Second Chances (80 page)

“Never you mind,” Anne said, steering her away from the baskets. “I've got enough trouble makers and sneaks around here without you trying to nick a piece of candy,” she growled.

“Just one?”

“No. It'll spoil your appetite,” Anne said firmly. Sandra made a show of trying to get past her as she giggled. They horseplayed for a bit before Anne firmly sent her on her way and shut the door behind her.

“Spoil sport,” Sandra teased as she took herself off with a mock flounce. Before she rounded the corner, she turned and stuck her tongue out at Anne, then hightailed it out of sight.

Anne watched her go, crossing her arms as Tera came up slowly. “And what do you want little lady?” she demanded, giving her a stern look. The little girl put on her best innocent expression as she made a slow approach.

“Yeah, right. Go on, get,” Anne said, waving the girl off. “Scamp,” she growled, shaking her head as Tera took off at a trot and backwards glance. She sighed and locked the door behind her. “I can't trust anyone these days,” she muttered, pocketing the key.

------*------

Each group was greeted warmly as they were flown or driven in. Mitch reminded himself about diplomacy as he made himself available and shook hands. It looked like Anne had the bases covered though. Each representative was given a welcoming gift by Anne when they arrived he noted. It was a nice touch, he made a note to thank her properly for the hard work she and the others were putting into the meeting.

The visitors admired the base, many seemed jealous or envious. Some laughed it off. “Well, when you're a billionaire...” Trinika said, smiling to take some of the sting out of the statement but letting the jab poke Mitch.

“Yeah, I had a big war chest. I did try to send the minimum survival gear to those I knew were going too,” Mitch said.

Evan bobbed a nod. “Yeah, I remember that,” he interjected.

“Emphasis on little,” Colonel Dunn growled.

Mitch shrugged uncomfortably. “I had three tiers I set up with the investigator team. If we knew for certain someone was going, that is, if their story details matched, we sent them an advanced package. If we weren’t sure, we sent them one of the other tiers. The most basic tier was just a simple survival kit with MREs, a Mylar blanket, a life-straw, some fire starter gear, first aid kit, sewing kit, bush knife, fishing gear, solar radio, rope, compass, canteen, a book on survival...” he waved a dismissive hand. “The next had a mini stovetop that could power a device with steam, tent, solar blanket, you get the idea. I hoped that even if they didn't use it, or...died,” he said, squirming a bit. “People in the community could still use it. Upping their chances of survival.”

“My question is, how did you know we'd need it? A lot of people thought we were going to some utopia,” Colonel Dunn growled.

“I didn't,” John Duster said, holding up a hand.

“I wasn't invited,” Gunny Usher said. “For the record, most of us were taken without asking.”

“Sucks to be you,” Dunn said and then shrugged as the gunny went expressionless.

“Yeah. Well, we're here now,” he sighed after a long moment. “We might as well make the most of it.” He nodded to Mitch.

“I'm still waiting for an answer,” Dunn said almost accusingly, looking at Mitch. Others turned to look at Mitch as well. He hesitated despite the expectant looks.

Mitch frowned and then shrugged. “Simple answer is, I asked when we were first contacted. I teased as much intel as I could, then made some assumptions. Plan for the worst, hope for the best,” he said, nodding politely to the colonel.

Colonel Dunn grunted. Gunny Usher and Mister Duster nodded.

“I admit, I asked a few things, but obviously not the right questions,” John said and then sighed. “I really should have taken it seriously.”

“I thought I had drunk too much,” Curt said with a chuckle. “Shows what I know.”

“A lot of people didn't take it seriously,” Mitch sighed. “They thought it was a nightmare, thought they were nuts, whatever. Some ran,” he said.

“I know a couple who did,” Dunn admitted.

“Same here.”

------*------

Since they were still waiting on a few latecomers, Colonel Dunn toured the base with each group. His stated purpose was to get to know the place and to exercise, but he also wanted to keep an eye on his fellow reps and feel them out in an informal way.

He was a bit amused by some things, cold or indifferently bored on others. Practical things he made note of. He tried to make a mental map of the place, but the warren of tunnels was a problem. Fortunately they'd recently marked things with color codes and directions on the walls.

He was a bit put out over the sight of the near empty exercise room. “Seriously?” He jerked a callused thumb to the exercise equipment. “You really need that?” he asked, lip curling in disgust.

“We need to keep in shape. And yeah, it's a thing to do in the winter,” Anne said. “And if you look closely we've got generators rigged to some of the equipment,” she said, pointing out the small cylinders and wires connected to things like the treadmills, exercise bike and elliptical.

That brought the colonel up short. He frowned thoughtfully.

“Even with all the movies and stuff we've got, people get bored. We set up screens in front of them so they can watch while working out. That way when spring comes they will be fit and ready to get back to work,” Anne explained patiently.

“You don't do stuff during the winter?”

“Not a whole lot outside. Clear the solar panels and wind farm, farm chores, that sort of thing. Mitch does a lot of it. The robots can't handle it; it's too cold.”

“Ah,” the colonel said, nodding thoughtfully. He'd wondered about them. He made another mental note about that.

“We usually harvest three or four times a year in the good seasons and once or twice in the winter from the greenhouses,” she explained.

He frowned then nodded. He remembered seeing the glitter of the glass greenhouses when he'd flown in. “Are we going to tour them as well?” he asked.

“We can,” Anne said smiling politely as her eyes shifted to the Asian woman with them. The woman was pregnant. She must have had a hell of a time flying in, but she was a quiet little trooper. Apparently her husband had died and she needed care. She could sympathize and understand it. “Are your feet up for the walk, Yung Li?” She asked. The woman bobbed a nod.

“Okay then. This way,” she said. “I doubt Hejira, that's our resident horticulturalist and botanist, will be available to lead the tour, but I can tell you about some of the greenhouses. I know we have several types; the smallest are the temporary ones out away from the main buildings. They look like lean-tos. They are made out of plastic, but I understand some of you make them also out of salvaged window glass?” She asked looking at the Asian. The woman nodded again.

“That's good to hear,” Anne said, smiling encouragingly. “We use them as starter greenhouses to give the seeds a greater chance to take root and survive the initial growth period...”

------*------

When they were finally all in Mitch had them relocate to the great hall. A long table had been set up with pads of papers and pens. Each seat also had a cup of water. Four glass pitchers were strategically located within easy reach.

There were fourteen individuals arrayed around the table. Mitch took one end of the table; to his surprise Colonel Dunn switched with Gunny Usher and took the other end. On Mitch's right was Jack, then Mike, Chief Roberts, Evan, Olaf, the broad faced Mongol Tsakhia and then the colonel. On the other side was Gunny Usher, Adam Savant from the Prairie Village, Trinika Laffitte from the Caribbean Village, Curt Brennen from the New Falkland island, a very small and pregnant Yung Li Chow from the Asian village, and finally Kirafiki Maafouf from the African village.

There had been some question of importing people from the villages that had been scouted but not formally contacted, and even a petition to put off the meeting until all villages could send a representative. Mitch wasn't willing to wait.

“If anyone wants to, we can try to sweet talk Janet into giving us an extra cup of coffee or tea,” Mitch said. “I'm not guaranteeing success though,” he said. That got a chuckle from a few people. All had appreciated the caffeinated beverages. Several people had inquired or even begged to be sent home with a bushel.

“Okay, since we're all here, or those that can be are here, and I'm the host, we'll get this started,” Mitch said, indicating they should take a seat.

Colonel Dunn immediately objected. He pointed out that someone else should be the chair. Mitch stayed out of the argument, letting his partisans like Chief Travis, Evan, and Jack defend him. They finally held a vote, and Mitch was made chair.

Mitch nodded, glad that nonsense was behind him. For some reason he noted a look of amusement in the colonel's eyes. Not quite annoyance, but he seemed pleased. Mitch wasn't sure why. Did the man do that to help or hinder? He couldn't get a read on the man.

“The first, okay, now second thing on the agenda is...” He paused and looked at his list and then nodded. “Okay, local autonomy of individual towns or villages as well as their borders. I was hoping we'd start with the ideals of constitution but the majority picked that. Does anyone object to that? I hope not since everyone got a copy of the agenda before we started,” he said.

“It's on the table; let's get it over with,” Roberts said. “Got a map handy?”

“Hang on a minute. How do we determine the...size?”

“States I suppose you could call it,” Evan said. The colonel looked at him. “Countries if you prefer, though I think it's a tad silly to consider a country of a hundred souls,” he said.

“True,” Curt said. Olaf and a few other representatives nodded.

“We can use landmarks to distinguish borders,” John said quietly.

“Good idea,” Gunny Usher said, nodding to John. “Mountains and such?”

“Rivers, mountains...whatever works. I understand that was how they did it with the states and with countries back on Earth,” John said.

“Any word on Earth?” Colonel Dunn asked.

“We'll get to that. Also the map,” Mitch said, frowning. He was hoping they'd stay on task but he was starting to realize it was a bit like herding cats. And about as much fun, he thought gloomily.

Mitch pulled up a map on the main screen, and they started to wrangle immediately. The Falklands group had it easy; they claimed the island they were on as their own, the smaller vacant island north of them, as well as the water around both.

Dunn wanted to defend what was his. He was adamant about it and wanted the largest land mass possible. Areas like John's northern village were easily settled. They settled on a one-hundred-kilometer triangle shape with his fort near the center.

“So we have a precedent?” Curt asked.

“I think the New Falklands islands was the precedent,” the gunny said.

“Oh. Oh yeah.”

“We've got the beginnings of a template,” Mitch observed. “But some of the other locations are close to others or are in contention. I suggest we table the discussion for now and work on it when tempers are less involved,” he said. “We can work on the initial draft of a planetary constitution,” he suggested.

“That's a bit ambitious don't you think?” Evan asked doubtfully. “I mean, come on Mitch, there are only so many of us here. We really should put that off for a later discussion when more villages are here to participate,” he said.

Mitch shrugged. “We can all agree on an initial outline. Structure with more to follow. And of course we can agree to do a referendum on the subject,” Mitch replied doggedly. The idea of a constitutional convention was derailed repeatedly however.

“Look, I know you mean well, but it's too much too soon. We've got other priorities,” Gunny Usher said, when he could tell the others werI the getting annoyed or frustrated. The idea was tabled and put off.

------*------

They broke for a late lunch several hours later. Janet gave Mitch a look; she wasn't happy about running the lunch crowd through the kitchen or in other places. Nor was Anne. Fortunately a few people had gone outside to picnic, making that chore easier.

Mitch needed the break; he was starting to get a headache and was glad there was a long table between him and a couple people, mainly the colonel. The man just had to be a pain in the ass. He wasn't sure what his problem was.

He planned to discuss various things in the initial conferences. It was really a place to feel each other out, get to know each other. Usually, in politics parties or events served that purpose. He wanted to dive right in and get to the point. Anne had wanted a party but he'd nixed it, not wanting to seem too rich and extravagant. Now he regretted that. They spent the rest of the day working on amending the agenda. He reluctantly came to the realization that his hopes and ambitions of unity would have to be scaled back.

Anne checked in with him during each break. In the evening she reported that some of the representatives were in discussions, sometimes heated ones with each other. “I thought they were tabling it?”

“Sometimes people make agreements out of the boardroom, Mitch,” Anne reminded him.