Chapter 5 - Page 49 - Building A Village

as they can, and in a couple of weeks, we could set it on fire. It would all burn in one day and we wouldn’t have to put up with all this smoke every day.”

   Randy’s brows rose in comprehension. “OK Jim, I’ll see if the water truck driver can spray water on the fires.”

   “Thanks,” Jim said. He returned to the jeep to watch the work around the construction site.

   After about an hour, he saw the utility truck coming toward them. “Fishman,” he said, “let’s go talk to the truck driver.”

   When Fishman pulled the jeep up next to the driver’s door, the driver yelled through his window. “Where do you want this trailer, Jim?”

   “Turn around and follow us.” Jim yelled back and instructed Fishman to drive to the entrance of the clearing. When they got there, he said, “Turn left and drive along the tree line. I want to find a place where there’s a big gap between fires.”

   The utility truck driver followed the jeep until Jim found a place he was comfortable with. The driver unhooked from the trailer and set a portable generator nearby. He ran a heavy-duty extension cord between the trailer and the generator. Then he drove away to other duties.

   Jim unloaded his bags and groceries from the jeep and put them in the trailer. Before he finished unloading, another truck pulled up. It was loaded with a small water tank that the driver set down near the trailer, then hooked up to the trailer with a water line.

   Jim didn’t need a guide anymore. He paid Fishman what he owed him, thanked him for his services, and let him go. Jim was now without transportation. He hung around the trailer for the rest of the day, watching the activity.