Page 16 of Eco-Activist's Mountain Men
"Ah! Well, of course, you were unconscious for most of it, and I don't suppose you've been outside at all. Basically, they're saying it's the worst storm in something like fifty years or more."
"What?"
"Yep. Trees are down everywhere. Cellphone towers are out. Roads are closed. No one's going to work. People killed, people injured. Rescue workers are trying to reach the worst-hit places."
"Shit… you're kidding."
"Nope, true as can be. We're fine here, though. We haven't suffered a power cut since we're not on the grid anyway. We have our own generator out back, and it's working just fine. Same for water, we pump our water directly from a local spring, and we've plenty of food stores. Basically, we're all good. But you won't be going anywhere for a week or two, I'm afraid."
"You what?"
"Well, you see, the roads are impassable because of all the fallen trees, and all the rescue helicopters in the area will be busy prioritizing those who are in most need. I can't see them getting around to us for at least a couple of weeks… probably more, in fact."
Two weeks? Two weeks? Or more?
I can feel the blood drain from my face. I am absolutely horrified. I thought I'd be gone this afternoon in a taxi or something.
"You have to be kidding me. I can't stay here for two weeks. I was only meant to be here a few hours."
"Well, I don't think you have much choice. Sorry." He shrugs and gives me a cheerful smile that reminds me of his younger brother. The only real difference between them is a few extra lines on his face and the silver in his hair. Suits him, though. Shows his experience. What a pair these two are! Perhaps twoweeks with these two wouldn't be so bad… but no, what am I thinking about? They're the enemy for crying out loud.
But if they're really the enemy, how come they're so nice?
And why do I want to fling myself at them and tear off their clothes and fuck them like there's no tomorrow?
I have never felt like this before. Jesus Christ… was it the fall? Did it do something to my head?
"By the way… why are you here, exactly, Luna? We don't tend to get a lot of visitors in these parts. What are you doing here? Luke said something about some sort of banner, is that right?"
First, I turn pale from the shock of learning I'm stuck here for God knows how long. Now I feel myself blushing bright lobster red at having to explain what I was doing here. Oh well.
Be brave, Luna. After all, what's the worst they can do to you?
"Well, actually, I'm a member of an ecological action group, called?—"
At that moment, the outside door opens again, and a huge shadow looms in the doorway.
"CalledKill Climate Change. They're one of those idiot groups that chain themselves to tanker trucks, or sit down in the middle of a busy junction to cause traffic chaos, or throw paint at famous artworks just to gain media attention. Am I right?"
A huge mountain of a man with a gruff voice and a big scowl on his face is standing in the doorway. Good grief… the man's enormous. He just carries on going. He's practically as wide as he is tall. He's like a Norse god out of the Ring Cycle or something. I'm only surprised he isn't wearing a horned hat and carrying a warhammer. If there was some kind of competition for pillaging in Oregon, something tells me he'd be top of the league table.
At the moment, he doesn't look too happy either. Oh dear, there goes my comfortable stay in the loggers' camp while my ankle heals and the roads are cleared. This guy obviously wantsme out, though, where I'm gonna go, I have no idea. I gather my strength together and put on my snootiest voice.
"Well, no, actually. Actually, we don't believe in disrupting the little people. We focus on the means of production and its owners, not on the downtrodden masses."
"Well, "actually," you came here to disrupt our business and hopefully to close us down. Isn't that right?"
"But only because what you're doing is wrong. Can't you see that? The forests are the planet's lungs?—"
"Bullshit."
"What?"
"I said bullshit. Phytoplankton in the oceans produce eighty percent of our oxygen. If you're going to save the planet, you should get your facts right."
Goddamnit—I've only met this guy for five seconds and I already hate him.
"Well, okay, but you're cutting down endangered?—"
