Cut Off (Book 1): Cut & Run by Dalton Charlie

Author:Dalton, Charlie [Dalton, Charlie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic | EMP | Survival
Published: 2020-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

24

By the time the other families arrived at the farm, the dividers in the barn were set up. Most of the beds didn’t even have mattresses. Pallets with a thin layer of straw had to do. Terrence noted that the most comfortable bed and largest room had been taken up by the first family. Niall was on his feet the moment Terrence entered. He clearly elected himself as the representative of the other families.

“Before you all get comfortable,” Terrence said, “I think it’s wise for us to organise some of the main duties. Who among you are good at cooking?”

A few of the residents raised their hands.

“Good,” Terrence said. “You’ll be in charge of cooking each meal. I’ll leave it up to you to create a rota so everyone does their fair share in the kitchen. Please follow my brother into the farmhouse. Inside, you’ll be directed to where the food is temporarily stored. Feel free to get creative with the ingredients we have on hand. I’m sure you’re all famished.”

As the cooks departed for the farmhouse, Terrence faced the remaining workers. A dozen eager and hopeful faces.

“As for the rest of you, you’re going to be in charge of the most important task. Farming. We’re going to begin right now by clearing the fields. These were once very rich and fertile lands. With your help, they will be again. To do that, you’re going to need the right tools. Please follow me.”

He led them across the clearing. Niall walked a single step behind Terrence. The others followed behind him. At the rear, arms folded, was Freya. She didn’t look comfortable to be there at all. Terrence gestured to an old shed. It was much smaller than the barn that housed them.

“This is the tool shed,” he said. “In it, you’ll find everything you need. If you’ll look over there, you’ll see the first field we need to clear. Somebody should go to the well and install a pulley system for retrieving water. We also want to ensure the water is clean. Once that is done, we’ll begin sowing seeds. Does anyone here know about crop rotation?”

Jacob – Niall’s neighbour – raised his hand. “I grew up on a farm. I know pretty much everything there is to know about raising cattle and crop.”

“We don’t have any cattle at the moment. Once we do, they’ll be given to you to take care of.”

Jacob nodded. He offered a kind look with Niall but was rebuffed with an icy stare. Politics had already reared its ugly head.

Good. Much better they fight between themselves than with him. In fact, perhaps he ought to encourage it a little…

“If you have any issues or problems and I’m not around, feel free to pass them on to Niall,” he said.

Niall’s chest swelled. Terrence felt like he should have affixed a badge to his swollen chest. Perhaps it was something to consider for later.

“Any farming ideas, pass them on to Jacob.”

Niall shrunk a little at having to share power.

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