them one of Trudy’s cars with a full tank of gas, some ammo and a couple of trade rifles they can operate in exchange for the Humvee, M60 and its ammo.”
Trudy looked distressed “I’m not sure we can get the seven of us and all our gear into just one car and the gas truck besides aren’t we going to abandon the gas truck when it runs out of gas?”
Beacon hurried on, “Hear me out, Trudy’s son Rick was a mechanic in the Army, he knows how to operate and maintain both the Humvee and the M60 so he, Trudy and some of the rest of her brood can man the Humvee.”
“We’ll get an up-armored Humvee and M60 with ammo; the girls and their boyfriends get a car with a full tank of gas, some ammo and guns they can operate. It’s a win-win situation.” He didn't add that it was really a triple win situation because the new ride upgraded Trudy's status in the group.
Beacon was counting on the LLC's respect for private property. They had the muscle to just take one of Trudy's cars if they'd chosen to. Hell, they could take Trudy's cars and the boys Humvee and leave them all sitting in the field if they wanted to.
But the LLC were the 'good guys' in this real life drama who wouldn't dream of doing such a thing. It didn't hurt that Trudy and her clan had been accepted as members, albeit junior members, of the LLC group.
Trudy was troubled. “Is that a fair trade? Isn’t all that worth a whole lot more than a used car and a couple of rifles?”
“A week ago you’d have been right; a call on their cell phones to Triple A and they’d have fuel. But this week that option doesn’t exist anymore. Without fuel that Humvee is an immobile pile of metal and we are under no obligation to give them any of our irreplaceable supplies,” Beacon looked her in the eyes, “Trudy this isn’t like giving spare change to a beggar; we’ve nothing to spare.”
“It will probably be decades before anyone gets an oil refinery producing again. Same goes for ammo and gun factories. Even if they had the materials they need to produce product the people who operate the equipment are scattered or dead. We can’t just give resources away because someone needs them.”
“The LLC prepared beforehand and have what’s needed now. If they can hang on to it they'll be calling the shots for the next generation. If they squander their resources trying to be fair and share with everyone in need they’ll soon be down there with the needy. Just because someone has a need doesn't mean we have an obligation." He saw Elaine nodding agreement.
When Trudy started to object Beacon added, "When the need is bigger than what you have you simply have to curtail charity to survive.”
“The M60 weighs over 20 pounds and would not be anyone’s first choice for a hunting weapon. They don’t even know what kind of gun it is so its use to them as a defensive arm is problematical.”
“No matter what happens the girls can go with the boys if they want to but we can’t let that weapons system fall into the hands of a group like the ones we fought yesterday," Both Doc and Elaine nodded emphatically to that, "This deal gives the boys their best chance of getting home with their girlfriends to rebuild their hometown. Are you willing to trade rides with them?”
“I’ll tell the girls their boyfriends are here.”
The girls were willing. Trudy helped them ‘spruce up’ a bit while Beacon walked back out to seal the deal with the boys.
“Tina and Becky are washing up; they’ll be out here in a minute. We can’t spare any of the fuel this thing needs,” he said nodding towards the Humvee, “but we can give you a car with a full tank of gasoline and some rifles if you want to trade.”
“You’ve got them! Josh shouted.
“We rescued them yesterday from those bodies you passed on the way down the hill. The girls
Trudy looked distressed “I’m not sure we can get the seven of us and all our gear into just one car and the gas truck besides aren’t we going to abandon the gas truck when it runs out of gas?”
Beacon hurried on, “Hear me out, Trudy’s son Rick was a mechanic in the Army, he knows how to operate and maintain both the Humvee and the M60 so he, Trudy and some of the rest of her brood can man the Humvee.”
“We’ll get an up-armored Humvee and M60 with ammo; the girls and their boyfriends get a car with a full tank of gas, some ammo and guns they can operate. It’s a win-win situation.” He didn't add that it was really a triple win situation because the new ride upgraded Trudy's status in the group.
Beacon was counting on the LLC's respect for private property. They had the muscle to just take one of Trudy's cars if they'd chosen to. Hell, they could take Trudy's cars and the boys Humvee and leave them all sitting in the field if they wanted to.
But the LLC were the 'good guys' in this real life drama who wouldn't dream of doing such a thing. It didn't hurt that Trudy and her clan had been accepted as members, albeit junior members, of the LLC group.
Trudy was troubled. “Is that a fair trade? Isn’t all that worth a whole lot more than a used car and a couple of rifles?”
“A week ago you’d have been right; a call on their cell phones to Triple A and they’d have fuel. But this week that option doesn’t exist anymore. Without fuel that Humvee is an immobile pile of metal and we are under no obligation to give them any of our irreplaceable supplies,” Beacon looked her in the eyes, “Trudy this isn’t like giving spare change to a beggar; we’ve nothing to spare.”
“It will probably be decades before anyone gets an oil refinery producing again. Same goes for ammo and gun factories. Even if they had the materials they need to produce product the people who operate the equipment are scattered or dead. We can’t just give resources away because someone needs them.”
“The LLC prepared beforehand and have what’s needed now. If they can hang on to it they'll be calling the shots for the next generation. If they squander their resources trying to be fair and share with everyone in need they’ll soon be down there with the needy. Just because someone has a need doesn't mean we have an obligation." He saw Elaine nodding agreement.
When Trudy started to object Beacon added, "When the need is bigger than what you have you simply have to curtail charity to survive.”
“The M60 weighs over 20 pounds and would not be anyone’s first choice for a hunting weapon. They don’t even know what kind of gun it is so its use to them as a defensive arm is problematical.”
“No matter what happens the girls can go with the boys if they want to but we can’t let that weapons system fall into the hands of a group like the ones we fought yesterday," Both Doc and Elaine nodded emphatically to that, "This deal gives the boys their best chance of getting home with their girlfriends to rebuild their hometown. Are you willing to trade rides with them?”
“I’ll tell the girls their boyfriends are here.”
The girls were willing. Trudy helped them ‘spruce up’ a bit while Beacon walked back out to seal the deal with the boys.
“Tina and Becky are washing up; they’ll be out here in a minute. We can’t spare any of the fuel this thing needs,” he said nodding towards the Humvee, “but we can give you a car with a full tank of gasoline and some rifles if you want to trade.”
“You’ve got them! Josh shouted.
“We rescued them yesterday from those bodies you passed on the way down the hill. The girls
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