Safe Harbor - return

Posted on Sat Jun 21st, 2025 @ 7:06am by New York Survivor Amythyst & New York Survivor Briar Maddox & New York Survivor John ("Dodger") Smith & New York Survivor George Brooks

2,108 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Safe Harbor
Location: Safe Harbor Island
Timeline: September 16th Afternoon/evening

Amy had just finished cutting the tall grass near the barn and stacking it in the feed trough for the three new animals when Austin ran towards her. "Amy! Incoming boat! Not the fishing boat!"

"Get everyone into the basement area and lock the door. Do not open it unless its me or the others!" Amy ordered and grabbed her machete and raced for the hill over the dock.

Austin didn't get a chance to say more but he did head off and gathered the other children and got them into the house.

Amy half slipped, half tumbled down the path to the dock where she crouched behind a barrel they had put there for water collection. Grumbling about needing to put stairs in, Amy looked out to the water and studied the incoming boat. It was huge. Bigger than the fishing boat. But there.. behind it...was that? She squinted. The fishing boat.

She let her gaze drift back to the lead boat and tried to find who was on it.

Aboard the fishing boat, Dodger looked over at Briar as they drew closer to their home. "I bet you Amy is up there looking at the big boat and wondering who it is. I wish we had someway to let her know everything is okay. Can we get in front of George and let her see it's us?"

"Can try" Briar replied as she moved the throttle slowly forward and turned the wheel to get them out from behind the new boat. She pulled their fishing boat up alongside the new boat. And then she said. "Wave Dodger"

Dodger gave a quick nod and moved to the front of the small boat and began to wave at the island, hoping that Amy was indeed watching and could tell that it was friends returning home and bearing gifts.

Amy saw the wave and slowly stood and waved back. She didn't however run back up the hill, she stayed where she was. She watched the two boats come up to the external dock. She helped tie the boats up then moved to stand between them. "Hey!" She called as she did so. "You guys rob a marina?"

"Hi Amy." Dodger returned. "Wait till you see what we brought back." As he jumped off the fishing boat and onto the dock, one of the puppies following him, stumbling over itself before coming to sit next to him.

Amy stared. "A puppy?"

"Puppies and their parents." Briar said "And bee hives, they are on the other boat." She helped the other dogs off the fishing boats. "Where are the kids?"

"Basement" Amy replied. "We ... have had a busy day here while you were gone." She looked to them. "We found cows."

"And fruit trees and a bunch of other stuff we can use." Dodger replied. He paused and looked at Amy, "Did you say cows?"

After George shut down the engines of the larger craft, he left the cockpit and hopped down onto the dock near Amythyst. "We ran into two men," he said, his words heavy with meaning. "They won't be a danger to us any more." He glanced over at Dodger as he continued, "Dodger, we need to set up an armsroom. That way, we can safely store any firearms and ammo we find on our journeys."

Dodger gave a quick glance at Amy to see her reaction to George's statement. He then gave a quick nod to George's statement on a arms room. "I agree completely. We also need to make sure only the four of us know about it and access to it."

Amy looked between the three others. "ok, Yes Cows, two and a calf. The older boys helped me bring them in. One of you should head up and get the kids from the basement and get them down here to help unload."

"I will" Briar said and headed off, leaving the Original three behind.

Amy took a breath. "The two men?" she pressed gently.

"They no longer present a problem Amy." Dodger said simply.

George gave her a meaningful look, but didn’t say more. Instead, he tipped his head back towards the new boat. The engines are in rough shape. If I'm unable to get them running properly. I'm just going to use it as spare parts.both engines in this and the boat we escaped New York in are nearly identical. It would take some jury-riggibg, but I think I could figure things out." He then looked back at Dodger. "As for the arms room, no secrets among the group. We all either stand together, or we don't stand at all. Besides, tge younger kids need to learn about weapons now anyways. How to use them, if needed, and how to properly store them away when not needed."

Amy nodded as she listened. She studied the boat. "Its probably the better bet." She mused. "But, lets get started unpacking."

Her gaze watched the two dogs lead their puppies up the hill, following Briar but then there was shouts of joy from the children as they headed down to help gather the spoils their heroes had brought back.

"I don't disagree with what you say about the arms room and the others being told how to use and respect weapons. That is all good in theory but in reality it is a different story. We have a lot of young ones who are naturally curious and even being told about the danger will still want to see for themselves and I don't want to bury one of are own because they were curious." Dodger replied soberly.

George nodded as he responded. "And that's exactly why they need to be taught correctly. We should be able to leave a loaded gun on the dining table, without having to worry that someone will pick it up, thinking its a toy. Through education, careless curiosity is stopped."

Amy stood silent between them. "okay.. I will start with the Hives. I think we should put them in the Barn... Saves moving them when snow comes. We can move them in spring."

"If that is what you and the others want. Fine, I'll go along. I just hope we don't regret it." He looked at Amy. "I'll move the hives unless you have something else you want me to move."

George nodded silently to Dodger, then looked at Amythyst. "I guess, while you two move the hives, I'll start getting a team going to bring the rest of the stuff up. Once the boats are empty, I'll start looking over this one." He pointed a thumb at the new boat moored up behind him.

"Its getting late" Amy said pointing towards the horizon. "Lets get this stuff done, no need to work at night." She moved to begin handing over bags to the now arrived children.

One by one bags were carried, trees lugged, and the Hives gently lifted and moved.

Once both boats were empty of gathered supplies, George moved Briar's fishing boat back into the boat house, and then, as he first drops of rain started to fall, he made sure the new boat was correctly secured, to blow for movement with both the tires and the coming storm. He then hurried up to the house, getting soaked by the time he reached the covered porch.

Amythyst met him with a towel and a cup of hot chocolate. "Here. Dry off and head for a shower."

Taking both with a grin, George nodded to Amythyst. "Thanks! I appreciate this." He took a slow sip of the hot beverage, closing his eyes and smiling as the sweet fluid slid down his throat. Opening his eyes again, he said, "One of the things I'll need to do, over the next few weeks, is go over every inch of that dock and boat house, make sure nothing needs any immediate repairs. Winter on the water up here is brutal."

Amy nodded. "I am aware. I have been thinking of what we have and what we will need. Do we have enough fuel to get to the mainland and back?" she asked.

George considered the question for a few beats, as he enjoyed the warmth of the hot beverage. "Of course, it depends on where on the mainland you wanna go," he began. "But, I think there's just enough to get one boat there and back, maybe twice."

Amy nodded. "Ok." She murmured "so we need to make it count. Come on, go shower." She pushed him gently inside. "After dinner we are going to sit in front of the fire and enjoy the evening."

George nodded and grinned softly at Amythyst, as she directed him inside. A short while later, he was clean and dressed in dry clothes again. He made his way to the dining room, and saw that all of the young ones were already seated and dinner was being served.

Briar handed him a plate. "Fish stew" she said brightly. The smell was delicious and the warmth filled the room.

Nodding his thanks as he took the offered plate, George responded. "Thank you, Briar. It smells delicious! Which fish did you use for it?" While he enjoyed eating fish, George had never been able to identify all the different varieties of species in the sea, aside from the general knowledge ones, that is.

"The boys caught some more whitefish and some of the shellfish." Briar said. "Amy had it cooking for a bit as well with some of the remaining vegetables."

Nodding again as he dug in, George enjoyed the warmth meal fully. He could almost feel his energy reserves filling back up as the nutritious food was being digested in his stomach.

Dodger ate quietly and quickly. When he finished he stood up, "I'm going down to the fishing boat and put out some crab pots and a few lines and hopefully in the morning we'll have a good haul of both."

Thunder cracked outside. "Um... Dodger? I think it can wait." Briar said as several of the younger ones seemed to jump closer together.

Amy looked around. "I have the fire going in the main living area. If we grab some pillows and blankets we can sit there and read." She suggested. "But first... clean up!"

Phoebe and Meredith began collecting plates.

Amy put some food into two large bowls on the floor near the back door where the two adult dogs and their puppies were resting on old blankets.

Dodger looked out the window, The rain was coming down in sheets. He resisted the urge to reply and simply nodded at Briar's statement though making a silent vow to himself to go the the fishing boat as soon as the rain let up.

After about forty minutes the rain had been reduced to a drizzle. Dodger went and got a flashlight. "Rain has all but stopped so I'm going down to the fishing boat to do what I said earlier."

"Don't go alone," George called out. He was exhausted from the day's work, so he knew he was in no shape to go with Dodger. He pointed to the next two older boys. You two go with him, follow his lead." He then looked back at Dodger. "Remember what I taught you, Dodger, and keep an eye on your fuel level. We are starting to run low, and Amythyst has a trip to the mainland planned."

Dodger nodded, "I remember but I don't think I will take the boat out the water is too rough. We'll just drop the crab pots and throw out a few lines. I may set a couple of poles in the sand for surf fishing." He shrugged his shoulders, "We'll see on that though."

George nodded. "Still, be careful. Also, we need to be careful with any shellfish around here, due to pollution."

"Message received and understood. We'll be careful but thanks for the reminder." Dodger answered.

As the two boys waited for Dodger, Amy had the rest getting ready for bed. She was making notes as she did so. She was looking ahead as she did so.

Dodger turned to the boys, "Alright guys, let's go. Listen to me and no one will get a hook stuck in them." He looked back to the others, "We should be back in an hour or so." Then he turned and headed out of the house and down to where the fishing boat was docked.

Briar made note of the time.

Amythyst had nodded and continued with her tasks. She was planning their future meals as she worked.

Off.

 

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