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Stories from the Verse
Re Verse All
Chapter 114: Beam 99
Table of Contents
Previous chapter: Takano 47
Starting back down the ramp, Beam shouted orders. “Everyone get turned around, we’re going back to camp. We’ve got a problem that’s going to take some time and work to solve.” He continued down the ramp, giving this directive periodically until he was out in the hall and found the other end of the massive line. Then he got them moving, and all into the common area of the compound that had been used by his primary group the night before. He climbed the ramp, and waited for everyone to get inside and settled.
“I need my three leaders,” he said. “They will then tell you what we’re doing.” He turned and went into the apartment, and sat in a large soft chair in the living room. The others soon arrived, and he indicated that they should also sit.
“We have a problem. There’s a very large hole in the road. I suspect that the crawlers are large enough that they can maneuver over it, but we’re not. We’re going to have to build a bridge.”
His leaders gave him blank stares.
“Well, you’ll see what that is when we finish it. It would take Bron and me quite a while to do it ourselves, so we need help. We’re going to have to find a lumber and hardware outlet where we can get tools and supplies, and we’re going to have to carry it all up the ramp maybe a third of the way to where the hole is, and then we’re going to have to build the bridge. I want a dozen men, able-bodied, reasonably strong, but if there are people in the tribe who know how to use hand tools--hammers, saws, screwdrivers, woodworking stuff--we particularly want them. Anyway, each of you needs to find four capable men from your group, and we’ll teach them what they need to know to build a bridge. They will be away from the tribe for at least all day, if that matters.
“Any questions?”
Blank stares were not really promising, but they weren’t questions, anyway.
“O.K., go, I’ll figure out lunch. Expect to settle everyone back in the same quarters as last night.”
The trio departed. Beam said to Bron, “We’re also going to need a couple cases of beer for the job site. Never worked on a construction site that didn’t have beer.”
There is a behind-the-writings look at the thoughts, influences, and ideas of this chapter, along with five other sequential chapters of this novel, in mark Joseph "young" web log entry #395: Character Obstacles. Given a moment, this link should take you directly to the section relevant to this chapter. It may contain spoilers of upcoming chapters.
As to the old stories that have long been here:
