The Orphans (Book 5): Civil War Read Online Free Page B

“So, Aslin wants to be a farmer huh?”
    Aslin patted his mid-section, which had shrunk considerably over the last year of constant training of the youths. “No, that isn’t it at all, Clary. But I want to keep the option to eat open. Probably would be smart if we rounded up what cattle we could and stick them somewhere. I don’t see any reason why the dead should be able to eat them. There are a lot of things we should be doing. Training these kids is smart and it isn’t ever going to be something I regret. But shit has hit the fan and instead of watching it slide down the walls, maybe we should start embracing the fact that there are plenty of resources available. Those lights flickering every so often don’t help me sleep. I know that we aren’t wasting electricity but it doesn’t take an engineer to know that it’d be smart to have more than one building running green.”
    Clary let a long stream of smoke rise up in circles. “So you are saying the next trip we take out is going to be to get supplies to become farmers. We want cattle that we aren’t quite sure how to deal with just yet. You’d like some solar panels, and then I’m guessing maybe a few seeds and what not, is that about it?”
    “Yeah, and I don’t think if we got a few tillers for making the land ready for planting that we would regret it. Some sort of PVC pipe for making an irrigation system wouldn’t be stupid. We still have another month or so before we need to worry about planting anything.”
    “How the hell would you know all of this? I’m pretty confident that we’ve been out on missions, and not home planting corn and beans, when prime planting season has been around in the past.”
    “The internet still works, Clary. I’ve been researching and printing everything off that I can in hard copy. Mostly because I have no idea when it will stop.”
    Clary said, “You looking for any survivors on there by chance?”
    “They’re out there, but it seems like about time you find them you see that they haven’t posted any updates in a very long time. Which means they’re either dead or gave up on someone coming to save them.”
    “So then you’d rather make a go of it here for the long haul than try and rid the rest of the land of these things? Good luck telling that plan to Shaun. At some point that kid is going to be the one that everyone looks up to. They’re already telling stories about the kid like he is some superhero, you know unable to be caught or killed by the Turned. He figured out the idea that everyone is banking on. He’s the reason why there’s so many donations. Everyone is hoping that it will end with the dead in the streets.” Clary said.
    “I think he will see the good in what I’m saying. Even if at some point he does leave, at least he will have something to come back to. The people that are saved are going to need a community. They’re going to want to have a reason to come back to something better, Clary.”
    “People saved aren’t going to give a shit if we have plants and food. They’re going to care that we can keep them safe and that we can offer to keep them alive. I can’t see having food to offer to them is going to hurt anything though.” Clary said.
    “Holy shit!” Aslin said. “Did we just agree on something without butting heads?”
    “Yeah, that just means I'm wearing on you, it was bound to happen eventually.”
    “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to think that by the slimmest of chances that I’m rubbing off on you and you are finally starting to use the brain that God gave you, Clary.”
    “Aslin, that would be terrible, wouldn’t it?”
    “You with a good head on your shoulders could be scary. Who knows what genius things you might think of,” Aslin responded.
    Clary took one more drag off his cigar. He only allowed so many puffs before putting them out. He knew that the supply he had was impressive but he wanted to ensure that he would never want for one and that was enough