102 Chapter One Hundred and One - New Connections and Considerations (1/2)

On a more positive note, Winston had met a woman who'd been selling scarves, hats and jumpers that she'd knitted herself. Although the few jumpers meant for men were a bit pricey, the scarves and hats were a good deal and so Winston had purchased a few for the children. He'd also discussed the fact that there was the possibility of providing her with wool, just that it wasn't woven. The woman didn't know how to do this, nor did she know anyone who could, but she did say she would naturally be happy to trade if they were able to spin it or find spun wool in the future. Her former hobby was now her livelihood, she'd feared that it was a finite one. Winston gave her hope. A pity she could give Winston nothing in return; she was his senior with almost twice his years and the mother of two adopted, older teenaged boys, who'd enrolled into the army's ranks. She wasn't about to leave them.

Eraj also had met with a woman, one with impressively large eyes upon her otherwise ordinary face. She'd also turned her former hobby into her livelihood; making soaps. She'd not been the only woman to do so, forming a rivalry between that person and herself, but her competition had strong backup; her man was the leader of a civilian squad. While he was out scavenging, he would try to bring back all types of soap; decorative ones to small, half-used portions. His woman would reform and reshape it into small bars of soap and sell them on.

Her rival, the woman before Eraj, was different. She made soap using old methods, from scratch, the theory she had learned long before the end, even while using modern methods in actuality. Now her soaps were often a little oily, not sweet smelling and the colours were not crisp, but ugly shades of brown. But they still worked well and she had hope to improve them over time, even hoped to be able to harvest flowers to provide scent and a better appearance. But currently, they did not sell as well as the other woman's, who enjoyed reminding her often.

Eraj jumped on the chance to invite her to return with him to their base where her skills would be greatly appreciated.

The woman had blushed before confessing; ”Well, if you'd asked me a month a go, I might have honestly be willing. But now... I collect ash from our base's charcoal maker to make a caustic agent for the soap, I came to know him quite well and we decided to try making a go of things...”

They packed up to return home with the leftover apple oil and apple butter. Trying to sell these items hadn't proved to be a successful venture, unlike the fresh apples and dried apple slices, this time. But they weren't overly perturbed about that, knowing they could be used by themselves.

In the future, though, the situation would drastically reverse; the apple oil was proven by the base's scientists to be edible and a reasonable substitute for other oils. Though the flavour was a little sweeter than other oil, it did not detract from the flavour of fried vegetables and with the right spice, could even enhance them. This reduced the pressure on the base to grow sunflowers for their seed oil, freeing room for other bulk crops. Sunflower seeds were then sold whole for purchases to eat as snacks or even grow themselves in their own homes.

Autumn and Logan also discovered that the 'butter' or mutant apple pulp had enough sugar to help in sustaining pickles when added to the vinegar and salt brine, lessening the need for the small white and brown crystal grains. It was no help in making any jams though, but when mixed with mashed ordinary apple, made a rather tart but acceptable apple sauce substitute.

But all of this was quite some time in the future, this wouldn't help them now.

They went home with their small purchases, which included soft toys for the children and the collection of fresh spices.

*****

Driving through the gates of their own haven home was a kin to stepping through a warm waterfall, washing off the negative and all six visibly relaxed.