The Last Tribe (50 page)

Todd, choked up like the other
adults, cleared his throat to break the silence.   “You are welcome, Cameron. 
Maybe one night you can tell me what you like, and I’ll try to make it for
you.”

“As long as he doesn’t ask for tuna
mac.”  Craig cracked the much needed joke.

They ate and drank until 7:30.  Exhaustion
soon overwhelmed the children and most of the adults.  The adrenaline they had
upon arriving was gone, and the efforts of the last few days set into each of
their bodies.  A few of the kids yawned, despite the two packages of Oreos
making their way around the table.

John stood.  “I took a nap this
afternoon.  I volunteer to show people their sleeping quarters.  Who would like
to go to bed?” 

Hands shot up around the table.

Todd’s mouth fell open.  “You were
asleep?  That’s why you didn’t pick up the radio?  You were napping?”

John ignored the comment, and
directed people towards their sleeping quarters. “Jay and Brian, you two are
upstairs, not much of a walk for you.  Your parents can start your fire and put
you to bed whenever.” 

“Before we adjourn for the night,” 
John continued.  “Let’s roll up the plastic tablecloths, and put them in trash
bags.  I’ll take care of the pots in the RV later, and everyone can go to bed. 
The way we have things set up, Melanie is sleeping with Jacob, Jaclyn, and
Casey in the cottage up the street.  That’s the house Greg and Rebecca used
this winter.  We have Wendy, Bridget, and Cameron in another room at the
cottage with either Bernie or Kelly.”

“I’m happy to stay with them
tonight.”  Bernie answered quickly.  “Particularly if it means I get to go to
sleep right now.”  She nodded towards Bridget, who was already resting her head
on the table with her eyes closed. 

“Emily, can you put Jay and Brian down? 
I’ll help John with the other kids.”  Todd offered.  His wife nodded, noting
that Jay was almost as asleep as Bridget.

Matt whispered to Ahmed and Avery. 
“You take the kids, there are enough of us to handle this mess.”   

Solange picked up Cameron, resting his
head on her shoulder.  “Let us get this little boy to bed.”  She told Bernie
and John.  Todd grabbed Wendy and John picked up Bridget in a similar fashion. 
Melanie had Casey over her shoulder.  The twins, yawning, trailed behind her. 
Others in the group helped place coats over the children for the brief walk up
the street.  Greg opened the door and led the way to his house. 

Bernie walked next to Greg.  “You
and that young woman lived up here, alone, for months?  How old are you?”

“Rebecca and I make a good team,
and work well beyond our age.  It was tough, but never impossible.”  Greg
explained.

“I can’t wait to hear about your
adventures.”  She said back. 

“I’m sure you have a few of your
own to share.  I only saw a few people die during the rapture.   New York
City?  You had to fight millions for food, water, supplies.” 

“I saw more than a few people
taken.”  Bernie said gravely.  “But I am here, and Todd has asked that we focus
on the good tonight.”

They came to the door of the
cottage.  Greg opened it for Bernie, “boots go in that bin.  We try not to get
muddy or dirty in here.”  He explained to her.  It was his house after all.

The living room fire was
smoldering, and the house was warmer than the outside.  Greg turned on several
lanterns to illuminate the home.  He handed Bernie one, and led Melanie up the
stairs with another.  He showed Melanie, still carrying Casey, her room.  He
lit the fire for her.  The starter log caught quickly, and Greg put a fire
screen in front of it for her. 

“There is wood in the bin. 
Unfortunately, you have to keep feeding the fire or it will get cold in here. 
It won’t be too bad, but you won’t want to get out of bed in the morning if the
fire is all the way out.”  Melanie nodded as Greg gave her the instructions.

“Is there a way to restart it in
the morning?”  She asked him. 

Greg shined his pocket light on the
wood bin and starter log pack in the corner.  “Just throw one of those in,
paper and all, and you’ll be fine.  It will still take a minute to warm up the
room, but you can curl up while the room heats.”  He addressed her in a low
voice as not to wake Casey.  Bernie listened.  “These rooms are tiny, colonial,
they heat quickly.”

Greg gave additional instructions. 
“I am going to leave the lantern on low in the hallway.  There is a bathroom
out the back doorway of the house through the kitchen.  I can show you each now
if you like, or you can find it if needed.  I’m sure the kids will wake you up
if they have to go.  You can show them.”

“Let me put the kids down, and then
you can take me.”  Melanie told him.  “I want to use it before I go to bed.” 

Bernie nodded in agreement.

Bernie turned and walked into the
other room.  Her three roommates were on their mattresses, their fire was
roaring.  She felt the temperature of the bedroom rising.  Solange was
finishing with Cameron, making sure the little boy was tucked in.

Bernie followed the adults back
down the stairs to see the bathroom.  Todd and Solange looked around the
house.  It was their first time in the cottage. 

“It is so clean and organized.” 
She turned to Todd.  “Two young children lived here for months?”

“Unbelievable.” He agreed. 

Greg led Bernie and Melanie to the
back of the house, through the kitchen, out the back room, and down the steps
to the bathroom.  “It’s not much, but it’s better than the woods.”  He told
them.  “When you’re in the kitchen, there are two doors.  The other one leads
to the chicken coop.  You’ll know right away you’ve made a mistake.”

“You and that young woman have a
chicken coop?”  Bernie asked.

“We do.  It was Rebecca’s.  She
found a neighbor’s chickens and coop, you know, after everyone died.  We
brought them up here with us last fall.”

“Unreal.”  Bernie said out loud.

They made their way back into the
house and the living room.  Todd placed logs on the  fire.  “I don’t know if
you are going to bed or staying up to talk.  I restarted the fire for you.” 

“Thank you, Todd.  I think I will
sit up for a minute.  I want to relax and digest after a long day.”  Melanie
sat down on one of the couches.  “Oh my God.  This is the most comfortable
couch I have ever sat on in my life.”

“I know, isn’t it?  We found that
at a house over on the pond.  It was a beast to get in here, but worth it.” 
Greg told her.  “Rebecca has vowed to take it with us when we leave.”

“I agree with her.”  Melanie
replied, closing her eyes and letting the comfort sink into her bones. 

Solange was intrigued and took a
seat next to Melanie.  Her eyes closed as she leaned back into the couch.  “Wow.” 
She said to Melanie.  “It is just the right depth for your legs, and the
cushions are firm yet soft at the same time.  It feels wonderful.”

Bernie sat down in the third spot. 
“Even the middle spot feels great.”  She looked back and forth at Solange and
Melanie.  “Oh, this is coming with us, and if we can, we’re going to find a few
more.”

Todd knelt next to the fire as it
came back to life.  He watched the women enjoy the couch.  “Seriously?”  He
said to Greg.

“Uncle Todd, it’s the couch.  It’s
crazy.  You aren’t going to get a turn on it tonight, but when you do?  You’ll
understand.” 

Todd stood, shaking his head. 
“Okay, I guess.  You ladies need anything else?  I am going to go back to my
room and collapse.”

“We’re good.”  Melanie told him,
not opening her eyes.  “You can go.”  She gave him a motion with her hand,
shooing him from the room.

“Are you staying here?”  Todd asked
his nephew.

“No, I’ll come back and see what
needs to be done.  I didn’t have that big a day.  I mean, I didn’t take a two
hour nap like my father, but I also didn’t drive through snow to get here.”  He
started towards the door with his Uncle.  When they got out to the street, Greg
asked his uncle a question.  “When did you know that Aunt Emily was going to
make it?  Of all the crazy things to happen, all the luck, all the beating of
the odds.”

“I know.”  Todd responded.  “We
both know.  I know this will sound weird, but I knew right away.  We were
hungry.  For some reason that gave me hope.  Jay scared us with a flu bug that
first week in Raleigh, but honestly, I believed we would survive from day
one.”  He gave his nephew a pat.

“Are you and Rebecca an item?  Am I
allowed to ask that, you know, like it’s high school or something?”

“I’d like to think it’s more than a
high school thing, but yes, we’re kind of an item.”  Greg stopped.  “I haven’t
really told my dad yet.  Could you keep that between us?  I mean, I’m not
ashamed or anything, but it hasn’t come up.” 

“I have your back, Greg.  Don’t
worry.  In this new world we live in, I’m not really your Uncle anymore.  I’m
your teammate or friend.  We are going to rely on each other to survive.  I
think I can let you decide who and when you tell about your relationships.”  He
waited a second before following up his comments.  “So she’s pretty special,
huh?”

“You’ll understand when you get to
spend time with her.  She’s unbelievable.  She’s smart and funny, and caring.” 
Greg gushed. 

Todd was excited for his nephew,
and looked forward to getting to know the young woman who had captured Greg’s
heart.

Greg and Todd looked at the houses
on their right and saw fires burning in the windows.  “It looks like everyone
split up for the night.”  Greg observed.  They continued to the main house,
walking into the front room and finding all of the Dixons with Rebecca sitting
in front of the fire. 

“There they are.”  John said
loudly.  “You get everyone tucked in?”

“We left the three women sitting on
‘the couch,’ marveling at how comfortable it is.  Melanie dismissed us.” 

“That’s my couch, and it’s coming
with us.”  Rebecca said firmly.

“Relax.”  Hank said to her.  “No
one is stealing your couch or leaving it behind.  Geesh, you and that couch.”

“Is it the most comfortable couch
you’ve ever sat on?”  She asked him.

“Yes.”

“So you understand why I’m
attached.”  Rebecca turned to Emily for some female support.  “Men think they
understand, but they don’t.  Wait until you sit on it.”

“I’m intrigued.”  Emily told her.

There was a pause in the
conversation as Greg and Todd pulled up chairs to sit with the group by the
fire.  It was a large fireplace, and there were several logs burning, kicking
off enough heat and light for the semi circle. 

Paul broke the silence.  “Well
little brother.  We’re all here, just like you asked.”  He made a gesture with
his hand, sweeping it around.  “What now?”

“Funny.”  Todd said back. 

“Seriously.”  Hank replied. 
“What’s our plan?  Rebecca has worked on best case locations and travel
scenarios.  It’s early April.  We probably need to get to where we want to go
soon so we can plant, or build, or plan, or whatever we have to do to prepare
for winter.  We have to prepare for the current food stores to run out.”

“We have two years of food left,
minimum.  Heck, we might have five years if we stay at less than 30 people.” 
John told him.

“I agree, but it will take at least
that long for us to figure out how to feed ourselves.  Two growing seasons, two
shots at learning how to can and dry cure things, two years at least.”  Hank
explained.

“I can’t think.  I’m exhausted.” 
Todd announced.  “I’m sorry.  It’s been too long a day, too long a journey.  I
get it, Hank.  We need to make a plan, or more importantly, execute a plan
quickly, but tonight is done for me.”  He stood.  “I’m going to bed.”  He
turned to Emily.  “Care to join me?”

“I’m always ready to hit the
sack.”  She said goodnight to everyone.

Before leaving the room, Todd
turned.  “We have 1,000 pounds of moose meat downstairs.  I propose we take the
week, eat, get better acquainted with the New York crowd, study our options,
and make a plan to move out in seven to ten days.”  He looked as exhausted as
he sounded.  “I need a week to recuperate from the trip here.  I mean, look at
poor Hubba, exhausted next to the fire.  Two weeks isn’t going to make or break
us, Hank.  We can spare two weeks.”  Todd took his wife’s hand and left the
living room.  He turned left and walked up the stairs towards the bedroom where
his kids were already sleeping on mattresses on the floor.  A crackling fire
warmed their room.

Emily and Todd quietly undressed
and put on warm pajamas.  “We made it hon, all of us, can you believe it?”  He
kissed his wife and climbed into a queen bed with an old four poster wood
frame.  “All the death and destruction, all the time between last fall and now,
all the things that could have gone wrong.  We made it to Hanover, as planned,
ahead of schedule.” 

Todd leaned back into the pillow
and closed his eyes.  He thought he heard his wife respond, but she was too
late.  He drifted off to sleep instantly.

Todd’s eyes opened as he heard a
whisper.  “Daddy, I need to go to the bathroom.”  The room was bright.  Todd
was disoriented and confused. 

“Huh?  What’s going on?”  He asked
Brian, standing next to his bed.  After a quick second of thought, Todd
realized where he was, and how he could help his son.  “Number one or number
two?”  He asked Brian. 

“I have to pee really bad.”  His
son pleaded.

There was a balcony off the back of
the master bedroom.  The door leading out to the balcony was next to the bed on
Todd’s side.  Todd sat up, the fire was going nicely and the room was warm.  He
moved his feet to the floor and walked the few feet to the door.  It was locked
and jammed shut, but with some heavy shoulder leaning, Todd got the door open. 
Todd reconsidered.  They were probably going to collect rainwater or melting
snow from the downspouts around the house.  If Brian peed on the deck, it would
contaminate their water source.

“New plan, let’s run to the RV’s
outside.”  Todd slipped on shoes.  “Can you make it?”

“If we hurry.”  Brian told him.

“I have to go too!”  Jay jumped out
of his sleeping bag and put on his coat and shoes.  They walked downstairs. 
Todd looked into the living room.  The chairs were still arranged in a semi-circle
around the fire, but the fire was out and the room was empty.  The house was
cold, warmer than the outside, but cold for a house. 

The study door was open.  Todd saw
three empty mattresses on the floor. 

“I think we’re late for
breakfast.”  Todd told his kids. 

“I heard people leave a little
while ago.  I didn’t want to wake you and Mom, but I had to go too bad.”  Brian
told him.  “I couldn’t hold it.”

“Don’t ever worry about waking us
up.”  Todd said to them.  “It’s not an issue.  It’s kind of our jobs to look
after you.”  Todd opened the door and saw both RV’s parked in front of the
house.  As cold as it was in the house, it was much colder outside.  Southern
living thinned Todd’s blood.  He was not prepared for a cold April morning in
New Hampshire.  His breath blew white out of his mouth. 

“Wow is it chilly.  Okay, this is
going to be a cold bathroom stop.  Let’s run over to an RV and use the
restroom.”

The boys scampered ahead of him.  Todd
jogged behind.  He needed to use the facilities too.  Each boy, after finishing
their business, ran out of the RV and towards the house and the warm bedroom
upstairs.  Todd was the last to use the toilet.  He made a quick exit, opening
RV door into the cold morning air. 

Todd looked up the street and saw smoke
rising from the chimneys of three houses. 

“I might actually be the last one
up.”  He mumbled.  He was too cold to care, and quickly shuffled back into the
house and up the stairs to the bedroom. 

The boys were in bed with Emily. 
They were talking and giggling under the covers, trying to stay warm.  “I have
to go to the bathroom, but it’s too cold.”  Emily told them.

“It’s cold, colder than we’ve been
in a while, but you’ll survive.”  Todd looked at a chair in the corner of the
room.  There were two bathrobes made of thick fleece neatly placed across the
back.  “I wish I had seen these before I went.”  He picked up a robe and held
it for Emily.  “I believe you are in luck.  Here is a robe for you, and it is
thick and fuzzy.”

She reluctantly got out from under
the covers, slipped on her boots and the robe, and left the room.  Todd debated
whether or not to put another log on the fire when he heard a knock on the
door. 

“Uncle Todd?”  It was Matt.

“Yes?” 

“We have breakfast going at the
other house.  I can take Brian and Jay if you want to sleep in longer.” 

“Matt, come on in.”  Todd turned to
the kids.  “Why don’t you two go up with your cousin and get some breakfast. 
I’ll wait for your mother, and follow you in a second.”

Matt opened the door and stood in
the room next to the fire.  The hallway was cold, and he warmed himself. 
“Everyone is there, and we have plenty of food.”  He turned to his cousins.  “You
should get your clothes on and we can go to Greg’s cottage.  It’s pretty neat
if you haven’t seen it.” 

Jay and Brian had yet to see the
mythical “cottage” and wanted a peak at the legendary abode.  They were out of
bed and into warm clothes in seconds. 

“Be good, and I’ll see you in a few
minutes.”  Todd gave a nod to Matt.  “Thanks, Matt, I appreciate it.  Save me what
you can, particularly some coffee.”

“You got it.  Come on guys.”  Matt
and the two boys bounced down the stairs, passing a running Emily, hurrying to
get back to the warm room. 

“Get in here so I can shut the
door.”  Todd called to her. 

“Why do you think I’m running?” 
She said, slightly out of breath. 

Emily hurried around her husband as
he closed the door.  Todd examined the room for the first time.  There was a
sitting bench at the end of their bed.  “Let’s pull that next to the fire, get
warm before we go back outside and up to the cottage.”

“I love you.”  Emily started.  “And
I realize it’s been a while since we’ve been ‘alone,’ and while we have an
opportunity right now,” she paused again, “It’s too cold.”

“Okay, I wasn’t thinking that, but
then I was, and now I’m not again.  Thank you.  I assume we have to be in a
warmer climate before we renew our marital relations?”  Todd asked. 

“At least 60 outside, and inside
for that matter.”  Emily’s comment highlighted that is was only in the low 60’s
in their room. 

“Here’s what I want to talk about
quickly.”  Todd started, ignoring the other conversation.  He sat down on the
bench close to the fire.  “Ah, it’s a lot warmer when you are almost sitting in
the fire.”  He patted the spot next to him, inviting Emily.

“So the way I see the dynamic, at
least right now, you and I need to agree about where our family goes.  I know
that sounds obvious, but what I mean is,” 

She cut him off, “You want to make
sure you and I are on the same page before we speak to the other Dixon’s at
which point you want to approach the entire tribe, right?”

“I think so, don’t you?  I mean, in
theory you and I could take the kids and the dog and go our separate way.  I
don’t think we would do that, but if something weird happens, if the dynamic of
the group turns into something we don’t agree with, well, I want to make sure
you and I are good.” 

She leaned over and kissed him. 
“We are going to be fine.  I will formally state, I don’t believe separating from
your brothers is a good idea, and I will probably say the same for separating
from Melanie and Solange.  I cannot speak for them, maybe they want to leave. 
I wouldn’t mind keeping Kelly around so she can take care of Hubba.”

“Funny.”  Todd replied.  “I’m
starting to think it might be Hubba ahead of me.”

“You’d be right some days.”  She
stood.  “Let’s get some coffee and breakfast before it’s all gone.”  She took
off her robe and found her clothes.  Emily brought in overnight bags when Todd
went up to the cottage.  “I have some clothes in here for you.  Rebecca said it
was going to warm up today, probably be in the high 40’s, maybe even mid 50’s. 
Maybe this sweater will work for later.”  She pulled a half zip cashmere
sweater out of a bag and tossed it to him. 

Todd sat on the bench, keeping warm
by the fire.

“You believe Rebecca now too?” 
Todd asked her, standing up to take off his pajamas and dress for the day.

“I’m not sure what that means, but
yes, talk to her for five minutes, you’ll understand.  She’s working above our
heads.  She’s a fantastic girl, and bright as hell doesn’t begin to describe
her intelligence.  I wish you could have seen Ahmed try to talk quant with
her.  He was some high flying investment banker, talked about analytics, wanted
to know her methodologies.  She wasn’t rude or condescending, but she politely
destroyed him.  She started talking about assumptions, parameters, working
models, regression analysis, heck, I don’t know what she was talking about, but
Ahmed didn’t either.  After a minute, he smiled and threw up his hands in a
mock bowing gesture.”

“When did all this happen?”  Todd
appeared to have missed much of the evening. 

“You were off making dinner or
putting kids to bed.  You know I’m the social one.  You’re always trying to
avoid people through projects.  I talk and listen.”  She dressed and sat on the
bench by the fire.  “Come on, let’s go pokey.” 

Todd pulled on his socks and boots,
and they made their way out of the house and to the cottage.  When they walked
out of the front door they saw John opening the driver’s door to an RV. 

“Want a ride up?”  He waved to
them.  “We are moving one of these to the Cottage.”

“Sure.”  Emily waved back.  She and
Todd jogged to the big vehicle.  “What’s up?  Why are we moving it?”

“For the bathroom, we can move and empty
these when the bathrooms are full.  The port-o-john was fine for two people, a
stretch for four people, but not practical for all of us.”  John turned the key
and the engine fired up.  “Plus, I think these bathrooms are more comfortable,
and the kids feel safer using them.”

“Sorry I bailed last night.  I was
exhausted.”  Todd said to John, putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder.

“I made that drive.  I understand. 
Besides, we have plenty of time to talk.  There are expeditions out right now,
fishing at the trout pond, checking traps, and finding a place for the kids to
play.”  He looked at them and smiled.  “You two are late to the party this
morning.”

“There better be coffee left.” 
Emily said in a threatening tone. 

“There is food and coffee.  We have
you covered.  It’s great to have milk and eggs to work with, particularly when
cooking for such a large group.  It is going to be a challenge keeping everyone
fed unless we get to an ocean or find more game.”  The RV stopped in front of
the cottage. 

Emily looked out the window.  “So
this is it, the famous Webster Cottage.”  She turned to John.  “How did Greg
figure out to stay here?  You have one smart and lucky kid.”

“I have no idea.  I had to find a
house with solar power cells to keep myself going all winter.  He and Rebecca
lived colonial style.  They even have a bathtub.  She barely knows how to
drive, and yet they brought a grocery van full of food and supplies from
Concord, including chickens, and found this old home.  They lived pretty
well.” 

John turned the RV off and started
to get out. 

Todd grabbed his arm.  “John,
before we go into the house, what kind of long range plans do you have in
mind?” 

“Today?  I’m going to relax a
little.”

“You know what I’m talking about,
come on.” 

“Geesh, when did you get so
sensitive?”  John looked at Emily.  “Maybe he needs the coffee more than you
do.”

“There are some mornings.”  Emily
laughed.  “Seriously, John.  We know the situation.  We can’t settle in Hanover,
but we can’t force other people to do what they don’t want to do.  I’m sure
that our family, the big family, can come to a decision on our next steps.  How
much are we considering the inclusion of outside people?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it?” 
John opened his arms in a fleeting gesture.  “I’m not prepared to leave some of
these people, but you’re right, we can’t force them to come with us.  We can’t
force them to become farmers or fishermen.  Maybe they have better ideas.  I
agree with you, the Dixon family will stay together.”

Emily looked out the window at the
cottage again.  “I’m not sure the new people aren’t Dixons at this point.  You
know?”  She turned to look at her husband and brother in law. 

“How about we decide this, we are
open and forthright with our plans with everyone.  We let the chips fall.  I
wouldn’t call this a secret meeting, but let’s limit these types of family only
discussions, and try to treat this as an actual tribe.”  John shrugged his
shoulders.  “That might be the best way to handle this small a group.”

Todd agreed.  “Well, my short-term
goal is to use our time in Hanover, however long that time is, a week, two
weeks, the summer, whatever, to learn to be a tribe.  To discover our skill
sets, get stronger where we are weak, create a team.  I don’t like the politics
or decision dynamics that might come into play.  I am not a coward or spineless
with my opinion, but I do not enjoy the discussions on our future when we
splinter into groups.”  Todd paused.

“But you just brought it up with me
behind closed doors.”  John replied.

“I know, and I shouldn’t have, you
can see how poorly I did it.”  Todd walked towards Emily and the side door of
the RV.  “Okay, coffee and breakfast, then let’s see what needs to be done.” 

John sat in the driver’s seat.  He
was not sure what just happened.  “I could use some more coffee too, especially
after that conversation.”  Before John jumped out of the driver’s door, Jaclyn
came in the side door. 

“Hi Mr. John, just using the
bathroom, if that’s okay.”  She said politely.  She was a great kid.  John never
had a daughter and did not know his nieces.  Jaclyn was his first experience
with a girl.  He was enjoying it.

“That’s why I brought it up here.” 
He jumped down and walked around.  There was a queue forming at the side of the
RV.  “Is everyone going to use the bathroom?”  He asked.

“Yes.”  A chorus of children told
him. 

“Sounds good to me, I’ll be
inside.”  John strode passed the line of children and into the cottage for a
fresh cup of coffee.

John heard Paul and Todd having an
animated conversation in the kitchen.  He walked through the living room,
waving to Melanie sitting on the couch playing Go Fish with three of the kids. 
John found his brothers and Emily eating and talking.  He entered the middle of
the conversation.