New Homeport Island Part 10

It looked like some kind of road kill up there but it made my mouth water, the fish were good but it wasn't real meat. So, I worked with Mitch making a kiln that focused on a hot pot to melt sifted sand. I only needed a shard that wouldn't break and it could even just be volcanic gla.s.s. We hadn't used the bellows that much and all the charcoal that had been wrapped in paper was still sitting in a pile. We had been doing these things as a part of tending the boilers as though it were just a habitual ritual.

We started with some tinder at the bottom and had a hole dug that was less than a foot deep as a fire pit. The clay bricks and extra thick bowl were still wet, but this fire would be hotter than most. On top of the tinder we piled the charcoal but saved the paper, it takes too long to make to waste it. Once we got it hot enough there was a red crack pattern visible in the bottom of the bowl, we had sifted the sand first through our island made cloth then through dungaree shirts leaving us with a white dust looking sand and occasional actual grain of sand.

From what I'd seen of gla.s.s working we should be able to get a shard like shape from laying the molten gla.s.s flat and letting it settle. The majority of the work if not all the work was keeping that firebox hot enough, smoke and steam from the wet clay sputtering, cracking, and popping...and all the while I was terrified of a sand explosion or gla.s.s splatter. We kept adding the fine white sand until eventually we had a red hot puddle. I had burnt some of the white clay usually mixed in with the red onto a slender straight stick and started working the gla.s.s, 'thick but sharp' is something I continued to whisper to myself.

Once we had it done it almost looked like a work of art blackened, yellowed, and even a few transparent spots. It had a short somewhat rounded handle we wrapped with twine, and we used it with a sawing motion with every expectation that it would shatter and cut up the hand of whoever was using it, so we used every precaution.

Once the skin was pulled away not one of us was anything less than an expert butcher. We tore that boar apart expertly but with a hast and cheer that made it seem to be a pinata at a birthday party. The meat was smoked and barbequed, we did manage a few sausages though we didn't end up able to collect the blood. We didn't save any at all but after feasting on that boar, we realized we will absolutely need to start ranching them in a chorale and we set to devise a pen system that could hold a digger like a boar. What we sent to the landings was just a charity portion but we had no idea how hungry we really were until that boar was opened. The knife we treated with reverence as though it were a holy relic, that thing shattering in our hands would cause damage we would never survive.

Artimus had been in his cage for three weeks and those like James Hudlow were left to a wandering bizarre life, those that followed Chief Randy Brosuer were left with a military flare intact.

The natives referred to themselves as the diligent group, pointing out that there was absolutely a delirious group on the island, and leaving only one suitable descriptor for the rest...the militant group.

Artimus of course would only fit in to that militant group and would have to regain his station. As far as still holding the t.i.tle of commanding officer that did not apply to the whole island by his lawyers own argument.

Deckly walked up to the knotweed cage and said to Artimus, "Your cell time is through sir," and with a big smile he continued, "Welcome back to the island." Artimus replied with a hoa.r.s.e voice, "Ya, thanks. I have so many plans most of them contradict each other and only one or two actually make sense.

Where are the ones that stood beside me?" Deckly responded, "They regarded it as a procedure sir. We have several that are just delirious, we have the natives, and then we have those that stood beside you."

We diligent watched from the mountain top the whole while. The extra fishing boat we were going to give them was waiting for his release we didn't want to be part of an escalation leading to his execution. We had also managed to bend and refine what would be the keel of our rescue ship. We realized that without any nails we would have to derive wood sap as glue and use smoke as sealant and wooded dowels and pegs as fasteners, so we dubbed the ship the Woodenpeg.

Mike Elpers brought over some of the militant group for a work detail building the ship. They would burn a tree trunk and split it into planks using what was left of our keys. We decided to try and make some ceramic wedges that could take a pounding, gla.s.s was not suitable and it would take more practice to make anything more from gla.s.s.

Mike had a new position amongst the militant he was seen as in charge. Artimus having been specifically relived of his station would, as an older man point out things that need to be done and would have to be seconded by someone that had not lost faith. Some of the militant didn't mind that type of leadership since they gained all of the social credit for the tasks performed, but Artimus knew how to play those games. He primarily kept himself to the fishing they were doing with the boat we had provided them. They wouldn't let him set to sea for fear he would somehow recapture the grandeur of being 'The Captain'.

Our hunt for boar continued with a definite desire to trap and ranch the boar so as not to run out of them. We found they eat the young sprouting's of the j.a.panese knotweed amongst various other odd plants. We were prepared to cage them and hold them in a pin rather than in Artimus's cage. We, the diligent, bought the cage at a price of twenty extra loaves of bread, which were about the length and width of my hand, and an inch tall. Once we captured another we would cage it and have plenty of reason to build a pen that was inescapable to a natural born digger.

I watched from the mountain top while Artimus pointed out things that needed to be done and wandering the beach, and they would just stroll away from him. He was socially shunned throughout the day but he still had his pentagon in which he found some relief with his cabin boy and the junior officers.

At a north point on the island concealed away from view was what had become an enlisted club. They would tell stories, mock and berate each other, and when no women were present they would wrestle and fight.

As the ribs for the boat were cut Mike's guys focused on making planks. I told him we would also need a barrel we could seal with smoke for fresh water to which he replied, "I got my own thing going on now dude." I felt a little betrayed by that, once again it seemed it's not about results or the objectives, but how your ego feels while it's going on .

I spoke with Athena, Michael, Jennifer, and Mich.e.l.le we were going to have to inst.i.tute some system of government or they would over run us with pageantry and image and we would go back to starving to death. So, we divided the work and used a union format but shifted it over to a Roman style senate just as I suspected we would need to; like in India we had working casts.

It had been a few months on the island at this point and we held our first senatorial meeting. I was appointed governor, to manage civil law and resource development. Each Senator represented a type of work; fishing, farming, wood working, masonry, and ship building.

Mich.e.l.le spoke for the wood working cast, "The wood working cast, expresses there concern for the high consumption of wood due to lack of use of the charcoal. This increases our workload needlessly and increases our need for food and water."

I spoke as the governor, "I understand, if there are no objections the charcoal stockpile will be split for food cooking with charcoal and maintaining fuel for the boilers since I can clearly see from where I am seated it is an obscene amount of charcoal we have mustered. We need to start using it, we don't want to have to carve giant statues of people in the hopes that any ships that pa.s.s by will realize there are people here without trees and therefore need help."

Athena laughed and said, "I guess that's what happened at Easter Island?" I chuckled and said with a hiss, "Yesss." Athena said, "The mason cast objects to the thoroughfare our living quarters have become to the workers from the militant camp."

Mike was there as a representative of the 'military' and yelled out, "Shut the f.u.c.k up b.i.t.c.h!" I quickly and sharply respond, "Don't speak to a senator that way!" Mike flabbergasted inquired in disbelief, "That's a senator!!!?"

Athena responded indignantly, "I represent the masons, we make the cement, we set the stone, we work the clay, and we continue development on the gla.s.s working." Mike looked around and asked, "Don't we all do that?" I replied, "Mike you left us and went over there, you've been practicing your own agenda and frankly you aren't doing anything but being an amba.s.sador to us over here. A lot has changed, I was the one that attempted the gla.s.s working and managed to make that shard and everything else we all did together, but it was far too much work for one person to keep track of what he should be working on at any given time." Mike stood up in outrage and demanded to know, "What do I get!!?" Michael said, "I speak on behalf of the ship builders. Mike you have a lot of influence over there, the captain is not a captain anymore and they need what you can get them from here, but you don't bring us anything from them and they just won't work. They've had that boat for a while and they just don't seem to fish, it's like they only use it to taunt Artimus."

Mike replied daunted, "Ahh...they catch a fair amount of fish, so I don't know why you would believe that." I as the governor interjected, "So recognized! Rations of fish to the militant camp are halted." Mike said, "Wait! what!? you think you don't work for them or for me!?" Mich.e.l.le shouted out, "We absolutely don't! You declared us natives remember?"

Mike said, "Ahh, Okay...wait. You guys are separate...that explains some of the things I've been hearing.

Ya, stop the fish, they'll still need some water but I think they're about to figure a lot of things out." Tammy asked, "Didn't we help them build a still?" Mike blurted out, "They broke it."

Mike stood there frozen in a way that gave us all pause. Then he said, "Okay, I'm the amba.s.sador from the military. You guys are separate. I need to go talk to them to figure out how they thought this was going to work...this makes no sense." Tommi stood up and joseph sitting next to her goose necked to look up at her startled by how quickly she popped to her feet, and she said, "So recognized!!"

Mike got back to the landings and announced, "Okay guys, here's the thing. I just got back from their 'senate meeting' and we have been collecting fish rations despite the fact we are now catching fish. That stops." McCree said, "What?!! How many fish are they catching?" Mike replied, "About the same as us, they are still making the water because you guys broke your still and they going to keep doing that. No one has collected grain since the first time. They are separate." Eric Milson retorted, "I should've known you would f.u.c.k it up." Mike laughed and pointed at Eric and said, "Ya, and that's not all. I've been over there with our work crew and seen you guys just hanging out in their cabana's because our lean-to's suck. That's their homes you're just wandering through. That also stops."

Atrisia blurted out, "Or what!?" and Mike just glared at her. She repeated more respectfully, "Or what?" looking around for social support and shrugging in genuine naivete.

Mike replied, "Look b.i.t.c.h, don't take it there. We are making planks for that boat they told us how to do that and they are bending the ribs for it, they are doing the hard part. They showed you how and helped you make a still and you broke it and just waited for them to make more." McCree said, "okay,okay..okay" holding out her hand signaling mike to calm down and Atrisia pulled at McCree's arm to turn her slightly leaned into to make eye contact then peered around in the hopes everyone could see the seriousness in her eyes and she said, "Or what?" with a dismissive facial expression.

Mike was so frustrated tears came to his eyes and he cried through the statement, "Look b.i.t.c.h stay away from them."

Atrisia in a hyper active fit of frustration herself demonstrating the demeanor of a kindergarten teach nodding her head with a pa.s.sive aggressive smile repeated, "Okay" several times then added, "Or what?"

Artimus stepped up and said, "Or we'll build a cage for you." Atrisia was perplexed, the captain being stripped of his station had translated in to his being shunned which she would destroy be engaging in a conversation with him or by responding to what he had just said. She wagged her finger at him with a single flick and said, "f.u.c.k you." and walked off.

Artimus looked around and thought everyone appeared angry and confused so he asked mike, "What is it they want?" Mike responded, "Near as I can tell, some fairness. They shouldn't have to feed us or provide us water. We are helping with the boat, but that's to get out of here, we aren't even handling our own survival." Artimus looked around and several of the people there were shaking their hands with pursed lips indicating he wasn't supposed to speak. Artimus asked, "Is that too much to ask? Would you expect anything different?"

Hudlow stumbled up and said with the tone of a remorseful confession, "I'm different. I have spiders, or crabs, or both." Artimus looked at him and said, "Now that's something we can all get behind." and everyone stormed off.

As the sunset there was a haunting song on the breeze.

Athena had managed to make from clay an Ocarina. She played form the mountain top and it was a soothing song. The holes had been placed just ring for binaural tones that were just hypnotic.

The stars raced across the sky as puffy clouds drifted by, with a beautiful woman atop a mountain singing a lullaby.

The weather was changing toward the cold and we had only taken small sc.r.a.ps of hide from that boar, too small to turn into refined leather. I started working on heavier clothing the next morning. Dave Miles asked, "What's up?" I replied, "It's going to get colder at least at night, season is changing." Dave said, "Alright." I worked on that vest for the first half of the day and Mich.e.l.le did the same she said we'd probably need some hats and they'd probably look like oversized socks.

Tim was looking for more boar with Tommi, Mitch was on the boilers and tammy had the mountain watch. The work detail for the planks was taking a sabbatical and Mike had sent word they had something's to straighten out first before they had anymore going on.

Our sundial that doubled as a farmer's almanac would have to be marked for the seasonal change and any change in the food producing plants, including what the boar ate and hopefully the sea wouldn't be affected, but it was flying fish we were catching.

I still had a secret project in a secluded place on the island that I needed to be able to slip away to. Working on my thicker vest and as the governor there were simple management tasks to attend to.

Our farmers were cutting away some gra.s.s for an agricultural field and for some reason the term 'farm' just wasn't catching on. It was more sorghum they intended to plant since there was an outside risk that the militant group would over harvest or even slash and burn to gain leverage.

Artimus was breaking the ice and trying to end this social shunning he was being subjected to. He had found that emotional pleas were well received; he figured it solicited some kind of guilt. He had seen ship board gangs in previous duty a.s.signments and decided that was the way he needed to go. Even in the face a federal prosecution for thing that were obviously crimes they maintained their place within their gang and stayed loyal.

The work on the boat continued it looked as though it would take about two weeks per rib and we had several planks but there thickness was really only good for decks. We natives were in a steady maintainable pace making progress and living our lives, but over at the landing site in the militant camp things were getting tougher.

Artimus was beginning to play the militants against each other and was renewing political adversaries . During the day Artimus was out to be seen by the remnants of his crew and at night he was within the confines of the pentagon with the closest thing to peers he had. Midday whilst Artimus was campaigning, the junior officers were talking about the h.e.l.l he was about to bring on them and their fears of a civil war with the natives.

Swishzel said, "One thing I can't emphasize enough is that if he isn't a captain any more than we aren't officers at all, not ensigns, not lieutenants, just more beach trash like what's out there and I'm not sure we can hold our own." Clarkson replied, "You don't know what he is really like, admiral Dufsin made me his baby sitter and instructed me to always present in the way he had presented to the admiral...just as an obnoxious pain in the a.s.s." Spayner commented, "I thought that was just how you were." Clarkson sniped, "He makes it easy for me.

He's a two steps forward three steps back guy." Capes interjected, "I think the phrase is 'two steps forward one step back' or is that what you meant." Clarkson sighed, "That is the phrase but I did intentionally get it wrong." Mr.Lees had been laying low sulking but was once again engaging in social activities, he seemed to break his vow of silence and said, "We don't have a lot to stand on, I figured nothing like this would ever happen but if I lived back in the days when it could have I knew what I would do and I turned out to be dead wrong on both counts. I would normally think we just need to snap them back into order, but the captain tried that and it was a mistake. I've been dead quiet thinking of joining the natives but what Dave did blew that and I have the fact that the good guy I had over there came back and has been leading here. I thought that was my way in, but it turns out he burnt his bridges over there because he has an agenda too."

Spayner said, "I don't think we need to worry about them attacking us we don't have anything they would want."

Lees responded, "That's the problem that's keeping me up at night, we have nothing over them but we have so little we're a threat. We need to make enough headway ourselves so that there is no conflict, then over produce somewhere so that we have something for trade. I overheard them talking at the opening in the trees and they expect that boat they are building to take as long to build as one of Columbus's ships? That was hundreds of years ago, but at least it was an actual shipyard and if you had told me they were going to build it without nails before I saw these small fishing boats I'd of said 'fat chance'."

Capes said in a tone of defeat, "He can't be the captain and not in charge. He can't be in charge unless something positive is happening and because he was convicted it is not insubordinate to say, I'm not sure this guy was ever capable of achieving results of any kind. Which just leaves us with what Swishzel said, 'if he's not a captain we aren't officers'."

Artimus had talked to Smity a few times trying to show it's okay to talk to him but Smity maintained the demeanor of a man talking to a drug dealer on a dimly lit street. Artimus asked Smity, "So how's the fishing going?" Smity took on a grimace looked down at his feet with his head c.o.c.ked and replied, "Doesn't look like we gonna' starve this week." and started to walk slowly away as though to signal the captain if we are conversing we are walking, there might be a way to imply he didn't realize who he was talking to. Artimus began to walk with him and recognized the demeanor and true to form Smity was the recipient of a glare or two from those in the shade of lean- to's or patrolling the beach. Artimus took this as simple resentment that would fall away eventually and figured he shouldn't damage the social credibility of those that were most loyal to him before the catastrophe. So he uttered, "Have a good day, gunner Smity" Smity replied and managed to hold back the 'sir' he was accustomed to using with, "You too shipmate." To Artimus that was a glimmer of hope; 'shipmate'...he was still their 'shipmate' a phrase he would have to bring back into common use.

Chapter Ten.

Forgotten Freedoms Artimus sought to appeal to the senate and sent his cabin boy as a messenger. Robert Wildly stepped through the brush and said the wrong thing, "Your Captain needs you!" We all stood up and walked over to him as though he had told us to 'go fornicate our own mothers'. He glanced at each of us and Tammy said, "He's not our captain." Wildly stood tall and said, "I represent the military of the united states not this d.a.m.n island." Michael replied, "Well, sailor when are you going to rescue us." Robert replied, "You shouldn't need rescuing..."

Athena blurted out, "First, f.u.c.k you. Second, we are this islands senate and you are out of line." Tim interjected, "What the h.e.l.l do you want Wildly? All the food? All the water? Maybe a beach front home?" Wildly replied, "You sent us dominos...what the f.u.c.k is he supposed to do with that? Without a captain there are no ranks for us still in the military and chaos will set in." Mich.e.l.le replied, "No one's const.i.tutional rights are being violated over here, go back Wildly, go back"

Wildly asked, "With what?" I replied, "With nothing from us, start working. We're still building the boat and we're better off than we were with all the games you guys are playing." Wildly responded, "Look the captain has to restore order, and you owe him your help." Tim shuttered and said, "He lost the ship; I stood bridge watches up there and saw the way he really is and for that I owe him?" Wildly responded, "Yes, he's the captain." Athena started to speak and Mich.e.l.le stopped her then said, "Wildly, from New homeport Island senate, f.u.c.k off your insane." Athena looked at her shocked and thought, 'New homeport island?' Athena then looked at Wildly and with a voice trembling with sad emotion chocked out the words, "Seconded"

Wildly changed his postured to more relaxed and said, "Well...can I get some bread?" Michael responded to Wildly with a degree of threat as a response to Athena's emotional state, "No!!"

As Wildly headed back we surveyed each other's emotional state and decided that did in fact const.i.tute an intrusion. Tommi coughed clearing her voice and said almost with a whisper that grew in volume, "It's time for a wall." Tim agreed, "Ya, let's weave those pentagon type walls and coat them with mud."

We had found some lime stone I recognized from the cement work I had done with my father in my childhood. The way it sucks moisture out of your hand when its powder. I had gathered some from the rocks jutting out on the beach and mixed it with sand and made a small ingot. Much like the gla.s.s work it was something the mason working cast was prepared to do but hadn't done yet. I asked, "Have the masons found more lime stone?" Athena replied, "No, Rob. But, I'm sure there isn't enough for a wall." I replied, "We need the cistern done and we'll need another on the hill to catch rain for the farm."

Athena replied, "What about the wall?" I replied, "That's the wood workers. They've thrown us off of productivity with bulls.h.i.t drama, we need to get back on task."

Mich.e.l.le replied, "That's true, wood workers will start the wall and with that a cistern can be defended let's get it done." Athena and Dave Miles headed over to the rocky area to find the lime stone and pulverize it. Mich.e.l.le, Tim, and Tommi went over to the tree line and started gathering sticks and branches. I joined Athena and Dave smashing rock. Megan started sorting rocks for the cistern saying to herself, "A stone wall, plus a stone wall, and a stone floor until you have a stone bath tub that everybody drinks from but can't bath in...yep, why not?"

We pulverized the rock and put it in one of our water bowls. We could only use any cement we mustered as mortar.

Mich.e.l.le glanced over at me sternly as I smashed rocks together and sc.r.a.ped at them and I realized there must be a better way, I said, "let's use the pumice stone and sand to sand away the limestone instead of this monkey stuff." then glanced back at Mich.e.l.le and she was pointing at Athena. I looked over and Athena was bent over sc.r.a.pping the rock and her a.s.s was very near my face. Mich.e.l.le coughed and wagged her finger. I looked to her and said, "Okay."

Mitch was up on the mountain side standing watch again, we were all on hand to tend to the boilers which no longer included making paper to wrap charcoal in. Mitch said to himself, "It's finally happened, those idiots over there were smashing rocks together trying to start a fire and the one guy that knew how to start a fire Indian style, is down there smashing rocks together looking for gold."

Artimus stood scheming on the beach, cabin boy had just returned and said, 'no help'. So, Artimus looked back in there direction and realized once again they had gone native. He starred out at the horizon and watched the ocean roll and he uttered, "Now would be a good time."

Just there on the horizon to the left of Dave's gaze a pod of whale's surface and blew their spouts. A drift of krill had lead them toward these warmer and shallower waters and they basked on the surface, in the midday sunlight. Shimmering rainbows hung above them from their water spouts. The fish darted around them in zigzags and spinning funnels. Dave starred so hard at the horizon he became dizzy with vertigo waiting for a solution. As the flying fish leapt up over the whales whistling through the air, the birds that nest on the island swarmed above the whales. Dave stared blankly at a blank and void horizon as his mind washed away. He slowly turned to his right and thought he briefly saw a puff of white cloud he hoped to be an exhaust of smoke or steam from a ship. The whales now well to the left of his sight sloshed their tails to stir the krill, as birds landing on their backs. It was a good rest for the pod, to be so near land the rolling of the ocean had a more refined meter to it trails of break water and swirling currents not a.s.sociated with a flow of cold to warm, or a major current, just a relaxing roll.

Dave turned back to the pentagon and considered retiring for the day. Dave said to himself, "I'll make more turns tomorrow." The whales in the distance well refreshed with air dived sharply deep and away back to sea into a cold dark abyss, and Dave kicked up sand as he headed to his lean-to with in the pentagon.

Mich.e.l.le and her wood workers had formed several sections of wall and slightly overlapped them in a slight wedge configuration and they began to coat the walls with mud. She left notches in the walls for viewing ports or spears, but the only means we had for firing any type of arrow was a sling and to fire one through a hole of that size would be an absurd act of excellent marksmanship with a nearly prehistoric weapon.

As the day past into night the rocks for the cistern had been selected and would be fitted as close as possible to reduce the amount of cement needed. The sanding of limestone was effective and there was a fair amount of limestone powder in that water bowl, it looked as though two or three days of sanding would suffice.

Dave Artimus lay in his lean-to within the pentagon speaking at a discretionary tone with Swishzel and Lees. They were refining his presentation and argument for the native senate.

Artimus said in a officious voice, "I, Captain David Artimus here by recognize the island senate as an impromptu state senate of the united states and demand to be recognized as the commanding officer of the military occupation of said island in the name of the Congress of America." Swishzel said, "I don't think they'll go for that."

Artimus retorted, "I, David Artimus Captain United States Navy recognize the Island senate as a U.S. territory, and wish to be recognized as a captain of the U.S. Navy" Lees replied, "I think that whole approach is probably not so good."

Artimus rolled over and looked at Lees and asked, "What the f.u.c.k am I supposed to say? Hey kids it's your uncle Dave? Uncle Sam wants his island back?"

Lees asked, "Can you join the senate as the military liaison or commander in chief?" Clarkson said, "Might as well ask where's the beef." Dave replied, "Becky you know you've never been funny right?" Clarkson replied, "Pretty funny when I catch you with your hand in the cookie jar, your pants down, and your thumb in your a.s.s and it turns out the Admiral is standing right behind me." Artimus said, "You b.i.t.c.h!" and jumped on her trying to beat her teeth in with a rock. Her yells brought Mr.

Deckly running in followed by various blue shirts. Artimus quickly jumped off and laid back down as though nothing had happened and said, "How about, 'Senate of the island we seek only to be included in the survival efforts you have excelled at and await your orders'?"

Spayner was still recoiled from the outbreak of violence and uttered, "Let's go with that." Deckly signaled the enlisted to return to their posts or to head over to their enlisted club beneath the cliff. Lees appeared to have a headache and went to the water vase for more water.

Hudlow stepped up to the opening to the pentagon and asked, "There's an enlisted club here? Can I use the phone?"

Artimus snarled at him, "Ya, go order us a pizza." James Hudlow stared blankly at Artimus and said with like a zombie, "Okay". Artimus watched him walk away and continued to stare in the direction that Hudlow had been standing in.

Artimus's heart started pounding and racing, he felt dizzy and uncomfortable and uttered, "We're all going to die here if I don't fix this you f.u.c.king idiots." then he glanced around at the other officers in the pentagon and said in an irritated hush, "Stop working against me."

Artimus stood up unzipped his fly and urinated where he had been lying and said, "Once again, that is my spot." Then walked out of the pentagon. Once Artimus was well out of ear shot Lees said, "We've been here for months, how is it that his urine still smells like bacon?"

At the boiler site the wall construction was complete and braces were put in place, they were still deliberating on what type of door or gate to design for the wall. The cistern's floor stones were laid and the sand and limestone mortar were carefully being mixed. The slurry of sand, water, and lime were being stirred in the bowl and more lime and sand powder were in a small pile near the rocks.

Fitting the stone was troublesone, in some cases I had to use smaller rocks to shrink the gaps in others I attempted to reshape the stone. I had no means of cutting the stone or even chiseling it but that didn't stop me from trying. It was like a jigsaw puzzle made up of lost pieces in a jigsaw puzzle factory.

I ended up using pieces of the wooden planks made to fill gaps but left room for the mortar, the occasional odd sized rock would fill a bit of misfortune.

The cisterns base and first few wall stones looked like it would already be watertight before we even applied the mortar. Athena looked in for where to start with the mortar they had made and glanced at me with a big small. As she filled those gaps Tammy seemed hyperactive pointing into the cistern and saying, "You missed a spot" To which Tim replied, "Sure is a good thing you didn't lose your gla.s.ses." Which gave her pause because she didn't wear gla.s.ses, but she was supposed to and didn't think anyone knew.

Artimus stepped through the tree line and as he made the clearing he noticed the water level had receded. He paused and wondered if there was any advantage to be found in a tidal swamp like that and given no reason for lengthy deliberation he then marched on to our camp.

As he reached the walls he stopped to admire the French fort look of it and noticed we apparently intended to blend the walls in with brush so as to look less like a target and more of a terrain obstacle. He stepped up to the opening and postured himself but then realized the gesture would be wasted.

We stood up and looked at him and I glanced up to Mitch on the mountain top and saw him shrug then head down toward us.

Artimus glanced over at the nearly complete cistern and said, "I'm sorry for your loss, which one was it?" I said, "It's a cistern and we don't have a lot of cement so I prefer to think of it as a drinking bath tub." Artimus chuckled and said, "Good Idea." He walked over and paced around our cobblestone courtyard and said, "I need to officially recognize your senate, in case we get rescued or your boat gets us out of here." Michael said, "You kinda' already did that when these other guys got exiled over here." Artimus gave a half wave of the hand and pulled his hand against his thigh to remind himself not to gesture too much and said, "I don't think it was supposed to come out that way, I didn't even know they'd been sent away."

Artimus looked around for something to sit on and seemed to briefly consider the gla.s.s working kiln until he recognized what it had been used for and stared at it in a daze.

He said, "I need to gain some authority from you guys, to maintain them in a military structure. Some of them lack the maturity to have survived on trip to a bar without the navy's mentoring. And, I mean I have to be able to fire one of you if things get bad." He then used a stick and poked around at the gla.s.s flakes left in the kiln bowl. Tim said, "Rob's the governor." I interjected, "The senators are appointed by their working cast through a majority...a vote" Athena interjected, "Well that might be..." And Mich.e.l.le glared at her stopping her amid speech. I looked at Athena and asked rhetorically, "Divide and conquer?"

Artimus said, "Ahhh...what about censures and such?" I replied, "I think were just too few to worry about filibusters and majority/minority" Artimus inquired, "Misconduct?" and started laughing before he could complete the word then asked, "What kind of representation can these clowns get?" I said, "There should be a trade authority.

Preventing anyone from starving someone or gouging them no matter how unpopular they get." Artimus said, "oh alright, I'll tell them I got them that."

Artimus strolled around the cobblestone courtyard again and glanced at the boilers, looked down then looked at the cabanas. He commented, "Looks like I've got a lot of work to do. Have a good one." and headed out back to the military camp.

Athena asked, "Why do I get the feeling he's up to something?" I replied, "We are way past 'up to something'"

Mitch added, "Way past" Michael nodded with a funny smile scratching his chin looking at Athena like she was an airheaded Barbie doll and said, "Way past."

Joseph asked, "When's that door going to get built."

Mich.e.l.le replied, "It's going to be a gate, we'll have something of it up tomorrow."

Artimus returned to the landing site and prepared to make his announcement with a harrowing tale of expert negotiation and well placed arguments on both sides, as each conceded to concessions and a hard bargain was struck and a near civil war was abated , having spoken on their behalf he demanded no acts of aggression were made or threatened.

Artimus said, "I've just come back from my meeting with the senate. Many things were discussed and decisions were made. I have to tell you it got heated. As Mr. Elper became aware they thought we weren't catching any fish, but we were instead taking advantage of them as I'm sure we all regret and the still we built here, we are still attempting to repair. We just aren't getting things done. I think we need to start as they apparently did with some solid footing, they have a cobble stone courtyard." As Artimus continued in his speech Master chief Hauldbalm leaned over and whispered to Randy Brosuer, "I was in the bushes and followed him, I saw their wall and was just testing it gently, but I heard what was said over there and he is making all this up. It almost looks like he's in on it with them, but they are the only ones getting anything done and they aren't taking anything from us but we've taken plenty from them. I just realized standing outside that wall that this is how he works; it was the same thing on the ship." Brosuer whispered back, "So what do they do?" Hauldbalm looked at him befuddled and asked, "You mean for us?" Brosuer said, "Ya" Hauldbalm replied, "Nothing, they take care of themselves over there with hard work. They don't owe us we owe them." Brosuer said, "What about the chain of command?" Hauldbalm got irritated and said, "That is what got us here in the first place and given your role in the trial you were the last person I expected to try and stay in the 'I out rank work' category." Brosuer with his arms folded seemed to be brushing flies away from the elbow nearest the master chief as he uttered softly while nodding, "okay, okay, okay"