Strategic Withdrawal

           Therewas,asJosellabadimplied,noneedforhurry.WhilewesawthesummeroutatSliming,Icouldprospectanewborneforusontheislandandmakeseveraljourneystheretotransportthemostusefulpartofthestoresandgearthatwehadcollected.But,meanwhile,thewoodpilehadbeendestroyed.Weneedednomorefuelthanwouldkeepthekitchengoingforafewweeks,butthatwehadtohave,sothenextmorningSusanandIsetofftofetchcoal.

           Thehalf-tackwasn’tsuitableforthatjob,sowetookafour-wheel-drivetuck.Althoughthenearestrailcoaldepotwasonlytenmilesaway,theroundaboutroute,duetotheblockageofsomeroadsandthebadconditionofothers,meantthatittookusnearlythewholeday.Therewerenomajormishaps,butitwasdrawingontoeveningwhenwereturned.

           Asweturnedthelastcornerofthelane,withthetriffidssla8hingatthetruckasindefatigablyaseverfromthebanks,westaredinastonishment.Beyondourgate,parkedinouryard,stoodamonstrous-lookingvehicle.ThesightsodumfoundedusthatwesatgapingatitforsamemomentsbeforeSusanputonherhelmetandglovesandclimbeddowntoopenthegate.

           AfterIhaddriveninwewentovertogethertolookatthevehicle.Thechassis,wesaw,wassupportedanmetaltracks,whichsuggestedamilitaryorigin.Thegeneraleffectwassomewhere‘betweenacabincruiserandanamateur-builtcaravan.SusanandIlookedatit,andthenlookedatoneanother,withraisedeyebrows.Wewentindoorstolearnmoreaboutit.