Youth World

Chapter 10 – Intense Questioning

"Alright," the eleventh-grade boy began, "What makes you think that you can guide us to survival?"

"Excellent question. I believe, no I am sure, that I can lead us all to survival. We have the best equipment out of possibly everyone around us, and we have people with talent and expertise that is invaluable in such a circumstance. However, your question is why I could lead us to survival. My main role is to ȧssist the group and mediate if any problems break out. Despite this, I know a lot about survival and can make guns from scratch. Besides that, I also was an eagle scout that survived by myself in the very same mountains that we are crossing a month from now for a whole week, so that should tell you something. However, I myself cannot guarantee our survival, and it will take a concerted effort by all of us to make sure that happens."

"Thank you, Alexander. That's my question answered."

"Good. Does anybody else have a question?"

A younger looking girl politely stood up, staring me straight in the eyes.

"I do."

"Very well. Carry on with your question."

"Are we going to look for our families?"

"If we happen to encounter any members of any of our families during foraging or hunting expeditions, or any other such missions, we will certainly bring them back here. However, we will not launch search parties for them, unless it is to rescue one of our own. Simply put, we do not have enough resources to look for a person who is not in our group at the moment. It's sad to say, but I won't sugarcoat it. During these trying times, there isn't any room for lying."

"Thanks for answering my question. I guess we really can't go look for everybody."

"It's sad, but it's true. Anybody else have a question?"

A twelfth grader, known as the school's computer expert, voiced his concerns.

"Do you intend to take the younger kids with us despite the fact they would hold us back?"

"I fully expect to do so. If we proportion and distribute our resources correctly, we should have enough food and water for them all. If we get salt and pasteurize our food, that will not be an issue. I understand that the kids will slow us down during the mountain crossing. But we need these kids. Have you seen the valuable labor and excellent shelters they have built us? We need these kids to rebuild society. These are the next generation, and we must preserve them whatever the cost."

"I see. Are you sure that this won't be an issue in the foreseeable future?"

"I guarantee it. I swear upon my life that these kids will be a useful ȧsset to us, and will not drag down the whole group."

The younger kids erupted in cheers. I just got myself a vital supporter base.

"Well, Alexander, if you really think so, then all right."

"Any other questions?"

"I have one."

"Who said that?"

"I did."

I looked around, trying to see where that voice came from. And hoollyyyy smokes. No way. This couldn't be happening.

At least five thousand men and women were standing there in the distance. Accompanying them were some of my spearmen.

These guys appeared to be the freshmen from the college that's a mile or two away from him. According to the hunters, they had run into them before, and these college students were pretty nice and frequently collaborated with them.

"Hello," I greeted, "What brings you guys here today?"

"We want to join your group. Simply put, we stand a better chance of survival if we unite. Is that alright with you?"

"Of course! I'd be happy to accept you guys into our group. What are your terms?"

"We want everybody to be equal, and we want input into any decisions made by you. We're fine with you being the leader. I mean, you do take some high level classes in our college, anyways, so we think you're competent enough."

"That settles the matter. However, I don't think we have enough shelters for you all. Maybe you'll have to bunk in with some of the others, and it'll be a bit cramped. Otherwise, we will have to build makeshift shelters for you all right now."

"We're all right with that. We'll get working soon enough."

"Splendid. Since we're doing a questioning session, do you guys have any questions for me?"

"We have a few. What type of system will be created to manage us to enhance our chances of survival?"

"I ȧssume you mean farmers, hunters, workers, et cetera?"

"Correct."

"We already have a similar system here. There are many professions here, including carpenters, fishermen, spearmen and the sort. There are too many to list. But there are four main groups that these professions fall under. There's the military, the workers, the craftsmen and the hunter gatherers. Since we are planning to travel across the mountains, there's no need for farming at the moment."

"Huh, interesting. Looking at your camp, it seems like this system is quite successful."

"Indeed, it is. What are your other questions?"

"What type of governing body will be created and how will the members be chosen?"

"I am the leader, and I am the political, military and legislative leader that makes the major decisions. However, I have planned for a council of some kind to serve as a representative body, with each profession sending one representative to tell me what they need. Frankly put, eventually there won't be enough time, or it simply won't be possible to make decisions with everybody."

"That system is good enough for us. Anyways, what happens if you become corrupt or you become an incapable leader?"

"I ȧssure you that will never occur in a hundred years, but if under any circumstance the group is unhappy with me, the council or the group can hold a vote of no confidence. If a clear majority votes to remove me from the position of leader, I will gladly resign and administer the new election."

"How long is your term as leader?"

"Indefinite. It goes on as long as it needs to until a clear majority votes to remove me, I am incapable to serve, or I resign."

"What laws will be created or what laws will determine the governance of the group?"

"We do not have paper, so it is impossible to write a full-on legal code. However, if somebody believes another to have committed a crime, they can bring the person before me, and I will hand down a verdict to the best of my ability and judgment."

"That answer seems fair. Last question, what will we do to help the group, and what will the group be called?"

"Excellent question. You guys will join the professions that already exist, or you guys can start a new one if it isn't already accounted for. Say, do any of you know how to build ships or canoes?"

"Excellent. Those people will be shipwrights. Any equestrians? Horse riders in more simple terms."

Even more college freshmen raised their hands.

"Amazing! I'll talk to you guys in an hour or two. Continuing what I was saying, many of you, due to your age, will join the military, probably as longbowmen since most of you are stronger than us. Simply put, I wish to integrate you all into the group as quickly as possible, as smoothly as possible. Is that clear enough?"

"I suppose. And you guarantee that we are all equal and you will represent our best interests?"

"I guarantee it."

"Very well. We agree to join your group under these terms."

"Workers, would you guys mind helping the college freshmen to build some quick new shelters? Thank you very much."

Most of the workers sprang up like a spring and headed towards the college freshmen. All of them began heading northwards to expand the camp in that direction.

"Now that we have dealt with that, does anyone else have a final question before we disband for the night?"

A tall, lanky kid, who I didn't recognize, raised his hand.

"Yeah, I have one."

"Ask ahead."

"Are you a hundred percent sure that no ȧduŀts remain? I mean, we just saw those college freshmen, and I'm pretty sure they're 18 years old."

"I believe that 18 years old is the cutoff. Those people remain, but anybody older is gone. I won't say they're dead, since they could have just left, but if I'm going to be honest, I believe something, or someone has killed them off. I know, it's sad, but your parents and older siblings in college that are not freshmen are probably toast."

"It's going to be pretty hard to rebuild civilization without them, right?"

"It is. But look! We've done so much over the past two days, and we did it even without the college freshmen! With them, we'll be able to progress much faster! We have a bright future ahead of us."

"Thanks for answering my question."

"Oh, no problem. It is my obligation as leader to do so. Well, thank you all for attending this meeting tonight! Long live Cascadia!"

Larry raised an eyebrow.

"I suppose Cascadia is what our group is going to be called?"

"Correct. We can't refer to our group as just "the group" forever, and I believe Cascadia is a suitable name since that's what our bioregion is called, and it sounds pretty cool. Our civilization will be called Cascadia, and we'll be called Cascadians."

"That sounds pretty good," Larry reasoned, "Long live Cascadia!"

Everybody else also joined in.

"LONG LIVE CASCADIAAA!"

As I was standing there, waving at the crowd, a few kids ran up to me and tapped me on the shoulder. As I kneeled to meet their eye level, one of them jumped up and plopped an English laurel wreath on my head, like the one that Julius Caesar had.

I don't want to sound like a narcissist, but I am a leader, and having one of these indicates my status. If it was a crown of gold or something, I'd object, but this looks pretty fair and it fits the nature surrounding me, so this was totally fine.

As the crowd dispersed and began wrapping up their jobs for the day, I headed towards where the college freshmen were and approached the leader of their equestrian team.

"Hello! Remember when I wanted to talk to you guys earlier?"

"Yep. What do you need?"

"So, you guys know that there's a bunch of plains around the Snoqualmie River Valley?"

"Yep. A lot of our horses were living in the stables there before this happened."

"Exactly. I sent a bunch of our groups, I guess now Cascadia's best equestrians over there to tame some horses. You think that you guys could also head over there and help them out?"

"I love riding horses, so I'd be happy to do so. Hey, guys, do you guys want to go tame some horses?"

"Why not?"

"Great! Just ask the chefs to cook you some food tomorrow morning, grab some weapons from the armory, and you guys can head off whenever you want to! I'd advise going tomorrow in order to reach the plains by nightfall."

"We'll probably do that. Well, that was a nice talk. As you can see, we're kinda busy, so maybe we can talk later?"

"Sorry for disturbing you guys. I can see that you're all hard at work building your shelters. Good night!"

Ahhhh. This was a long day.. Exhausted, I headed back to the shelter and got myself some well-deserved sleep.