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People of Stones, part 7 Cierra and the other scavengers looked around the former downtown area of the town with unease. In spite of the tiny amount of ashes that had fallen here, it seemed deserted. Wouldn't have the residents here remained and tried to survive in relative safety rather than leave? It just didn't make sense. The other people in the group seemed just as spooked by the eerie silence, broken only by the breeze and bird song. Was it possible that people were just hiding? Cyd checked the chamber of her gun. "Let's hurry and do what we need to and get out of here. I say stick together until we're sure no one is around." The others agreed and they headed first for the community college where they hoped to collect texts and science equipment for the Archivist Clan. They also wanted to hunt down other possible odds and ends. Eva had an idea and wanted to see if it worked. She figured the engineering or agricultural classrooms might have what she needed. Eva, Cyd, and Jonesy separated from the others to hunt down the needed items. They would meet up with the others in an hour. Meanwhile, Cierra, JP, and Paul headed for the bookstore. The shaman found the empty college more frightening than a haunted house. She just wasn't accustomed to such a place being completely quiet. What seemed even stranger was the fact that not a single door was locked so far and all the lights were on. The building seemed clean except for a build up of some dust. Cierra spotted a water fountain and pressed the button. Cold water arched upwards. She took an experimental sip. It tasted fine. So where was everyone? She gritted her teeth, hating not having any answers. Cierra followed the other two into the bookstore where they began gathering up what they could. They placed the heavy text and reference books into a shopping cart while Paul collected drafting equipment, writing paper, pens, and drawing pads. JP headed for the back storage rooms and collected sets of artist materials. Cierra wondered if their wagon would hold all of this. She wished they had brought Jim's van to haul it all and said so. Paul dropped his loot into the remaining cart. "Why don't we check out the auto shop garage? Maybe there's something back there we can use," he suggested. The three agreed and left the salvaged supplies where they were rather than carry them around. They made their way to the furthest building where the shop classes had been held. Most of the automobiles there were in various stages of repair but Paul found an old milk delivery van under sheets. It looked as though one of the students had been restoring the ancient van. Paul stepped into the open doorway and sat down. The keys were still in it. Without a word he adjusted the manual choke, pumped the gas pedal once, then turned the key. It hesitated only a few seconds then fired up. "Let me give this old girl a look see and then we'll load her up if she's in good shape." ****** Josh shivered from the fever. He had fashioned a crude spear and attempted to hunt something bigger than a damned rabbit. He was sick of eating rabbits and fish and knew winter was coming. He had to get ready or starve. Unfortunately, the deer he had been stalking was also being hunted by a puma. The large cat had disagreed who was the proper possessor of the deer and Josh had ended up badly mauled. The scratches were festering and the fever wracked his body. He had managed to crawl to a small stream to drink water but now he was too weak to get back to his primitive house. He shivered as he laid upon the damp bank. The cool ground seemed to suck the heat right out of him in spite of the fever. He was terrified. Josh knew he was dead, it was a matter of time. Tear inched their way down his cheeks to his scraggly beard. All he could do was whimper and silently pray he would be somehow saved. In spite of his fears, he lost the fight to remain awake. Blackness overtook him. Time passed. How long the outcast man had no idea. He no longer felt cold but neither was he warm. Perhaps his body was almost dead and now he felt nothing. In a way that took away the fear. Maybe dying would be like falling asleep and there would be no pain. He kept his eyes shut and relaxed. Once more time passed. His next moment of awareness he realized that something heavy was on his body. What was it? Josh forced his eyes to open but all he saw was darkness. He wanted to roll to his back in order to look further but he was too weak. A sound. What was it? A smell. Smoke. He knew his fire had to have burned out ages ago. A voice. Female. Male. People! Had he been found or was he imagining this? As weak as he was, Josh managed a small grunt. A moment later hands turned him over then helped him sit up. A cup of warm herbal broth was brought to his lips. It tasted bitter but he didn't spit it out. His body needed the moisture too badly. He was then lowered back down. The voices went away but it didn't matter. He had been found. ****** When he woke next, the one thing that stood out was the horrible smell and the feeling of something...squishy on him. He forced his eyes to open. Josh focused and saw that he must be in some kind of tent. It was somewhat dim but at least he could see around him. He lifted his head and moaned when pain told him he was too injured to think about moving. He dropped his head back to the stiff padding under him. He panted as he tried to will away the pain. When he next dared to open his eyes he yelped as a face hovered above him. "I see you're awake. Here, drink some of this. It's nasty as hell but helps, trust me," the older man told him kindly. Josh grimaced as he was helped to sit up and he gritted his teeth from the pain. Before he got a chance to ask any questions a crude ceramic bowl was held to his lips. Josh managed to hold his breath long enough to take a gulp of the slimy green broth. Once the bowl was pulled away from his lips, he made a sound of disgust. "Yeah, I know it's pretty awful. I'm Ezekiel, by the way. We were curious what your story was, young man." The older man wore a simple white shirt and dark trousers with suspenders. He reminded Josh of those religious people in Pennsylvania, what were they called? Then the word came to him. Amish. Josh began thinking furiously. Did he dare lie and hope he wasn't found out or did he tell the truth? If he claimed to be an injured hunter it would be sort of the truth but then these people might try and take him back to the others. He had believed them when he was told they'd shoot him dead. No, he couldn't risk that. Maybe confessing would be better. These people might give him a break. "It's a long story," he began, his courage already faltering. "Well, it's not like you have to leave in a hurry and I've got time." Josh began stammering then just said it in a rush. "I was thrown out." "Hmm," the older man said. He left Josh's side and sat down near him and pulled out a pipe. Josh watched the man nervously as Ezekiel carefully filled his pipe and lit it. He took several leisurely puffs and tugged a bit on his white goatee before speaking. "Why?" he asked simply. Josh looked into the man's faded green eyes. They didn't seem angry or distrustful. "Cuz I was a lazy bastard and an idiot." The man hummed and took another puff. "Well," he drawled out, "you can't be entirely stupid if you understand why they tossed you out. But the real question is, do you plan of remaining a 'lazy bastard' or are you willing to change?" "It's not like I have a choice, do I? A man's gotta eat or starve." "True enough, true enough. Well, I need to attend my own business but I expect that I will speak with you again. Our good doctor will be in shortly. Good day to you..." "Josh. Josh Detweiller." "Mister Detweiller." The man placed a straw hat onto his head and left the tent. ****** "Here you go, Phillip. Just for you," Cierra told the young chef with a huge grin. She passed the large box of cook books to the young man with a flourish. She and the others had raided a book store after the community college. Some of the booty would remain in the Napa clan but the rest would go to the Archivist clan for their library. The shaman's eyes were caught by the sight of Eva walking by with an armload of assorted equipment. She still had no idea what the engineer had in mind. She only knew that Eva and Shane had a 'secret' discussion prior to the raid and both looked quite pleased with themselves. JP snickered and bumped Cierra with her hip. "She isn't gonna tell. Come on, let's get something to eat, I'm starved." The couple entered the communal building and stood in line with the others. Sharon's crew had set out a large assortment of food for everyone since the work crews had been working hard on building housing. The crops wouldn't be harvested for another month so the villagers took advantage of the lull. The crews were hungrier on such heavy work days and Sharon always served more food to fuel them. She would serve a lighter meal that evening. JP looked over the choices and helped herself to some salad, a meat and veggie filled bun, a wedge of cheese, and an apple filled with walnuts and cinnamon. Cierra took the same and they joined Cyd and Jenny at a table. Cierra looked at Cyd's plate and shook her head. The tall butch had half filled it with shoestring onion rings and homemade ketchup. The other half of the plate contained three of the buns. "That looks healthy," Cierra teased. "I love onion rings," Cyd pouted, "Sharon doesn't make them often enough." "For the reason that fried foods aren't all that good for you." "She fries them in sunflower oil. It's not like she uses lard." Cierra gave up the argument since Cyd was unlikely to change her ways. The shaman got a wink from Jenny who was eating a large salad and a single roll. "So," JP began, "how's the building coming along?" Cyd shrugged. "We're doing okay with a smaller crew. I'll be glad when the others get back." The council had sent up a few dozen people to the scientists to help finish building the communal kitchen/meeting house before the harvest began. Another dozen had been sent south to where the next trading event would be held to clear the area for tents. If they had time the people would also gather firewood and install a water pump well. They had all figured they might as well make the trade site comfortable. Next spring they wanted to build two bath houses there. Jenny told the others that she hoped no one ran into unfriendly natives. JP reassured her friend that the size of the work parties were large enough to discourage anything from happening. "I hope you're right," Jenny said with a shiver. Next Chapter |