Patreon or PayPal Me keeps this site and its author alive. Thank you. |
Stories from the Verse
Con Verse Lea
Chapter 41: Beam 137
Table of Contents
Previous chapter: Hastings 243
Over the next two days the white-haired man scavenged inside the villa, looking for anything he thought would be good to take with them. He encouraged Bron and Ashleigh to do the same, telling them that they would want camping gear if they found it, and combat gear if they saw something useful.
In regard to the latter, he found a vest that fit him fairly well. It appeared to protect front and back with padding packed with metal fiber, probably their version of a bullet-proof vest which he suspected protected against more primitive weapons as well. He also found that the commander wore an apron and leggings similarly made which he was able to adjust to fit to himself, and something like an open-faced motorcycle helmet which wasn’t quite a custom fit for him but was close enough.
He also found a couple tents, small enough to carry but large enough to sleep two each, and decided these would be needed. He realized, too, that he had no real bedding, having made due with whatever he found along the way, and of course with Sophia’s stuff. That was going to be a problem, twice--once now when they were headed out to camp in the woods, and again whenever they caught up with Sophia, who probably would not like the idea of sharing her bed with Ashleigh. Well, that was something to face after he died again. Maybe one of them would get lost somewhere.
His search also provided some camping cookware and a small hand-drawn cart, in which he put the camping supplies and a fair amount of food that would keep a few days--some cheese, some salt pork, and, reluctantly, some rice. He found a couple of jugs that would hold about two gallons each, and although he was tempted to fill them with the rice beer he decided that they needed to take water. At this point his cart was getting heavy, and he started worrying about whether the wheels would be able to manage the woods, as he planned to head cross country rather than following the roads, but he figured if Bron’s cart could manage so could this one. Anyway, he would have to have Ashleigh pull it, because between his backpack, tool chest, and rifle he was going to have his hands full.
It was nice sleeping in that comfortable bed with her; it was nicer not sleeping in that comfortable bed with her, but he tried not to dwell on that too much during the day. Hopefully the tent would give them enough privacy that he could continue to enjoy not sleeping with her.
At breakfast the third day he announced, “Pack everything you want to take. We are leaving today, right after lunch.”
Ashleigh said, “What, don’t you like it here? I like it here.”
“I like it here very much, and I’m glad I could give you such a comfortable honeymoon,” Beam replied. “However,” and as he let the thought hang, Bron stepped into the gap.
“However, the owner of this house is not going to leave us unpunished for this for much longer, and we need to be gone before they arrive, yes?”
“Exactly,” Beam said. “I think they won’t be here before lunch today, but they might be here before nightfall tonight. We need to be far enough away that they can’t easily catch us, so expect to walk far and fast.”
Ashleigh was right; he was going to miss this place. But then, there was nothing for it, because Bron was also right--they couldn’t stay here much longer, and it would be better to have a head start than to be running with dogs on their heels. It was definitely time to leave.
There is a behind-the-writings look at the thoughts, influences, and ideas of this chapter, along with twenty other sequential chapters of this novel, in mark Joseph "young" web log entry #465: Characters Wander. 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:
