Chapter 2

We woke the next morning to the smell of breakfast. Linda and Tony were in the kitchen of the house cooking. Janet lay next to me and said, "They live here also. Trudy and Haney live next door along with Susan and Ann. Our compound had been started in my absence. When we left the bed, washed and went in to eat breakfast. I looked at Linda and said, "What is the disposition of the Cincy's?"

"All are dead. Except for Hollar and the man who killed Rachel and Bebby, they were quickly killed. Those two took a while dying but they deserved it. The bodies will be burned because that is the way of the Oaks."

"After I eat, I'm going to check with Robby and start some preparations in case the Cincy's are coming. We shouldn't be caught unaware."

Janet said, "You also need to look in at the institute. We have developed a gun to use for protection in the future. You started us and Roger has worked hard to build a few more along with ammunition which we have tested successfully to help when you attacked."

"Okay, I will do that, too. First, though, is to spend some time preparing for any invasion."

We finished eating and left Linda and Tony cleaning up with all of us meeting at the institute later. I found Robby looking somewhat tired but sitting in the town square talking. He looked up and saw me, saying, "Here's Jonathon. Let's find out what he thinks."

"Jonathon," one of the others started, "We have heard from the scouts. There is a large party at the river up north. They will be starting to cross today. What do you think we should do?"

"Do we have a report on how many 'large' happens to be?"

"Yes, the scout who reported said they had counted over two hundred and there were at least that many more. They saw none but fighters."

"Okay, I think we need to get someone up to the river to talk to them and determine their plans. If they want a fight, the sooner we can attack, the better. They will outnumber us. If we allow them to cross the river without a battle, it will much harder to win. Who will be Elder to replace Eric?"

One of the older surviving Oaks said, "We have discussed that issue. Until we are safe from this attack, we want you to be our Elder. We decided that one leader for your party and our town is best for this time."

"Okay. I hope your trust is not misplaced. Now, we need to determine how many fighters we can move immediately to the river and start them moving. Second, we need to find out who will fight with a bit of training, prepare them and move them out. Finally, with that first party, we need to send someone to talk to the people on the other side of the river and find out what they intend to do, just to be sure. I really think that is the main Cincy party and they will not be friendly."

"I will go to talk," said one of the older Oaks. "I'm really too old to fight but I have been in a number of battles years ago."

"Okay," I replied, "Go with the first party and have someone report back. You will be the leader there until I or Robby come. Send a quick messenger back regardless of the news. Robby, appoint a second in command in that group and get them moving now. There is something I need to see at the institute. Does anyone need me for anything else for a while?"

I saw Nan and Nor together looking scared and very lonely to one side of the square. I motioned to them to follow me and left for the institute.

There, I met Roger who had developed the gun, a muzzle﷓loading musket. It would be faster and easier to use than the flintlocks. He had tested it by shooting it before and then shot the Cincy's in the battle. They were going to use it anyway when we started our attack because they couldn't hold out much longer. Everyone there mourned the loss of Bebby and Rachel. I appointed Roger and Nan, who had worked with Bebby and Rachel, as leaders of the institute reporting to me through Janet.

With that accomplished, I asked Roger how many muskets he had along with powder and shot. I had to explain the terms though he caught on quickly and said those names were better than the ones he had thought to use. At any rate, he had one other musket, plenty of powder and about fifty ball shots. I told him to work on more shot and more muskets as quickly as he could. I also told him that I would send him some help and some men to train on the muskets.

I went to Janet. "I have some news also my Janet. Calver gave me these two to take with me. They need to know their mistress and I need to be able to move around right now. Will you deal with them?"

"You need to explain a bit more, Jonathon."

"When Calveen and I arrived at Sin Loos, we stayed with Calver. He assigned these two to serve me and then sent them with me when I left. He had told me that they like each other too much and might well be told to dance if he didn't get them away from Sin Loos."

"You have fucked them?"

"Yes and I have told them of you and that you would be their mistress."

"Okay, Jonathon. I will talk with them and deal with them."

"Also, my Janet, I have told Roger and Nan to lead the institute and report to me through you." That seemed to placate her a bit. I left her questioning the two.

I went back to the town square. There, I told them what was happening at the institute and my instructions for them. I asked for people to be sent to help Roger and, from Robby, for two or more men to learn to shoot. This was quickly arranged.

Now, all we could do was wait. I told the men at the square that I was going back to the institute and told Robby to find a bed and get some rest. After he left, I appointed four of the older Oaks to take turns being in the square for reporting purposes around the clock. Then, I left for the institute telling the current watcher to let me and not Robby know when there was a report from the river.

At the institute, Roger had help and was working on producing more muskets. He had made a number of barrels but now had help in completing them. He had two men making powder and two more making ball shot. He was teaching his workers what to do. He reported that he would go back to trying to make the process faster once he had his helpers trained.

Janet came in with Nan and Nor. She said that the two girls were being put to work feeding the institute's workers and would stay with us.

I wanted to look at the computers to determine what we might find that could help us currently. Bebby and Rachel had hooked up a number of servers and networked everything. This gave access to more information than had been available previously. We would miss them but their work would continue and would have value.

I was looking at ore smelting with Roger and found a useful article on scrap iron recovery, which really excited him. There wasn't much rare ore but there was plenty of scrap iron. We were in the middle of that when I was notified that there was news in the square.

When I arrived, all four of my guys were there plus a more rested Robby. The Elder in charge at the river, Mickey, had made contact with those across the river. They were Cincy's and were not peaceful unless we surrendered without a fight. I sent the messenger back with a message to delay the crossing as much as possible with the men available and that it would be at least two days before Robby could have any substantial reinforcements there to help them. He left at a gallop. "I need to tell you what information I have from the institute." I said. "Roger has made and used in the fight two muskets. These are distance weapons that use an explosive charge to fire a metal ball at the enemy. With two shots, he was able to disable five Cincy's, killing three. That is a useful weapon. I am going to send one to the river to help hinder a crossing. We will retain the other here for training as Roger struggles to make some more. He is doing his best and will report to me through Janet. Also reporting through Janet will be Nan who had worked with Bebby and Rachel on the computers."