LOSS System: Last Store Standing

“More than you’d think,” Elias said. “You can use it to fence in poultry or protect the growing area, and those are just the simplest uses.”

Jack and Megan were both surprised.

Elias motioned toward the trading post under construction and led them over.

“In the old world, this kind of mesh was sometimes attached to the walls of simple buildings before a layer of mortar was applied,” Elias explained. “It gave the mortar something to grip, making it less likely to crack or come loose after it dried.”

“Simple buildings?” Jack asked.

“Proper old-world buildings used much better materials. I’m talking about the kind of structures we can build now.”

“But we don’t have mortar.”

“Then we use clay. It won’t work as well, but the mesh will still help it stay on the wall.”

Elias walked over to the three rolls and pulled open a small section.

“It’ll also be useful for the brick kiln. Hal said the outside will need a layer of insulation. We can wrap the mesh around it first, cover it with clay, and use it to hold the insulation in place. It should also help keep the outer layer from cracking or falling off.”

Jack finally understood why Elias had been so pleased.

“I should’ve brought back more.”

“The rest are still there. You can get them next time.”

“What if someone takes them first?”

Elias gave him a strange look. “Who would bother? It’s useful to us because we’re building things. What would anyone else use it for? It won’t stop mutant beasts or raiders.”

Jack had to admit he was right.

“Fine. They’ll probably still be there.”

Megan laughed.

Jack turned to her. “What are you laughing at? You couldn’t think of a use for it either.”

“True,” Megan said. “But if I hadn’t told you to bring some back, all three rolls would still be sitting there gathering dust.”

Jack opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Elias watched the two of them with a smile.

“You two keep talking. I’m going to find Thomas and see how we can connect those Precision Water-Distribution Sprinklers.”

After Elias left, Jack glanced at the three rolls of Flexible-Frame Barrier Mesh again. He still wished they had brought back more, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

He could only hope Dale kept his word and delivered one of the electric four-wheelers. If the vehicle still worked, they could use it to bring back the remaining mesh, the full sacks of rice, the seeds they had left behind, and even the rusted farming tools scattered throughout the agricultural supply center.

That would solve most of their transportation problems.

Jack finally let the matter go.

“Come on,” he said to Megan. “Let’s check out the pit.”

By the time they reached it, the difference was obvious.

After several more days of continuous filling, the water had risen past the halfway point. Sunlight rippled across the surface, and the dry hole they had started with was finally beginning to resemble a pond.

Jack stood at the edge, admiring the progress. His regret over the mesh quickly faded.

“Why did you make such a big pond?” Megan asked.

“It started as part of a mission.” Jack shrugged. “The mission is already done, but somehow the whole thing kept growing beyond the original plan.”

He motioned toward the moat being dug around the settlement.

Work hadn’t stopped while they were away. Most of the separate trenches had already been connected, leaving only a few unfinished sections.

At the Dustchucks’ current pace, the entire moat should be finished and filled within another month.

Once that happened, raiders and mutant beasts would no longer be able to walk straight up to the convenience store.

Maybe then Jack could finally sleep a little better.

After checking the pond and moat, Jack and Megan returned beneath the canopies.

Jack was about to head toward the trading post when he remembered the Portable High-Capacity Energy Cell, Industrial-Civilian Crossover.

He had taken the energy cell with him during the trade with Marlin, and it had been fully recharged by the time he returned. Since then, it had been sitting there unused.

Jack had unlimited electricity at the convenience store, so he had nearly forgotten about it.

But Megan’s Tesla was still stranded in the cave.

Could they use the portable energy cell to charge it?

“Does your Tesla have one of those charging plugs?” Jack asked.

Megan gave him a confused look. “What charging plug?”

“I don’t know what it’s called. The thing you plug into a regular outlet to charge the car at home.”

“You mean a Tesla Mobile Connector.”

“How would I know?” Jack said without the slightest embarrassment. “I can’t drive, I don’t have a license, and I never had enough money to buy a car.”

Megan stared at him for a moment.

“So do you have one or not?” Jack asked.

“Yes. I paid extra for it when I bought the car. It’s still in the trunk.”

Then she caught on.

“Wait. Do you have something we can use to charge the Tesla?”

“Maybe.”

Jack told her about the portable energy cell.

“In theory, it should work with the Mobile Connector,” he said. “But we won’t know until we try.”

Megan immediately brightened.

When she bought the Tesla, she had spent a long time debating whether to pay an extra three hundred dollars for the Mobile Connector. She had only bought it because she occasionally drove back to her parents’ home in the small town.

At the time, she hadn’t been sure she would ever need it.

Now it might be the only way to get her Tesla running again.

She was suddenly very glad she had spent the money.

“When are we going?” Megan asked. “Can we still make it there today?”

Jack could tell she wanted to leave immediately.

“Slow down. We’ll go, but not today.”

“Why not?”

“Did you already forget how far away the cave is? We just got back. Aren’t you tired?”

Megan fell silent.

Of course she remembered the distance and how exhausted she had been. The thought of getting the Tesla back had simply pushed everything else out of her mind.

“We need to prepare to spend the night there,” Jack continued. “We don’t know whether the Mobile Connector will work with the energy cell, and even if it does, we have no idea how long the car will need to charge.”

Megan knew he was right.

“Fine. We’ll prepare everything first.”

Jack thought for a moment.

“If things go well with Dale, the trip might be much easier.”

“Who’s Dale?”

“Someone from another settlement.”

Jack briefly explained their agreement.

“He’s supposed to bring us an electric four-wheeler,” Jack said. “If it works, we could use it to reach the cave much faster. We might even leave in the morning and drive your Tesla back that same evening.”

That finally eased some of Megan’s impatience.

“Why don’t we head back to the store and see what ingredients we have?” Jack suggested.

Megan saw through him immediately. “And then?”

“We’ll make something good for everyone tonight.” Jack smiled. “Consider it your welcome feast.”

“You’re terrible at changing the subject.”

“Are you coming or not?”

Megan rolled her eyes but followed him back to the convenience store.

With so many people to feed, Jack gathered four loaves of bread, fifteen sausages, two packs of bacon, three packs of spicy meat sauce, three cans of baked beans, two packs of green peas, and seven cartons of mushroom soup.

After checking what he had brought, Megan asked him to add flour and cheese. There was already enough strawberry jam, butter, and seasoning in the kitchen.

They carried everything upstairs, and Jack placed the last two cartons of mushroom soup on the table.

“That’s everything,” he said seriously. “I’ll leave dinner to you.”

Megan stopped what she was doing.

“Isn’t this supposed to be my welcome feast?”

“Of course.”

“Then why am I the one cooking?”

Jack shrugged. “I can cook if you don’t mind reheated food.”

Megan stared at him for a few seconds, then pointed toward the door.

“Out.”

“You got it.”

Jack left with a grin, completely unashamed.

Under the canopies, he found Marg sorting through some supplies and remembered the Gray-Eared Jump Hare jerky he had eaten before.

“Marg, is there any jerky left?”

“Plenty. Why?”

“Megan’s making dinner. I thought she might be able to do something different with it.”

Marg brought him a large bag, and Jack carried it back upstairs.

Megan frowned when she saw him enter the kitchen again.

“Why are you back already?”

“I brought you one of the local specialties.”

Jack placed the bag on the table and took out a piece of jerky.

“It’s made from Gray-Eared Jump Hare meat. It’s tough and doesn’t taste like much on its own. See if you can work it into dinner.”

Megan broke off a small piece and tasted it.

“You’re right. It’s not very good, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“I’ll leave it to you, then.”

Jack turned toward the door.

“Come back,” Megan called. “You’re not leaving me to deal with all of this alone.”

Jack looked at the ingredients covering the table and reluctantly returned.

For the next few hours, he followed Megan’s instructions, cutting and preparing whatever she handed him. His work wasn’t exactly neat, but it saved her some time.

By evening, dinner was finally ready.

Megan had layered the bread with sausages, bacon, and pieces of softened jump hare jerky. One half was covered in spicy meat sauce mixed with baked beans and green peas, while the other used a creamy sauce made from mushroom soup. A thick layer of cheese had melted over the top, turning lightly golden around the edges.

They let it rest until the sauces had thickened, then carried the trays beneath the canopies.

The smell quickly drew everyone over.

Cass arrived first and stared at the food.

“What is that?”

“Double-Sauce Jump Hare Jerky Bread Lasagna,” Jack announced with a perfectly serious expression.

Cass ignored him and gave Megan a thumbs-up.

“Impressive.”

Once everyone had gathered, Megan cut the bread lasagna into large pieces. Melted cheese stretched from the knife, revealing the sauce-soaked bread, sausage, bacon, and jerky layered inside.

Cass took the first bite and immediately went back for another. Harvey saw how quickly he was eating and tried his own.

The jerky had softened after soaking up both sauces. The spicy meat sauce added a rich flavor, while the creamy mushroom sauce balanced the saltiness. Combined with the bread and lightly browned cheese, the result tasted far better than anyone had expected.

Soon, the only sounds around the table came from forks and plates.

Megan had worried that the others might not like what she had made. When several plates were held out for another piece, she finally relaxed.

Marg finished her portion and looked at her.

“I never knew Gray-Eared Jump Hare meat could taste this good.”

“It’s delicious,” Elias agreed.

The others quickly joined in.

“The white sauce is good too.”

“Is there any more?”

“I want another piece.”

The steady stream of praise left Megan a little embarrassed.

Jack winked at her. “Happy?”

“None of your business.”

After dinner, Ray stayed behind to help clean up. She hesitated for a moment before approaching Megan.

“Could you teach me how to cook?”

Megan looked surprised, then smiled.

“Of course.”

“Really? Thank you.”

“I only know a few dishes,” Megan said. “But we can figure out more together.”

Ray nodded eagerly.

The conversation beneath the canopies continued long after the dishes had been cleared away.

Far from the convenience store, however, several survivors sat together in another settlement, discussing the rumors Marlin had brought them.

More food than they could imagine.

Clean water.

A trading post willing to accept almost anything.

The longer they talked, the less their thoughts resembled an honest trade.

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