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Pricey Diary,
It’s me, Jessica.
I went to the market right now!
Nicely, Dad, Mr. Miller, Jack, Rae, and I went to the market right now.
It was so totally different and loopy!
Mr. Miller needed to construct a small windmill to energy a pump for each the home and the livestock. Mr. Miller and Dad labored up plans for one, however they wanted some components. Dad requested Jack if he thought the market would have a number of the components Mr. Miller wanted. Jack thought so, so long as they’d issues to commerce the components for.
I requested to go together with them!
Dad seemed unsure at first, trying to Jack for recommendation.
Jack mentioned since Andy was gone, the individuals on the market had ‘elected’ a retired sherif with two deputies. The remainder of the group would again him up. There was a fundamental algorithm, however they have been ‘extra like pointers. There have been nonetheless some shady individuals round, but it surely was comparatively protected so long as we stayed vigilant. ‘Purchaser beware,’ no matter meaning.
Rae heard of the plan to go to the market and mentioned she was in. She had issues to commerce. Then, each Dad and Jack have been okay with me going. I used to be a bit irritated that they appeared to assume I used to be naive. Diary, they have been proper. I’m glad Rae was there.
Everybody met at our dwelling within the early morning. Jack and Rae had breakfast with us. Mr. Miller declined as he ate earlier than he made the hump to our place. He did have a cup of espresso, although.
I requested him the place Billy was. Mr. Miller merely mentioned, “He’s guarding the farm.”
Over espresso, Jack mentioned nobody was to go off on their very own. We’d all keep collectively. Everybody was to maintain their eyes out for something that appeared off.
Mr. Miller introduced 5lbs of maple cured and smoked bacon, maple syrup, and honey to commerce for components.
Rae had half a dozen quart-sized jars packed filled with canned seasoned venison with onions, potatoes, and rutabaga—a ready-cooked meal in a jar. One jar might simply feed two individuals.
We left for the market to reach by noon when the variety of individuals keen to commerce can be at its peak.
Earlier than the ability went out, I by no means considered how hills, even low ones, might make strolling harder. Now, I used to be feeling it—feeling it in my ft and legs. And that was simply on the best way to the market!
The market simply appeared to pop up alongside the highway. It was an absolute ‘chaos’ of slapped-together wooden shacks, damaged down vans, cargo vans, different autos, and even two tractor-trailers. It centered on a small clearing on the crossroads of the county highway resulting in the bridge and the Previous River Highway. The river to the West and the closely wooded and hilly terrain prevented something a lot bigger. Individuals milled about totally on foot, however some pushing bicycles. I noticed just a few individuals on horses. A number of fires have been going to assist individuals preserve heat, and some people have been cooking one thing. Despite the fact that I ate breakfast, once I smelled the new meals, I used to be immediately hungry.
Individuals have been speaking, some laughing, others haggling over an merchandise for commerce. Winter hats, coats, and boots of every kind and colours, from orange blaze to hunter camouflage to navy blue. Practically everybody was carrying some type of rifle, shotgun, or a drop-leg holster like Jack wore. Jack mentioned if somebody tried to ‘begin’ one thing, they might rapidly discover themselves surrounded til the sheriff and his deputies might arrive to type issues out. Because the new association after Andy and his deputies have been gone, issues have been significantly better. And no taxes.
As we walked by the market, a number of individuals referred to as out to Jack. He then took their arms and warmly greeted them, asking how they and their households have been doing. It was a facet of Jack I had by no means seen. Rae mentioned he was ‘enjoying’ the gang.
Simply off the 4 corners, sitting on an enormous log in entrance of a small fireplace, was an previous man with a protracted beard, a weathered leather-based hat, and an equally weathered leather-based lengthy coat, plucking a banjo. Seeing Jack, he stopped to shake Jack’s hand in greeting.
“Good to see you, Jack,” he mentioned with a heavy Irish accent.
“Good to see you, Sean.”
Jack reached out to shake his hand however handed one thing to Sean, who rapidly slipped no matter it was into his lengthy coat. Jack then requested the place the components Mr. Miller was searching for may very well be discovered. With out hesitation, he nodded over Jack’s shoulder.
“North Previous River Highway, proper facet, you’re searching for Nate. Humorous inexperienced hat, large man with a purple beard and mustache.”
He then checked out me and requested what my title was. After I replied, “Jessica,” he started plucking the banjo at a speedy tempo, sometimes utilizing his thumb to thump the banjo cowl like a mini-drum. He sang a music a few girl named Jessica, whom an Irish sailor longed to see once more. When he completed, a number of individuals who stopped to hear round us started to applaud vigorously. Rae did, too.
Jack went handy him one thing else, however he held up his hand and, in his robust Irish accent, merely mentioned, “The inspiration was value it,” giving me a wink and a smile.
Jack mentioned to Sean, “softy,” with a smile.
I blushed.
Dad didn’t look thrilled.
Jack then turned and led us throughout to North Previous River Highway. He defined Sean and a number of other others have been the unofficial organizers of the market. They saved the highway clear, made positive individuals used the outhouses, and utilized home made lye to them as wanted. If somebody was cooking one thing for commerce, it needed to be moderately sanitary, and the meals needed to be actual. No pointless ‘fillers,’ no matter these are. They have been additionally the one ones who might push again in opposition to Andy and his deputies after they have been round. Sean was the ‘data desk’ despite the fact that there was no desk. He knew nearly everybody out there, who had what to commerce and the place they may very well be discovered. For commerce for data to make navigation of the market quicker, a bit right here or a bit there and the occasional music, he ate nicely or might commerce for one thing else of ‘worth.’
We have been making our approach by the market when some unkept, greasy-looking man watching me smiled with yellow enamel and referred to as out, “Hey, little lady! How a lot?”
Rae put her arm round my shoulder and responded, “She shouldn’t be !”
“How about you,” he requested Rae, grinning even larger.
“I’m not both!”
Diary, I’ve by no means seen my Dad even trace at taking a violent motion in my life, however the look in Dad’s eyes, I feel he was about to make use of his rifle on the yellow tooth man when Jack stopped and rotated. The person noticed we have been with Jack, his eyes went extensive, his yellow smile gone.
“Whoa! Jack,” he held up his arms, empty. Hey man, no hurt, no foul. Simply asking!”
Jack paused for a second, then nodded and mentioned, “Proper, Bob. No hurt, no foul.” Jack glanced at Dad and gave a single nod, as if to say every little thing was okay and to depart it.
“What did that man imply?” I requested Rae. She mentioned she would clarify later as we continued on our approach.
We pressed on into the market until Jack discovered an enormous man with a inexperienced beret and purple beard.
As they shook arms, Jack launched himself. Nate mentioned he had heard about Jack and he was reliable. Jack merely shrugged however then turned to Mr. Miller and Dad and mentioned, “These are the lads you can be buying and selling with. I’ll vouch for them.”
Nate nodded understanding after which requested what they have been searching for. Mr. Miller gave Nate the fundamentals. Nate thought for a second and urged just a few components when Dad interjected with specifics. Nate gave a broad smile and mentioned, “You’re an engineer.” It was a press release, not a query. Dad nodded. Nate gave a chuckle, provided his hand to Dad, and mentioned, “Good to fulfill a fellow engineer!”
Then, for the following half hour, the three of them completely geeked out about Mr. Miller’s windmill.
Jack and Rae each turned and watched the individuals strolling about. Jack motioned for me to come back nearer and whispered into my ear,
“The group. Watch them. Not solely the look of their eyes however their physique language. Be aware in your thoughts’s eye how they carry themselves. Are they nervous? Are they relaxed? Are they hostile? Are they pleasant? Who’re they speaking with? Watch them, too. Rae is doing the identical factor.”
Whereas each Jack and Rae appeared relaxed, they held their rifles in a fashion that seemed comfy and relaxed however might simply be used if wanted. I took an analogous stance with my rifle, watching the gang as Jack instructed and making psychological notes.
After we have been ‘humping’ it to the market, Jack mentioned haggling on the market was the norm. Haggling was extra an artwork kind than a science. In the event you haggled poorly, that was on you. Nevertheless, if somebody cheated and didn’t ship what was agreed upon, phrase would get out. Nobody would commerce with somebody like that. On the market, title and status have been gold.
Mr. Miller mentioned he was okay with haggling. He had been to a whole lot of county gala’s and livestock auctions. Mr. Miller traded all of the maple syrup, all of the honey, and three of the 5 kilos of cured bacon for the components he wanted.
As soon as they shook on the deal, the gadgets have been exchanged, and we left and made our approach again to the 4 corners.
Sean greeted us warmly within the afternoon mild.
Jack advised him of the remaining bacon Mr. Miller had and Rae’s canned venison to commerce.
With out hesitation, Sean hooked his thumb behind him and mentioned, “See Anne.”
Jack nodded and led us away to South Previous River Highway.
We moved previous a lot of the market, and Jack took us on a path main into the woods.
The woods opened to a good-sized meadow with three buses within the center. The rear ends of the buses have been backed up to one another, with a clearing within the center and a big fireplace pit. Every of the buses’ sides was buried with a deep earthen berm and topped with thick uncooked logs slightly below the bus home windows.
Jack mentioned that about two weeks after issues went ‘sideways,’ Sean and his buddies drove the transformed buses right here, stole a again hoe, and constructed up the berms across the buses. He additionally mentioned to not ‘stray’ off the trail, otherwise you may lose a leg or extra, and to maintain our arms within the open, off our rifles.
He stopped fifty ft away and referred to as out,
“Anne! Sean despatched us!”
The again of one of many buses opened, and a lady older than Rae however youthful than Joanna hopped down the steps. She smiled broadly and exclaimed in an accent much like Sean’s, “Jack! Good to see you lad!” She then shouted over her shoulder, “The soup is sizzling!”
I noticed motion contained in the buses, however nobody else got here out.
Jack later defined that “the soup is sizzling!” was a passphrase for “all clear.” Had Anne mentioned, “The soup is chilly!” we might have been shot proper then, proper there.
Diary, I almost peed myself on the considered individuals aiming at me with loaded rifles and safeties off at that very second.
For Mr. Miller’s bacon, Anne traded animal dewormer. For all six of Rae’s meals in a jar, she traded quite a lot of seeds in packets marked “heirloom” and two dozen column-like bee wax candles.
Anne provided to host us for dinner, however Jack mentioned we would have liked to get going to get again dwelling earlier than darkish. I used to be so hungry. I needed to remain for dinner. However I didn’t say something.
On our approach out of the market, Rae pulled out a worn wax paper bag and provided it to me. I pulled out a bacon and inexperienced onion biscuit. The highest had been rolled in warmed bacon grease. Rae mentioned it was hardy and calorie-dense.
It was a bit dry however so good on the similar time.
Diary, I ate two.
About 1stMarineJarHead
1stMarineJarHead shouldn’t be solely a former Marine, but additionally a former EMT-B, Wilderness EMT (courtesy of NOLS), and volunteer firefighter.
He presently resides within the nice white (i.e. snowy) Northeast together with his spouse and canine. He raises chickens, rabbits, goats, sometimes hogs, cows and generally geese. He grows numerous veggies and has a bizarre fondness for rutabagas. He enjoys studying, writing, cooking from scratch, making charcuterie, goal taking pictures, and is presently increasing his woodworking abilities.
