Tweet
Part 35
The discussion with Gibson went on for a few hours. Over the course of the last month or so, Gibson had canvased an area in about a 3 mile circle from his church. Jim listened intently to all the updates that were given about various families and people living in the area.
The report from Gibson didn't sound good. Most families in the area barely made it through the winter. Deer and small animals of ANY kind including cats and dogs, squirrels, opposums and rabbits were very scarce. Gibson had noticed very few gardens planted this year. The ones that were planted were small and very well guarded. Despite the fact that timber was abundant in the area, many people had resorted to burning wooden furniture and pulling wood siding and partition framing out of old or abandoned houses for wood. Gas for chainsaws was long gone and not everyone had them to begin with. Some resourceful types that didn't have axes sharpened the edges of shovels and used them to take down smaller trees for firewood. Their was at least one instance of a house burning down due to a homemade fireplace. Folks had just gotten too used to having electric heat. Most of the homes built in the area in the last 30 years did not even include fireplaces. Families were catching rainwater and drinking surface water from ponds, creeks and some that lived closer would venture down to the river with buckets and get a couple day's worth at a time.
Their wasn't as much preying upon each other as Jim had expected. But this was the country and most of these families had known each other for generations.
"You remember the Loudon's over by Buck Lake?" Gibson asked Jim.
"Yes, kinda kooky bunch that had their last 3 generations of family living their with them?" Jim replied
"They went absolutely ape on the Smith's around the lake from them. Some old dispute about someone's grandma moving a property line back in the Civil War that's never been settled. The Loudon's killed 2 of the Smith's and the Smith's sneaked in and torched one of the Loudon's houses, killing 6 of them! They have been sniping back and forth at each other ever since." Gibson said.
Jim just shook his head slowly back and forth.
"Jim, we need to get people back together. We need to rebuild the community." Gibson said starting to drop the other shoe.
Jim just sat quietly. He thought the time was too early for this sort of thing, but he realized that if the bad times went on too much further, their wouldn't be many left to build with.
"Jim, we all need to reach out to others in need right now, for the good of the community." Gibson said, a little bit more impassioned.
"Who ISN'T in need right now?" Jim replied.
Gibson sat quiet for a second and then said, "those cows you are guarding could mean the difference between life and death for these people."
"Those cows are not MY cows Mr. Gibson, let's get that straight." Jim said a little more forcibly.
"I'm not suggesting the entire herd should go to the community Jim. But a couple cows could be communally butchered to allow every family to have some." Gibson said.
"And who among us has an ice house or walk in cooler where we can butcher and keep these animals in 90 degree heat? Jim asked.
"No one Jim, that isn't the point. The point is getting people together and giving them hope. Getting them thinking about and starting to work together again." Gibson replied.
"And when someone shows up claiming to be Hansen's relative and says we have been skimming off the top cause they are missing a few cows? Then what? Do you really think the "community" is going to pony up the money or trade goods to make it right with them?" Jim asked.
"Jim, I know that family. The only heirs were the grandkids. More than likely they were with Hansen, he loved them and would have died protecting them. Try to look at it from another angle. People in this area are desperate. It's not gonna be long before a bunch of them get together and challenge you all for those animals...." Gibson was cut off by Jim.
"What exactly are you saying Mr. Gibson? Jim said.
"I'm not saying anything Jim, just being realistic. You've been to bad places in this world, you know desperate people will do desperate stuff. I'm sure even Hansen wouldn't miss a few cows from that big herd he had." Gibson said.
Jim thought for a while and realized that yes, this probably was the best move. By now people would be desperate. Sooner or later some local would try to steal one of the cows. When one of Jim's crew shot them it could open up more potential problems. Also it would only be a matter of time before the Group would be considered the "hoarders" who took over Hansen's herd, possibly even killed him for it, and then were letting the community starve while they all ate T bone every night. Jim knew how rumors went wild. Jim's only concern would be how to end it. The herd could easily spare a couple cows for a community gathering to butcher and put them up. But once people used up their allotment then what?
Jim spoke again, "I'll need 2 days to think and pray about this, and discuss it with my friends. Plan on coming back then and I'll have an answer for you then. Don, till then don't discuss this with anyone!" Jim was very forceful in the last part of the message.
"I won't, you have my word on that. I'll see you in a couple days." Gibson replied.
During the time they had been talking, Jim scribbled a note and handed it to Kat. The note was short but she got the point- "Two guys, shadow Gibson home."
Two of the younger men shadowed Gibson home. He only stopped at one home not far from his. He didn't go in but spoke from the road to the family living there asking if the mother was feeling better. The father answered that she was, and thanks for asking, etc. From there Gibson arrived home and seemed to set in for the night. After observing and listening for a while, the two "shadows" headed back towards the retreat, fishhooking several times on their way.
The discussion with Gibson went on for a few hours. Over the course of the last month or so, Gibson had canvased an area in about a 3 mile circle from his church. Jim listened intently to all the updates that were given about various families and people living in the area.
The report from Gibson didn't sound good. Most families in the area barely made it through the winter. Deer and small animals of ANY kind including cats and dogs, squirrels, opposums and rabbits were very scarce. Gibson had noticed very few gardens planted this year. The ones that were planted were small and very well guarded. Despite the fact that timber was abundant in the area, many people had resorted to burning wooden furniture and pulling wood siding and partition framing out of old or abandoned houses for wood. Gas for chainsaws was long gone and not everyone had them to begin with. Some resourceful types that didn't have axes sharpened the edges of shovels and used them to take down smaller trees for firewood. Their was at least one instance of a house burning down due to a homemade fireplace. Folks had just gotten too used to having electric heat. Most of the homes built in the area in the last 30 years did not even include fireplaces. Families were catching rainwater and drinking surface water from ponds, creeks and some that lived closer would venture down to the river with buckets and get a couple day's worth at a time.
Their wasn't as much preying upon each other as Jim had expected. But this was the country and most of these families had known each other for generations.
"You remember the Loudon's over by Buck Lake?" Gibson asked Jim.
"Yes, kinda kooky bunch that had their last 3 generations of family living their with them?" Jim replied
"They went absolutely ape on the Smith's around the lake from them. Some old dispute about someone's grandma moving a property line back in the Civil War that's never been settled. The Loudon's killed 2 of the Smith's and the Smith's sneaked in and torched one of the Loudon's houses, killing 6 of them! They have been sniping back and forth at each other ever since." Gibson said.
Jim just shook his head slowly back and forth.
"Jim, we need to get people back together. We need to rebuild the community." Gibson said starting to drop the other shoe.
Jim just sat quietly. He thought the time was too early for this sort of thing, but he realized that if the bad times went on too much further, their wouldn't be many left to build with.
"Jim, we all need to reach out to others in need right now, for the good of the community." Gibson said, a little bit more impassioned.
"Who ISN'T in need right now?" Jim replied.
Gibson sat quiet for a second and then said, "those cows you are guarding could mean the difference between life and death for these people."
"Those cows are not MY cows Mr. Gibson, let's get that straight." Jim said a little more forcibly.
"I'm not suggesting the entire herd should go to the community Jim. But a couple cows could be communally butchered to allow every family to have some." Gibson said.
"And who among us has an ice house or walk in cooler where we can butcher and keep these animals in 90 degree heat? Jim asked.
"No one Jim, that isn't the point. The point is getting people together and giving them hope. Getting them thinking about and starting to work together again." Gibson replied.
"And when someone shows up claiming to be Hansen's relative and says we have been skimming off the top cause they are missing a few cows? Then what? Do you really think the "community" is going to pony up the money or trade goods to make it right with them?" Jim asked.
"Jim, I know that family. The only heirs were the grandkids. More than likely they were with Hansen, he loved them and would have died protecting them. Try to look at it from another angle. People in this area are desperate. It's not gonna be long before a bunch of them get together and challenge you all for those animals...." Gibson was cut off by Jim.
"What exactly are you saying Mr. Gibson? Jim said.
"I'm not saying anything Jim, just being realistic. You've been to bad places in this world, you know desperate people will do desperate stuff. I'm sure even Hansen wouldn't miss a few cows from that big herd he had." Gibson said.
Jim thought for a while and realized that yes, this probably was the best move. By now people would be desperate. Sooner or later some local would try to steal one of the cows. When one of Jim's crew shot them it could open up more potential problems. Also it would only be a matter of time before the Group would be considered the "hoarders" who took over Hansen's herd, possibly even killed him for it, and then were letting the community starve while they all ate T bone every night. Jim knew how rumors went wild. Jim's only concern would be how to end it. The herd could easily spare a couple cows for a community gathering to butcher and put them up. But once people used up their allotment then what?
Jim spoke again, "I'll need 2 days to think and pray about this, and discuss it with my friends. Plan on coming back then and I'll have an answer for you then. Don, till then don't discuss this with anyone!" Jim was very forceful in the last part of the message.
"I won't, you have my word on that. I'll see you in a couple days." Gibson replied.
During the time they had been talking, Jim scribbled a note and handed it to Kat. The note was short but she got the point- "Two guys, shadow Gibson home."
Two of the younger men shadowed Gibson home. He only stopped at one home not far from his. He didn't go in but spoke from the road to the family living there asking if the mother was feeling better. The father answered that she was, and thanks for asking, etc. From there Gibson arrived home and seemed to set in for the night. After observing and listening for a while, the two "shadows" headed back towards the retreat, fishhooking several times on their way.
Comment