****
The next morning the visitors packed their things and headed south to visit the more southern regions of the Park where the biggest sequoia grew. They left Jim Anders and his Rangers as they excitedly continued to discover what the Stone-Coats could do for the Park.
The four Storm Crew they had left at the Park Gate were relived and happy to rejoin Snake and Doll. Whip, Hans, Sid and Frank were also happy to receive gasoline for their cycles from Mack and M-8. They happily reported that none of Scars men had approached the Park gate or been sighted on the road below. That was good news, for to drive to other parts of the Park they would have to go back down into the Central Valley the way they came. There were foot trails throughout the Park fit for Rangers and pack-animals, but not many roads fit for road-cycles.
George escorted the visitors riding within M-8, who not by accident was very similar to Mack. Instead of diminutive Mary, M-8 carried massive M-11 in its side-seat, a freshly rejuvenated Stone-Coat block of granite primed to become another Mack clone. Fortunately while carrying M-11 they mostly traveled downhill, for when they did travel uphill they were slowed to a walking pace. That frustrated the humans but the Stone-Coats didn't appear to mind at all, since they literally had nearly all the time in the world to accomplish things.
Once out of the mountains the Crew followed Sam home where Sam proudly presented M-11 to his delighted mother Molly. Before long Stone-Coats would proliferate throughout the area, assuming useful forms such as homes, greenhouses, and cycles with three-wheels and air conditioning.
Molly was proud owner and proprietor of a huge general store and storage warehouse, where local and outsider goods were traded and sold using Confederacy Q's and credits. She was a certified and trusted agent of the Confederacy, and well known for her fairness, honesty and courage. She and her store were perfect for Stone-Coat dispersal.
However the local leader wasn't at all pleased when her adventurous son Sam declared that he wanted to continue traveling with Snake's Crew instead of immediately staying at home. Molly knew that Scar was out there somewhere still plotting against the Brothers. She finally acquiesced when George suggested that the teenager ride with him within the relative safety of M-8. Sam loved his spunky little Honda but was intrigued with M-8, and so also agreed to the arrangement.
The Crew next traveled to the Kings Canyon portion of the Park. To get there they again cautiously skirted Fresno to avoid Scar but they were soon followed by a pair of lone-riders wearing Scar Crew patches. Snake and Doll predicted an ambush within an hour but there was nothing for them to do but continue on. The spies continued to follow behind them just beyond rifle range but to the relief and puzzlement of the travelers no ambush materialized, not even along the steep twisting ambush-inviting stretches of Route 180 that climbed to King's Canyon.
Progress again slowed to a crawl as the cycles fought gravity and dodged around pot-holes and fallen boulders. This road was even worse than the one leading up to Yosemite. Mack and M-8 monitored radio transmissions and Ed scanned telepathically for hidden ambushers but the Route was deserted. Nevertheless the group was relieved when before noon they safely again entered the Park. The vacationers were delighted to immediately see big sequoia trees, and not hostile Scar bikers.
"Maybe Molly's friends overthrew Scar," said one of the Crew.
"Not a chance," said Snake. "Molly would have known about such a thing happening and told us when we stopped to give her the Stone-Coat. Scar is still holding off attacking us for some powerful reason, but I'll be damned if I know what it is."
They had lunch at the main Ranger Camp at Wilsonia, where dozens of rangers were intrigued by George's description of what was happening with the Stone-Coats. Lunch itself was mostly a combination of acorn mush and beans that was filling but plain tasting due to a lack of syrup and other condiments. After lunch Sam showed off Mack and M-8 to the astonished Rangers. Many of the younger Rangers had never even seen a functioning motorcycle of any sort much less one that talked and drove itself.
George and Sam shortly set off in M-8 to download rejuvenating information to several nearby stationary Stone-Coats, while one of the other Rangers, a forestry expert named Matt Kipper, walked with the other visitors to the nearby General Grant Tree. The group was allowed to come within a dozen yards of the great tree but no closer. Sitting in Wheels, Mary smiled broadly as she looked up at the massive tree.
"Second largest tree in the world," Kipper noted, "and more than a hundred feet around at the base. It's only sixteen to seventeen hundred years old though; it could live for another thousand years if we baby it. And that's just what we figure on doing!"
Indeed, the huge tree was surrounded by small pipes and hoses that ran up the trunk where they disappeared in the bushy crown of the tree over a hundred feet above. This was a well-babied tree.
The group hiked about General Grant's Grove for two more hours, viewing more giant trees. As a Virginian Ed was pleased to be shown the massive General Lee Tree and to find it was being cared for just as diligently as the General Grant Tree. They encountered dozens of Rangers working around and in trees, fixing pipes and hoses and watering dozens of trees. The Rangers weren't watering and misting only the largest trees, but a significant number of juvenile trees also, it was noticed. Most of the pipes ran underground to protect them from freezing, but Kipper explained that exposed hoses and pipes needed to be drained in the winter to prevent their freezing and rupturing.
"Are you sure that your watering helps?" asked Snake.
"It's taken us decades to perfect our methods," replied Kipper. "For example we have found that we have to be careful to not overdo the watering. The trees apparently expect a dryer season and a wetter season. However measurements taken over the last two decades show that the trees under our care are certainly doing better than the ones that aren't. And of course having extra CO2 in the atmosphere suites them just fine."
"Nice to know that the elevated CO2 level is good for something," said Ed.
By late-afternoon Mary was exhausted, even though she had spent most of her day reclining in either Mack or Wheels. The group retreated back to the King's Canyon Ranger Station where Mary could nap peacefully in a nice log cabin while the others talked to the local Rangers about a variety of subjects, including news about the outside world. Most of them were eager to hear news about the outside world despite their claimed preference for total isolation.
George and Sam riding in M-8 and Mack arrived before dinnertime with word that they had successfully downloaded rejuvenating information into all six dormant Stone-Coats in the King's Canyon part of the Park.
"Your Mary became very tired today," Doll told Ed. "Perhaps we should shorten your visit here and move on. The altitude here is barely noticeable to most people but it probably puts an extra strain on Mary."
"Before we visit the Giant Forest and the General Sherman Tree?" said Ed. "Not a chance! We better get there tomorrow though, and then as you suggest soon be on our way to lower altitudes."
"You've only seen a tiny corner of the King's Canyon part of the Park," said Kipper. "There is an actual canyon here, for instance. Come back some time to check in on our Stone-Coats and we'll show you around some more!"
Global Warming Fun 5: It’s a Dry Heat Page 13
