Power

• Ethan

It turns out there was a lot of work in running a farm. Feeding the chickens, taking care of the cows and milking them, shoveling manure, fixing fences, watering the vegetable patch, picking apples and carrying things back and forth. All this was on top of normal chores, like cooking, cleaning and laundry, as well as more minor jobs.

Roslyn was quickly separated from the rest of the group by virtue of her parents. She slept in Oliver’s house with them, and was given the task of assistant veterinarian as she helped her father care for the animals. He also doubled as the doctor for the people of the farm, as he was the closest thing they had to someone with medical experience. A position of relative privilege.

Zarina was also given a different task, as she brought up the trove of knowledge inside the laptop and was quickly given the job to research as much information as possible that could help them and their farm, things like winter crops and creating a makeshift greenhouse. Oliver gave her specific things he wanted to know, and she soon became a full-time researcher.

Ethan, along with Nadia, Anna and Carmen were all first assigned to picking apples, pumpkins and potatoes, along with most of the other claimed couples, except for Sofia, who apparently always worked with the animals. Many of the men were also assigned to the job, as it was the most labor-intensive and quickly Ethan realized how out of shape and unsuited he was towards that kind of work. Nadia and Carmen did a bit better, although they also complained of the heat, and Anna worked harder than all of them on the first day… Until she passed out from heatstroke and had to take the rest of the day off.

“I was hoping to work more and give you a chance to rest,” she muttered at night, looking embarrassed. Ethan made all his girls promise not to overwork themselves for his sake.

Aside from Roberto and Sofia, the other claimed couple turned out to be Faisal and Elaine, an older man of brown skin, short, black hair, a moustache and few words, along with his wife from before claim day, a heavyset, blonde woman who was always wearing a hairband and smiling at everyone. And despite the initial awkwardness, Ethan found himself quite grateful for his companions as they gave him advice on how to not strain or hurt himself while working, and even encouraged the newcomers to take breaks while the rest worked.

“You go under the trees and rest for a bit, yeah?” Said Roberto. “Don’t want a repeat of yesterday.”

And while they all gratefully accepted the offers of respite, Nadia insisted on working with the others. “My body is more in shape. I can do it,” she insisted, despite the sweat dripping from her brow.

Roberto shrugged. “Usually it’s the men who got something to prove. Haha! You wear the pants in the relationship too? How does that go?” And he laughed, prodding Nadia and Ethan for the rest of the day, which were long enough to leave them all exhausted. They woke up at 5 in the morning and begun working at 6, only to finish at 6 in the evening, literally from dawn to dusk. There was a long two hour break at lunch and a few more break times peppered through the workday, but that was barely enough to make the work bearable for them.

“It’s not so bad in this farm,” said Roberto one evening with a shrug, as they all relaxed on the couches. Nadia and Anna each clung onto Ethan, wet after having just taken a shower, while Carmen taught Sofia how to bake a potato in the microwave. “Try picking cotton some time. Brother, that’s real pain right there!”

“Shame there’s less machines in this farm though,” chimed in Faisal. “Could help make things much quicker.”

“It’s cuz this farm was all big on that ‘pick your own stuff’, on top of it being so small, yeah? Getting all the tourists and city folk to come pick the fruit, selling them pies and stuff.” Said Roberto with a shrug. “Only big machine old Oliver ever used was the combine when’s the time for the corn harvest. But I think he rents it. Wonder if he can still get his hands on one after all this claim stuff though... Heard it’s bad out there, eh?”

“Back in the city it was,” muttered Ethan. “But… Heard it was better here?”

“Hmph…” Faisal sighed. “Still assholes around here too. Didn’t trust leaving Elaine alone in Ridgesburg. Glad I brought her back here.”

“And I’m so happy I had a good man to claim me,” she purred beside him, planting a kiss on his cheek. This elicited a rare smile from the taciturn man.

“But tell me brother, how are things back in the city?” Pressed Roberto, looking at Ethan and grinning. The topic soon shifted to how they came to claim each of their women, and so Ethan learned that Sofia had been a farm worker, like Roberto, and had turned to him in fear of being claimed by another man. This was at the start, before Oliver begun separating them. Faisal left to get his wife, like many other workers, but had the good fortune that she lived close by and wasn’t claimed by the time he reached her. They chose to return and Oliver welcomed them both. And both workers listened to Ethan’s story, especially how he shot and killed Anderson to rescue Anna and Carmen, with surprise and newfound respect for him.

“That was mighty brave of you, brother!” Roberto patted his back vigorously, enthusiasm brimming in his actions as well as his voice. “And I guess you now got three women you’re protecting, huh? Although I wouldn’t mind protecting another girl or two myself!” And he waggled his brows at Sofia, who giggled back at him.

“I guess…” Muttered Ethan.

Ethan slowly got to know his new work companions, as well as some of the others from the single men’s bunkhouse, during the first week. Like Aziz, an old man that sometimes played the guitar outside the men’s bunkhouse for all to listen, or Jacob, a middle aged man that was the farm’s handyman, always tinkering with some kind of machine or mechanism, and always with a lit cigarette on the corner of his mouth.

Unfortunately this came at the cost of his relationship with the other free women.

Jasmine worked in the kitchen and he barely saw her, and Roslyn’s parents were incredibly protective. She was never out of sight of at least one of them, and they all slept in Oliver’s house, a privilege afforded to few. As far as Ethan could tell, the only others living there were a couple of Oliver’s more trusted men and his wife, who rumor went was quite sick and Ethan had not personally ever seen since he arrived at the farm.

Many of the women in the female bunkhouse also seemed **** to approach any of the men, he noticed. A pair of what seemed to be sisters were the most hostile of the bunch, glaring at any man that even dared even get close to them, but mostly the other women just put their heads down, worked their jobs and then socialized in their own bunkhouse, away from the men.

That left only Zarina, who at least spoke to him when the situation permitted it, and also enjoyed talking to her friend Anna. Zarina was always kind to him, even if she seemed to always be holding back somehow, as if there was some kind of unspoken tension between them.

The only other free girl to occasionally talk to him was Kaitlyn, and she was distracted in a different way. Ever since they arrived at the farm, the young woman had thrown herself into work in a way that rivaled Nadia in sheer persistence. Not only had she begun organizing the women in the female bunkhouse to cover each other for when they were sick and had arranged for Oliver to provide them with carpentry tools as they worked on improving their bunkhouse, she also became almost a messenger between all bunkhouses, asking questions about how conditions were and what they might need without entering them, and then relaying that information to Oliver or taking action herself when she could. Even after work hours she did not stop.

Maybe she couldn’t.

But Ethan saw her speaking with Oliver often, and although the old man didn’t always seem thrilled to talk to her, to his credit he still listened and often helped her as he could. And when they got news that the old gift shop was now being repurposed as a cafeteria for all three groups to mingle and eat together he knew deep down who had suggested it.

Kaitlyn talked with him, sometimes, and she never showed any fear towards him or any of the other men. But she always respected the bunker rules and was always busy. That left his own bunkhouse neighbours, who usually relaxed an hour or two after work in the lounge before being invariably dragged to their bedrooms by their grinning, eager partners. Once the first one went, the others inevitably followed into their own bedrooms.

And he let himself be dragged as well, still guilty, although lately the guilty feeling was growing weaker and weaker lately.

Maybe this was the way of the new world. Maybe it couldn’t be helped. And he and his three women had never gone all the way. Maybe simple handjobs and blowjobs would be enough to keep his desires at bay? Maybe he could stop himself from fully failing his promises?

He repeated this lie to himself, trying to soothe the burning guilt that occasionally flared at night. Sometimes he almost believed it.

• Kaitlyn

“I don’t know why you’re making such a big fuss about it,” grumbled Oliver, arms crossed defensively as he frowned at Kaitlyn. “I’m a grown man, I’ve run this farm for forty years and I’ve known Gunther for nearly as long. You don’t think I can do this?”

“I’m not saying you can’t,” she clarified. “I’m saying two heads are better than one when it comes to figuring this stuff out.” She gestured at the rest of the farm from the window. Oliver had asked her to move their conversations indoors, and she had an idea why. “I’m not trying to take over the farm, Oliver. You think I have the first idea how to run it? What would I even do?”

“And yet, here we are,” he sighed. “As far as I can tell you’ve pretty much set yourself as the leader of the female bunkhouse - ”

“There was an election,” she clarified briskly. “They voted for me. Although I admit the voting was my idea in the first place. But they chose me. And I think you should -”

“But this ain’t a democracy!” Complained Oliver. “And I can take care of the farm without you sticking your nose into every little thing.”

“This isn’t just a farm anymore! It’s a community,” emphasised Kaitlyn, trying her best to be patient and yet firm. “And with the rest of society breaking down we need to make sure things don’t break down here too! And knowing how people feel as well as giving them a voice, even if minor, will go a long way towards making sure people follow your rules.” Kaitlyn frowned, hesitating for a moment before adding, “did you know a few women almost ran away when they heard you were going to deal with Gunther?”

Oliver did a double take over this. “What? Why? And which women?” He frowned. “The Tomasetti sisters? I knew they were -”

“I’m not saying who!” Interrupted Kaitlyn. “And the important thing is that you almost had people stealing food and running away, at a time when you need them. And what do you think that would have done for morale?” She sighed. “A lot of women are scared. Scared that they will be claimed, or thrown under the bus when it’s convenient. And I was the one that reassured them that it wasn’t going to happen… Because I was also attending the negotiations and making sure that was not the case.”

Oliver gave her a long, tired look. He did not look angry, but he did look done with her. “I never said you could go.”

“No. But trust me, it’s for the best if I go with you,” she replied.

“I know Gunther and that’s a terrible idea! I’m going to look weak! He’ll never respect me if you keep undermining me!”

Kaitlyn tilted her head for a moment, thinking. “Okay… How about a compromise?” She raised her hand above her shoulder, palm outward, as if swearing an oath. “I promise I will not interrupt or undermine you during negotiations. I’ll be mostly quiet. But, in exchange… If I use a code word you’ll tell Gunther that you’ll think about the offer. And you’ll return and we’ll discuss it among ourselves. You still keep your authority, and I still have my say.”

Oliver sighed again, but it was a tired sigh of defeat. “If - and only if! - you promise not to bug me about anything else for the rest of the week? And you promise to keep quiet at the negotiation? Then you can come with me. Alright?”

Kaitlyn felt a wave of relief. “Yep! Agreed! And in return, if during negotiations I comment about the weather, that means you don’t agree to anything and we talk it out back here, yeah?”

“I’m my decision. But we’ll see.” He shrugged.

Kaitlyn frowned, but let it slide. “And I think we should elect one person from each other bunkhouse as well. Not necessarily to go with you, but to - ”

“Ah, ah ah! What did I say about you bugging me?” He wagged his finger. “Are you breaking your promise already?”

Kaitlyn pursed her lips. “We’ll table this for later then. How about the talk with Gunther… Do you have a reason why this is necessary?”

“Aside from the fact his farm is right next to mine and we’ll kinda have to deal with him anyway?” Oliver shrugged. “I also wanted to borrow his combine harvester. Corn harvest is almost here, and doing that by hand is an absolute pain. Would take a lot of time and effort that we can’t spare right now.”

Kaitlyn nodded. “And you think he’ll lend it to us out of the kindness of his heart?”

Oliver laughed. “That’ll be the day. Nah… Even before all this claim stuff happened, he would never do something like that.”

“So he’ll be expecting something in exchange, right?” Kaitlyn frowned. “But you also said that his farm is bigger than yours, right? So… Why would he trade anything with you?”

At this Oliver grinned and puffed his chest, a note of pride in his voice. “Ah. The thing is not only the size of the farm… But also the kind of stuff it grows.”

Kaitlyn looked as Oliver beamed at her. She recognized a dramatic pause when she saw it. “Oh yeah? How so?” She asked.

“Gunther’s farm is like many other farms lately, in that he grows one or two big cash crops and then sells them for a load of money. Not that I would blame him. It’s not a bad business strategy, or at least it wasn’t… Until now.” He smiled wider. “I went a different route. Growing a bunch of different crops, selling in farmer’s markets and to the organic crowd - that one made a big difference for small farmers! - as well as bringing in city people to handpick minor crops and sell stuff like handmade pies and jam… On one hand I made much less money than he ever did, lemme tell you that! But I also got to eat fresh stuff every day, talk to folks in the community more… And guess what? I now also have a lot more food variety than he ever does!” And Oliver laughed. “Gunther has pretty much only corn and cows. He’s got a lot more of those than I do, true… But unless he wants to eat only cornmeal and beef for the rest of his life? He’s gonna have to trade!”

She allowed herself to smile back. “Huh, that’s… Pretty good leverage. Sounds like your type of farming is going to be a lot more valuable now.”

“I’ll try not to rub it in his face too much,” he said while leaning back, although his smug grin completely contradicted his words.

“And are there many other farmers like you? Especially nearby?” She asked.

Oliver shrugged. “Might be a few, don’t rightly know… But again. They’re rare. Most big farmers focus on one or two things. Mostly it’s cows, corn and soy around these parts. There’s a few poultry farms too.”

“But not many farms with pumpkins, apples…”

“... Potatoes, vegetables, blueberries and raspberries. Damn! I should have gotten those bees I was thinking of a while back.” He chuckled. “Oh well.”

“I see…” Kaitlyn nodded to herself. “So he has something we want. And we should have something they want. It’s a start.”

“We’re also both farmers on the same boat.” He shook his head. “I’m sure we’ll be fine. Gunther… I didn’t expect him to do what he did. IF that story is true… But I still think we can negotiate with him. You’ll see. It’ll be fine!”

They drove slowly to the agreed-upon meeting place, a crossing between two roads so nondescript as to be almost unnoticeable, but chosen at Kaitlyn’s insistence due to the fact it was neutral territory, not owned by anyone as far as they knew, and with a clear view all around such that nobody could hide nearby or sneak upon them. Oliver had arrived early, along with Kaitlyn and Jacob, apparently one of Oliver’s most trusted men, who carried a hunting rifle nonchalantly on his shoulder as he left the car. They all waited, trying their best to not look tense, until they saw the pickup truck appear on the Horizon.

Slowly it approached and stopped, a few meters away from their group. And from the truck climbed out an older man with sunglasses and a white moustache, trimmed and neat, along with two women. Both were armed with guns.

“Oliver!” Shouted the older man, smiling as he approached. “Good to see you’re alive and well!”

“Same to you, buddy!” Oliver laughed too as he walked up to the other man and shook his hand. Nothing to see here, just two old boys greeting each other. “Glad you came to talk!”

“But why the remote location?” Asked Gunther, still smiling and acting friendly. Behind him the two women smiled sweetly, but did not take their eyes off the other group, fingers still in the triggers of their guns which were thankfully pointed down at the moment. “Couldn’t we just talk at my house like I suggested?”

“Well…” And Oliver had to suppress the need to glance towards Kaitlyn. This place had been her suggestion. “We… Um, I mean, I figured we’d better meet at a place like this. At least until we know where each other stands, you know? With all… This thing going on.”

“You mean claim day?” Gunther smiled as he saw the other’s man’s discomfort. “Don’t tell me you didn’t already claim at least one girl of your own? I thought the pretty thing behind you was one of yours.”

“No, no…” Oliver chuckled ruefully. “I don’t think I’m her type.”

Gunther grinned wider. “Not even your wife? I mean, if anyone - ”

“Let’s not go there.” Oliver cut him off, more curt than Kaitlyn had ever seen him.

A moment of silence, but to her surprise Gunther seemed to respect that. “Alright. Not your wife then. But… Not even a single girl? Really?”

“What about these two girls behind you?” Asked Oliver, looking at both women. They smiled back at him, but said nothing.

Gunther was the one that spoke. “Yeah, they’re mine. I claimed them fair and square. It’s the law of the new world, after claim day, and the message from the source. You got the message at least, right?”

“I did,” Oliver nodded. “Not sure what to believe in right now.”

“Regardless, this is how things are,” said Gunther. “And we can’t change that.”

“We’re in agreement there,” said Oliver, conceding with a shrug.

“But you disagree with me claiming these girls?” Gunther smiled, but his eyes were hidden by the sunglasses, making his expression more sinister than friendly. “Heard your brother and his wife escaped to your place, still unclaimed last I heard. Also some other girls… Word is getting around that your farm is a safe haven, I’ve heard.”

“We got a few claimed girls too,” replied Oliver, his tone calm, conciliatory. “But I don’t see the need to claim a girl if she don’t want to. That’s my opinion.” He then took a deep breath, before continuing: “But I came here because I was hoping that, despite our differences, we could still reach an understanding and help each other out. After all… We’re on the same boat, all of us farmers, right? And.. I’m going to need a combine harvester soon. Thought we could come to an agreement, work together… Figure something out.”

Gunther’s smile remained in place, as if fixed with a pin. “Despite our difference in opinion?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time we disagreed. Yet we always helped each other out.”

There was a moment of tense silence, then it was Gunther’s turn to sigh and grumble. “True enough. And despite our differences you were always a straight-shooter with me, Oliver buddy.” He then straightened his back and the tension returned in his demeanor. “This is why I’ll say it straight to you right now: You’re not going to make it long in this new world like this.”

“What?” Oliver seemed taken aback for the first time in the conversation, uncertain as the other man’s voice took a threatening tone.

“You’re too soft,” pressed Gunther, taking a step forward. “You’re afraid of getting your hands dirty, afraid of taking command, like a true man. And these times? They ain’t the right times for soft men.”

Gunther laughed softly, but there was no joy in it. “Join me,” he said. “You can stay in your house and your farm, so long as you agree to work for me, and do as I say. Like… A coalition… With me as the leader. I will claim half the women staying at your farm myself if you won’t… You can have your men claim the rest or claim them yourself if you want… Although I’ll let you keep a few free. I can respect a man’s wishes when it comes to his wife or his daughter.”

“What? Have you gone crazy?” Oliver spat back. And Kaitlyn saw his face turn red with anger, for the very first time. He might have been upset or grouchy before when they talked, but this was nothing compared to that. “Why the hell would I let you take over my farm? Or decide what happens to my people?”

“Because you’re weak,” bit back Gunther, unbothered by the other’s anger. “And unless me or someone else who is strong protects you, you’re going to be eaten alive.” Another laugh, equally humorless, punctuated his speech. “Oliver, buddy… I’m actually doing you a kindness here. Giving you some protection, and still letting you keep your farm? I could just take it from you right now if I wanted. How many people you got working on that farm? A dozen or two? And how many of those can even fight?”

“Your farm had even less workers than mine, buddy.” Oliver crossed his arms. “I remember you bragging about that, once. Because of all the fancy machinery you had. Triple the profit with half the workers, right?” He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t come bullshitting me.”

“Not bullshitting,” replied Gunther, calmly shaking his head. “Most of my workers left when the shit hit the fan, much like yours I imagine… But then new people started coming in! Men and women, fleeing the big city. People are hungry! And that’s when I realized the fucking gold mine we are standing on right now!”

He gestured at the distance, where they could see fields behind fences, filled with crops or dotted with animals. “People need food, Oliver! No matter what, people always need food!” Shouted Gunther. “Some folk will ask for it, some will try to steal or take it by ****. But we’re the ones standing on top of all the gold right now! And either we hold onto it, we we become the rulers of this new world! The ones calling the shots! Nobody breathing down our backs, twisting us this way or that! But if you don’t hold on to it? Then a bigger dog will come and take it from you. That’s the way it goes, in this new world, buddy. That’s the way it goes.”

Kaitlyn didn’t like the way this conversation was going. The other man was dominating the conversation, and while Oliver didn’t look ready to surrender, he didn’t seem calm either. “But - !” He began, only to be interrupted unceremoniously by Gunther.

“I have forty six men and women under me right now!” He said, triumphant. “Had to go out myself and claim a few. Bought some women too, in exchange for food… And would you believe my nephew actually scored four girls himself? The little shit! Hah! But I also took in a few men with women of their own. And now? Not only do I have more workers and soldiers than you, I have better quality as well as quantity!” He grinned, any hint of humor now gone. “Ever seen a claimed woman fight? They’re like devils! Scared the piss out of even me, old buddy! So… Can you honestly tell me that your little group is stronger than mine?”

Oliver actually slammed his fist on the hood of his car in anger, startling his own worker and Kaitlyn, as well as the other two claimed women who raised their weapons briefly, before slowly lowering them back down.

“So… What? You’re going to take over my farm?” Oliver’s face was red, furious. “Is that it? You’re gonna invade my farm, like… Gengis Khan or some bullshit…? In the middle of all this mess, you want to make things worse? Are you really that kinda man, Gunther? Really? I thought you were better than this!”

Gunther seemed unperturbed. “This is how the new world works, buddy. I’m just surviving here. Now, maybe I’ll take over your farm by ****.... Or maybe I’ll sit back and let some group of looters do it for me. But the outcome is the same either way… You lose everything. Your farm, your house… Even your sick wife. You know that if a man claimed her, she would turn on you as quick as a weathervane?”

“Don’t you dare talk about - !”

“It’s the truth!” Shouted Gunther, interrupting Oliver again. But then his tone softened. “Wouldn’t it be better if I protected you instead, eh buddy? Us together? Instead of at each other’s throat? You can keep your farm, keep your wife… And a few other people you like. We can talk about that, sure. And all you gotta do is… Get on with the program, you know? When I ask something of you, you do it. That’s all.” He shrugs. “There’s gotta be someone calling the shots. And if you don’t have the strength to back up your calls… You better follow someone who does.”

Both men looked and measured each other, tension oozing from the air as Kaitlyn watched apprehensively. It was clear to her, this negotiation had run its course. She glanced up at the sky.

“Looks like it might rain,” she commented. Both men seemed to notice her for the first time. “Oliver? You think it might hurt the crops?”

Gunther looked up. “Sky’s mostly clear, what are you… Wait. That tiny cloud there on the horizon?” And the old man let out a chuckle. “Oliver! Is this really the kinda girls you got working for you right now? Haw, haw! Do any of them even know a thing about farming?”

Oliver, however, caught her eye and seemed to notice the intent behind her words. He took a deep breath and calmed down.

“I… I need to think about your offer, Gunther.” He said.

The other man pursed his lips. “Why?” He asked. “I’m making a good offer to you right now in good faith!”

“Yeah, but I still need to think it over!” Retorted Oliver. “You think I’m the kind of man to jump into something like that?”

Gunther frowned, but considered his next words carefully. “Tomorrow then. Same time, same place. I can give you a day, but if you delay any more than that? I’ll have to assume you’re plotting something!”

Oliver just shook his head and stomped back to his car, still visibly upset. Kaitlyn and Jacob followed suit, entering the car while still keeping their eyes on Gunther who stared back at them, the women behind him still alert and loyal as ever. Gunther turned on the car and then drove away, although his thunderous expression did not leave him as the pickup truck and Oliver’s rival and his women both faded into the distance behind them.

“Can’t believe he would go this far!” Hissed Oliver, sitting on his chair and glowering at the table. “Take over my own farm, would he? The bastard!”

“So you agree that we should discuss this together?” Asked Kaitlyn, trying to sound confident rather than anxious. If Oliver became even more stubborn this could be bad.

But instead he looked at her and sighed. “You were right,” he said.

“Sorry?”

“You were right,” he repeated. “I should have taken Gunther as a more serious threat. I never thought that he would go as far as… Hell! I went drinking with the man a few times! He was never THIS cutthroat or power-hungry!”

She smiled sympathetically. “Power or desperation can make people do things you never would have imagined," said Kaitlyn. Her thoughts briefly flickered to Ethan, but she dismissed them. Not the time. “I’m sorry that he was not the man you thought he was.”

“So you were right,” repeated Oliver with another sigh. He slumped lower on the chair. “And now he says he has more people than us.”

“You think he could be bluffing?” Asked Kaitlyn.

The older man shook his head. “Not his type of thing. He’s always been a bit rough but he’s not the conniving type. Or… At least I don’t think so… Damn! What do we do?”

Kaitlyn took a deep breath, considering the best approach in her endeavor. “I have an idea… I’m not sure if it will work, but I want to tell it to you… Maybe we can refine it into some kind of plan?”

“Sure,” Oliver said. “I’m all ears.”

Kaitlyn blinked. That was fast. “Are you up for cooperation then? I mean, you listening to me before any big decisions. I still don’t want to take over your leadership, I’m making it clear-”

Oliver raised his hands, stopping her in her tracks. “I’ll be blunt, Kaitlyn,” he said. “If you can save my family and my farm from that bastard’s greedy hands, I’ll let you be co-leader. Or advisor or… Whatever it is you were planning before.”

Kaitlyn smiled, despite herself. “And my plan to elect one representative from each bunker…?”

“Sure, we can do that too.” He looked down at the table again, his anger slowly condensing and cooling into a defeatist despondency. He shook his head. “Crazy that it comes to this. But… What if he’s right? What if it is law of the jungle now?”

“Doesn’t have to be that way,” said Kaitlyn, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, her lips quirking into a confident grin. “Listen, here’s what I was thinking…”

• Nadia

“So we’re not getting any sleep at all tonight?” Asked Roberto, incredulous. “Brother… This is a fine surprise, eh?”

“I’m afraid not,” Kaitlyn shook her head. “These preparations are going to take all night. But we NEED to get things ready before tomorrow. For the sake of everyone in this farm. You all agree that it’s better than being taken over by Gunther right.”

Nadia could see that Kaitlyn was nervous when talking to them, all claimed women and their men standing outside their bunkhouse. The woman hid it well though, her posture confident.

“Still, working all night after working a full day is…” Roberto grumbled.

“Heard about the man,” added Faisal, his eyes glowering like embers. “Gunther. He’s a piece of shit, treated his workers like shit before.” He took a step forward and looked at Kaitlyn. “I’m with you and your plan, all the way.”

“If you want you can rest a bit more, Beto?” Suggested Sofia. “I can take his place, work twice as hard, miss! If you can -”

“Unfortunately this is kind of an all hands on deck situation,” replied Kaitlyn. “But tell you what. The faster we get done, the sooner we can rest before tomorrow. I’m also checking if we can get a lighter day tomorrow, but we’ll see… We’re also getting a bit short on workers, since there’s the new jobs to think about… Speaking of which! You guys need to elect someone to represent your bunker. You can voice your opinions at any meetings when it comes to the big decisions of what happens in the farm. I want to make it clear though, you don’t get to actually control anything. Oliver still has final say. But he’s promised to listen to us, so… This is still important.”

Roberto perked up. “Does taking this job mean you don’t have to work in the farm.”

But she quickly shot it down. “Only if there’s a meeting. You still have to work otherwise. As I said… We’re short on workers right now.” She glanced at their group and pursed her lips./ “Also, considering claimed women will always support their men, having a full election doesn’t feel fair. So I’m making the rule that claimed women can’t vote. Sorry.”

“This is ridiculous!” Said Carmen. “We don’t have rights, we don’t get trusted… Kaitlyn! For someone who always says you care about us, you’re not even treating us as human! Carajo!”

“Well, she has a point,” said Faisal. “Otherwise Ethan would essentially get four votes, right? Or wouldn’t you vote with him?”

“He has more women with him so he gets more votes. It’s only fair!” Countered Anna, getting angry too. Nadia understood the women’s anger, but they needed to play the bigger game.

“Hold on!” She said, her voice calm. “Let’s check first if Ethan even wants to be a representative, right? How do you feel, Ethan?” She asked, her face full of concern. “I know it’s going to be tough, juggling the responsibility on top of all the farm work. I think you could help if you were our representative, but if it’s too much trouble…?”

“Ah…” He glanced at Kaitlyn and then looked away, shrugging. “I can do it. Unless someone else wants. Then I’ll step aside.”

But Roberto just made a face. “Sounds like extra work for no extra benefit. Hard pass for me.”

Elaine put her hand encouragingly on Faisal’s back, but he just shrugged. “Don’t care one way or the other.”

Kaitlyn looked relieved the arguing had stopped. “So, are you willing to be the representative, Ethan? It’s not too much. Meetings whenever something big needs to be decided, you chime in with any suggestions or tell us what the rest of your bunkhouse is thinking. Yeah?”

He hesitated, but then quickly nodded. “Alright.”

Roberto laughed. “That’s our Ethan! Never say five words where one will do, eh?” And he put his arm around the other man, no sign of resentment. “You’ll be a good rep, I’m sure! Make every word count!”

This made even Faisal chuckle and Ethan smile a bit. Kaitlyn smiled too, briefly, before she remembered the task ahead of them. “Glad it’s decided!” She said. “But we still have a lot of work to do! So everyone gather in front of the house. We’re splitting people into groups and putting you to work. Let’s get moving, everyone!”

And men and claimed women slowly began trudging into the darkness, following the small point of light that was the main house. But Nadia was internally celebrating as she went.

She had managed to maneuver Ethan into being a representative. So far the position felt mostly ceremonial, but she could see it as a stepping stone… Something that would allow him to get his hands on some real power. Maybe even taking the reins of the community, after Oliver got too old or, if something happened to him…

And she smiled to herself. Ethan would make a good leader. And it would also mean comfort and pleasure for him. No more sleeping in the bunkhouse, no more being at the mercy of others. This leadership position was still distant, like the light of the house they walked towards, but it was within reach! She could feel it!

And in the darkness, where nobody could see, Nadia grinned as her hand touched Ethan affectionately. One day, maybe soon.. She would make Ethan the true master of this place. It’s what he deserved, after all. And her heart fluttered, at the thought of the power he would command over others. And over her.