Free Ground Zero by Rain Stickland Page B

after that we bought the steel buildings. I waited until they had something appropriate in their clearance section on the website, and then bought what we needed at a huge discount. I had a rough idea of the dimensions I wanted, and what framing style I needed. So, someone ordered this building first, and for one reason or another cancelled the order. I probably only paid about fifty or sixty percent of what it would have cost to order my own building.”
    “Yeah, but where did you get the money for it? This couldn’t have been cheap,” Lisa said skeptically.
    “It was around a hundred and fifty grand, even with all the solar panels and whatnot, which is way less than most people pay for a house and land. When you don’t have to pay for labour, you can do a hell of a lot more with your money. And I was lucky enough to be making a very good living. I did start-up consulting, among other things, and we lived in a really crappy area of Hamilton while we waited to do this. That allowed us to pay cash for everything, instead of making mortgage payments. Though I suppose now that it would have been fine to take on a mortgage. It’s not like the banks exist anymore to demand payment.
    “We had just managed to put in our first garden when I saw things were getting really bad. We weren’t exactly ready, and we had to scramble around to get the goats and chickens we needed. We’ve been breeding the chickens as fast as possible, too, so we can switch the ferrets over from kibble to eggs. I had a lot of kibble already, since I’d always planned to go get the ferrets from the various shelters, but I know it’ll only last so long.
    “We have to keep everything balanced, too, and calculate what we really need to feed everyone who lives here, and still supply the livestock. No point in having too many eggs, and then having to feed a bunch of unnecessary chickens. I chose chicken eggs and goat’s milk for our protein, because I can’t bear to slaughter animals. I grew up on a farm, so I should probably be more practical about it, but I still can’t do it,” Mac said ruefully.
    “Everyone here feels the same way?”
    “Not really, but since there’s been no need so far to make that decision, we’ve all just left things as they are. Gilles knows how to hunt, as do I when it comes to a theoretical standpoint, but we haven’t done so. Neil used to hunt with his mother when he was a kid. I’m sure others are capable, too, but I haven’t asked.”
    Mac polished off her sandwich while talking to Lisa about the room she’d be staying in temporarily with her son.
    “We don’t have anywhere else to put you until we get another building put up, but you’ll have a bit of privacy still anyway. I’m not real good about having people live with me, since I tend to be pretty solitary, so we’ll have you in your own place pretty quick. There won’t be a lot of furniture in it, until I get a chance to build some for you, but at least you’ll have your beds and a home of your own.”
    “You tend to be solitary? I wouldn’t have guessed that from the number of people I saw when we drove up, or the size of this place.”
    “I’m lucky enough to have friends who understand me. Anyway, Gilles and Neil are getting your room ready for you, so you can at least get yourself settled for the night. There’s plenty of food in the fridge and cupboards, so feel free to take whatever you need or want. If you throw your dishes in the dishwasher, we’ll get along fine. There are a lot of ways to entertain yourself here, too. Someone will have to show you how to access the server for the movies and TV shows we have stored, but I don’t have time right now. I hate to just leave you on your own like this, but I have a serious situation I need to deal with.”

     
     
     
     
     
     
    5 ~ The Truth Will Out
     
     
    “Okay, Gilles, tell me everything,” Mac demanded.
    “It’s probably not as bad as you think, though I’m sure you’re