Tom, smoothly handsome, with a full stock of dark wavy hair, soft blue eyes, and a hypnotic voice. Though slightly over weight he still managed to charm women of all ages. He had been a civil engineer before the social breakdown started. His biggest worry in those days had been making sure the septic systems he designed always went downhill, and that city and county governments gave his clients the permits required for their sewage systems. He went to work in his office each day, and slept soundly in his bed at night. He and Betts married young, had raised three children and stayed together out of a strong sense of loyalty. Love and caring long ago forgotten and left untended in their relationship. The two girls married directly out of high school and immediately began producing children, seven between them, including two sets of twins. Their son followed in his dad's footsteps, joined the family business, married, and added three more grandchildren to the family before the complete breakdown of the social system. Life had been good. Oh, there were little things along the way, ordinary life events, a daughter pregnant before the wedding, some violence in the son's relationship, and a few adolescent misdemeanor arrests. All three had adolescent drug use problems that worked themselves out eventually. Tom had a bout with alcoholism that became evident after the children left home, and he had been caught in a few marital indiscretions over the years.

Betts made several attempts to join different fundamental religious groups. She believed that somehow, at some level, a new religious ferment would remedy her fallen family. In her perception each group had failed to instill in her the desired revelations that she craved. It always seemed to eluded her, failed to capture her spirit and she would drift away, less zealous then the time before. She would try again, but each time she fell away she moved further from understanding that it came from within her not from outside of her. She would drift back to her accustomed lifestyle, a life that was simple, and yet emotionally trying and stressful, but manageable as long as everyone behaved according to her rules.

Tom had been blessed with a sixth sense and from the early 70s knew a holocaust was on the wind. In his spare time he studied survivalist manuals, collected guns, and learned about security. By the mid-80s he was convinced these were the skills he would need to ensure his children's and grandchildren's future. Concentrating his energy he became an expert at survival tactics. He had proven himself an asset to the village, a good teacher, a good leader, brave, knowledgeable, and spiritually in touch.

He and Paul had developed a good working relationship, their skills complemented each other. Paul had been a well-trained fireman and EMT. He continued to work out daily to maintained the strong, fit body that had been required for fire fighting. He had worked for several years with the mountain rescue unit and had learned to fly in his early thirties. He was a good pilot. Paul had never given social breakdown and anarchy a second thought. The idea of such a thing occurring, he felt, belonged to the fanatics and rebels. He had lived his life simply, had three marriages, two children, a home and had planned to live out his retirement -- which he expected to be long, healthy, and enjoyable -- in Montana.

He, too, had proven himself an asset to the village. At times his courage and natural know-how in the face of extreme danger had been a surprise, even to himself. Paul and Andra had been married only a short time when the breakdown started in earnest. Her fragile emotional state had taken him by surprise and, even though he was in a state of constant worry about whether or not his children were safe, he had handled the situation well.

Tom, having made his internal list answered. "I think I'll start with the video, then the map and follow it with the weather charts and Randy's latest satellite printout. What do you think?"

"Sounds fine to me." Tom replied in the same matter of fact tone, then asked, "When do you want to put in the wildfire losses and the river report?"

After a moment of thought Tom said, "When I put up the map, we can talk about what we saw on the ground over the last three days. The hit on the plane will certainly cause a reaction." He felt his body shudder inside as he continued his thought, "We were very lucky we were so close to the Bieter Village." His voice dropped to a low reflective tone as he went on, "You know, we haven't talked about it yet, how close we came," he said, and after a pause "to losing that airplane." Shaking off the thought of their near disaster that could have ended fatally for both of them, he continued, "We need to talk to Randy and David. David and Matt are both flying well enough now that if they find a hidden or abandoned airport with an operational plane, it is reasonable to assume that one of them could fly it back. With Matt along, an engine overhaul wouldn't be a problem either. I don't know how many more times we can patch the ol' Bug Bomb."

"Let's save it for the inner circle meeting. Lester is still in the dead pool, and I for one want it to stay that way." Tom suggested. Feeling the trepidation and fear seep into his thoughts about Lester he knew the best place to discuss the near disaster was with the inner group. He let it go for now, knowing he shared the same concerns as Marie and Paul.

Tom, muttered sardonically, "An amazing recovery, wouldn't you say? Too bad he has no memory of where he came from or why he was in that mine."

Before Paul could reply the children came bounding into the room. After the hugs and happy greetings, they were bombarded with one question after another. Little Matt, although nearly sixteen and not so little, had been asked to help with the children this morning. A little miffed because he really wanted to be out helping the travelers, he found himself just where he loved to be. He was able to continue his relentless mission of begging Paul, trying hard to wear him down, so he would teach him to fly. Paul promised to talk with the inner group about the subject, and Matt soon had the children organized and moving chairs into place. Paul kept him at bay with the usual teasing and "wait and see" put-off. The bustle and chatter continued creating a clearly discernible electricity in the air.