, driving a team of four oxen. The other man sat across from him. The trader drove the horses easily up the incline and onto the broad terrace that fronted the cave.
The man, somewhere south of sixty, Conner thought, set the brake on the sleigh and then looked down at the five men.
“How do,” The man said.
“All right,” Aaron said.
The other man smiled and nodded hello.
“I imagine you'd be Rollie,” Conner said as he offered a hand. “And you would be Emmett.” He shook hands with the doctor also, and helped as both men climbed down to the ground.
“Rollie drives a fine wagon, well, sleigh this time of year, but I don't recommend this kind of travel over long distance. This thing need shocks... Something.” He laughed as he massaged his back with both hands and then stretched and yawned.
“Well, you better hope these folks want you or you might find yourself walking back,” Rollie said and laughed.
They all laughed and Conner introduced the others. “This is Aaron, best carpenter we have here. This here is Jake, takes care of our farm with Josh, who actually is a farmer and shows us how to do things right. And this is Dustin who knows pretty much everything else.” They all shook hands and said their hellos. His eyes were drawn to the huge tarp covered load, the wagon and then the Oxen. “You'll stay a while?” Conner asked.
The mans eyes had caught the electric lights spaced along the tunnel that lead into the cave. The tunnel now ran right down the right side of the main cave. It flowed in a curve all the way to the other side of the mountain and the second cave where it emptied out in the main cave area. You could use the doors there and the built up earthen ramp to continue right down into the third valley. He nodded and then shook his head.
“Yeah... Yes, I thought to stay a bit and rest a little. So... You do have electric. Amazing. I know of no other place that does, excepting Alabama Island, and they are barely up and running with it. I was sure you had it, electric I mean, and so I banked on it: Added a few items you might could use... There a place where I can put up the oxen?” He asked.
“Sure,” Dustin said. He helped the man disconnect the team and then he and Josh excused themselves as they lead the team down into the valley.
Katie, Amy, Sandy and Susan came from inside the main cave.
“Hello,” Emmett Stiles said As Katie stepped forward. He used a walking stick, but did not seem to need it for anything more than an affection. His black hair was long, twisted into a pony-tail that hung between his shoulder blades. A smile rested on his full mouth, his skin a light brown.
“Kate, Doctor Emmett Stiles,” Conner said. He turned and looked from Katie to Amy. “Doctor, my woman, Kate, you two talked over the radio. And my friend Amy, Aaron's woman. Ladies this is our new doctor. Come to us from Johnson Crossing.”
Sandy overheard the introduction from just a few feet away where she had been looking over the wagon and hurried over with Susan.
“This is Sandy... Susan. Sandy is our nurse. She took over the load after Jessie left,” Conner said.
Everyone said their hellos and Emmett turned to Sandy.
“I wanted to meet you, Sandy. I have heard so much about you,” Emmett said.
“It's nice to meet you, Doctor. Katie told me all about you,” she said.
“Emmett.” he lifted his eyes to include everyone. “Emmett is easier on my ears.”
“Emmett,” Sandy agreed.
“Sandy,” Emmett said. “Maybe you could show me around? ... You too Susan, of course.”
“Absolutely,” Sandy said.
Rollie spoke up as they walked away.
“She's telling a different story... Just so you know,” Rollie said in a low voice.
“Who,” Conner asked.
“Jessie. Radio, incoming on a relay a week or so before I left. Says you ran them out in the middle of the night... Says they were lucky to make it out alive. Not all did, in fact.”
Aaron shook his head and laughed. “Try to do someone a favor and it bites you in the ass. We walked them out, allowed them to go when we caught them about to go on their own with nothing. Gave them weapons, food,” He shook his head in disgust.
“You called it though,” Conner said. A sad smile curved the corners of his mouth downward. “You said it would get switched up and it did....” He turned to Rollie. “We'll talk more later... Maybe others will want to hear what she said.”
“How's a cup of coffee sound?” Jake asked a few seconds later to break the uncomfortable silence.
“You got coffee?” Rollie asked.
“Well, instant,” Jake admitted. “Coffee is gold here. We hope to grow some next year though.”
“Now see, that's why you need me. I think we can help each other a great deal,” Rollie said.
The door opened behind them and several people flooded out of the cave and surrounded them. Aaron made introductions as Conner kissed Katie on one cheek.
“Well,” Conner said as things quieted down. “Come on in and let's get some coffee in you.”
“All right,” Rollie agreed. He turned to the sleigh and in a second one corner of the tarp was loose and flapping. A second later he had thrown it back over the load. Boxes upon boxes, Conner saw. Rollie reached in the midst and pulled out a large sack and then an old fashioned coffee grinder. The smell of ground coffee hit him on the constant wind that blew over the pass and down into the valley. Rollie turned back with a huge smile on his face.
“Let's make the coffee real. And let's call this a good will gift to you folks,” he said, holding out the old fashioned coffee grinder and the sack of beans.
“Okay then,” Conner said and laughed. He took the grinder and Aaron took the sack of coffee beans. They walked into the cave together, the crowd all talking at once.
Snoqualmie Settlement
Washington state
April 28th
Year Two
The Fold
“Easy, Frank,” Gary warned, “you ain't got but two inches, and you'll be over the damn edge of the roof.”
“No sweat, Gar',” Frank replied. “That about where she needs to be, Joe?”
“Looks sweet to me,” Joe answered smiling.
“Frank! For God's sake be careful, you're going to fall, I just know it,” this from Annie on the ground.
“No I'm not, not unless Joe pushes me I'm not,” Frank said, and laughed.
“Oh, when you get down from there, Franklin, I'm going to swat that smartness out of you for good,” Annie called up, sounding relieved.
“She will too,” Frank whispered to Gary.
“I heard that,” Annie said from below.
“Shove it up just an inch, Frank,” Joe said.
Frank shoved the solar panel back up, estimating the inch Joe wanted.
“Good, right there, now hold on for just one second...” a heavy thunk sounded as Joe drove a nail into the roof, through one of the panels tabs. “Two more, Frank...”
thunk ... thunk.
Gary was holding the side. “'Bout done, Frank. Got 'er?”
Frank smiled, “Easy as pie...” his foot slipped, and he slid backwards. Gary's arm shot out quickly, a startled gasp came from Annie below. Frank held onto the panel, instead of holding the panel, and just hoped Joe had enough nails in it. One foot slipped off the edge, the other held however, and the slide stopped.
thunk ... thunk.
“Okay, Frank, you can let go,” Joe told him, and looked up. Gary had him by one arm. Joe bent and quickly drove another nail into the roof.
thunk, thunk, thunk,
Frank pulled himself up carefully, with Gary's help, and then sat down on the rough shingles.
“I didn't know,” Joe said.
“Neither did I,” Frank told him. He laughed uneasily.
“Honey?” from Annie on the ground.
Frank leane
d over the edge of the roof. “I'm fine, Hon. I think I'll just sit here for a minute though if you don't mind.”
“Well damn, Frank, lean over the edge and fall off why don't you!” He drew back.
Joe handed Gary the hammer and the apron full of nails, and began to work on the wiring. He popped the end of the panel open, fished the cable through, stripped it, and began to finish the circuit.
“Uh, uh,” Frank said. He took the hammer and the apron, and began fastening the bottom of the panel. Gary's arthritis was bad: Bad enough that he shouldn't even be up here, and he was afraid of heights too.
“Suit yourself, Frank,” Gary said, obviously relieved.
Joe twisted the wire-nut on the last three ground wires, wound a short length of electrical tape around them, and closed the panel front. “That's it,” he said, as he stood on the sharply pitched roof.
thunk ... thunk
“Me too,” Frank said, handing the hammer back to Gary. Gary turned and dropped it over the edge, close to the house, the nail apron went the same way.
Joe grinned. “Let's go try it,” he said.
Seven months of scrounging solar panels, back-up batteries and wiring, and now the moment of truth. Joe waited anxiously while Gary negotiated the ladder, a slow trip. Gary did fine going up the ladder, it was down that was hard, he knew.
Frank waited nervously beside Dell, Annie, and Peggy on the ground, until Gary finally reached the end of the ladder. Joe fairly flew down behind him, the excitement evident on his face. They all walked inside the cabin.
It was the largest cabin at Snoqualmie settlement, built the first year with some help from Jeremiah and Anson, when they had come up. They needed a large cabin, so that all of them could get together. Snoqualmie had grown a great deal in the last year. Joe and Becky had bought Dell and Peggy when they had come cross country from the east. Six months later Frank had come without Jessie. Shortly after that Annie had come and they had become an item: Jessie had come on her own, but she had not stayed long. Lisa and her man Sam, six other couples had followed. Now there were better than seventy people here in the first encampment, and over three hundred in the small valley by the lake: The numbers kept rising.
Earth's Survivors Box Set [Books 1-7] Page 166