Chapter 21

Chaos isn’t well populated. The biggest village is close to seven thousand ... and the next is under four. While medieval England had towns close ... five or six miles apart ... Chaos didn’t see the need. England is an island ... Chaos has continents. Over the centuries, slash and burn technology and the lack of priests and a functioning aristocracy allowed for looking over the next ridge, seeing the next valley and moving to it. We’re not dealing with serfs. It was quite possible to say, “Fuck it, the neighbors are too close. Pack up Sarah. We are outta here.” And mean it.

Here, today, 20 miles is the new five. Just about a pushing day’s ride. There isn’t much foot traffic after five miles. I figured we made about eight yesterday. Thinking about it ... the camping spot was perfectly placed ... too far for the walking drover ... but not halfway. Bridgetown was precisely twenty from Painswick. At ten there was a solitary inn and stables. No houses ... just the inn for the traveler and the barn for the horses.