Without Law, page 5
“Would a shovel help at all?” Rolly asked.
“Yeah, it would make short work of the little digging we need to do,” I replied.
He nodded and without another word took off.
I finished the circle of stones before the girls really had a chance to do anything. I figured we could add to our fire pit and make it a more permanent fixture in the coming days. Tonight though we just needed something to cook in.
“Alright,” I said. “Tara, you and Bailey check the edge of the forest for dead leaves, and small twigs no bigger than your pinky. That will be our tinder, the stuff that really gets the fire started. We can save cardboard and paper to use as tinder in the future. Anna, I want you to follow them, but search for bigger sticks. Though nothing bigger around than your wrist. That’s our kindling. It will light fast and burn hot and long enough to ensure one of our logs catches fire.”
The three women nodded and hurried for the trees.
“What about me?” Paige asked.
“We are going to grab some firewood,” I told her.
“Perfect!” the brunette squealed. “I am dying to eat a hot meal.”
In the time it took the two of us to grab a couple logs and walk back to the fire pit everyone else had returned. Rolly had already started to dig out the pit. There was little conversation among the women as he worked. Each of them had heavy bags under their eyes, and Anna tried to stifle a yawn. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about convincing them to bed down early tonight.
“Making the fire itself is easy,” I said as Rolly finished with the pit. I pointed towards Tara. “Put the tinder in the bottom. Try to keep it in a nice pile that the kindling can pack around nicely.”
“Like this?” She asked as she stuffed a handful of broken twigs and dried leaves into the pit.
I knelt across from her. “Try to make it into more of a nest.”
She rolled her eyes but tried to do as I asked. The end result was not perfect but with how dry everything was I didn’t think it would matter.
“Next we need the kindling,” I said as I waved Anna forward. “Take that bundle you have there and try to make an upright frame. Think of like a teepee or a pyramid.”
“Really?” Anna asked.
I nodded. “Placing them vertically will help them burn since heat wants to rise,” I explained.
“Okay, that makes sense I guess,” she said. Her first couple tries ended in disaster as the small wooden constructions collapsed in on themselves. I tried to help multiple times, but she batted my hands away. She had a fixed grimace of determination on her face as she kept trying.
“Alright,” she exclaimed as she put the last of her sticks in place. “Got it.” She sat back and admired her handiwork with a hearty smile. “What now?”
I fished the acquired zippo from my pocket. It made its signature metallic click as it opened. I sparked the lighter, and a flame flickered to life. Then I carefully reached through the layer of kindling and lit the tinder beneath. It caught easily and within a moment there was a small fire.
“When do we add the big stuff?” Bailey asked as she settled onto the ground. She pulled off her pair of black Chuck Taylors and buried her bare feet in the grass.
“We will let it burn for a few minutes. Once all of our kindling has caught, it will be safe to put a log on top. If we add it too soon, we might smother the fire.”
As we waited, the rest of the girls started to relax as well. They all joined Bailey in removing their shoes, and Paige pulled the pencil from her hair. A tangled mess of brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she brushed it out of her face with her fingers but didn’t even try to straighten it out.
Rolly added the first log, and I began to open the cans of beans.
It cooled off a little as the sky started to darken but the fire kept away any chill that might have threatened us. Around me, for the first time all day, I saw a smile on everyone’s face. I smiled too and shoved the cans of beans into the fire.
“Keep an eye on those,” I said. “When you notice them start to bubble, we will pull em out.” I passed around the spoons before pulling my own small cutlery set out of my vest. Then I leaned back and enjoyed the feeling of the grass tickling my forearms. I might not have had a beer but sharing a hot can of beans, and some soda with four lovely ladies and Rolly was almost as good.
“You all did good today,” I commented. “You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished.” There was a satisfying hiss as I cracked open the bottle of coke. Then I took a swig and handed it off to Rolly.
“Well, I think I can safely say we are all glad you came along when you did,” he said before taking a drink of his own. He passed the bottle on to Tara and flashed her a kind smile.
Tara looked at the bottle with disgust for a moment, wiped the spout on her shirt, and put it to her lips. She started with one small drink, but quickly gulped down more. Then the blonde wiped her mouth as she passed the bottle. “I’m, like, so glad to have another man around.” She eyed me with hungry eyes and licked her lips. “Especially one as big and strong as you.”
“I agree, though I might not have put it in those exact words. I feel safer and better prepared just knowing you are nearby,” Bailey said. She guzzled down a good portion of the soda before passing it over to Paige.
Paige took a quick drink and was about to take another before she cut herself off with a loud burp. She sat there, drink in hand, with a horrified expression on her face. “Excuse me,” she said as she covered her mouth.
“Nothing to be ashamed of. Manners don’t mean much right now anyway,” I said as I held back a laugh.
Our brunette nodded hesitantly and took another drink before quickly passing the bottle to the last of our group. “Thanks for all you have done for us so far, Tav. It really is good to have you around,” she said.
Anna turned around the bottle of soda and read the nutrition content before shaking her head. “Fuck it,” she said. She shoved the top into her mouth, tilted her head back until her braid brushed the grass, and chugged. When she pulled the soda from her lips only a third of it remained in the container. She let out a burp of her own and started to laugh.
“We really did need you Tav. I didn’t want to admit it but, god damnit, but you have already made things better.” She thrust the bottle of soda in the air. “To Tav! The hero we didn’t even know we needed!”
Their cheers echoed through the early evening air. I certainly didn’t think I was a hero. I just wanted to do what any good American would do and help others though it was nice to know that my effort was appreciated.
In the fire the beans had started to bubble and hiss. Rolly pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and carefully removed them from the heat. Then he went around the fire and set one by each of us.
The bottle of soda made its way around again as a toast to me, and then everyone fell silent as we started in on our beans. Though every once in a while a contented moan would come from one of the girls as they took a bite of hot food.
“How can fucking beans be so fucking good,” Anna said as she flopped into the grass.
“I had forgotten food could taste that good,” Bailey added as she sucked the last of her food off her spoon.
“I always thought beans were, like, whateve’, but these were amazing. Like omg,” Tara said before letting out a long and happy sigh.
Paige remained silent and based on how her glasses had slid down her face she looked half asleep. She jerked upright as Bailey poked her.
“Paige has the right idea,” I said as I chucked my empty can of beans into the fire. “We should all get some sleep. We’re getting up when the sun does. First thing in the morning we will meet in the library. We will use the whiteboard to keep track of our goals and daily assignments. “I stood and stretched before letting out a yawn myself.
“What do we do about the fire?” Anna asked.
I shook my head. “Don’t worry about the fire tonight. I’ll take care of it and follow you in. Just get some rest.”
With that the group disbanded and headed for the dorms as I started to put out the fire.
Chapter 4
The comfort of a bed, even one as cheap as the single mattress in my chosen dorm room, was something I had not felt in a very long time. Though I knew I had work to do, so I pushed myself upright and looked around my room. Remnants of its former occupants remained in the form of band posters, makeup boxes, clothes, and a pink flower bedspread. However, redecorating the room to better suit my style would have to wait.
I was not surprised to find that I was the only one awake as I stepped from my chosen dorm. I walked down the hall and found all four of the girls sound asleep on the pile of pillows and blankets they used as a makeshift mattress in the center of the common area. Despite the wild hair, and unflattering expressions of sleep they were all attractive. I almost felt bad for having to wake them, but now was not the time to be lax.
“Good morning ladies,” I said loudly, and the girls all groaned as they rolled over in their beds.
“That you Tav?” Tara asked as her eyes fluttered opened. “I was just dreaming about you. Though you are, like, wearing a lot more clothes than you were in my dream.” She sat up and blinked rapidly for a moment before looking at me. “Shame.”
“It is way too early,” Paige moaned as she gently tossed a pillow at Tara.
“We are meeting at the library in thirty minutes,” I said. “I will have something for you all to eat but you need to be there dressed and ready for a hike.”
“How am I supposed to get ready in thirty minutes?” Tara scoffed as she ran a brush through her hair frantically.
Bailey let out a small whimper and pulled a pillow over her head.
Only Anna seemed to be calm about the whole situation. If I had to guess I would say she was used to these hours since athletes generally tended to be early risers. “Come on,” She said as she got up. “Staying in bed all day certainly isn’t going to help us live longer.”
I heard a door open behind me and I looked to see Rolly coming out of a nearby dorm room. He looked chipper and ready to face the day. An old book was tucked under his arm.
“We meet in the library in thirty,” I said as I gave him a nod.
He gave me a smile and a thumbs up as he headed for the stairs. “I’ll be there,” he called back.
It was time to get to work. I glanced one last time at the ladies and headed for the library.
Paige was the first to arrive in the library. The cute brunette was still wiping sleep from under her glasses, but stopped as soon as she stepped into a ray of warm sunlight that was coming through the window.
“Ahhh,” she sighed as she stretched her arms into the air. For a second, her entire body was lit with a warm golden light, and I found my eyes tracing the lines of her stomach when her shirt lifted high enough to expose her belly button.
“Good morning,” I greeted her again,
“Good morning.” She smiled wide and ran her hands across a row of books as she almost floated towards me. Then her eyes fixed on my white board as she took a seat at the table. “I see you’ve been busy.”
I nodded and placed six bottles of water on the table. “It always helps to have a plan,” I said as I slid one across the table towards her.
Anna came in, dressed in khaki shorts, hiking boots, and a black tank top. Rolly followed her in, wearing the same outfit as the day before, and they each took a seat while studying what I already had written on the whiteboard.
I was surprised when Bailey and Tara rolled in together. I had honestly not expected them all to be on time.
Tara, dressed in torn designer jeans, fashionable brown boots with a small heel and low cut green tank top, was still trying to style her hair as she took her seat, and Bailey, clad in baggy cargo shorts, ill-fitting combat boots and a black t-shirt, looked like she was barely awake, though she still looked good though thanks to her more natural fashion sense.
“Excellent, now that you are here we can get started,” I said as I passed out the waters. “Yesterday was good, we were good, but it was only the start.”
I turned to the board where four words were written and circled. “There are our primary concerns in order of importance,” I said. “Water is your first priority.” I pointed to the word for emphasis. “We need to find or create a sustainable source of clean water more than anything else. It is the single most important step in long term survival.”
I pointed to the next word. “Food is our second priority. Our stores are good now, but we need to prepare to be here for a long while. With the country possibly in chaos we don’t know how long it will take them to organize a rescue attempt. Hunting, fishing, and trapping should be good options given our location. Though it would be too much for me to do alone.”
I paused and looked over the group. They were focused intently on my words, and Paige even wrote some notes in a small, pocket sized, notepad.
I pointed to the third word. “Defenses, because, as unpleasant as it may be to think about, we need to be ready in case someone comes looking for trouble.”
“You think there might be more of those biker guys close by?” Paige asked. “I mean they usually travel in big groups right?”
“Not always,” Rolly said as he leaned forward. “Could have been just a couple crazies trying to take advantage of the situation. Vultures looking for road kill if you will.”
I had a feeling the old timer knew as well as I did that the two I killed yesterday were most likely part of a bigger group, but the girls looked to relax a little at his words, so I decided not to comment on it.
“Still, I suppose it is always better to be prepared,” Anna said.
“Exactly,” I replied. “Better to worry about this stuff now than to wait until danger comes knocking. Part of our defensive preparation will be training you girls to shoot, and teaching you how to fight. Though don’t worry, I have been told I am an excellent teacher.” I shot the girls a grin and a wink, but was met only with raised eyebrows and amused smiles.
“What about comfort? That, like doesn’t seem that important,” Tara asked as she pointed to the last pillar of tasks to do on my whiteboard.
“I can’t believe I am saying this, but Tara’s right. Why would comfort be a survival concern?” Paige asked.
“What’s the point of living if we can’t enjoy it?” I asked. “Finding enjoyment and comfort will keep us sane and help us make it through the rougher moments. Too much stress will lead to infighting and a breakdown of communication. Plus, I can’t be the only one that wants to take a bath, can I?”
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” Rolly mused.
“You know,” Paige started, “there have actually been studies that prove that play, or similar relaxing activities, help increase productivity while lowering stress.”
“So, I’ve totes been doing it right all along then,” Tara exclaimed.
“Yeah but taking a break to enjoy yourself only helps if you go back to being productive after,” Anna said with a laugh.
“Hey, Tara has been pulling her weight,” Bailey said.
Anna threw up her hands. “I know, I know, I was just teasing, sorry.”
I gave them a moment to settle down before I spoke up. “Every morning we will meet here before going about our various tasks.” I picked up a blue marker and wrote each of our names on the whiteboard in nice clean handwriting. “I will make a note of who is assigned to what here. That will help us all keep track of what’s going on and who is where.”
I capped the marker and turned to the group. “These morning briefings will also be a good place to talk about any concerns or problems. We can make a note of them and ensure they are dealt with. Any questions?”
Paige raised her had.
I smiled and nodded to her. “This isn’t school, no need to raise your hand. Just speak one at a time,” I said.
“Alright,” she said as she pushed a stray strand of hair back into place. “What are we doing today?”
“Excellent question,” I said before I turned back to the whiteboard. “As I said water is our primary concern. Especially considering how little we have left. Take care not to drain the bottles I gave you too fast because, for now, that’s all we get today.”
“That doesn’t seem like a lot of water,” Bailey said.
“It’s not. That’s why it’s so important that we take care of this issue. If I am remembering correctly, I passed a stream about a half mile out of town. That might be a good place to start,” I said.
“I know that place,” Rolly chimed in. “Streams a decent place to fish too.”
“You have a kit for that?” I asked
“Yessir,” he said with a nod. “It’s nothing fancy though.”
“Hey, I think I might know this stream you’re talking about,” Bailey said. “I used to take small hikes once in a while. You know, to get away and stuff.”
That was good news for the rest of us. If Bailey could make this hike that meant any of us could and not needing to lug water over extra rugged terrain would smooth out the entire process.
“Excellent,” I remarked before I turned back to the whiteboard. I circled my name and those of the four girls. I then drew and arrow to where it said water.
“That’s our task for the day. We will go together so everyone can get used to the route.”
I turned to Rolly. “I think it would be best if you stayed here for the day and worked on our defenses. Board up all the windows, starting on the bottom floor, and all but one entrance into the dorm building, since that will be out primary residence. You think you can handle that?”
Rolly chuckled and gave a slow nod. “Oh, I think that’s something I can do.”
“Good man,” I said as I gave him a pat on the back. “Alright, let's get to work. You four head to the kitchen, I noticed some empty water cooler jugs there yesterday. Grab five of them and wait for me in the courtyard. I will grab a couple things and meet you there.”
