by Steven Smith
A smattering of applause rippled through the crowd and Jim continued.
"Beginning tomorrow, we will start operating under a new system, a system under which you will have greater control of your lives and your future. And you will be able to start to rebuild your lives as individuals and families instead of just being cogs in a communal wheel. Beginning tomorrow, we will start operating under a system of credits; credits which will be earned by work and which may be exchanged for food, goods and services.
"Our food and supplies do not belong to you and your labor does not belong to us. A fair exchange makes an equitable economy in which a free market determines the value of labor and goods. Such a system is what made America what it was and enabled each person to build whatever life their talents, imagination and hard work allowed them to. It is to such a system that Stonemont will return."
The crowd was listening intently, some nodding their heads and some just listening.
Jim continued. "Beginning tomorrow, credit will be recorded for work done and traded for goods and services, including food. During the time many of us remember as America's golden age, it was possible for a man to support his family on the normal wages of his work. Certainly, some made more than others, some worked harder or longer than others and therefore were able to provide more for their families and build more wealth, but the basic salary of one adult was usually able to support a normal family.
"This is the standard by which we will establish our credit exchange. Each adult meal will be valued at two credits and each child's meal at one credit. That means that three meals a day for two adults and two children comes to eighteen credits. We will add two credits a day for rent of a tent, for a total of twenty credits. Using that as our baseline, twenty credits will be paid for each adult work day. In this way, a family can have its basic needs provided for by one working adult."
A woman in the crowd raised her hand. "What if both adults in a family work?"
Jim nodded. "Good question. Since an adult work day is credited at twenty credits, that family would receive forty credits for each day both adults work."
"What good are extra credits if the twenty credits take care of everything?" asked a man in the back of the crowd.
"Twenty credits would take care of three meals a day and tent rental," explained Jim. "But what if you don't want to just keep renting a tent and getting three basic meals a day? What if you want to buy your own tent, a bigger tent, so that your family is more comfortable and you're not as dependent on us in case you want to leave? What if you want to buy more food than just the daily rations or more clothes, better and warmer clothes when the weather starts to change? What if you want to buy a gun and ammunition to protect your family?"
"And where are we supposed to get these things?” asked another man, “and what good are credits?"
"Because we have those things." Jim said, turning and waving his arm at the barn and the trailers lined up next to it. "That is our business, salvage and trading. We prepared for an emergency before it happened and we continued to respond afterward with a lot of hard work and personal risk. We did this in order to ensure that these things would be available to us and to others who were willing to work for them. So, you will be able to buy them from us with the credits you earn working for us."
"So, you're holding food and supplies hostage!" yelled one man. "You're forcing us to do work for you in order to get food for our families! That's slavery!"
Jim thought for a moment. Was it possible that some people were really so stupid that they didn’t understand such basic economic principles? Remembering the state of the country before the collapse, he had to admit that many were.
Jim looked at the man. "What's your name?"
"Tom Cramer," the man replied.
"Mr. Cramer, did you work before all this started?"
"Of course I did," Cramer said indignantly.
"So, you and your family weren't on welfare before the power went out?"
"Of course not!" the man responded.
"What did you do for a living?"
"I delivered newspapers."
"And why did you work?"
Cramer put his hands on his hips. "To make money!"
"Why?"
"What do you mean, why? To support my family, of course."
"You mean nobody just gave you food and clothes and a place to live?"
"Hell, no. I'm no sponge. I work for a living!"
Jim looked at the man. "Well, Mr. Cramer, I'm afraid I don't have any newspapers that need to be delivered."
Jim watched the crowd as some started to smile and others looked like they were just starting to understand.
Cramer at first looked confused, then angry again. "What do you mean by that?"
"What I mean, Mr. Cramer, is that I don't have any newspapers that need to be delivered. You said that was what you did, but I don't need that. Since you said you are not a sponge, and work to support your family, do you have any other skills we might need that you could trade us for food and supplies to support your family?"
"Like what?" Cramer was now equally angry and confused.
"We need medical professionals. Are you by chance a doctor, a nurse or a paramedic in addition to delivering newspapers?"
Cramer scowled and crossed his arms. "No."
Jim acted like he was thinking for a minute. "Well, we need engineers. Are you perhaps an engineer?"
"No."
Jim started walking through the crowd toward Cramer. "Dog breeder or trainer?"
"No."
"Heavy equipment operator?"
"No."
"Carpenter?"
"No."
"Builder?"
Cramer was silent for a moment, then said in a quieter voice, "No."
Jim stopped an arm’s length from Cramer. "Well, Mr. Cramer, that's what we need right now. Since you aren't qualified in any of those areas, we also need people to unload trucks, cut trees, tend the fields and do whatever else we need on a daily basis. Now, Mr. Cramer, would you be interested in doing any of that work in order to provide for your family, or do you expect us to just give you food and a place to live without you doing anything?"
Cramer was looking less sure of himself and began to respond when Jim interrupted him.
"There is another option, Mr. Cramer. You can leave. No one is making you stay here. After all, you are not a slave."
Cramer looked stunned. He had thought others would feel the same way he did and back him up. Instead, those around him were pulling away from him. Even Patty was staying in the back of the crowd, though she had been complaining to him about her dissatisfaction with things for some time.
Jim turned around to the crowd. "Folks, we are happy to have anyone here who is willing to pitch in and help us start rebuilding some semblance of civil society. But that means everyone works for what they get. There will be no handouts to able people. In fact, we encourage everyone to not only take advantage of the work we have, but to build independence by working extra and building your own wealth, and also to market any skills you have that others might need. Our strength won't come from everyone working for one person, or even a few people, but from everyone building their own futures by their own imagination and hard work."
He turned back to Cramer. "Now, I'm getting hungry, and I imagine everyone else is too. What is your answer, Mr. Cramer? Would you like to continue to stay here at our home with us and do some work for the food and shelter we provide for your family, or will you be leaving us?"
Cramer was still angry, but was also embarrassed, which further enraged him. He had been sure he could back Wyatt down like he had so many others, and build a following of his own among the refugees at Stonemont. Instead, Wyatt had faced him down, shaming him in front of the crowd and his own family. He knew that he and his family would never survive outside Stonemont by themselves, so he realized he had to remain until he could build up enough support for another play against Wyatt. "Okay," he said through clenc
hed teeth.
"What do you mean 'okay'?" Jim asked in a voice that could be heard by everyone.
Cramer glared at Jim. "I mean okay, I'll work."
Jim nodded and turned, speaking to the crowd. "Alright folks, let's throw the meat on and have a great evening. We're happy to have you at our home."
Then he turned to Cramer and spoke quietly in his ear. "Not you. You insulted me in my home. If I have any more trouble with you, you're gone."
12
Jim could tell by the angle of the sun that it was later than he usually awakened.
The barbecue had lasted late into the night, with everyone enjoying themselves and not wanting to leave the camaraderie that was growing within the group. He had had a chance to talk with all of the compound inhabitants and get to know a little about each of them. Just as importantly, and perhaps more so, they had had a chance to talk with him, Kelly and the others of the Stonemont core group.
All in all, he was pleased with the group. Most had understood and seemed to agree with the system he had explained to them, and those who hadn't understood seemed willing to see how it would work. Everyone appeared to get along well, with a couple of exceptions, but he would keep his eye on those exceptions.
After a quick shower and shave, he descended the stairs to the kitchen where he found Kelly and Ann putting away the breakfast dishes.
"Morning, sleepy head," said Kelly, smiling. "I kept a plate warm for you and Christian's waiting for you on the patio."
Jim smiled, walking toward the coffee pot. "Thanks, babe. Morning, Ann." He put his hand on Kelly's back and gave her a kiss. "I can't believe I slept so late. What did you put in my drink?"
Kelly laughed. "Everything must have finally caught up with you."
"I guess so." He poured coffee into a thick mug, grabbed the plate Kelly had put in the warmer for him and went out onto the patio.
"Well, I thought you might sleep the day away," smiled Christian. "But I know people your age need their sleep."
"It's why I'm better looking than you, young’un. You might want to consider getting a few more hours yourself. What's up?"
"We caught a thief last night."
Jim set his coffee mug and plate on the table and sat down. "Tell me about it."
"Tom Cramer. A couple of the new guys on security caught him in the barn. One of the security guys was going to flip and pitch in with him, but the other one faced him down. We have it all on video because the barn is the one place I put cameras inside as well as out."
"Who are the security guys?"
"The good one is named Andrew McClellan. He has a wife and two young kids. They're one of the families from Family Church. The one who was going to flip is named Jeff Waters. He came in with some others we came across on the road."
"Where are they now?"
"Cramer is cuffed in the barn. Mike is watching him. McClellan and Waters were relieved at six, so they're probably catching some shut-eye. They don't know we know Waters was going to flip."
"McClellan didn't say anything?"
Christian shook his head. "No, but he was staring at Waters real hard when they made their report."
"Okay, let me eat and then I want to see the video."
Christian pushed a small laptop toward Jim and turned it toward him. "I already downloaded it for you. The sound is even pretty good."
Jim watched the security video as he ate. It showed Tom Cramer enter the barn at approximately 0235 hours, start opening boxes and searching through them. McClellan and Waters entered the barn about ten minutes later and McClellan demanded to know what Cramer was doing in the barn. Cramer attempted to talk his way out of it, saying he was just looking around, then suggested that it was unfair Stonemount was hoarding all the supplies and keeping it from them. Pulling a bottle of bourbon out of his pocket, he told the two guards that he had found a case of it and offered to share it with them if they didn't turn him in. Waters agreed with Cramer and said he would accept it, telling McClellan they had a right to something extra for providing security. McClellan took a step back, charged his AR-15, raised the muzzle in Cramer’s direction and instructed Waters to notify Christian. Waters started to object until McClellan told him again, then left the barn. Cramer continued to try to talk McClellan into letting him go until Christian entered the barn with Waters a few minutes later.
Christian leaned over and hit pause on the video. "There you have it. I stayed with him and sent McClellan and Waters back on patrol. Mike relieved me a little after six and I went to review the video."
"They still in the barn?"
Christian nodded.
"Tell me about McClellan."
"Mid-twenties. Nice but serious. Smart and a hard worker. Nice wife and two polite little kids."
“Is he any good?"
Christian nodded. "Damn good. I wish they were all like him."
"What did he do before LO?"
"El oh?"
"Lights out,” Jim smirked. “I just made it up and am trying it out on you. Like it?"
Christian chuckled. He always got a kick out of how his uncle could throw something funny into an otherwise serious situation. "Love it. Does that mean we're in the year one LO?"
Jim smiled. "Sounds good. I feel younger already. So, what did he do?"
"He ran a rough-in crew for a builder. His wife just graduated from college and was going to be a teacher."
Jim nodded and thought for a moment. "Why don't you see if he's up yet. I'd like to talk to him."
Jim had just finished his breakfast and was pouring a second cup of coffee when Christian returned with McClellan.
"Jim, this is Andrew McClellan."
Jim looked at the young man but didn't ask him to sit. "Tell me what happened last night, Andrew."
Andrew stood straight, not quite at attention, and looked Jim in the eye. "Sir, Jeff Waters and I were on patrol when we saw the interior light in the barn was on. We went inside and found Tom Cramer going through some of the boxes stored there. I held Tom and sent Jeff to get Christian. Christian came and secured Tom, then sent Jeff and I back on patrol."
Jim nodded. "A very concise report. Is there anything else you think I should know?"
"Yes sir. Tom attempted to bribe us and Jeff wanted to go along with it."
Jim looked at McClellan for a moment. "Why didn't you include that in your initial report?"
"Because I didn't think it was the main issue, sir."
"Then why did you tell me at all?"
"Because you asked me if there was anything else you should know, and I felt you should know that.”
"And why is that?"
"Sir, that is your property. Tom is a thief. Jeff was going to go along with it, which makes him a thief. I'm not a thief. You pay me to guard your property. I'm just doing my job, sir."
Jim looked over at Christian, who smiled and nodded in approval, then back at Andrew. "Have you had breakfast?"
Andrew shook his head. "No sir. I just woke up when Christian came to get me."
Jim turned to his nephew. "Christian, would you go ask Kelly if she could put together a plate of something for our new corporal of the guard, then go relieve Mike and ask him to come see me. Andrew will come relieve you after he eats."
Jim turned back to Andrew. "Grab a mug over there on the sideboard, Andrew. There's coffee or water. Then come sit down. We'll talk a bit while you eat."
13
Tom Cramer and Jeff Waters stood together at the front gate, Tom's right wrist bound to Jeff's left by crossed zip ties, surrounded by the inhabitants of Stonemont. The swiftness of their sentencing and its execution had left them both stunned, and Jim Wyatt now stood in front of them.
"Tom Cramer attempted to steal the property of others," stated Jim, in a voice meant to carry to the crowd around them. "Jeff Waters was on a security patrol, entrusted with watching over the safety and security of Stonemont while we slept. Instead of discharging those duties with honor and integrity, he agreed to
participate in that attempted theft, thereby siding with an enemy of Stonemont. Because of the trust that was placed in him, his betrayal and crime is greater."
Jim reached out and grabbed Waters' unbound right hand, holding it in an iron grip against Waters' attempt to pull away. "Therefore, an additional punishment is appropriate." Quickly, he raised Waters' hand above his head and bent his fingers back to the breaking point.
The crowd heard only the first of several snaps before the others were covered by Waters' shrieks of pain.
Jim let go of his hand and Waters sank to one knee before he was able to stabilize himself and return to both feet. He tried to put his broken fingers under his opposite arm but the pressure was too painful and he just held his crippled hand across his stomach. He broke into a sweat and began to feel nauseous as he started to tremble, his breath coming quick and shallow.
Jim stood in front of the two, waiting for Waters to be able to focus again, then spoke again to the crowd. "Societies has dealt with thieves in different ways throughout history. Some cut off the right hand. Some executed them. Others declared the offender outlaw and banished them. This last method is the path we will take, since I don't believe in executing someone for a property crime and we can't allow them to stay after having attempted to steal from us. They are now outlawed and banished from Stonemont and any of Stonemont's holdings. Further, they are now outside the protection of Stonemont and its laws, and therefore there will be no punishment against anyone who takes any action against them, regardless of what that action may be."
He paused, looking around the crowd and spotting Patty Cramer. "One final thing. Is there anyone who wants to go with them?" He waited a full minute and no one moved.
Turning back to Cramer and Waters, he stepped closer to them so he could speak quietly. "Whenever someone attacks me or my family and I let them go, I make them a promise. If you ever try to come back at me or them, I will kill you. Now get out of here."
