Chapter 11

Reginald closed the phone and handed it back to Frances.

“That was the father of one of the teenage boys that invaded us, Frances. I explained what happened, and he seems grateful that his son has learned better behaviour.”

“Good. I hope they all have.”

“Apparently they told the parents that their leader had a bike accident that caused his injuries. As long as he doesn’t try that again, he may survive to adulthood.”

“Yes, dear. Fiona told us about your thoughts on the fruit juice formula, so we are working on it. Expect to hear something to our advantage shortly.”

“Excellent. I’ll leave you to it, as you don’t need me at all.”

“Oh, there are things we need you for, but not commercial negotiations, darling.” She giggled as she finished, implying that starting more babies was what she was alluding to. Reg smiled back to show he understood the underlying message.

“How are the fencing men getting along with their work?” Reg enquired.

“Very well, from what we hear. They dropped by last evening as they left, and said they were ahead of schedule. Ivan seems to have a good squad of men on that job.”

“Talking of Ivan, when are his wives’ visitors arriving?”

“They should be arriving later today, if I have the timing right. Don’t be surprised if he comes to ask you for advice, darling. You will know what to tell him, once he explains.”

“Eh?” Reginald frowned his puzzlement.

“Forget it, dear. Wait till it happens. You will understand then.”

Reginald shrugged.

“Oh, another thing, Reg. Us girls have decided to make a few hand weapons for us to use if we find ourselves facing thugs while you are away.”

She managed to make it sound like he would be their defender if he were there, but this was simply to avoid hurt feelings. She went on, “We intend to use local wood to make proper quarterstaffs for ourselves, and practice using them. If you could organise us to get a crossbow each, with some quarrels to go with them, that would help with longer-range problems, like someone using fire arrows at the house.”

Reginald’s eyebrows went up, as he had not thought about any real attack of any sort on his home, then remembered it is isolated and the girls don’t have a fortress to live in, so having weapons available might make all the difference in an emergency.

He nodded to himself, and said, “I get it. Good thinking, all of you. What about wood supplies for making quarterstaffs?”

“We have been taking walks to look at the local trees, and we have found a few that look like they will be fine for the job Getting straight limbs is almost impossible, so vertical saplings should provide what we need. “We have enough tools for the immediate task, but a couple more spokeshaves would be handy.”

Reginald eyed her again. “Are you thinking of going into mass production?”

“Well, yes, dear. With the limited import of any kind of weapons, we feel that there is a market for basic defensive weapons, and possibly a business in running classes in their use.”

“You intend to run the classes yourselves?”

“I don’t think so, for we are too busy with our children to be stuck to a routine that demands much time. Instead, we will provide an instruction manual and employ an instructor to engage with the clients and ensure they are using the techniques correctly. That way, our input is a manual and teaching one instructor how to use it with the clients. It would be much like an exercise class in the past, but with the quarterstaff as the main tool.”

“You have expertise in that art?” Reg wanted to know.

“Several of us took some instruction at the university through the self-defence classes that were aimed at female students. Stick fighting was a small part of it, but enough for us to know the basics for using any long wooden stick as a weapon. That was why we appeared with our brooms and garden hoes, etc. when we were threatened by those boys.

We’ll order a book on the subject of staff fighting and watch a video or two on the Internet, then write our own local manual, which will be geared to the student needing to protect their family at home in the countryside.”

“Makes sense,” Reg commented. “It might be helpful to tell the Governor of your plans in that direction, as he may fancy extending the training throughout the colony’s farmland areas. If that is the case, the demand for quarterstaffs will multiply, so if you start by instituting a production line for making them, they should find an easy market later.”

Reginald therefore expected to see Ivan, but the man failed to appear that day. It is the day after before he called in on his way to the fence-building team. He apologised to Frances.

“Mrs Robertson, I am sorry I couldn’t call in yesterday. I had a major contract to look over for a potential client, and I had to visit the site before being able to quote.”

“That’s fine, Ivan. You are under no obligation to visit our house every day, much though we enjoy your appearances. Now go and speak with Reginald while we prepare a mid-morning snack for everyone.”

Ivan found Reg working out back in the garden, and he welcomed the fence man.

“Hi, Ivan. How’s things? Did your visitors arrive safely?”

Ivan blushed as he replied.

“Yes, they did. Hazel and Ivy introduced them and they welcomed me with big hugs and kisses; much more physically welcoming than I expected. And Hazel approved of this embarrassing activity!”

“I see,” Reginald said, musing on what Frances had told him previously. “Anything further on that side of things, assuming you are willing to talk to me as a friend with some experience?”

Ivan looked even more uncertain as he nodded before saying, “Well, Hazel and Ivy offered them a chance of a shower after their travels, and they accepted, but then they stripped off all their clothes and handed them to my ladies for the laundry, still in my presence, mind you, and then they went for their showers. I glared at Hazel and Ivy for allowing this behaviour, but they just smiled sweetly at me, and said together, ‘Get used to it, husband.’ I don’t know what is going on, Reginald.”

I grinned at him. “Oh, but I do, Ivan. After all that has happened to me, I recognise a man being set up by his women, to get extra wives in his family.”

“Wives?”

“Yep. You know the marriage options in the Colony. The rules are aimed at increasing the population. Your wives have brought along Jade and Naomi to add to your family. As you were told, get used to it, my friend.”

“I know them as friends of Hazel and Ivy, but I don’t love them, Reginald.”

“Ivan, the correct wording to use is, ‘I don’t love them, yet!’”

“You mean...”

“I mean that when you think back to before you married your girls, they said that Jade and Naomi were waiting for Mr Right? It is obvious, even to me. Back then, they had you in their sights, but Hazel had you pinned down as hers already. You were always their Mr Right, but Hazel got to you first, so they couldn’t get you then. However, they can, now, with the marriage laws so different here.”

Ivan said, wonderingly, “They fancied me, you imagine; even back then?”

“Correct. Now, with Hazel and Ivy’s connivance, and the laws as they exist here, they can marry you as well, and everybody is happy with the outcome. Hazel and Ivy will have help with their babies when they arrive, and when Jade and Naomi decide to have babies, Hazel and Ivy will be there to assist them in turn. My family was never as well planned as yours.”

“Good God! I never expected this to happen. I was going to be happy with just me and Hazel.”

“Of course you didn’t ever envisage this situation. That is why Hazel and Ivy organised it all. They probably found out about marriage in the Colony, and encouraged you to come here, so Ivy could be your second wife. Then you were preoccupied with loving your two women and being happy with them, and they with you. They have simply extended that plan for everybody’s benefit.

All you have to do now is fit in with their scheme for your future family. How do you think I ended up with all these wives? Frances and her pals were the instigators all the way through.”

“You don’t surely think they intend for more wives later?”

“Who knows? I don’t and you don’t; probably they haven’t thought that far ahead. It depends on a committee decision by all four of them. If they see someone they think will fit in, they might sound her out about joining you, long before you are ever consulted. Alternatively, some lady who knows the new rules may see you as desirable and speak to your wives about joining. You will just have to wait and see if you get invited to the committee at some point, to be presented with a proposed new spouse, Ivan.”

Reginald grinned at the other’s discomfiture. Ivan would soon get used to the way things worked here, Reg said to himself. Reginald had another thought, and asked Ivan, “Are either of these two new ladies trained for a career, or were they aimed solely at domestic life?”

“Umm, let me think. What did Hazel tell me? Oh, yes, they are both trained nurses, not that I think that matters much on a farm in the country.”

“Oh, but that was a useful plus, which I am sure The Personalia took into consideration when they bumped these ladies up to priority travel. Black or white makes no difference to them, but trained medical staff are an essential for the colony’s well-being. There is a hospital in the first city, - Metropolis someone said it was called now - so I expect another hospital will be set up in this one, as the population expands. To begin with, I should think it will start by being a health clinic with a slant towards maternity care, and they will be looking to recruit nurses. I expect Jade and Naomi will soon be offered work here, for everyone’ details are on the colony’s population database, I was told. It makes sense.”

They were interrupted.

“Boys? Your coffee and snacks are waiting. What is keeping you?” came a shout from Erika.

Reginald replied, “Sorry, Erika. I was advising Ivan on the complicated etiquette of being a husband, and it all boils down to: do what your wives tell you!”

“Spot on!” she responded with a laugh. “That is about right, unless you are the Governor with the whole citizenry wanting to tell you what to do!”

As they sat down to sip their drinks and help themselves to slices of cake, Frances’ phone rang and she answered.

“Oh, yes ... Mister Holmes. When do you expect to be here? Great. We’ll see you then.”

She turned to Ivan and Reginald.

“That was Holmes Delivery Service. It sounds deliberately like Homes Delivery Service, as in Rehome, but his name actually is Holmes with an ‘l’, Angus Holmes. He set up this service to allow a family to order their groceries and other non-bulky items from shops in the city, pay for them by credit card, then he delivers everything in one go. He charges a minimum ten dollars for his service, but he takes a call from us of where we have ordered stuff, then he goes round to all the shops, picks it up, then delivers it to us.”

Reginald observed, “That must be quite a pile to deliver at times. How does he do it, out in the country?”

“He told me he has an electric cycle and a narrow trailer or cart. The goods go in the trailer, and he travels to the customer, hands it all over and gets his fee from us. Ten dollars is fine, as it saves us going into the city to do the shopping and haul it all back. Only a few shops have their own delivery arrangements, and Mr Holmes says he is taking over most of their delivery jobs as he can do it more cost-effectively than the shop sending out a single delivery as and when it is asked for.”

“Enterprising man,” Reginald remarked. “With our large family, this is worth it by saving us a lot of hassle over a number of shopping trips. Kids take up a lot of your time, don’t they, Frances?”

“They do. Having other spouses to share the load makes a big difference, I can tell you, Ivan.”

He grimaced. “You are pushing me as well, are you?”

She grinned. “In the nicest possible way, Ivan. If these girls fancy you as their husband-to-be, what is your objection, if your present wives are all for it?”

“No objection, as such. I just feel I am being rushed into this.”

“Did you feel the same before, when the girl you wanted to marry insisted you take her twin sister on as well?”

“That was different. When twins are separated, they feel lost, as if part of them was missing; and without Ivy with her, they would have been on different planets, making it worse for both of them.”

Frances pointed out, “Ivan, the same goes for when the man you love leaves and moves to another planet, out of your reach. That is what happened for Jade and Naomi, so when Hazel invited them here, and privately suggested they marry you, they were ecstatic. That was their ideal solution. You are not really going to refuse them, are you? That would be a really bad choice for you and them, in so many ways. It might also be regarded as an insult.”

Ivan was whitefaced as he took in all that was directed at him. He muttered, “Is it all right if I look into the matter seriously, and make up my mind then?”

Reginald looked to Frances for a reply from both of them.

“I think we can leave it to you to make a judicious decision, Ivan.”

Ivan set off on his current duties, and Frances turned to Reginald. “Reg, dear, do you want to meet Mister Holmes? He will be here in a couple of hours, give or take a bit.”

“How old is he?” Reginald wanted to know.

“Don’t know that, dear, but he must be fit and healthy with all that cycling, so not very old, I would expect.”

Reginald was not too sure that an electric bike meant much exercise unless the battery gave out, but let it pass.

“Okay, I’ll get on with the garden, and see him when he arrives. I’d like to know what his maximum load is in weight and dimensions.”

“Great. If we bring out several prams with babies in them, can you keep an eye on them while we get some housework done?”

Sighing, Reg gave in. “Yes, I can do that. If any babies need changing, can I bring them in to you girls?”

“I suppose so, for we want you to concentrate on the digging.”

“That’s what I was thinking, Frances; and I want to build a small garden wall around the garden.”

“You’ll need a good many bricks or blocks of stone or something. We don’t have that handy, so how are you going to get them here?”

“Order them from a business?” Reginald suggested reasonably.

“Yes, but how do they get them up here from the railway line, as they will come by rail? That would mean many handlers or some other means of getting them up the long steady slope to the house. That could be expensive in delivery charges. Is your garden wall worth all that expense?”

“Hmm ... I see what you mean. Even your grocery delivery man with his bike and trailer would take all day to deliver the materials up the long slope a few at a time. I’ll have a think about it while I dig.”

Reginald worked away for another hour, pondering the problem of raising weights to a higher level.

When you put it in simple terms, it is all antigravity: moving up against the force of gravity. A hot air balloon is an antigravity device; so is an aeroplane. On a more mundane action, jumping upwards achieves the same effect, counteracting gravity. We use mechanics to replace physical effort by mechanisms. Warfare is full of them: a catapult, the trebuchet, and any missile firing machine, be it arrows or cannonballs. Moving stuff more slowly takes less extreme action, but a similar expenditure of energy. You can use a ratchet to pull something up. A pulley achieves the same result, and using more pulleys gains you a more efficient multiplication of power, much as does a lever on the ground. The lever itself makes no real impact on gravity, as it simply acts as a pivot transferring power from one end of a lever to the other.

Getting back to the present-day question, there were mechanical devices used in the past to transfer goods or people from the bottom of a sloping cliff to the top. Many were known as cliff railways, as the cabin ran up the slope on rails, while another cabin ran down another set of rails, with a cable between the two and running over a wheel at the top. The one cabin balanced the other, so the only input of energy needed was when you added a load of passengers or freight or both, changing the balance so that the heavier side moved downwards, bringing the lighter side up or vice versa. The cabin at the top had to be made heavier than the lower one usually by increasing the amount of water in an underslung tank. The energy to control the movement could be from an electric motor. The water tank in the upper cabin was simply added to by a pipe until the top cabin was overbalanced and gravity moved the top cabin down and the other came up; or release water at the lower cabin until it was pulled up by the other one moving down.

Here, there was a stream nearby, so could that water be piped to two sets of sloping rails, and have the mechanism act like cabins on a cliff railway?

In theory, it could be done, but what about cost? Installation was the heaviest cost. It would take a fair amount of time, labour and materials to set up such a system, but thereafter it would cost almost nothing to work it as long as the stream still ran.

He decided to talk it over with the girls; they were clever enough. They also possessed a practical bent of mind and could determine if it was a worthwhile project. If the water was not always available, a small electric motor could probably do the job, with power from the solar panels providing the electricity. He asked them on his next break, and got what he asked for, but not the positive response he hoped for.