In the Midst of Tribulation (12 page)

"What's the plan?"
"We've got these straps that go over our shoulders. We need to pick up the top end and slowly pull it forward over the wheelbase here. Once I secure that to the log, we head down hill at our best pace and let gravity to the real work."
"It can't be that simple."
"Trust me, it is."
The three women were able to work well enough together to get the log in motion. Despite Doris' tendency to drop her section at the most inconvenient times, they made great progress.
After they had wrestled the log through the trees and down the hill, Jay went into the house and brought out a chainsaw from the basement. On her way back out, she grabbed one of the already split logs. Brandishing the split, she said, "The wood has to be no longer than this if it is to able to fit in the stove."
Piper hefted the chainsaw. "This works?"
"Yeah. I've got a little gas left."
"You have gasoline?"
"Yep," answered Jay.
"Why didn't you have that up there when we were having to saw off the limbs."
"Because the limbs aren't that much work." Jay shook her head at the look on Doris' face. "I use the saw to bring down trees and to cut it into manageable pieces once we get it down here. If I used it on every task, I'd of run out of fuel years ago."
Not having seen enough gasoline to fill a measuring cup in a couple of years, Piper unscrewed the cap and sniffed appreciatively. "Boy, the smell of that takes me back."
Jay laughed. "Do you miss the smog, too?"
"No, just the conveniences that used to run on it."
"I hate the smell." Doris crossed her arms over her chest.
"Did you hate being able to drive where you wanted to go, when you wanted to go there?"
"Not really." Doris glared at each of them before spitting out angrily. "One of the best things to happen was the end of all those horrible, gas guzzling cars."
Piper nearly dropped the saw at that outrageous comment. "Are you nuts?"
"You think the death toll was worth getting cleaner air?"
"All that pollution was damaging the environment."
"And you don't think those bombs or the rotting corpses or the release of toxic waste constitutes a bigger environmental tragedy than the exhaust from vehicles?" Piper was outraged. "You're insane."
"No, I'm not."
"I don't know where to begin to disagree with you."
"I just know that things couldn't go on like they were." Doris turned to walk back inside. Suddenly, she whirled back. "If you were honest with yourselves, you'd realize that the best thing to happen to this country was the Confederacy."
"How can you say that?" Jay asked, aghast.
"Didn't your husband die, along with those other millions?" asked Piper.
"This country needed a cleaning."
"Cleaning or cleansing?" asked Jay, dryly.
"Call it what you will, there is something to be said for people willing to die for their faith."
Piper spat on the ground. "I guess that's where my problem is. They weren't the ones doing the dying. They were doing the killing."
"That doesn't matter. Those who accepted Jesus into their lives were taken into heaven."
"Even the brown ones?" At Jay's question, Doris shrugged. "It wasn't just nonbelievers who were targeted. The Confederacy attempted to eliminate anyone who wasn't straight or white."
"And I think that they had the right idea to returning a sense of decency to this country." Nodding in satisfaction, she whirled and stomped into the house.
Piper and Jay stared at one another. Jay drawled, "Why do I get the feeling that she did not go in to fix us a nice cup of tea?"
"I bet she won't be around to bother us for a while."
They both spoke at the same time. "Thank god."
Jay laughed. "Jinx. You owe me a coke."
"Put it on my tab. When I get one, I'll pay you back."
"I get the feeling that you aren't entirely serious about your debt." Jay shook her head sadly. "Back to the chain saw. It should only be used during the middle of the day."
"Why?"
"Sounds don't travel as far. There are few enough around to hear but we shouldn't borrow trouble."
"No, there's enough of that to go around."
Jay primed the chainsaw and pulled the cord. Indicating for Piper to hold the split, she made a quick cut. Together, they worked their way down the entire log, cross cutting it to size.
Finished, she turned the saw off and set it next to the house. "Now, we have to split these."
"What about the limbs?"
"Let me go inside and get Doris to go and fetch them down." Jay went into empty house and found Doris sunbathing on the patio. "Hey."
"What do you want now?"
"I need you to head back up the hill and get the limbs." She held out a folded cloth. "You can use this."
"What is it?"
"It's a tarp. Just put it down and fill it with branches. Fold it over and you should able to drag the whole thing down hill."
"Aren't you going to help?"
"No. Piper and I will be chopping the tree." Jay stared down at her. "Of course, if you would rather chop…"
"That's all right." Doris stood up and snatched the tarp from Jay's hand. "I'll go."
"I expect it will take at least two trips. Don't expect dinner until you've brought them all down."
"Whatever."
Doris followed her back outside and huffed her way back up the hillside. Piper and Jay set their backs to reducing the split log into manageable pieces. The two of them worked together until dusk, with only the thunk of ax meeting wood to be heard.
"What now?"
"We need to stack it over there." Jay pointed to an area about twenty yards from the house.
"Why so far," asked Doris.
"In case of wildfire." Jay waved at the cleared area. "I've made sure that there is a fire break around the house. We don't want to undo all my good work by putting fuel too close to the structure."
"Is that really a danger?"
"You bet. Give this area a really dry summer and anything can happen." She pulled around a two-wheeled cart. "Using this will help."
They were all tired and sweaty when the last piece of firewood went on the stack. They grinned at one another as they silently admired their accomplishment.
"Are we done yet?" Doris asked from her seat on the patio.
"Yeah. Why don't we all head in and take showers."
"What about dinner?"
"I'll start the potatoes baking and you can start the outside grill." Jay wiped her hands on her pants. "Once we're all clean, I'll do something with the fish."
Doris smiled, tightly. "Sounds good to me."
Both of their eyes rolling, Jay and Piper did their final chores before heading into the house to take their shower. In no time at all, they had rinsed off the soil from the day's work and were ready to complete dinner preparations.
Jay brushed off the mushrooms she collected and set them aside. She quickly took the cleaned fish and lightly peppered the meat.
"Are you sure these are safe?"
Looking over her shoulder, Jay watched Doris poke the mushrooms. "You can skip that course if you don't trust me," she said mildly.
"I'm just asking."
"If you want to check on me, there is a book on mushrooms in the bookcase nearest to the bathroom. I think it's on one of the lower shelves." She shook her head when Doris left the room in search of the item.
Glancing through the French doors, she saw that Piper had the fire going. Putting the fish and mushrooms on a platter, she carried everything outside along with a bottle of olive oil and a brush.
"No secret herbs?"
"Naw. This fish was swimming this morning. There is no need to hide the taste." Jay quickly brushed a coating of oil on the fish and mushrooms and placed everything on the grill.
"How long?"
"Just a couple of minutes," answered Jay as she turned to go back inside and check the potatoes. "Oh, I do have a lemon in the crisper. Cut a couple of thin slices and, when you turn the fillet's over, put the slices on top."
"How many per fillet?"
"I'd put two but use your best judgment."
"Sure thing." Piper moved gracefully past her to the refrigerator and rummaged around. Her hands were swift and sure with the sharp knife as she sectioned the lemon.
The two women worked quiet and companionably while they finished the cooking. They only exchanged a couple of words before the food was on the table.
"Mmmm. This is good." Piper said. Her eyes almost glowed in the candlelight from the tapers in the center of the table.
"Fresh is best."
"You eat this way all the time? I still can't believe it."
Jay sighed before answering Doris. "Not all the time but regularly. Remember, there aren't that many people up here fighting for scarce resources. If you're willing to work, you can eat like this as much as you want."
"I can get used to this," Piper sighed in satisfaction.
"It's too isolated."
"Nonsense. I was sick of living amongst so many. The space up here is great."
Doris scowled at her plate and didn't reply.
"What?" Piper finally asked.
Looking up in confusion, Jay raised her right eyebrow. "I'm sorry?"
"It just looked like Doris had something else to say."
She shook her head. "I was just thinking that's it's all right for you but this isn't good for me or the children."
"What are you talking about?"
"How do you expect them to grow up properly without the guidance of a man?"
"I think they've done pretty well so far."
Doris sniffed. "You would."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just that it's obvious that you don't have children of your own or you would understand."
"I understand that you're a narrow minded twit."
"Piper," warned Jay. "There's no need for name calling."
"Thank you."
"Wait a minute." Jay set her utensils down with deliberation. "I certainly don't agree with you. Everything I've seen about those kids has been wonderful. Considering all they've gone through, they are the most normal and well-adjusted children I've had the pleasure to know."
"Hear, hear." Piper echoed. "Martha and Susan are great parents and Eva is smart as a whip."
"Why, thank you for noticing." Doris refilled her water glass. "It's all right now but without a proper male influence, those children will be doomed."
"I think that's a little harsh."
"You only think that because you share the proclivities of my sister."
"Possibly. Or I could just have seen that single parent and gay parent children can be well adjusted. Besides, it isn't gay parents that leads to homosexuality."
"Oh, really?"
"Really. My parents were straight. Weren't yours, Jay?"
"As arrows."
Doris shook her head. "In any event, I'm not sure how long Eva and I will stay here."
"It's safe here, Doris. Whether or not you agree with our life choices, you can't seriously think it's better to live in the chaos that was Oakland?"
"No, I don't want to go back there. I think that there are other communities out here that would be better. Right, Jay?"
"There are towns on the coast that are surviving and even thriving. I just don't see why you would put yourself at risk when you don't have to." She ate another bite of fish. "I guess I would feel differently if I were uncomfortable with my surroundings."
Piper snorted but shook her head when the other women looked at her.
"Well, it's not like I need to make a decision immediately."
"No. Why don't you take it easy through the winter and reassess in the spring?"
Doris nodded and the rest of the meal passed in silence.
Chapter Ten - A Handful of Leaves
Oh, look on the fields, that already are white;
The Lord hath commanded to work in the light;
Beware lest, instead of the bright, golden sheaves,
We bring to Him only a handful of leaves.
Words: Fanny Crosby, 1880 Music: John R. Sweney
After dinner, Piper pulled her rifle out of the closet and set about cleaning it. Jay watched her from her place in the front of the fireplace. The movement of cloth over and through the barrel was mesmerizing. "You planning on going out soon?" she asked.
"I figure that now's a good time."
"Might you better wait until one of the others comes back to buddy with you?"
"Frankly, I'm looking forward to a little time on my own."
"Cool. You want to go and find something on your own or do you want me to go with?"
"Why don't you show me the good hunting ground?"
"When do you want to go?"
"Early. Maybe before dawn?"
Jay pushed herself to her feet. "No problem. Let me go and make you a picnic basket. How long will you want to stay out?"
"How far is it?"
"Just a couple of miles."
"Then just for the day." Piper wiped her hands. "I can always go out again the next day and so on until I get something."
"Oh, I don't think you'll have much trouble." Jay walked toward the kitchen. "I'll set you up with two meals."
Doris came in from the hot tub while Jay was slicing some meat and wrapping some bread. "What are you doing? You're not still hungry, are you?"
"No, I'm making up a picnic for Piper and myself for tomorrow."
"Where are you going?"
"Piper is going hunting. I'm just going to show her a good place to make a stand and then I'll wander a bit before coming home."
"You two are going to leave me here alone?"
"We'll both be back for dinner."
"You didn't even ask me if I wanted to go."
Jay looked up at the still damp woman. "Did you want to go hunting?"
"No, but I don't think that you should just walk out without saying anything."
"We haven't gone anywhere yet and I'll be back by dinner. Considering how late you stay abed, I doubt you'll even miss me."
"I can't believe you. I slept in once." Doris stood glaring at Jay with her hands on her hips.
"I don't think that you'll have any problems getting by."
"But you don't know."
"No, I don't. Life, as I'm sure you know, is uncertain."
"I should have been consulted before you two came up with this idea. I would have told you that this is a bad idea."
"What's so bad about it? We need meat and I need air."
"I don't know where to begin. Either of you could have an accident out there and I'll be left here all alone."
Piper came into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. "Chill out, Doris. Jay will be back before you know it."
"I don't even know her."
"Do you want a copy of my resume? I think I've got one around here somewhere."
"Don't mock me. I don't know where you came from or how you've managed to charm your way into everyone else's heart."
"You should know enough to keep your mouth shut while you live in her house."
Shaking her head, Jay finished packing. "Forget it, Piper. I'm not going to argue with her." She pointed a finger at Doris. "You've got a choice. You can either join us at o'dark thirty tomorrow morning or you can deal with being in the house by yourself for a few hours. We're going hunting with or without you."