Isolation | Book 4 | Holding On Jones, Nathan (best smutty novels txt) 📖

to let her words sink in. “She wants us to pack up and move and start all over again?”

“I think so,” Ellie replied, the prospect making her heart sink.

Gorstrom was here to help them regain the society they'd lost with Zolos's arrival, all right, but it sounded as if it could only be done by uprooting them from this town and moving them to where they were needed. Where, barring the relative few who had the needed education and skills, most would have to be trained to entirely new work, probably work they had no desire to do.

That didn't sound very fun at all. But if the alternative was continuing to live here in more and more primitive conditions, as resources slowly ran out and survival became a real challenge, it was probably worth it.

Although considering the fact that Ellie's area of expertise was essentially business management, mostly in an office setting, she might be in trouble. Unless she got really fortunate and her skills were needed in that regard, she was probably going to end up doing unskilled manual labor or training in an entirely new profession from scratch.

At least Hal, with his inarguable skill in roofing and construction, both likely to be in demand even with existing infrastructure, would be able to do what he was good at.

Gorstrom continued as they were all absorbing the impact of her words. “The most vital of those industries to keep operational are oil and natural gas drilling and fuel refining. With fuel, we can keep up the large scale farming operations on the Great Plains, producing enough food to feed us all. With fuel, we can keep other industries operational and goods being shipped where they're needed.

“But that means we need more workers down along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, where many of our refineries are located. Especially, we need to find people whose current expertise and training can be easily transferred over to jobs in that field. Machinery operators, engineers, factory technicians, mechanics, people with drilling experience. And of course all the jobs required to keep those people going in their jobs.”

The stately woman looked around gravely, letting her words sink in before speaking firmly. “That is the situation, good people of Stanberry. We can give you power, and flowing water, and heat and air conditioning and working toilets and everything else you've been missing since Zolos knocked our country on its butt. But we can't give you any of it here.

“So to reiterate, resources are plentiful, but with so many tragically lost to Zolos manpower is critical. Stanberry has done a fine job weathering the storm, and from the sounds of things you're well on track to long term prosperity. But you'd be trying to rebuild back to where we were from scratch, while if you relocate to one of the areas where we're gathering we can give you a leg up on getting back to a good life.

“And while the Gulf of Mexico is the place we need people most, and most convenient to you where you live, it's not the only option. You could also relocate to Pennsylvania, or Kansas, or any of half a dozen other places where we're gearing up to rebuild.” She smiled thinly. “You could even pick Alaska, if seafood and harsh winters are your thing.”

Gorstrom paused again, but it was obvious her speech was winding down. “You're welcome to stay in your homes and continue surviving as best you can, hoping we might eventually have the manpower and resources to get the infrastructure here operational again . . . sometime in the distant future. Or you can move to an area we're rebuilding and help the United States pick itself up by its bootstraps and go back to being the strong and prosperous nation we once were.

“That is all. Feel free to go back to your daily routine.” Lowering the megaphone, she turned and started climbing back down from the barricade.

Borden was quick to step to the front of the crowd. “Guys! Stanberry is going to be having a celebration in the town square this evening. All of you who've barely been outdoors for months, feel free to come out and join us. It'll be potluck, and we'll be breaking open the stores of scavenged food and drinks.”

He waved in invitation, as if they'd all be going over there right now even though evening was hours away. “Come celebrate this momentous day with the town.”

There were more cheers and approving murmurs at that, and the crowd broke up into smaller groups of friends to discuss everything they'd just heard.

Ellie reluctantly hugged Hal and the kids. “That's my cue to get back to work coordinating between the relief workers and the camp, since they're next for the vaccine.”

“Yeah, we should probably head back to the house,” her husband agreed. “The chores haven't disappeared just because Zolos is on its way out.” He hesitated. “Unless you're thinking we should relocate like she says . . . working on the garden and house would be kind of pointless if we're just leaving it behind.”

She knew it was unreasonable to dismiss the suggestion out of hand without at least giving it some thought and talking it over, but she honestly had no desire to leave Stanberry. It had become home. “It's an interesting idea, and it makes sense,” she allowed grudgingly. “But don't you think she made it seem too good to be true?”

“A little.” He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. “I've seen plenty in my life that's been too good to be true. You're the first thing that's been every bit as good as you seem.”

Ellie felt her cheeks heat as warmth spread through her at his words. “You too, honey,” she murmured, then straightened purposefully. “We might as well keep going on our projects for now, even if we just end up leaving them behind for the rest of the group. It's the least we can do.” Giving him a