The Garden Club, James Gerard [best beach reads .txt] 📗

have long run out before that happens,” sighed Hal.  “What are we going to eat?”

 

“Insects.”

 

Hal knew Ron was serious, but just the prospect of a steady diet of insects, cooked or eaten live, created all sorts of imagined stomach disorders and certainly did not whet the appetite.  But it was just a matter of weeks before the food supply ran dry, and something needed to be done.

 

He looked across the river to the distance trees that loomed somewhere on the horizon.   He figured if it came down to it they would have no choice but to fashion spears out of branches and hunt down anything that could be stomached.  That was as far as he was willing to go.

 

The river roared and appeared to beckon Ron.  In a matter of seconds, he unhooked the harness from the shoulders and slid down to the edge of the fast flowing current.

 

Hal took out the binoculars and scanned the surrounding area and spotted something unseen from the day before.  “Hey Ron, take a look at this.”

 

“In a minute,” said Ron as he splashed water about his face.

 

“Is that some sort of bridge?” asked Hal.

 

Ron walked up to him.  “Let me see.”

 

“Well?”

 

“If I’m seeing right, it looks like it could be a bridge.”

 

“Funny, I thought I had looked carefully enough yesterday.  I must’ve of missed it.”

 

“Well, let’s go check it out.”

 

The object in question came into clear view.  Hal could see it was constructed of tree trunks.  The trunks were fastened together with some sort of vine or hemp which also served as crude handrails.  The structure spanned some two hundred feet between a narrow bend in the river and slung about three feet above the rushing water.

 

“Did that group put up the bridge?” wondered Hal.

 

“Does anything make sense so far around here?” countered Ron.

 

Hal watched as Ron stepped onto the bridge as if to test its integrity.  He walked out to a point where it hung just above the water, then jumped up and down.  The look of surprise on Ron’s face took place of any words he might have uttered.  The bridge was sturdy, yet the rushing water would be unforgiving if at any time it suddenly collapsed.  They both cautiously crossed.  Upon reaching the other side, Hal immediately scanned the area in search of anyone, but no one was seen.  The only things of interest that caught the attention were the various animals grazing on the grass.

 

“Wild cattle,” said Ron stepping up to the side of Hal.

 

“Surprising, isn’t it?” questioned Hal wondering how could the Meat Council not have rounded them all up by now.  But not only them, he reasoned, every living creature existing in the area would have been rounded up as well.  “Kenneth!”

 

“What was that?”

 

“Just something that’s been gnawing at the back of my mind.”

 

“What?”

 

“We’re here essentially because of him.  I’m pretty sure he’s mad at me because I didn’t back him in persuading the Governor to turn the park over to the Meat Council even though he said they really didn’t need the park’s land.”

 

“Why would that be bothering you?  Come on, how many times have I told you your brother’s a devious corporate rat?  He’s pure scum.”

 

“Maybe,” said Hal.  “But what I don’t understand now surrounds the park.  If they needed the park, then why didn’t he come out and tell me?”

 

“Because he’s a liar as well.”

 

“But why the park?  What’s so special about the park?”

 

“Think about it Hal.  The infrastructure is already in place.  Some of the same reasons the others wanted it.”

 

“Was it because it’s in an isolated area?”

 

“Why do you even care anymore?”

 

“Think about it Ron.  He mentioned providing like ten times the amount of meat currently raised on only ten percent of the grain currently used.  How in the world could they do that?”

 

Ron laughed.  “Oh please.  He’s corrupt.  He would’ve said just about anything to get the park.”

 

“Maybe.  But one thing I do know he was always very secretive about the work he did.  What if they developed some sort of technology that would allow them to do that?”

 

“If something like that was possible, it be way off in the future wouldn’t it be Hal?”

 

Hal stood there transfixed on the lush land around them.  All of a sudden the park’s precious space was a moot point.  Obviously, he thought, either by lies or misinformation, what use was the park in light of all the fertile land they had hiked through.  After all, the fertile land existed when by all accounts it should not have.

 

Hal replenished the water in all the empty bottles.  Ron did the same.  Afterwards, he sat on the bank of the river contemplating what was going on.  He also thought about what their next move would be.  Maybe Ron’s idea of staying put and to eke out an existence where they sat was the right move.  But curiosity plagued Hal’s mind.  Questions begged to be answered.

 

A Garden in Paradise

 While Ron slept peacefully through the night, Hal maintained a vigilant watch.  To him it sounded as if the shrieks and mooted cries of prey falling to predators, of barking and yipping from scavengers seeking to take part in the feeding frenzy were cries emanating from the other side of the river, but he could not be sure.

 

Hal thought it peculiar that the hunting could only have occurred within the grassy plains stretching out from the opposite bank of the river, yet by all appearances it seemed true.  It was as if they had found themselves amidst an oasis free from the ravaging acts of nature that resulted in death.  Common sense prevailing, however, plagued the mind with doubts.  The river alone, as swollen as it was, could not be a barrier that was capable of fending off any animal’s survival instinct permanently, yet they remained in a state of safety the whole time. 

 

As the rising sun still hid behind the mountains, a soft illumination began to filter out the light of the stars.  Hal's senses went on full alert.  Soon their position might not only be witnessed by any predator lurking in the tall grass, but by any human within the vicinity as well.  And the more he thought about the hunting party seen from the previous day, how they had apparently travelled so far only to cross the bridge empty handed, an unsettling thought brought about an emergency plan to evade a possible violent confrontation.

 

He looked to Ron still sleeping and patiently removed the straps looped around each shoulder.  Once free, the makeshift backpack was unwrapped and save the food and four quarts of water, the remaining items were picked out and tossed in the cover of tall grass just feet away.  With binoculars scanning the immediate area, no human or animal could be seen walking down the trampled path or disturbing the tall strands of grass gently swaying in the wind.

 

The images of the trees off in the distance came into focus.  They extended for miles in either direction.  With the exception of a lone gap indicating where the path met the forest, there were no other breaches in the tree line.  Hal figured that the best approach to the destination would be well off the beaten path and in the cover of the grass to avoid detection.  Anxious to get away, the water bottles and food were tossed onto the spread out tent and the makeshift back pack quickly reassembled.

 

“Ron, Ron, it’s time to get up.”

 

“A little more sleep,” he mumbled and rolled over onto a shoulder.

 

“You got to get up now!”

 

Ron’s eyes popped open as he sat up and yawned.  “What’s the hurry?”

 

“They might come back.”

 

“Who?”

 

“That group of hunters we saw, that’s who.  Now come on, we got to get going.”

 

“Just relax all ready.”

 

“Are you kidding; relax?  We’re lucky they didn’t come back during the night.”

 

“How do you know they didn’t come back already?”

 

“Because I stayed up all night watching that’s how.”

 

“You didn’t get any sleep?”

 

“No.  Now let’s get going.”

 

Ron chuckled and fell back into the grass.  “Why in the world didn’t you get any sleep?”

 

“Idiot, I was watching over you.”

 

“Oh for god’s sake Hal, like I need you to watch over me.”

 

Ron sprang up to a standing position and briefly eyed the makeshift backpack.  Without a word uttered, he stepped onto the trodden path and hastily walked away.

 

“We have to walk using the grass for cover!”

 

“What’s wrong?  What you scared of?”

 

“I….”

 

“Look,” Ron shouted, “here he is people!”

 

“Shut up!”

 

With flailing arms and frantic steps Ron cried, “Look at me I’m Hal; ahhhh!  Quick, I have to hide.  Where’s the observation nest, where’s my car, where’s my apartment; ahhhh!”

 

Hal slung the backpack over a shoulder and bolted after him.  After shouting out warnings, attempting to appeal to his friend’s lack of logic, it became apparent that Ron could have cared less about any potential dangers.  Any further objections, he concluded, could not alter the selected course.

 

Hal sprinted ahead and caught up.  “Fine then.  If you don’t care about running into that hunting party and dying so be it.”

 

“You’re starting to irritate me.”

 

“Me?  I’m irritating you?”

 

“Just turn around and go back Hal.  I’ll be just fine all by myself.”

 

Hal laughed.  “Ron you couldn’t….”

 

“Shut up!”

 

“I….”

 

“No!”

 

“But….”

 

“The problem with you Hal is you think you know what’s best for everyone, but the truth is you don’t know a damn thing.  Hell, you don’t even know what’s good for yourself.”

 

“I got us to safety didn’t I?”

 

“Safety?” shouted Ron.  “Safety from what?”

 

“Look….”

 

“Safety from the big bad Board of Realtors?” Ron screamed. “Safety from Kenneth?  Safety from whatever your screwed up mind could think of?”

 

Hal stood still.  Ron turned and walked away.

 

As he ran after his friend, all thoughts of danger were made void by the anger fuming in the consciousness.

 

Ron ranted and raved from the lead position, “And look how he saved me.  Oh what would I do without him?  My hero, my friend, look at where we are.  Why…why I don’t think I’ve ever been as safe as this.  And what about food?  What’s your plan for providing me with food?  Oh, I get it—you don’t have one!  Great!”

 

Fuel having been added to the fire, Hal came up behind and whispered, “You ungrateful….”

 

“Oh,” shouted Ron, “this from a man with a screwed up head!  A man who for some reason likes the misery he’s in, who was always looking for something better but thumbed his nose at his brother who could’ve given him exactly what he wanted.  But no!  Here’s a man who gave up years ago because the Governor didn’t allow him to do what he wanted to do. Hal, who protected me from the Governor? Hal, who couldn’t quite understand I didn’t want or need the protection?  A man who couldn’t see what I was doing because he’s so damn stupid?  But he protected me.  He brought me to safety.  Oh thank you my hero.  Thank you for bringing me in to nothingness.”

 

“Keep it up Ron!”

 

“Oh, a threat?  Is the great and wonderful man, the man who decided to hide from life rather than living life on life’s terms upset?  Is the man who gave up on life threatening me, his dear friend?  Well, it’s good I am walking to my death.  Hey!  Is anybody here?  Here I am.  Come and get me.  But be warned, the great Hal is here to protect me—wait, he doesn’t have a