In the Midst of Tribulation (8 page)

"You bet. They've got more than just what the bases had." Martha looked disgusted. "They've got control of the ICBM's and you know that no-one wants to take on maniacs with nuclear weapons at their fingertips."
"We're a rogue country now. No-one wants anything to do with us."
"Frankly, I always wondered why we're not occupied."
"What do you mean?"
Jay shrugged. "Why haven't Confederacy troops appeared on the horizon? We've got no way to stop them, no outside allies, nothing at all to even slow them down."
"I heard that they accomplished what they wanted." Piper played with the salt and peppershaker. "They wanted to create a pure, Christian land. The bombings weren't to soften us up for their missionaries. They were to form a moat along each coast. A boundary for their complete and total isolation from the mud people and degenerates of the world."
"That does make a certain, perverted sense." Jay nodded as she drained her glass of wine.
"But why?" Eva was nearly in tears. "What did we do to them?"
"Our very being threatened them, honey." Martha opened her arms and allowed her niece to climb onto to her lap and into her embrace. "They wanted so badly to have right on their side and when we wouldn't accept that or their vengeful God, they decided that we shouldn't be allowed to live."
"But we wouldn't have done anything to them."
"That's the downside of tolerance, Eva. When your opponent isn't bound by the same sense of fairness and acceptance, you are at a decided disadvantage. For all their talk, they certainly didn't do what Jesus would have done."
"Why can't it be like it was?" Carol cried out. "Why did Cheryl and Mr. Matlan and all the others have to die?"
"I can't explain it because even I don't understand it. We just have to go on from here." Susan spoke soothingly to her daughter.
"Maybe we should find something else to talk about," Doris said. "It's too upsetting."
Susan looked around the table of clean plates and empty bowls. "That was a great meal. Sorry we ruined it with all the depressing talk."
"Yeah, thanks for what you're doing for us," Piper added.
"You're welcome. I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. I have to say that I don't think open discussion is a bad thing." Jay rubbed her eyes. "When I was growing up, we used to come close to blows at meals. It might not have been the best thing for our digestion but I'm better for having been a part of it."
Piper nodded. "I agree. We've got a chance here to start our own traditions. I'd like for meal time to be a place to share anything."
"Well, I don't want my daughter in tears at every meal."
"Mom," whined Eva. "It's hardly likely that every meal will make me cry."
"I think that everyone is tired and emotional after the journey. Why don't we table the discussion until everyone has had a chance to regain some equilibrium?" asked Martha.
All around the table, heads nodded in agreement. Jay smiled. "Excellent. Now, why don't the kids take the first turn at dish washing?"
"I second that motion," Martha quickly said.
"And how about the adults follow me outside. I want to show you another perk of this place."
Intrigued, the four women trailed behind Jay through the French doors to the patio. She walked to the side of the building and pointed at a large shape.
Piper was the first to speak. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Yep." Jay walked over and lifted the lid. "One genuine California hot tub, at your service."
"Unbelievable."
"I've got a special enzyme concoction that keeps the water soft and clean naturally and lasts for a super long time. Those solar panels over there collect enough energy to power the heater and the air pump." She turned and faced the group. "The big rule is that you have to shower before getting in. The system works better if no body soil makes it into the water." Cocking her head at the kitchen window. "I also think we need to have a clothing rule with the youths around."
"Agreed. There are some things that Cody doesn't need to see."
"What are we to wear?"
"T-shirts and shorts should do it." Jay set the lid back down. "I'm going to turn in but feel free to use it before y'all head to bed."
With a smile and a wave, she walked back inside to a chorus of "Goodnights."
Chapter Six - O Day of Light and Gladness
Earth feels the season's joyance,
From mountain range to sea
The tides of life are flowing
Fresh, manifold and free.
In valley and on upland,
By forest pathways dim,
All nature lifts in chorus
The resurrection hymn.
Words: Frederick L. Hosmer, 1903. Music: "Lancashire," Henry T. Smart, 1836
The household woke in the morning to the scent of fresh baked bread. Almost as one, the travelers crawled out of their beds and made their way to the dining room.
Turning the corner out of the kitchen, Jay smiled at the tousled hair and sleepy eyes of her new household. She held out a jar of blackberry jam and a jar of honey. "Here are the spreads to go with the biscuits I made," she said, pointing at a towel covered wicker basket.
"Wow." Cody enthused as he threw himself into a chair. With gusto, he smeared jam on the still warm bread and stuffed more than half of it into his mouth. "Dude, this is really good," he said, spraying crumbs.
The women acted less like starving wolverines but were no less eager to eat the hot biscuits. Moaning in pleasure, the group inhaled the contents of the basket in record time. Jay laughed at the worried looks that were shot her way when the basket was empty.
Walking back into the kitchen, she pulled out a second tray of biscuits and slid them off into the basket. She put it on the table and quickly stepped back. Obtrusively counting her fingers to make sure they were all still attached, she invited, "Try the honey. It's from very local bees."
"How local?"
"Over on the other side of the pond."
"You've got bee hives?" Eva asked.
"Yup. At the end of the month would you like help me prepare the hives for winter?"
"Sure. That would be so cool."
"Where did you get the jam?"
"There's a guy further up the mountain who puts it up. I never had the patience to stand out there collect enough berries to make jam." Jay ate a biscuit. "Though, to be honest, if I didn't eat so much while I'm picking, I'd probably have plenty."
Jay was sitting at the head of the table and she looked out over her new household. "How did everyone sleep?" Following the positive chorus, she stuck her finger in the honey pot and licked it off. "Feel free to switch around, there are a plenty of places to crash."
"Having a bed at all is wonderful," replied Susan. "We've been on the road a month and, before that, living out of the two stable rooms in our old house. We are used to sleeping on floors and the ground."
"Well, I'd be happy to scrounge up some rocks to toss between the sheets."
"No thanks."
Martha pursed her lips. "The luxury of it all is delightful after all we've been through."
"I think you might be amazed at how quickly you fall back into the habits of civilized life."
Piper nodded, "We'll be spoiled in no time."
"We deserve some spoiling after the last few years." Doris set her mug down, sharply. "You might have been living rather well up here but it's been horrible for us."

"At least you have your health." Jay smiled to take the sting out of her words. "Millions lost their lives, you didn't. You've made it safely here, enjoy the peace."
"I don't appreciate you making jokes of our suffering."
"I'm just saying that things have been tough all over."
"Not here."
"I'd be the first person to call our isolation a blessing." She raised a hand against Doris' interruption. "I also would defend my level of existence just because I was smart enough to plan for disaster."
"Well, forgive us for not predicting the future."
"In any event," interjected Martha. "We're here now." She looked around the table. "You said something last night about what we need to do. Why don't we discuss a plan?"
Susan agreed. "Good idea. We need to know what to do first."
"Well, as I see it we've got a couple of priorities. The first one is getting more wood chopped. I had more than enough for me to make it through next year. But now, we'll need a lot more just to make it through the winter."
Doris asked, "Why?"
"The stove is a wood hog. Cooking and heating for an additional seven people takes more than doing the same for one."
"How much more?"
"Two or three cords."
"That's a lot." Martha scratched her chin. "Will it have time to season?"
"I took down a couple of trees that I was planning to leave for another month or two. They won't be completely dry but it's what we've got to work with."
"How do we get it down here?" Carolyn asked.
"Working together we can just go up and fetch them down. Teamwork and all that jazz will make quick work of getting a log from point A to point B. Once it's in the yard, we'll have a good old fashioned chopping party." She pushed her plate back. "How are y'all with an axe?"
Susan looked around. "I think everyone should take a turn. This is all fairly new to us."
Flexing his bicep, Cody declared, "I was born to wield an axe."
"That's fine, sweetheart. It will be good for everyone to give it a try. While I think we should find our own comfort level, we all need to learn the basics."
"Everyone agree to that?" There are nods around the table. "That brings me to the second point. Food."
Doris crossed her arms over her chest. She asked, "Don't you have plenty downstairs?"
"Not if you want well balanced nutrition. Most of what's stored is staples and vegetables. We need protein in the form of meat and that means hunting and fishing."
"I saw a several deer on our way up here." Piper interjected.
"Yeah, we're pretty isolated so the herds have come back. You won't have to go too far to go to get a good buck or two. Of course, there are more things with meat that don't have hooves. There are fish and birds and other animals. I've got some snares and traps in the basement that I haven't used in a while. I've also got fishing supplies." Jay turned to Martha. "Am I right in remembering that you used to fish?"
Martha grinned. "Oh, yeah. I really like fly fishing."
"Excellent. I've got several rods and reels in the closet. Check them out and see if they are good to go."
"And if they're not?"
"We'll base the trip to the river on the number of complete sets we've got. With a little cobbling and disassembly, we should have enough for a successful jaunt."
"When do you think we should go?"
"The sooner the better. How about in a couple of days for a fishing trip?"
"That shouldn't be a problem."
"Hold on," Doris exclaimed. "Why the rush? We're all exhausted and need to take it easy for a while."
"Because we need to take advantage of the good weather. It'll be getting colder and food will get harder to find."
"I don't see that a couple of days will mean starvation come winter." Doris whined.
"Don't worry, you don't need to kill yourselves. Believe me when I tell you that with everyone's cooperation, I think you'll be working less than you did to survive in Oakland."
Martha added, "I think I speak for everyone when I say let's err on the side of caution. I definitely want to have more food than we need and we can always stop hunting and fishing when we reach storage capacity."
"Agreed." It was only one word from Piper but the glare she shot across the table at Doris was unmistakable.
"In that case, I'll take you down and show you a good spot. There's also a smoker near the camping area, so you can stay down until you get a good haul."
Martha nudged her lover. Blushing, Susan spoke up. "I volunteer Martha and myself to be the adults who go fishing."
"Oh, I suppose you think a little holiday is in order?" Piper laughed. "Have we been cramping your style?"
"Stop it." Susan's blush covered her face and neck. "New topic. What are we going to do today?"
"I figure that Doris is right that you all could use an easy couple of days." Everyone nodded gratefully. "There is still the rest of the tour to get through too."
"You've got more than what we've already seen?"
"We didn't do the outside. There's the garden, greenhouse and the rest of the land. How about after breakfast, everyone comes with me down to the garden?"
Everyone agreed and so they made a procession, walking out the back doors to the edge of the cliff. On the way out, Jay picked up a plastic container of kitchen waste to add to the compost pile. She set it in a small box that sat on rails on the top of the cliff. She then pulled off the tarp that was covering an old exercise bicycle. The chain from it was attached to a pulley that in turn was attached to the cart.
"What's that for?" Susan asked for them all.
"I don't know about you but I figured that hauling all the veggies up those stairs was too much work." She stood near the crumbling edge and pointed to the rails that led down to the base. "It takes just takes a bit of leg power but you basically peddle the cart up the rails."
Jay led the group down the steep stairs that were cut into the cliff face. At the bottom of the stairs was a large open plot surrounded by a fence. "The only real problem I've had is with deer. I put the fence up to discourage them from eating all my hard work."
"Can anyone see it?"
"No. This part of the mountain is far enough from the road and inaccessible enough that it's pretty secure."
"It looks safe," said Doris.
"It also gets southern exposure." Jay waved them forward to first of the rows. "That way, we can have two good seasons of crops from here. I was alone this last year, so I only did one planting." She pointed to a hose. "I even put in an irrigation system from the creek on the other side of the house." At everyone's look of amazement, she grimaced. "Just count yourselves lucky that you missed the fun of laying pipe by hand."
She began to walk the end of the rows, gently touching leaves as she passed. "We've only got a few plants that are still producing. In the next couple of months we'll need to haul down a few loads of compost and turn the soil over to rest for the winter."
Turning back to the cliff face, she moved over to a tall, square box. It was painted camouflage to resemble the lichen-covered rock. She knocked on the side and smiled at her audience. "I bet you're wondering what this is?" After receiving nods, she opened the door to reveal a short, wide toilet. "It's a new generation outhouse."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a carousel composting toilet. There are four composting chambers that rotate as each chamber is filled. With the power from the solar panel on the roof, it warms the waste and, with a little help from some microbes, turns it into a rich mulch." She opened one of the chambers and pulled out a spoonful. "Dry, fluffy and odorless. Great, huh?"
"Is this what is up at the house?" The look of distaste on Doris' face was almost comical.
"No, those are low flow systems that with two flush options. For liquid waste, you get half the water as when you flush solids." She put her hands on her hips. "Don't get me wrong, we had originally planned on incorporating this system everywhere but, as it was, we didn't get around to installing them. Trust me, we have a pretty advanced septic system that requires very low maintenance." Jay looked around at everyone. "Hey, I thought you'd be pleased that you didn't have to climb all the way back to the house if you needed to go. This outhouse is damn convenient and incredibly efficient."
"Yes, it's wonderful all right." Susan tried to sound enthusiastic.
"I can't believe you guys. What system were you using back at home?"
"Stinky, smelly outhouses," Cody answered for everyone.
"This is so much better, right?"
"It is. It's just the reality of still having to handle our waste that is hard to get our minds around," Susan replied diplomatically.
"It was so much easier when we could just flush."
"Unfortunately, Doris, we no longer have the benefit of a infrastructure to handle it for us," Jay answered. "At least with this system, our impact on the environment is minimized."
Doris didn't look convinced. "I guess."
"I told you it wouldn't take you long to get spoiled." Jay rapped her knuckles on the outbuilding. "By the time you actually handle this stuff, it is quite a distance from actually playing with poop."
"And remember," Carol and Cody said in unison. "Everybody poops."
Everyone laughed at the potty training reference and Jay stepped away from the port-a-john. She walked over to an overhang area of the cliff and indicated that the group should follow her. When she got to the rock, they could see a recessed door in the shadows. Opening it, she showed them a shed that had been built into a shallow cave. Inside was floor to ceiling gardening and farm tools. There were scythes, rakes, shovels, hoes, augers and a number of unidentifiable things.
Cody pushed a wheeled machine with one finger. "What's this?"
"It's a seeder that opens the soil and drops the seeds a set distance apart. Works great for long rows so you don't have to spend all your planting time on your knees."
"Where did you get all this stuff?" Martha explored through the packed shed. "I've never even seen half of these things."
"All I can say is thank goodness for the Amish. I found a number of companies that still made things that didn't require any power aimed for that niche market." Her eyes brightened. "I stocked up well before things came to a head."
"You knew this was going to happen?" Doris' tone was derisive.
"Actually, I thought a massive earthquake was far more likely. I did think that the direction the country was going was worrisome but who knew that anyone was crazy enough to launch a sneak attack against the blue states?" She opened up a five-gallon container to reveal a whole bunch of cotton gloves. She handed out pairs to everyone. "How about we pick everything that is ripe. Tomorrow, we should go ahead and can as much as possible."
The group spread out over the rows and quickly filled up the baskets. They were all sweaty and dirt smudged by the time they loaded the last basket into the cart. Jay sent Cody up to peddle the cycle to pull the cart up the hill. He was huffing when Piper made it to the top to relieve him.
Once everyone made it topside, they divided up the load of vegetables and carried the produce up into the house. Jay made them another salad for the midday meal.
After lunch, they walked around the pond. Martha tossed a couple of pebbles into the brown water. "How deep is it?"
"It's just a little over my head in the center."
"Are there any fish?"
"No, it really isn't healthy enough to support life." Jay widened her eyes. "That's an idea, though. Any of you know anything about water gardens?"
"Nope," answered Martha.
"It might behoove us to learn, although I've always just enjoyed floating on the water."
She led them over to an oddly shaped building on the other side of the pond. Surrounded on three sides by trees, it looked like a large golf ball partially sunk into the ground.
Opening the door into the geodesic dome, Jay held it for everyone to enter. The temperature inside was slightly higher than the outside. Bracketing the door were two avocado trees. Around the outer edge were raised beds, with a range of plants in various stages of growth. The center area looked like an island with six seven-foot tall trees surrounded by moat. Floating around the island were several sizes of plastic yellow ducks. While Jay waited for everyone to finish exploring, she pulled one of the ducks out of the water and made it squeak several times before replacing it.
Leaning her foot on a pipe that trickled water into the tank, she began speaking. "Water flows down from the stream in pipes. I buried the pipes about a foot deep but they're made of polyethylene, so they can freeze and thaw without rupturing. The water flows into this moat and the water mass helps to maintain an even temperature year round."
She walked over to one of the walls and thumped it with one finger. It sounded like a drum beat. "The polycarbonate panels only let diffuse light into the dome. That means that it rarely overheats. There are solar powered vents for when it gets too hot. It basically works like a chimney. The bottom ones open to let in cooler air and the roof ones release the hot air." She pointed her thumb outside. "The trees I planted around it are deciduous, so they lose their leaves in the winter and let the dome get more of the available sunlight."
"That means you can grow stuff year round, right?" Piper was sitting on the bridge that led across to the island.
"Yeah, that's why the beds are raised." Jay bent down and opened up one of the panels. She pointed at the pipes that disappeared to run under the dirt. "There is a fan that blows warm air through the pipes to keep the soil warm."
Cody stepped over Piper to walk around the island. He reached up and pulled a lime off one of the trees. "Is this what I think it is?"
"You betcha." She grinned at them. "I thought that living in California meant that everyone got their own citrus trees. Unluckily for me, I relocated to the Bay Area and was shocked to learn that they couldn't grow up here. I decided not to accept that and researched until I found a way to circumvent geography. I've got two orange, two lemon and two lime. They're a hybrid dwarf variety, so that is as tall as they'll grow."
"How much do they produce?"
"Not much fruit yet but I have high hopes."
"What are those trees?" Standing by the entrance, Susan shook the trunk of tree that was almost twice her height with oval dark green leaves.
"Those are avocado." She held her hands up, surrendering to their stares of disbelief. "A girl can hope, can't she?"
Martha asked, "What else can you grow in this place?"
"Year round, I've got herbs growing in here. See those boxes there against the North wall? That's basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, dill, mint and oregano. In summer, I grow stuff that needs a hotter environment like beans, peppers, more tomatoes, cucumbers, and edamame. In winter, I primarily grow onions, garlic, broccoli, and lettuce."