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Woke, pulling the covers over my head, seeking refuge from the blazing sun, alone. Last night’s guest, gone.
Voices, a few, filter through the adjacent compartments. No electronics, no notifications, no beeps irrupting the moment, no vehicles or air craft cacophony polluting the air, just disturbing silents. The technology that once kept us constant company, now artifacts of a foiled past. The news, talking heads, geniuses, always assured us the next solution would be our salvation. Others predicting the rapture, the seconding coming was close at hand, our salvation would soon return from the clouds. Perhaps AI would launch the eventual solution. A miscalculation, I fear. Gray bearded scientists and intellectuals, these great minds would lead the way volitionally, share their conviction. Of course, this will turn out well. Nothing man proposes to do will be impossible for us. There is always a silver lining, just waiting to be corralled.
Who really cares, every day mirrors the previous. In the mind of most, the world collapsed quickly, overnight. I remember someone always spouting off, “I feel optimistic. The cup was half-full now,” now depleted, vaporized by the unknowable. The opportunity cost, never fully calculated.
Agitated by a recent pledge, snuck out, avoiding everyone, recalling the phrase out-the-back-Jack, rephrased in my head out-the-back-Jesse, saddled up and returned to yesterday’s encounters. Told them I would be back in twenty-four hours. Here I was, idiot, on a fool’s errand. Promise kept.
I told them I would be back. Currently, waiting on our imaginary border. Wondering who would return, Team ‘sure we will barter,’ or Team ‘revenge?’ I waited and waited. As I waited, I realize someone was approaching from behind. I spun the horse, hand on my gun, and saw Addison. Addison was a petite, I guess mid thirties, enigmatic, and dare I say attractive women. We hardly ever sought to know or impose on each other’s past. Having seen her practice on our sad looking gun range, she was very capable. That’s all I needed to know. She was confident, and showing up today, devoted to a common cause.
“Afternoon. And what’s up?” I ask.
“I was wondering the same,” she replied.
“Thought there might be a trade possible with the first group, unless they don’t was to be seen working with us or trading with us,” I shared, “that and avoiding the critical crowd.”
“Seems being here is above and beyond what one might seem reasonable,” she responded.
She was right. I was just steering clear of questions, criticism, and being given a new deadline.
Waiting, small talk, never revealing too much history, noticed pulling away from the stables a wagon and, seriously, the remaining team members, headed in our direction. I’m sure Addison noted my irritation.
“We are a team, like it or not,” she smiled smugly, “and looks like we have more company.”
From the east what appears as yesterday’s cohort moving in our direction. Yesterday eight, today, quick count eleven. In my head, struggling to form a plan, drawing a blank. Could high tail-it up the trail or stand our ground and play this out hoping for the best? Behind this group appeared a buggy with several others. We are clearly out gunned.
“So boss, what’s the play?” she asked.
“Don’t call me boss. We wait.”
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