TEOTWAWKI (An Original Novel - Episode 168)
Crop Dragons
“Look! “ Alvin said “Up in the SKY!”
“It’s a BIRD!” Julie caught on instantly.
“No. It’s a PLANE!” Alvin disagreed.
“NO!” they both said “They’re CropDragons.”
And so they were. It wasn’t as if the sun was hid by their numbers but there were quiet a few. Each one was carrying a Crystal Dragon Egg, Two, or more. They handed them to Julie, and patiently waited for the last dragon to do so. Then they formed a half circle in front of her.
“Ok Folks” She said “For those of you who don’t know, I’m going to explain the fine art of harvesting. It’s not super critical but if you follow a few rules you won’t damage the plant and you can pick more later. For those of you who already know this consider it to be a refresher.”
Then she explained how to pick Okra, Squash and all the rest. Orientation done, the dragons flew to the Garden and proceeded to pick. Once they had all they could carry they flew back to the Water Tribe, to return periodically. There was no rational way that Julie and Alvin could prevent cheating so they didn’t try. The first Dragon Egg put them ahead of the game. At the end of the first week they had all of the Dragon Eggs that they needed to put their nefarious plan into action. After that it was just gravy.
One day, after Harvest was almost over, Alvin and Julie were sitting on the deck they had built out of SSmoke, overlooking the water. SSmoke appliances had the added attraction of being Bojum Proof.
“Look at that!” Julie point out over the water.
“Yup. I expected as much. “ Alvin said “ A visit”.
So it was. They had built stairs down the side of the cliff to a floating dock. As the water rose it merely raised the dock. The water WAS still rising. The cliffs had at one time been over two hundred and fifty feet to the rocks below. Now they were barely two hundred. It appeared that the rate of rise had decreased though.
The two were standing on the lower dock when the first HUGE Kraken quietly kissed the platform. Then it opened it’s mouth and people stepped out.
“Hello!” A large black man extended his hand to shake theirs. His grip was like a rock crusher even though he appeared to not be making any particular effort. “My name is Weldon Melton. This is my wife Sherry and my daughter Lucy.”
He waited for them all to shake hands then introduced the rest of his group. “This is Ernie Rodriquez and this is the TigerMom, they are our restaurant owners and my old customers. I and the other BargeFarmer can’t fully supply their needs any longer so I’m referring them to you. They desperately want to talk.”
Introductions complete, they got down to business.
“Who would have thought that truck farming could be so easy?” Julie asked.
Alvin didn’t answer. He just shook his head in amazement. The WaterTribe were paying him and Julie to garden. They were doing a right fine job of it too. Every day it seemed a new implement made from SSmoke showed up. His little farm was producing more food than he would have thought possible, and adding new ground daily. At this rate it’d take up the whole top of the Mesa soon.
“Looks like we’re set for the winter” he said.
“Yup” she replied. “and for about forty more years.”
Alvin wondered if there were any more Bojum around. He’d rather developed a taste for them. They were getting harder and harder to find. Smart bastards. When they saw a manta, a kraken or a human, they hid.
The End
Yarn
.
If you are just now discovering this story and want to read more
it begins here
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I got the Coffee on.
Disclaimer
The Hobo Picture is a Public Domain image from
Samantha at the Worlds Fair
by Josiah Allen's Wife (Marietta Holley)
Illustrated by
Baron C. De Grimm published by
Funk and Wagnall's Company 1893
.
The Badges are graciously provided by @elyaque
.
Unless otherwise noted
All other Illustrations are from
Pixabay
I'm going to have to go back now...and brew some coffee, that sounded really appealing :)