“Well, I’ve got much work to do if we’re going to get out here soon. I need to check the outbuildings, barn and the outside of the house. I’ve always had it ready for a quick exit because I never knew what might happen or who might show up. I need to see if there is anything that needs to be brought inside. I don’t think there is, but I’ll lock the old place up tight as a drum.”
Fortunately, the upstairs is about the way it’s been since my parents died. The neighbors got most of the furniture from the rooms except the things down here. I only lived down here on the first floor. No one is monitoring my calls. I’ll call a cousin, Ann Murray, in Chalk Hill, who I haven’t seen since last Christmas. She knows the farm and used to stay here in the summers when we were very young. She could use the livestock and the poultry. I’ll tell her where the key is in case there is anything else her family might need in the house.
When I give my property information to the UN, I’ll name her as the agent of record for the property. I’d thought about Ann over the past year as the person I would turn the farm over if I ever did decide to leave. This will work. I’ll call her from the barn and then walk the perimeter.
“One favor. Just leave a written message somewhere that she would know.. If Security is monitoring the area, they might pick up the call. I’d like to get out of here without raising any suspicion at all about your farm.”
“Good point. I’ll text a one line message to her that she will understand and then leave instructions in the basement. She knows where the safe is behind the foundation stone.”
“I’ll give you hand. If we can make some headway this this afternoon and depending if that bridge is still up, we could be there either late today or early tomorrow morning before the contact might be made. But the great thing is that you’re going with me to Fallingwater. How sweet it is”, he said smiling broadly.
“What’s ironic, is that I also haven’t been to Fallingwater in years and just like your father and you, my father and I used to drive up there. My God, that was when I was just out of college and we went by the back roads. I just thought of something. If that hiking bridge is still functioning, it will save so much time. After that, the terrain is very rough going up the ridges. There is a back trail left over from the Mingo Indians, who had a village on the river. If I can find that trail we could go that way. Dad took me on it a couple of times, but I was coming from Ohiopyle, so I’m not exactly sure where it is. The critical thing is the hiking bridge,” she said.
“I think I saw it on the topo. I’ll get it out of my pack. If it’s still up, it will save a couple of hours and we would avoid Security at Ohiopyle. If it’s not up, we’ll have to go on to Ohiopyle. Whatever happens, we can camp somewhere on the way up to Fallingwater and go in some time tomorrow morning,” Kurt said.
Elizabeth answered, “The good thing is that the area’s has been practically uninhabited for the past ten years, so I don’t think we’re going to come across anyone.
“I’m ready, but I have another favor. Just think, while we’re hiking, about coming to England with me. If you want to split in London and go to Wales to see your brothers and sister, that’s fine. But I would love to see you leave here with me.”
“I did listen to you, Sloan, closely. If there is one message you made loud and clear is that there is much going on in the world. I am young and …,” she paused and then continued, “I don’t know. Let me think on it.”
“There is one thing I just thought of when you were talking about your cousin and the farm. As you said, the Administration will probably confiscate it. But once you get located, you can submit a real estate claim through the UN. You have to take all your legal, real estate data so you can file the claim. Five years ago, I submitted a claim for some land my family owned in Washington County of the U.S. It took three years, but my sister received a fair credit distribution which she used to purchase a home in Scotland. I also had a couple of friends do the same thing in France. So you can get a settlement if they take the farm.”
“Well, that is certainly good news. That was one of my greatest fears if I left,” Elizabeth replied.
“I thought it might be. Another thing, in my selfish opinion, I have a great sense that we are developing a very special relationship. I would like to be able to build on that.”
“You’re right, I feel it. There’s something working here, no doubt in my mind. While we we’re talking, I’ve been thinking, at two levels. Been sizing you up and really working over my situation. I really have been contented here. When you think there’s nothing out there, down deep, you’re scared. Then along comes this man, who seems like, I hate saying this, a real nice man, a good man. Oh, God, there I’ve said it. Enough of this dancing around, I’ve already decided. It’s time to move on. I’m going to pack it up and go at least as far as England with you. Then I’ll make a decision. We’ll just have to see how it works, OK?”
“OK, that’s great.
“The bottom line is that I like you and even trust you,” Elizabeth said with a quick smile. She went on looking intently into Kurt’s eyes. “I think I know you a bit. You’ve struct a couple of cords with me, but the primary one is that I really have to change, to move on with my life. So, yes, I’m going to Fallingwater and the way I feel now, is that once I walk through that field toward the river, I am not turning back. I don’t think I’ll chicken out along the way to Fallingwater, but I will be going to England. From there, I’m not sure, but that is one hell of a start and my hope is that we get there with your Dr. Alexander’s help. I prefer his motivation and plan. It just feels safer. Hopefully you can make that connection at Fallingwater. But we have to get moving. Elizabeth took a deep breath and went on, ”So, today, this moment, is all that matters. The past and the future are now.”
“That’s potent” Kurt said, “sounds familiar.”
“T.S. Eliot,” she quizzically replied.
“T.S. Eliot?” Kurt asked.
“He’s my favorite poet and those are my favorite lines from his poem, Burnt Norton.”
“I read Eliot. Burnt Norton? That’s in ‘Four Quartets’, right?” Kurt asked.
“I’m impressed. It goes like this. ‘Time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future. And time future contained in time past. If all time is eternally present, all time is unredeemable.’ I’ve about that quite a bit recently and ironically I know its appropriate for my decision. To me it has always been a clarion call that all we have is the reality of the present.”
“I believe in that philosophy of the present being what you really know, even though I am committed to studying the many moments of the past,” Kurt responded.
“That’s a great analogy. So, Sloan, let’s energize this present time and get ready to leave.”
“What about the livestock? The chickens?” he asked.
“I’ll do one more feeding and Ann will pick it up tomorrow. She may eventually end up taking them to her place which I’ll tell her is okay. We have lots to do before we leave
“Great, while you’re doing that, I’ll double check in here and come out to help you. You’ll have to get all your gear that you’ll need and pack it. I’ll carry the bulk of the heavy stuff. Oh, you should hide any valuables,” he said looking at Elizabeth.
“That’s in my message to Ann. She’ll take all that with her when she opens the safe.”
Kurt smiled at her and added, “Those shoes look like great walkers which reminds me. Make sure you take extra socks and a slicker for the rain.”
They spent the next hour. Elizabeth sent a text message to her cousin and she got a reply that said Ann would be coming tomorrow to check out the farm. They went through the house and stowed family items deep into the recesses of the cellar with Elizabeth methodically marking each item and entering them into a small notebook.
Some old artifacts were stored in the safe along with instructions for her cousin. They also buried four metal canisters in the barn under the privy floorboards. Her father had designed the house and the barn very well.
They then carefully loaded up Elizabeth’s back pack and Kurt rearranged his to carry additional items.
Elizabeth added an old solar sonar detector which was in the house. Kurt attached it on to his pack which they thought would pick up sound approaching from the air, ground or water. That and his night vision binoculars would be helpful to them. The bottle of Scotch, that was about empty from the night before, stood up against the kitchen window. Kurt poured the remainder into his canteen cup. He took a sip and passed it over to Elizabeth.
She sipped and looked around the kitchen.
“Great stuff, in fact, I stashed away two bottles for whenever we get, wherever we end up.”
“Who knows where that will be?” Kurt answered, paused and said, “So, that’s about it. Might as well be on our way”, he said, as he looked around the kitchen of the old farmhouse.
“Well, I guess this is goodbye to my homestead, my youth, my parents, and the security of these walls. I’m heading out into the brave new world of 2050. I may be back and then again I may not be”, she said, her voice breaking a bit. She tipped her head back, swallowed the balance of the scotch and put the cup in the sink. “That, I’ll just leave right there.”
As they looked back on the Morgan Estate, it looked ready for whatever might come in the form of weather or people.
“OK, let’s get moving. We have a tough row to hoe,” Kurt said as they headed to the river. In a few minutes they were at the embankment above the trail. Elizabeth looked up the field to her home and then followed Kurt.