Farmer

by Tom Larcombe

  I guess Paul really is doing well if he's planning on having himself along with his wife and daughter in a pod center then, Eddie thought.

  “Cool,” Karl said. “Good thing we don't have to pay for that right now though.”

  “Ssh,” Eddie cautioned him. “Not something to talk about.”

  Tiana looked curiously from one to the other of the men, but she didn't say anything. Eddie could see the curiosity on her face though. He just couldn't do anything about it, and hated the fact that he couldn't.

  They packed everything up and Karl and Eddie headed back towards the farm. Tiana waved goodbye and looked like she wanted to say something, but then turned and walked back towards the field that held her tent.

  As Eddie walked past his land claim, he whistled for Lucky. She came trotting out of the lightly forested area and raced towards him. He knelt and she leaped for his face, licking him.

  “Eeww,” Eddie said. “Well, there's fish in that stream at least, or there were. Lucky, you've got a nasty case of fish breath.”

  The bobcat didn't seem to care, she just licked Eddie's face again before starting to rub up against his ankles.

  “Come on girl, we need to head back to the farm,” Eddie said, starting to walk.

  Lucky darted ahead, sniffing at the undergrowth on first one, then the other, side of the road.

  “Well, maybe we'll restock our meat a little if she finds something. We're almost out,” Eddie said.

  “No beer for me tonight then,” Karl replied. “Let's go get ourselves some venison tomorrow morning.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Chapter Seventeen

  Aaron removed his suit, then sat for a moment.

  Okay, I don't want to report this to Greenshaw. If I do, I'm sure he'll have something to say about it, some order for me that will just make this harder. Back to the techs and tell them to alter the code like they said they could.

  Aaron stood again and headed back to the basement.

  “Do it,” he said, as soon as he walked into lab. “Compile it and put your new code in.”

  “You got it,” the head tech said.

  He typed for a moment then turned back to Aaron.

  “You know, their idea wasn't bad. Their execution of it sucked, but the idea is sound. I could write a similar batch of code, one that would interface with the game better, and we could offer extended stays in game, well beyond thirty days. But we'd need to make a new pod and people would need to buy it to take advantage of that. I don't think upgrades to existing pods would be a good idea.”

  “Tell me more, but first, you wouldn't just be stealing their code, right?”

  “No, their code is sloppy as all hell, but the principal is sound. I'd use that principal to write much more elegant code that meshes better with the game. The new pods would have to have their own computers built in, separate to the ones already in there. This new one would just be for the daily updates. It would need about fifty times as much RAM as they tried to use, but...”

  The tech shrugged.

  “With how much people pay for these pods now, I don't think they'd flinch at an extra two grand for one that allows them to stay in for a lot longer, do you?”

  Aaron shook his head.

  “No, the majority of our thirty day clients are extremely well-off. There are some that aren't; this batch that was experimented on, our own batch that we've had going on repeated deep dives to ensure it isn't a problem, and we've also got the medical mods that are working on long term treatment with the player in the game while the pod works on their bodies. We'd need to test this idea first though so I've got two questions for you.”

  “And those are?”

  “One, could you soup up a couple of these pods to have that type of dedicated download computer that you just mentioned? And two, how long would it take you to write the code for it?”

  “Yes, easily, they used modular components for their alterations and the Mark IIIs were designed in a manner that made upgrades and alterations easy. I assume that's why they used them for their experiments. As for the program, a week? Five days maybe if that were my actual assigned task here at work.”

  “Good,” Aaron said, “do both of those things if you would. I'm going to go ask someone other than Greenshaw about getting financing for this project. I'm not exactly in a position to authorize it myself, but I know someone that's almost at Greenshaw's level in the company who is always looking for ways to improve things. They'll be more than happy to listen to me about it and I bet they'll figure out a way to monetize it, so assume we'll get funding but don't actually buy anything or do anything billable until I give you the go.”

  Aaron winced as he realized he was going to have to talk to Cynthia. The last time he'd talked to her was when he turned down her drunken advances at last year's Christmas party. Since he hadn't heard from her since, he was sure she'd remembered his actions.

  But she'll jump at a chance like this, he thought. At least she will if I know her, she was always too willing to take risks, either personal or business related.

  ~ ~ ~

  Karl was true to his word, almost. He only had one beer before going to bed, so they'd both been up early in the morning, each one overjoyed that they'd managed to sleep, dreamlessly, through the night.

  Eddie was more than happy to see the well-rested buff when he checked his notifications, but happier still as he continued through the notifications he'd ignored the day before.

  Paul had sent him a PM, with a whole slew of documents attached.

  'Here you go, here's the bunkhouse blueprints. Knowing what you're using them for I made a few alterations before sending them along. I also sent the blueprints for a small cart and a few other miscellaneous things I thought might be useful.

  I've been thinking about your offer regarding building an inn. I'm going to run it past my wife, but I'm very tempted if it still stands, especially after seeing how much business your food stand was doing. Just one quick question though. Do you intend to keep building structures in that area? I think you've got some plans you haven't mentioned.

  Paul'

  Tiana had also sent a PM, asking when they'd be down near the hamlet again. They'd added each other as friends while working the day before and he was surprised that she'd been bold enough to send him a message right off. He'd actually considered sending her one, but was nervous about what response she might have given him, afraid that she'd think he was chasing her or something.

  He quickly sent a reply saying it would be earlier than the day before, but he'd be working on his land claim before opening the food stand for the day so she could find him, and Lucky, there.

  When Karl showed up, Eddie waited for him to eat breakfast also, then stood.

  “Deer hunt?” he asked.

  Karl nodded eagerly.

  “Your rabbit meat is great,” he said, “but no other meat than that for days in a row have left me hoping for something else. I want to see what the venison tastes like in this game.”

  Karl drooled a little at the thought.

  “Well, what are we waiting for then?” Eddie asked.

  He led Karl to the area where he'd seen the deer before, then started scanning for tracks. It took him a few minutes before finding deer prints, but then he followed the track, bow in hand.

  “There,” Karl said softly.

  Eddie stopped, he'd hadn't even thought to keep looking up and would've blundered right into the deer's scent or sight range, sending it fleeing. A quick command kept Lucky at his feet so she wouldn't spook the deer either.

  You have upgraded the skill Tracking to (3). Who would've thought keeping your eyes open to see what you were tracking would keep you from scaring it off?

  He grimaced at the too accurate snarkiness of the message, then put an arrow on the string and drew. Something kicked in and his eye was drawn to an area at the front of the deer encompassing the area right above the front legs. Somehow he knew that the lungs were there and a shot the
re had the best chance of downing the doe with one arrow.

  He quickly evaluated it:

  Deer (doe):

  Type: Animal

  Level: 3

  Armor: 20

  Health: 30 (+/-)

  Attack: ???

  You are currently unable to obtain more information about Deer (doe).

  Eddie looked at his arrow.

  Evaluate, he thought.

  Arrow (flight)

  Weapon (Missile)

  Attack: 15

  Dmg: 5-20

  Crit: 50%

  This flight arrow is used in conjunction with a bow. It has the possibility for a critical hit when used in hunting, depending on the accuracy of the user. Remember, the pointy part goes towards the target.

  Eddie held in the groan due to the snark.

  It's like the game wants to make fun of me whenever I'm doing well, he thought.

  Then he let his eyes drift back to the target on the deer. They actually seemed drawn to it. The arrow practically leapt from the string, speeding towards the target. Sinking deep in the side of the deer, Eddie actually let this combat message show.

  You have shot deer for 16 points of damage. X2 critical hit. 32 points of damage in total.

  The deer's tail sagged downwards, it took several staggering steps forward, then fell.

  Enemy slain: Deer (doe) (level 3)

  You have earned 38 (+4 well-rested, +10 blessing) exp.

  Karl stared at him for a moment.

  “Maybe I should get myself a bow,” he said.

  “Nah, I got a critical because I have the hunting skill. Here, check out the arrows.”

  He handed an arrow to Karl before moving to the deer and pulling the arrow he'd shot back out of it.

  “Good,” he said. “I hate the games that use arrows and other ammunition as a money drain and automatically destroy them when fired.”

  He cleaned the arrow and put it back in his quiver, adding the one that Karl handed back to him.

  He bent over again and touched the deer.

  Loot, he thought.

  A side of venison and a deer hide appeared in his inventory.

  “Yes!” he said. “If we actually butcher this one ourselves and take the meat, that might be enough for today's meat on a stick.”

  Eddie pulled the chunk of venison out of his inventory and hefted it experimentally.

  “Maybe twenty-five or thirty pounds? If the amount looted is based on the deer we killed, we'll have sixty to seventy-five pounds of venison. Serve half pound portions and that's a hundred and twenty or more. Plus we've still got a bit of the rabbit meat also. One deer ought to do for today.”

  Karl grinned at him.

  “Got plans for the hides too?”

  “Not offhand, you want them?”

  “One of them please. I've got an idea for something for your inn.”

  “All yours then. Let's butcher this.”

  Despite their early start, it was still almost noon before they headed down the road. Eddie had paused to grab a bunch of tools out of the shed before the headed out. They were only halfway to the fields where the adventurers were camping when they heard the falling trees and a little farther down the road they could also hear Ingolf yelling before each tree fell.

  “So, did you know this hamlet used to be bigger?” Karl asked as they walked.

  Lucky went darting off into the undergrowth.

  “No, why do you say that?”

  “When I was mapping, I found a lake, maybe another mile down the road. It's medium sized, but on the outflow from it there's a grain mill. The NPCs there told me that this used to be a town, but a particularly vicious raid that combined both the goblins from the forest and the orcs from the mountains razed a bunch of it.”

  “Huh, I wonder if any other players have gotten that back story?” Eddie said.

  Lucky came back out with a bunny between her jaws. She dropped it at Eddie's feet, he looted it, then told her she could eat it if she wanted. She started chewing away at the bunny.

  “No clue, I just stopped by to get a drink of water while I was mapping and ended up chatting with an NPC there. His name was Trygve Miller, and he was running the mill.”

  Eddie chuckled.

  “I guess Arvid's been a busy man during his life.”

  “What?” Karl said, thrown off topic by the apparent non-sequitur.

  “I met an old guy, an NPC, by the name of Arvid Miller yesterday when I went looking for information. Ingolf's his son and I'm guessing Trygve is as well. I guess when they went Norse for the Pantheon, they decided to use it for NPC names as well.”

  “Actually they did names by area, so it's Norse here, but might be something else in a different zone,” Karl said. “At least that's what I read, but... Trygve told me about that raid, said it happened a long time ago. So maybe this area isn't as safe as we thought, is what I was getting around to.”

  “Tiana said something about occasional raids also, but it's not like we can go anywhere else right now, right?”

  “No, but I was thinking we might want to build some fortifications, get some guards for the farm and this bunkhouse you're building, things like that.”

  “Eventually I think that'd be a great idea, once we can afford it. We might be able to start doing that now, but I'd hate to run out of money because of it and have to stop doing anything else. So let's wait a bit on that?”

  “Okay, I just wanted to run it by you and let you know that it's not as safe here as we were told it was.”

  “Thanks for the heads up. Now, look at that beautiful lumber,” Eddie said, spying the pile of rough planks Ingolf had made.

  Karl chuckled.

  “I'm going to go get some more mapping done. I'll see you in a few hours.”

  Eddie waved absently, staring at his lumber. It looked like Ingolf had felled most of the trees in the area specified already. There were a number that still intruded, towards the back of the area Eddie had specified, but he had room to start working.

  He waited for Ingolf to finish felling the tree he was working on, then called out to him.

  “Ingolf?”

  The man came walking out, bathed in sweat, with his ax leaning back over his shoulder.

  “Yeah?”

  “Can you get the rest of the trees to fall away from the empty area? I was thinking about starting work on the building I want to make.”

  “Sure can, had to be doing that anyhow so they didn't fall on the pile of planks.”

  “Thanks then, I may ask you to help me some if I need extra muscle. I'm not sure exactly how what I'm about to do works.”

  Ingolf's eyes narrowed.

  “Should you be doing it at all then?” he asked.

  “Oh yeah, it shouldn't be a problem. I just haven't done it myself before.”

  Ingolf shrugged.

  “I'll keep the trees dropping the other direction, although if you hear me yell to move after I call timber, that means it isn't falling where I'd planned for it to go and you might want to move, quickly.”

  “Got it,” Eddie said.

  He pulled out the blueprint that Paul had sent him for the bunkhouse and Evaluated it.

  Bunkhouse Blueprint - Modified

  Shelter: 20

  Level: common

  Crafted: Paul Rogar

  This structure is designed as basic housing. It will allow housing for twenty people. Modifications have been made to allow for individual rooms, hygiene areas, and access to the roof.

  Eddie thought he knew what it would look like from looking at the blueprint. It was probably going to look a lot like the bunkhouse on the farm, only with a fence surrounding the edge of the roof. There would also be what looked like wooden tanks with sluices leading down to small walled off areas outside of the bunkhouse.

  So the hygiene stuff is showers, he thought. I know the game keeps us clean, but a shower would still feel pretty good about now.

  He glanced back at the blueprint for
a moment, then focused on it, thinking about creating the structure it detailed. A small prompt came up:

  Build Bunkhouse-Modified?

  (yes/no)

  Eddie thought 'yes' and the blueprint disintegrated in his hand, falling away to dust.

  The game sent him another prompt.

  Designate location for structure.

  When he looked around there was an outlined version of the bunkhouse overlaying his vision. It flashed green when he was looking at the road, rotating to fit and adding a yes/no prompt at the bottom of his vision.

  He looked back at the area he'd had Ingolf clear for him and the outline flashed green again. When the yes/no prompt showed up this time, he thought 'yes' again.

  The outline solidified, but stayed in his vision, glowing dimly in the sunlight. One portion began to flash at him, showing the picture of a hole overlaying the ground at one corner of the future structure. He dug into his inventory and pulled out the shovel, then started digging.

  Lucky kept trying to play with him while he was working, but she eventually wandered off when she decided he wasn't willing to play with her right now.

  As he completed each flashing area, it stopped flashing and grew brighter, then another area would begin to flash showing him which task to complete next. The entire first series of flashing areas were all holes, but once he'd finished those, outlines of planks sitting upright in the holes began to flash.

  I hope I'm strong enough for this part or else things are going to slow down an awful lot, he thought.

  As he went to the pile of planks and lifted the first of them he discovered that a ten strength was enough to carry them, and set them upright in the holes. But he was pretty sure that it was his high agility that was allowing him to place them by himself. Once each plank was in place, the hole and the closest pile of dirt would start flashing, so he'd balance the plank with one hand while kicking dirt into the hole around its base, packing it down with his feet.