Loading Sioux
During the long rain the NorthFork of the Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River had run full and over full for a long time. During that period it had eroded it’s course until it was a fair sized waterway. When the rain stopped the the inland sea reached to the Cap-rock. Lubbock was only about 20 miles from Slaton Tx which was at the edge of the new sea. The new waterway made a fine ship channel to Lubbock and it’s markets.
Shelby had easily maneuvered the Sioux up the channel and moored it at the public docks in Lubbock. With a little bit of disguise, easily provided by the SSmoke, the Sioux looked much like a modified RiverBarge, a poorly modified RiverBarge. It practically screamed RedNeck and Southern Engineering. (nothing to see here, move along) No one gave it a second glance.
On the evening of the last day before Shelby had intended to sail he received a text message.
Alvin to Shelby
If you recall
Ivan is an amphibian.
We live on a nearby island
(coordinates)
We have groceries
Stop by if you want Carbon Stock
“That’s perfect” Shelby said to himself. He stayed in Lubbock another few days then left and went to their Mesa(island)
When he got there Shelby saw that the young man and his wife had used the SSmoke to good effect. They had conjured a convoy of autonomous dump trucks. The beds of the trucks were full of all manner of oily, greasy trash.
“Where do you want the trash?” Alvin asked politely.
“In there” Shelby pointed. A hatch slid back to reveal a hold. SmokeStone formed a ramp to the hold. Shelby expect the trucks to back up and dump their load in the hold. They did that, then went back for another load.
When they were all emptied Shelby settled up with Alvin “How do you want to be paid? I can barter fish. I have several tons, or I can give you more Crystal SSmoke, Dragon tears we call it, or I can pay you in money. We make our own. We call it Groats?”
“Huh?” Alvin said. By rights HE should be paying Shelby to dispose of his trash. “You have fish? All that I’ve been able to catch lately have been monsters. I thought they ate all the fish.”
“ They might have around here. Something about the shallow water perhaps? I dunno. We Sure do have fish. Fresh water AND seafood. I have CatFish, Bass, Crappie, Crawfish, Tuna, Shrimp, Crabs, a very few Lobster, WhiteFish and several other varieties of SaltWater fish.” he said
“Reckon I’m going to have to go through this kind of thing when we land in BigSprings?” Shelby asked Elvira and the gang as they were sailing away. “ The shooting I mean?That damn sniper rifle HURT. I bet I have a bruise.”
To Be Continued
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Disclaimer
The Hobo Picture is a Public Domain image from
Samantha at the Worlds Fair
by Josiah Allen's Wife (Marietta Holley)
Illustrated by
Baron C. De Grimm published by
Funk and Wagnall's Company 1893
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The Badges are graciously provided by
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Unless otherwise noted
All other Illustrations are from
Pixabay