Read Online The Last Place to Stand by Aaron K. Redshaw - Free Book Online Page B

hundred meters away and it takes refilling twice for each of them before they finish the job. After that they have school.”
    “And your husband?”
    “He’s talking to the Council to see what buildable land might be available for sale,” she said.
    A look of surprise came into his gray eyes, “Buildable land?”
    “For you,” she said. “You can't live here forever and I'm sure you would like your own place. The counsel determines who can live where and for how much.”
    “But Poke,” he said, “I haven't had time to make any money yet. I don't know what you use for purchase, but we only have the clothes on our backs.”
    Poke smiled. “The land came free for us, so it is sold only with the promise that certain kinds of development will be done on it. We all want to see improvement rather than disrepair and fallow ground. The specifics though take talking through. Also, some of that land must be available to the community.”
    “What do you mean?” said Odysseus.
    She picked up a broom and began to sweep. “Since community has no value in the world of the Technos, and since most of us came directly from there, we found that one of the things we were starved for was community. We don't want to talk to someone through the vidscreen or through feeds, as they use now. We want someone we can hug and have coffee with. We want to greet each other with a handshake or a hug or even a scornful look if we want. Something lacking in the feeds.”
    “For this reason,” she continued, “we decided early on that we wanted each piece of property to have at least one part that belonged to the community. That way, whether you like it or not, you have friends, perhaps right in your backyard, ready to be with you. There are no loners out here.”
    The door creaked open and in walked her husband, Sydney. He had a pack over one shoulder and was wearing a soft brown cloak and a darker brown beat-up hat. In one hand he was holding a well-folded piece of paper. “Well, we're done,” he said. “If you will agree to the terms, it's yours.”
    “I would like to see the place and know the terms,” he said. “I also need to have my wife in on the decision.”
    “Wise man,” Sydney said with a smile. He had one of those mouths that always looked like a smile was just about to break. “In the meantime, have you eaten?”
    “Not yet. Believe it or not, I just woke up. What is the common meal around here? In our city we would take a few pills, maybe a nutri-bar, and hit the road for work or school.”
    “Well here,” said Sydney, “we eat these.” He took his bag off of his shoulder and took out a couple of brown eggs. “That is, unless we can get these!” Now he pulled out an egg the size of his head. It was white and looked as hard as a rock.
    “What kind of egg is that?” said Odysseus.
    “This would be an Ostrich egg. Good eggs, great meat!” he said with a smile.
    “I thought you said the kids fed chickens,” he said to Poke.
    “Well, yes,” said Poke. “That's for our home. This is from his work.”
    “So, what is your business?” said Odysseus.
    Sydney said, “Me? Well I raise Ostriches. I have a whole farm of them. I brought them here and I raised them, help them multiply, and harvest the meat and the eggs. I sell most of the eggs, so these are special.” Then, looking at his wife he gave a warm laugh. “Didn't you know? Sydney's not an author or pioneer. It's a place. It's where I'm from.”
    They could hear stirring in the other room. The kids were beginning to wake. Hamlet and Sam were the first up. Hamlet rubbing his eyes, said, “Whoa, Sam, look at the size of that egg.”
    Sam looked up. “What kind of a bird would lay a thing like that? It must be a dinosaur!”
    “Well, not exactly,” said Sydney, “just an ostrich.”
    “Cool!” said Hamlet.
    Poke took the bag and gave her husband a light kiss. “I'd better get these cooked up. It looks like the hungries will be upon us shortly.”
    She