Shatto's Way

by Roy F. Chandler

  Whenever he came, Toby always brought along something neighborly. The glowing coal bed was in anticipation of his arrival. Men and women alike fairly licked their chops and their slack bellies rumbled in at least equal excitement.

  If they had been so inclined they could have wondered at the changes nine months had made. That time ago they had been safe in solid homes with full cellars and useful cars in the yards. Stores bulged, bank statements balanced, and their televisions told them how secure they were.

  Now they had been torn from their land and forced to band together to avoid being robbed of what little they still possessed. Vandals plundered the countryside like raiding Shawnee and they did not even have a fort to crawl into.

  Where had the Army, National Guard, and the State Police all gone to? They had learned the answers over the months. Without fuel, and offered only valueless currency, the men had begun filtering away. Officers as well as enlistees went home to tend their families. Armories were plundered and mobs became truly dangerous even to the remaining military. The martial law declarations broke down when trucks and tanks could not roll. Fire departments sat idle without fuel or water pressure as cities burned, and police officers quickly gave up open warfare when they too went unpaid and were too often out-gunned.

  What fools went around smashing and destroying the utilities no one knew but they were probably among others that looted hospitals, pharmacies, and every store they could find.

  Through a terrible winter Perry Countians had endured at least as well as any others, but reserves that had seemed substantial were gone, people had been killed, and sickness was taking more as malnutrition took increasing toll.

  Toby Shatto scared them a little. Despite their own fighting, most had shot no one. Shatto alone had killed many. How many, was exciting speculation. A few had seen some of the bodies Toby left lying around but only Chop went over there regularly. When asked, Chop only shrugged and said, "Well, Toby don't keep count but I'd guess he's killed near eighteen people."

  The thought of it was frightening. Knowing what he'd done made just looking at Toby Shatto more than a little unsettling. Now they were offering to throw in with him, and that raised goose bumps on most of them.

  Chop claimed rumors of Shatto's hoard had spread all over and at least some of those Toby had shot had come looking for it. If that was so, Toby might be more than willing to have help at hand. Still, he'd done well enough so far without them. Could be he was coming over to tell them "No", and that possibility scared them all.

  Despite the solemnity of the occasion, spirits were raised by even the possibility of productive change, and the likelihood of more than minimal supper was itself an event. Yet, when Chop and Toby came up the drive they were greeted with a reserved dignity that became people of respect. They needed help, but they weren't broken and they weren't begging.

  The two men put their bundles on one of the tables drawn close, and Toby went around shaking hands, talking serious or making jokes that caused welcome laughter and helped loosen things up.

  Usually he came by when they were working, and he'd see only a few or wave from a distance as he passed. It was nice to be relaxed and have a chance to watch him when he wasn't really looking. Knowing how much he could mean to them added importance to the watching, and only the younger children missed their chance.

  They supposed he looked about the same. Hunger hadn't leaned him, but the vicious times had drawn his face some, and his black Shatto eyes had a cold glitter that got reflected around a too grim mouth. Except when he laughed of course, then his features lit up and his straight even teeth were bright against his naturally tanned skin, and every woman there wanted to mother him.

  Toby had always had that special appeal, and it made him memorable. Everybody old enough remembered when Toby Shatto led the Greenwood team. Other football heroes were hardly recalled, but Toby always came up in sports conversations. Now, here he stood, old Toby Shatto, sided by big old Chop Clouser—like he'd always been. For most it was downright reassuring.

  Women began laying out the good things that Toby had brought over, and the oohing and aahing started with people gathering around to see.

  Toby said, "If the meal doesn't suit, you've got Chop to blame. He said we needed special things so he picked 'em out. Hell, he probably only got stuff he likes!"

  "Man, Toby, this is eatin' like we used to do. Nice goin', Chop!"

  "I'm going over and beat my gal for not marryin' you, Toby. Here I am skinnied down to nothin' and I could be living high with my son-in-law."

  The women opened cans and jars, filling pots and kettles and getting them over the coals. The timing of each cooking was argued over, and the rattle of cutlery and crockery rose above the shooing away of men and children.

  Chop had picked with some care. Bellies shrunken from too short rations wouldn't hold a lot, and mostly they hungered for familiar things they'd done without.

  He had filled two packs and given them each two bags to carry over. Toby had grumbled about the load, but Chop knew he didn't really care. Toby was set to put out a real feast to make the way for what he had to say.

  As soon as they arrived, men had come sidling up to Chop asking if Toby had agreed. Chop put them all off by saying he wasn't sure—and he wasn't! He thought Toby liked the idea of going together, but he had never really said so.

  With all their talking, Toby still hadn't committed himself, and the damned hurricane that washed out all their work had interrupted their talks just when they were getting into hard details of how it could be. Chop Clouser was as anxious to find out as the rest were.

  The great eating could be a way of sealing a bargain, but it could also be a gracious way of saying "No." A knot tightened in Chop's belly as he wondered where he'd turn next, if that was the case.

  The cooking didn't take all that long and the children were lined up first or sat with older ones if they were too young. Then came the adults making appropriate noises of appreciation and keeping their portions small until they were sure there'd be enough for all.

  Toby had insisted that Chop post a few sentries, a thing they rarely did. With so many people, Chop couldn't imagine anyone bothering them, but he'd might as well start doing it Shatto's way, because if they reached agreement he'd be doing a lot of it.

  He noticed that Toby never did lay his rifle down and plainly kept an eye and an ear tuned away from the gathering. When he sat down he picked a place with a building to his back, and even while he talked and ate, those hard Shatto eyes kept looking around. Toby had digested some bitter lessons it looked like, and Chop felt a little ashamed that he hadn't picked up the same wariness and sensible habits.

  They ate slowly, savoring old tastes. Some guessing at who had put up the preserves old George Shatto had stored. They had corn and red beets along with dehydrated potatoes that tasted a lot better than they'd remembered. With a big dab of tropical butter melted on top it went down mighty easy.

  There was hard sausage and some highly spiced jarred beef that reawakened taste buds. There was no bread but they had saltines that were crisp with plenty of salt, and most appreciated by many was real coffee with sugar and thinned out condensed milk for cream.

  Finally there was canned fruit all around, and no matter how Toby decided, they figured he'd done them all proud this night.

  It was still light when the women quit clattering and everyone could gather at ease by the fire. It seemed proper that Toby sat on a big log facing them with Chop at his right hand. This meeting was really his, but it was still remarkable how when he got ready to talk they all quieted and paid attention. If it had been Chop, they'd have gabbled on until they got ready to listen. Toby had a power all right and once he began there wasn't any mincing of words.

  "What we're here for is to decide whether or not we should go together and live as one community.

  "Then we've got to decide if we can go together.

  "The two aren't the same at all. There are a lot of th
ings in life we should do, but some we can't accomplish because of personality conflicts or maybe different values.

  "Now Chop and I have talked it out some until I think we understand each other. I've listened closely to his suggestions, and I'm ready to tell you what I think."

  Toby paused to shift around a little on his log. "Most of you are friends and neighbors. I'm not forgetting that. Most are also mature, and until this mess, successful people who owned property and had money. I'm not forgetting that either. Finally, I'm remembering that we are all Perry Countians, and that means we're independent minded, opinionated, and stubborn." That got both chuckles and groans of agreement but he went on.

  "Which means we don't take orders easily, we'd sometimes rather lose out than agree, and we're always expecting somebody is coming along trying to cheat us. We are a wary people with outsiders, and we're close in our dealings and trading. We are also a little bit secretive even with each other—we don't tell all we know most of the time.

  "Well, there's good and bad in all of that. My point is that I'm aware of the difficulties involved here, and I'm not just charging ahead. I've given this more thought than you'd believe and this is how I see it.

  "Chop suggests that I might be getting lonesome over there by myself. Well, it is lonesome, but that's easily solved. I can take in one or more as I see fit, just for the asking. What I am saying is that as much as I'd like to see everyone here prosper I can get along without you." There was discouraged settling within his audience and not a few angry faces.

  "It appears to me that all I gain for sure is the privilege of sharing what I have." There was more uncomfortable movement but no one spoke.

  After a moment he continued, his voice still serious and his words just as measured, "I've put that as plainly as I can because, right from the beginning, I won't have anyone mumbling about how they didn't understand something or other.

  "Despite what I've just explained. I'm inclined to come to an agreement, but if I do, the first rule is that in every case, I make the rules and everyone else either obeys or gets out."

  Chop Clouser could feel the hairs on his neck tingle. God, Toby hadn't changed a lick. He had the straightest, meanest damned tongue in the county. He flayed right at a man's pride without a hint of tact or consideration. He had to admit he'd known it would be this way, and he'd warned everybody, but getting it crammed in your face was a lot different than hearing about it.

  Toby continued, apparently undeterred by any possible resentment. "I propose we form one community. I will see that the community has enough to survive and prosper. You will provide the labor and skills to guarantee our success.

  "Within this community everything will be common property and utilized for the common good.

  "As provider, I will also serve as the leader. The directions we take will be determined by me as will anything I choose to take interest in. If I seek advice it will be only advice. All decision making authority will remain mine as long as this community continues." It was harsh wording, but as Chop had expected, the people took it. Backed into a corner they had little choice.

  "It's been my observation that when things are easy it doesn't much matter who or how many are in charge, but when there are hard decisions a dictator is what's needed. As things now stand we are facing difficult choices and unpopular decisions. We haven't the time for committees to mill around trying to please everyone. For my community, I'll decide and whoever lives there will be required to agree with alacrity or depart immediately.

  "Those choosing my way will be moved out of here and onto my land. That's what we'll defend and there is where we will begin our building.

  "I don't intend to support any freeloaders. Everyone will pitch in at what they are asked to do and still be expected to jump in wherever they see a need.

  "I'm intending to appoint people to be in charge of different things. If one of them makes a rule or a decision you'll abide by it. You will do as directed and later on you can complain—but you'd better have solid grounds for complaining. I'll be judging the people I appoint, and if they don't measure up they'll be replaced. Anyone whose feelings get hurt have two choices only: live with their wounds and keep smiling, or move out.

  "Cliques form in groups like we are setting up, and that's bad. Farmers get soured on guards who just seem to stand around, and guards get to thinking they're hot stuff because they are fewer and get a freer hand.

  Women get to complaining about men saying too much, and men get riled over uppity women. Young men think the world is made for their convenience and big girls play unkind games with big boys' egos.

  "There are a million other problems we could all list, but the warning I'm giving is, don't let them go on, don't get caught up in any, and don't let your family get involved.

  "It looks as though we've only one effective punishment and that is being thrown out. It'd be sad to have a whole family have to go because one member was allowed to act foolish.

  "For this first year we will concentrate on three things: Security, so that we can work safely; shelter, which will be aimed at warmth with enough room, and hopefully some of the amenities like indoor hot water," that brought a stir, "and, we'll do what we can toward gardens. The weather seems changed but maybe it'll settle down. We won't try for big fields. We'll plant close and weed careful. We'll be aiming for winter supplies mostly.

  "There are skills we don't have, but if things go right, people we need will appear because we'll have a place worth living in. We need a doctor and we need some kind of a pharmacist who's squirreled away his stuff. Don't doubt they're around; they'll turn up.

  "Likewise, there are people we don't need. Lawyers will be kept moving as will most businessmen. Their skills we can do without.

  "Finally, don't bring your relatives this way unless they can contribute powerfully. The world is swarming with needy and your uncle, brother, or dear old mom will not be special to this community. Only you people will come in, abilities and value unquestioned. Your best will suffice, but hereafter, newcomers will be taken on merit only. If you girls or boys marry outside the community, you'd better marry well or plan to move out.

  "I'm reserving the right to bring into my cave anyone I wish. I'm starting with Jesse and Glenna Holman, most of you know 'em. They will be my warehouse and inventory people. If you need something, they will be the people to see.

  "Chop Clouser will be my strong right arm. Chop will be the one I talk things over with. Chop's word will be law—without exception. He'll carry the day-to-day burdens of keeping everything progressing, so you'll turn mainly to him, just like you do now.

  "A final thing. For the time being I'll delve out what I think you need from the cave. Later on, when we get secure and you start branching out into your own places, I'll sell you what I have in return for notes against your land or crops or something. I'll be your banker so to speak. That way, a few years won't see me standing around empty handed and wondering what happened.

  At the same time, the things I've got will make possible you getting set up years earlier than you otherwise might."

  A man finally raised a hand to speak and Toby nodded to him, "Shoot, Harry."

  "Well, speaking just for myself, I haven't any idea what all you've got over on your place. It'd be nice to get a general idea of what you're offering." There were nods of agreement, including Toby's own,

  "Good thought, Harry. I'll just give you a general idea because I haven't listed it all myself.

  "First off, there's a few years of food. There are windmills for making electricity and water powered mills for electricity, and corn and wheat grinding. There are hand tools of all kinds and at least one old water wheel saw. I've medicines, kegs of nails, animal harness, and some gasoline. You know about the field of coal. Oh hell, there are grinders, fishing gear, thick blankets, vitamins, and . . ." He reached into his pack and pulled out three cans of Planters nuts that he tossed around for opening . . . just about anything a reasonable person could
want."

  Only one man spoke up as they handed around the peanuts and munched gratefully. He said,"God damn, Toby! I'm signin' up."

  +++

  Chapter 20

  At first thought, building a new town didn't seem unreasonable, but doing it proved the opposite. Everything seemed to depend on something else being already accomplished so that instead of choosing and completing a task, every project moved in frustrating starts and stops without anything ever seeming to get finished. If a thing was finally done, by then everybody was so sick of it that any expected pleasure was long before sucked away.

  The first task was to get gardens underway, as the season was already late, but for that, people were needed and there were no places for them to live.

  The logical living place was the old house, but it was jammed with machinery, a lot of which couldn't sit outside. So a building was needed to house it. Reluctantly, Toby issued diesel fuel and they fired up the best tractor to pull in buildings.

  Mostly they moved big sheds. They jacked them up and shoved logs or barn beams under them. Using log chains, the big tractor towed them down the road, up Shatto's cleared-out lane, and into line between cave and barn. The people immediately began emptying the house into the sheds and moving themselves into the house.

  When they moved a shed, the men muscled on an outhouse or two and well off to a side they started "outhouse row." They dug deep pits, as they would have to serve fifteen families that had chosen to come.

  Despite the drain on precious fuel, it was also wise to plow, harrow, and disk the gardens by tractor so that planting could begin. Then the machine was parked until again really needed.

  People worked until they had to rest. No one counted hours. They just kept going as long as they could and slept only when they had to. There was excitement to it that few had expected. The pulling together to save themselves drew them into one, and as things started to come together, some of the frustrations eased and awareness of community accomplishments grew.