Learning the job, planning the trip…
Francos made it a practice to have Megal and Sarita join him on the patio each morning. He wished he had discovered sooner how pleasant the open patio of the harem could be. Serept would bring the day’s messages and reports, and Francos would explain what he wanted done or ask their help in deciding. The weather had stayed dry, so they met under the awnings to protect from the bright sun. Summer was upon them, and it was getting warmer.
“Megal,” Francos said, “you did such a good job with Ser Valentino, I have another job for you.”
“Papi, did you think that was all we were doing?” Megal was learning that his father enjoyed a tease occasionally. “We have made arrangements for Mandy to meet with Sera Edna Galio of the dyers, then to meet someone from the pottery to arrange for larger pots to ship meat to Port. Surely you have been told of these also?”
They bantered back and forth about what the couple had been doing until Sarita spoke up. “Does this something have anything to do with Uncle Tony going to Utopia?”
“Ah, so the rumor mill is busy, is it? Yes, I want the two of you to go with him and take Mandy. I understand Captain Okapie will be arriving within the week.”
“I will enjoy that.” Megal smiled at Sarita. “I want to see these trees that lay down in a storm and the ruminants that seem to be able to predict when it is coming. Have you heard of these, Papi? When Sarita told me about them, I was sure she was telling me a child’s bedtime story.”
“I have heard of those, and I was skeptical, but I know Utopia has other things to offer. Let’s go over possible trade items. We have several days before they arrive.” They spent the rest of the morning discussing what items were needed from the other settlements as well as what might be traded.
***
“Papi, these proposals cover as much as we can do alone,” Megal said later. “Now we need to present them to Utopia and Port. We need to combine their needs and resources into what we have.” He had been working with several different families to gather requests for what the settlement needed. It was not so much the fancy scarfs from Port, or the strong hemp cloth from Utopia, as it was food and how to fix the failing technology they had from Terra. Francos still found himself startled by how easily Megal would defer to his wife and how competent she was. The more time he spent around the women of his own harem, the more he realized his new daughter-in-law was not that unusual. His own family had many competent women.
Sarita picked up the report when Megal paused. “One thing that I noticed as we asked questions was how many people seemed to still believe we are going to see the GC come back,” she said of the incident that unloaded the settlers long ago. Sarita knew her own people did not expect any visits from space travelers. They had chosen Higgins’ World because the debris field interfered with communications off the planet. The founders naively believed they could survive as a totally agrarian, preindustrial society. Their continued reliance on electricity and digital communications belied that goal.
“That is true. Mainly it is a bedtime story of sorts for many here,” Francos said. “Even among those who understand what really happened, and know it is highly unlikely. The NeoUtopians chose well when they wanted to be away from technology.”
“The founders did not live to see the settlement established, and it is probably just as well. They might have been driven out for their stupidity.” Sarita shook her head and gathered her notes. Hard copy was preferred these days. Far too many of the note-taking tables were unreliable. “Electronics is going to be one of the most serious problems. Mandy said they crew gave most of their supply to the other groups, but no one seems to have any idea how to fix these things once they stop working.”
“We have lots of directions as to how things work, but few on how to make the parts we need,” Francos said. “Our ancestors were sure they would be able to purchase what they needed. Perhaps, somewhere in the history of the NeoUtopians, they have suggestions as to what can replace technology. When you travel there, that is something to research.”
“Papa Kearney will be thrilled to take up a project like that,” Sarita said with a laugh. “Historical records are one of his loves. You might be right. They must have made some plans for that eventuality.”
“So many things we need to work on, Papi.” Megal gathered his papers. “Have we heard from Blackie’s ship?”
“I bring word of that,” Serept said as he entered the patio. “The far speaker said they are about two days away from docking. I let the rest of those who will be sailing with you know.”
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