Fifty-three people currently lived in Haven and six of them were farmers. They had been farmers since the days of July’s father and were very good at it, and as such they required little maintenance. So far, the food they produced was enough to feed everyone, even when most of it was requisitioned by the Royalists, however, the council knew that they would have to either create new farms or seize old ones as they expanded. July argued that all farms within their territory would need to be collectivised in order to produce enough food for both the civilians and the military. Another discussion followed on how the food should be rationed between military and civilian. It was agreed that if necessary they would convince the civilians that they had less resources than they really did, so that feeding the soldiers could become a priority. A small slice of their military would be assigned to enforcing the rations and guarding food stores from thieves and enemy saboteurs. July also assigned Charlie and her search unit to make food a high-value object on their list of resources to obtain.
Most of the water used for farming was drawn from the river, while Haven’s drinking water came from wells. July made a point of finding an experienced plumber to fix the pipes in many of the old houses around town so that the people would have better access to their water.
Haven possessed a surprising number of working vehicles, and even more that could easily be repaired to working condition. There were four mechanics in the town who, among other things, believed they could fix Haven’s vehicles if they had the proper tools and components. July added these things to Charlie’s list. Soon they would be able to transport resources to neighbouring settlements, and move soldiers and weapons to hostile ones. Tractors would increase the efficiency of their farms and provide more food for everyone.
But vehicles required fuel, and Haven’s supply of it was dangerously low. Another item for Charlie’s list, as well as something for Jodie and her team to work on when she began seeking out partners to trade with. Fuel was also required for generators to provide electricity. It was Granny who suggested they found men to build a new dam north of Haven that acted as a power plant. Until the project was completed electricity was banned and the people had to go without lights or machines for a while.
The access and distribution of weapons required a great deal of thought and a small amount of arguing. Civilians were restricted from military equipment. The military was poorly armed as it was, however, it was agreed that civilians would be allowed to carry a small selection of hunting rifles, handguns and other self-defence weapons, while assault rifles, large machine guns and small machine guns, high-calibre rifles and explosives were off-limits. Obviously, Charlie was tasked with obtaining as many weapons as she could find, and their armoury was okay for now, however their supply of ammunition was too low. It was common knowledge that arms dealers operated all over The Valley, however most only served one faction or another. July would have to find one for himself.
All that remained were a few smaller matters; obtaining and rationing soap, obtaining and rationing clothing or the materials to make clothing – especially for the soldiers – and finding books and people who could teach the settlers to read and write. They went out and searched for a suitable building to convert into a school. July also got word of an abandoned printing press somewhere in the Raider-controlled city which would be essential in producing propaganda, anti-propaganda as well as the publishing of his own manuscripts beginning with The Deathly Quill. Until then, Alice suggested they hire someone to run a radio-station from Haven to relay messages to the people throughout The Valley. July would donate a selection of books to be read on air as well as some of his own music collection.
Curiously, Haven received little to no contact from the neighbouring factions, and yet for months they quietly rebuilt and re-organised their home, waiting patiently for the perfect time to expand. It was easy to lose track of time in this pleasant illusion of normality, where once again the war that slowly ravaged the land beyond the mountains seemed so far away, a small vehicle approaching from afar that never got any larger. But this sense of peace was just that, an illusion, a trick, and sooner or later the war would envelope their newly prosperous home like an inferno, unless they stepped forward and embraced the flames.
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