LOSS System: Last Store Standing

Jack turned toward the voice and saw Reed hurrying over with a dried brick.

“What worked?”

“The brick is ready!”

Reed handed it to him. Jack examined it from several angles but couldn’t tell whether it was good enough, so he passed it around for the others to check.

Elias tested its weight before handing it to Mort. Mort scraped one corner and tapped the surface a few times.

“It should be fine.”

Hal examined it next and tried to break it with both hands.

“It’s usable. It won’t be as strong as a fired brick, but it should be enough for simple houses or walls.”

That was good enough for Jack.

“How many have we made so far?”

“More than a hundred, including the ones that have already dried,” Mort said.

“Then call everyone over. We need to reorganize the work.”

Elias soon gathered everyone beneath the canopies. Jack introduced Gordon, Harvey, and Hal, then shared the news Marlin had brought back.

“First, they found a coal deposit. We’ll spread the word and let other people mine it, then bring the coal here to trade for water and food.”

“Second, Gordon knows a place with plenty of metal. We don’t know exactly what’s there yet, and it’s a long way from here, so we’ll keep the location in mind for now.”

Jack picked up the dried brick.

“And third, our first batch of bricks is ready. Mort and Hal both believe they’re strong enough for simple houses and walls.”

That brought smiles to everyone’s faces.

“We have more and more work to handle now,” Jack continued. “The old assignments no longer make sense, so we need to divide things up again.”

He started with Mort.

“You’ll remain in charge of the bricks, but you won’t need to make them yourself anymore. Work with Hal and see if the clay mixture can be improved. Whether we continue sun-drying the bricks or fire them later, try to make them better.”

Mort glanced at Hal.

“That works for me,” Hal said.

“Then I have no problem with it,” Mort replied.

Jack moved on to Vane and Gordon.

“You two will make the bricks. If more people arrive, they’ll be assigned to your group first.”

Both accepted the arrangement.

“Reed and Harvey will remove the bricks from the molds and lay them out to dry. Your group will also get priority when more workers arrive.”

Reed and Harvey readily agreed.

Jack then addressed Thomas.

“I have a full set of tools inside. Add several connections to the outdoor faucet as soon as possible. Once that’s done, run one of the hoses to the brickmaking area so they don’t have to keep carrying water back and forth.”

“Leave it to me.”

Next was Marg.

“I want Hal to try growing potatoes, but he doesn’t have any actual planting experience. Elias said you used to enjoy growing flowers and other plants, so I’ll need you to work with him.”

Marg hesitated briefly.

“I’ll do my best.”

“I’ll find a suitable place for the test plot first,” Hal said. “I’ll need your help after that.”

“No problem.”

Jack moved on to Cass, Susan, and Ray.

“Cass will remain in charge of drone patrols.”

Cass tapped the drone beside him. “Leave it to me.”

“Susan and Ray will handle the cleaning and help prepare all three meals,” Jack continued. “Learn from Marg for now. The food doesn’t need to taste amazing. As long as everyone gets enough to eat, that’s fine.”

Susan and Ray accepted the arrangement.

Once everyone else had been assigned, Jack pointed at himself.

“Until my wounds fully heal, I’ll keep filling the large pit and watch the Dustchucks so they don’t dig up anything strange again.”

The last comment made everyone laugh.

Jack saved Elias for last.

“Your job is the most important.”

“Mine?”

“Now that the bricks are ready, we’ll be building more and more things,” Jack explained. “Someone needs to decide what comes first and where everything should go.”

Elias had expected a specific task, not responsibility for planning the entire settlement.

“You know what this place needs better than I do,” Jack continued. “You’re the best person for the job.”

“All right. I’ll survey the surrounding area again and plan out each section.”

“I’ll leave it to you.”

Once the new assignments were settled, everyone began returning to work. Marlin, however, remained beneath the canopies.

“Since everything here is taken care of, I should get moving.”

“So soon?”

“It’s not that soon.” Marlin laughed. “I’m used to traveling from place to place. Staying here this long has already made me restless.”

“I’ll spread the word about this place while I’m out. Hopefully, it’ll bring some people here.”

Jack could tell that Marlin had made up his mind.

“All right, but don’t leave yet. Let me prepare a few things for you. They should make the journey a little easier.”

On his way into the store, Jack considered what Marlin might need.

This trip had brought them Gordon, Harvey, Hal, and even a source of coal. The old-world tools Jack had previously traded from Marlin had also proved useful. It was the perfect chance to ask Marlin to keep an eye out for more.

Since Marlin often traveled alone through the wasteland, Jack put together a full set of camping equipment. He added several packs of bread, bottled water, canned food, and a few cans of pepper spray.

Before leaving the store, Jack spotted an umbrella in the corner and added it to the pile. Rain was unlikely, but it would at least offer Marlin some protection from the sun.

When Marlin came inside and saw everything waiting for him, he stopped in surprise.

“All of this is for you,” Jack said. “Consider it a thank-you for helping us.”

“You’re giving me everything here?”

“I’m guessing you usually sleep out in the open. The camping equipment should make your nights a little more comfortable, and there’s enough food and water for the road.” Jack picked up one of the cans. “These are pepper sprays. Use them if you run into trouble.”

Marlin seemed ready to refuse, but Jack cut him off.

“Before you say anything, I also need a favor.”

“I knew there was more to this,” Marlin said helplessly. “What do you need?”

“When you visit other settlements, help me ask around for tools left behind by the old world. As long as they still work, I’m interested.”

“That won’t be hard. Almost every settlement has some.” Marlin gestured toward the handcart outside. “The problem is getting them back here. I can carry smaller tools, but what am I supposed to do with anything large or heavy?”

“Then don’t carry them yourself. Tell the owners to bring them here and trade with me directly.”

“That works, but what should I tell them about the price?”

“Tell them we’ll discuss it when they arrive. As long as they bring a genuine old-world item, I’ll guarantee them a bottle of water and a pack of bread even if we don’t make a deal. At least they won’t have made the trip for nothing.”

Marlin stared at him.

“Cass was right. You really are wasteful.”

“What choice do I have?” Jack said. “If I don’t offer them anything, why would they carry those things all this way?”

“Fine. Leave it to me.”

They had just finished talking when Elias came into the store.

“Hal found a place for the potato plot. He wants you to take a look.”

Jack and Marlin followed him outside.

Hal had chosen an open area near the dead trees. When they arrived, he was walking around with his notebook while Marg checked the soil nearby.

“I’d like to start the test plot here,” Hal said.

“I was planning to build the trading post around here too,” Jack replied. “Why did you choose this spot?”

“We can make use of the dead trees. They can support the canopy, and the trunks can be turned into simple racks for storing tools.”

Hal gestured toward the large pit nearby.

“If that pit eventually fills with water, irrigation will be much easier. And if the potatoes survive, we can gradually expand the growing area. Maybe one day, even these trees will come back to life.”

Jack liked the idea.

“Then we’ll keep the potato plot here and build the trading post beside it. The wall facing the growing area can block some of the sunlight, and I’ll run a hose over here for watering.”

Elias studied the surrounding area.

“We should clear the space for the trading post and put up the canopy today. That will let Hal and Marg start preparing the soil. Once we have enough bricks, we can begin construction.”

He then added, “With the drone patrolling the area, the wall isn’t as urgent as before. We could put it aside for now.”

“That works for me,” Jack said.

By the time they returned to the main canopy, lunch was ready. Marg handed out bread, potatoes, and the dried meat left from the settlement.

Gordon and Harvey still seemed surprised by the amount of food they received. Hal ate quietly, his attention often drifting toward the land that would soon become the potato plot.

Everyone returned to work after lunch. Jack had Vane and Gordon set aside the bricks for the moment and begin putting up a canopy near the dead trees.

He took the nozzle and headed back to the large pit. But when he reached the edge, something at the bottom caught his attention.

A small pool had formed where there had only been dry soil before.

After days of pouring water into the pit, some of it had finally begun to collect.

“It really holds water!”

Jack burst out laughing.

Marg was coming over to ask for the organic potting soil when she heard him.

“What are you so happy about?”

“Come look! There’s water at the bottom!”

Marg joined him at the edge and saw the small pool below.

“It really worked.”

Their voices soon drew the others over. The pit was still a long way from full, but that no longer mattered. As long as the water stayed, filling it was only a matter of time.

Everyone returned to work with smiles on their faces and a little more energy than before.

Nearby, Elias, Marg, and Hal watched Jack celebrate beside the pit.

“He gave us hope,” Marg said quietly.

Neither Elias nor Hal needed to add anything.

A moment later, Jack handed the nozzle to Ava and gave her a few instructions. Then he hurried over to the three of them, unable to hide his excitement.

“Elias, I just had an idea.”

“What idea?”