The Collapse CLXV: Reports And Ruminations

 12 September 20XX

My Dear Luclius:

The last few days here have been spent busily continuing to prepare for Winter. Of especially interest is gathering up any and all pieces of wood I can get for the upcoming Winter: There will be two of us instead of one and while I can manage the cold, I have no idea what Pompeia Paulina’s limit may be. Other tasks – beyond the garden and prepping the greenhouse of course – are getting the pump shed in order and eyeing the progress of the Winter grains.

The Colonel and The Leftenant had the courtesy to stop by on their way out of town the day after our own meeting.. Their visit had been of mixed success – the farthest town away, Highwayville (so named by me because it sits at the junction of the main state highway and the road that runs through Birch) was more than interested in maintaining an alliance, yet they are the farthest away and likely the most exposed to any issues. The town closer in, Grant, has almost twice the population of Highwayville and six times the population of Birch. Apparently they have already taken the liberty of starting to push cars into place and make something of a wall around some part of the city. Their response, much like that of the rancher in our meeting, was a sort of guarded indifference: supportive, but not ready to commit to much aid.

On the whole, not surprising.

We pressed some supplies on the Colonel and the Leftenent as they had walked a great deal in the past few days on everyone’s behalf with little to show for it. They both tried to insist they had enough but we insisted more and finally they accepted. On his way out, the Colonel let both myself and Young Xerxes know we would be welcome in Kentucky City, should things come to that.

It was an exceedingly kind gesture.

Young Xerxes has said a few people have started moving to the surrounding places before the weather turns colder and unyielding. They carry what they can or find ways to transport it via wagon or cart or even horses. At least two of the neighbors on their street have said they are leaving; once they are gone they have offered up anything that is left behind as they do not expect to be back for a long time.

Could I go somewhere Lucilius? Yes, it sounds like we have a place to go now if we needed to. But would I? I find myself uncertain at best. Balancing the idea of life as a refugee and life as it is becomes difficult in my mind – realistically what could or would we transport the 9 miles to Kentucky City? Little enough at best, and I have no idea what we would find once we got there.

At best here we could simply make the place look like it was unremarkable and unoccupied. That can be done readily enough: The old winter window covers are still here from when these was a seasonal cabin. While the would make the interior very dark, they would also give every impression of something uninhabited (although likely the garden would give it away, if not the smoke from the chimney). Still, we are enough off the main road that it might not attract attention.

The other reason to stay, of course, is Statiera and Young Xerxes (or leave, I suppose, if they went). I have thought of having them come to stay here if things become too hard – the space is very small for four people (with a young married couple at that), but could be made to work. It has in the past.

On the whole, I suppose it remains a problem for the Spring – the Winter is coming soon enough here and while there is not a 100% chance of us being bothered by wandering bands, it is extremely low given the fact that we are so far off any main highway and that anyone foolish enough to make a long distance raid in the Winter here has fuel and food to burn.

But even as I write this, I am already thinking towards a Spring likely to have even less than we have now.

Your Obedient Servant, Seneca