When the rains may come (Science Fiction)

26. The Last Memory

Week one.

Cathy woke up before the sun rose. Everything was dead quiet, dead still. Lisa was still asleep next to her. Cathy quietly slipped out of bed and stepped into the bathroom. She came out fully clothed in an old sweatshirt and tracksuit lowers from her highschool. She carried her shoes downstairs. Erik was waiting for her in the living room, his lean muscles bulging through his gray T-shirt and black shorts, old fading scars covered whatever bare skin he showed.

"Ready for your training?" he said.

Cathy nodded. The two of them put on their masks and strode out of the manor.

"Why do we have to wear masks when we don't need them?" Cathy asked as they began to jog down the road.

"To keep a low profile," he said. "Gemma trusts her townsfolk a little too much. But I won't put it past them to snitch on us for a pint of beer or a can of fresh meat."

Cathy raised an eyebrow. "You stole a damn truck from the government right in front of them. You're scared of a few snitching commoners? And besides that, aren't you and Gemma providing them stuff like food already?"

Erik snorted under his gas mask. "Yes we are providing them with the basics. But they are still people. People can get greedy. Also, I'm not afraid of getting snitched on. But I'm not alone in this thing. The plan also involves Gemma. And she loves this town that she is building. I don't want it all to come crashing down because of my actions. I'd want her and her dream to survive even if I die or get arrested by the government."

Cathy kept looking at Erik for a bit before looking ahead. They kept jogging down the road. They passed by an old man in a gas mask and a rifle on his shoulder. He waved at them in greeting. Erik waved back. Cathy just nodded.

"Who was that guy?" she asked.

"Some guy with a gun."

Cathy rolled her eyes. "Oh, of course, I almost didn't notice the big ass rifle on his back."

Erik grinned under his mask. "I don't remember his name but I know that he is assigned the morning watch duty."

Cathy nodded as they kept jogging. On a bend down the street, a woman in overalls was opening the shutter to a big garage. A fire truck stood inside.

The woman called out to Erik and said that she would be done with fixing the truck in a while and he could take it back by evening. Erik called out a thanks and they kept moving.

"I don't really get it," Cathy said, frowning-ever-so-slightly. "How do you guys keep running this place? Do these people just do these things cuz Gemma has let them stay in this town or are you guys still using money to pay each other?"

"Not really." Erik shook his head. "But the duties for everyone are clear cut. People with specific skills like fixing automobiles or medicine are assigned to be mechanics and doctors. Adults who aren't really good in any essential survival skills are trained to be scavengers by Gemma herself. In the end, food and resources are rationed for everyone equally, not counting those who need some special supplies like insulin and such."

"So whoever works for the community gets to have two meals a day and a place to live?"

"Pretty much." Erik shrugged.

"What about an adult with no essential skills and also sucks at scavenging?"

"They become assistants to someone like a mechanic or the maintenance crew."

"Maintenance crew?"

"They are the team of people that maintain the solar systems, the desalination plant and the hydroponics farm. That's the best thing about Gemma's idea for this place–everyone who lives here gets to contribute in some way or the other."