Then, muttering under this breath.
A thin trace of smoke is rising from a ravine, indicating a campfire.
Some women are running from the open grassy area behind the subdivision
into the woods around the ravine. Finegan is not attempting to steer
the houseboat to any shoreline near them. He sees an unspoken question
33
in Joey’s eyes, as Joey keeps looking at the scampering women, then
back to Finegan’s face. Finegan says.
Finegan is struggling for a way to explain to Joey the nature of
business and self-survival. After the rescues he’s seen recently, Joey
has come to think of their role as some kind of emergency services. But
some survivors need to run through their supplies and feel a pinch of
some sort before they are ready to barter on a fair basis. This Finegan
has learned. Finegan’s face brightens, as he has arrived at an
explanation.
______________________________
The houseboat is seen approaching a partially flooded pastureland, the
fence posts and wire running down a slope and into the water. At the
high end of the pasture are several wooden shelters, flat topped, for
goats. Goats are seen standing on the tops of their shelters, as well
as ranging in groups around the pastureland and clustering around a hay
dispenser.
A lean man, bow-legged and sprightly, comes striding down the pasture
toward the shoreline. The goat-herder is wearing faded blue jeans
several sizes too large, as he has lost weight. A leather belt is
cinching the pants, keeping them from falling down. The belt has
obviously been pulled several notches past their usual worn catch
point, tightened regularly lately. He has a stained white t-shirt that
has not seen Tide or bleach for many months, but looks like it has been
washed recently as it is not stained by sweat or dirt.
The goatherd seems to be following him, and gather behind him at the
shore. Curious, and following their herder as goats do without needing
any prodding. The goat-herder calls out.
Finegan has come to the front and is preparing to toss his grappling
hooks.
Mooring the houseboat, Finegan strides across the gangplank, his hand
outstretched.
The goat-herder is rubbing the back of his head, dark hair obviously
cut by scissors, not professionally done. He extends an invitation.
34
______________________________
The goat-herder has fashioned a shelter for himself near the goat
shelters at the top of the hill. Various weathered boards, showing
signs of various paint colors in past lives, are nailed to form a lean-
to. The ends are open for ventilation, covered by cloth that can be
dropped down in cold weather, and the boards of the lean-to can be
lifted for light also. He cooks over a wood-burning stove placed under
a tarp, so rain is kept from the cooking area. A stovepipe carries the
smoke up above the tarp.
There are several bedraggled suburbanites sitting on a tree trunk,
waiting for supper. Their feet are covered with dust, as they have been
working a field all day. Though they look exhausted, they look
contented. Children are among them. Joey goes down the line, showing
the picture of his parents.
Joey is not getting any response, and looks discouraged by the end of
the line.
The goat-herder has fashioned a table out of a board supported by
stools and boxes, and has chopped a couple pumpkins into sections.
These he slides into the wood stove oven, in a covered baking pan.
After brushing the table top clear, he brings out some goat cheese
wrapped in cloth from a cooler placed into a nitch in the rocks. He
slices this up and puts it on a plate, passing it down the line. Some
of the suburbanites hand the platter to Joey and Finegan, including
them as guests in the feeding line. The goat-herder explains.
