Stampede
Stampede Fortifies
Randy poked his head around Seth’s truck. “Are you ready?”
Seth looked over from the picnic table. “Sure. I’m just packing some snacks.”
Randy jumped up to sit on Seth’s tailgate. “Today’s an even date, so we’ll walk the west shore.”
Seth paused and turned. “Yeah, it’s funny how you think I’d remember something that simple… I swear we were there yesterday, but I guess we did go east.” Seth laughed and grabbed his belt pack.
“Hey Seth. I know Nico’s passing hit the camp hard these past couple of weeks.”
Seth walked toward Randy. “Tell me about it.” He put his belt pack on. “Everyone is walking on eggshells, busybodies, making sure to be polite to everyone around them.”
“Have you considered maybe they came to respect the needs and reasoning behind our camp rules? A traumatic event like that can have a cauterizing affect. I think the camp is developing a deeper perception of their brotherhood.”
Seth lifted his knee to adjust his pants over his boots. “I think we all realized how serious this really is. Evilness made it far enough into our own camp to take one of our knights with a gang-banging pawn.”
“Good analogy.” Randy pushed off the tailgate, landing in a Tai Chi stance. “Let’s go grasshopper.”
They walked down toward the water. A line of people came from inside the camp, along the shore. A second line came down the road outside of the campgrounds.
Randy pointed to the baptisms by the boat launch. “Look how smooth that’s going. Listen to the laughter, the tears, and the singing.”
Seth nodded. “That was a great idea Bruce had for us to have a camp line and a visitor line to the same place. Nobody feels left out, or forced to come in.”
Bruce guided an elderly couple to a special line with steps into the water, and assistants to help them get in and out. He turned to come back and his eyes met Seth and Randy. “Hi guys! This is great. We have seven different stations going today, and five languages.”
Seth pointed his thumb back over his shoulder. “I heard the line goes past the entrance.”
“Yeah, I’m working a double shift today too. I better get back to it.” Bruce turned and went to the next person waiting in line.
Randy pointed to several of his patrolmen standing around the area. “We have extra security here because the interaction between camp members and visitors is so close. We’ve been lucky so far.”
Seth nodded. “Nice. I didn’t even notice until you pointed them out.”
“I also have six of my top students spread around the lake to teach Tai Chi three mornings a week. The other four days they train with me and give me status updates. Several of the different zones now have, well, neighborhood watches.”
Seth pointed to a small group of people leaning over the edge of the dock. “Megumi told me she has three assistants helping her, and the others are training how to select and prep grubs and other foods found around the area. Cammy and Marcus came up with a couple of easy recipes they can make in their camps… Anything to lighten the load on the kitchen.”
Randy nudged Seth’s arm. “Let’s go. I told Andrew last night I would stop by and listen in on one of his fish cleaning classes.”
Seth followed Randy, chuckling. “Hey. That kid is pretty smart too. I loved his Derby Drill. He came up with that by himself. Even the location… he said the peninsula between the west creeks had the best fishing, and with the makeshift bridges it gave easy access to those on the other side.”
Randy commented. “I’ve been planning to jump in on that, but haven’t had time to fish yet.”
Seth waved his finger at Randy as they climbed a knoll near the west end of the lake. “You have plenty of chances. He does it every hour from eight to around three. At the top of each hour, whoever has caught a fish brings it over. Andrew takes the biggest fish and cleans it for the person who caught it. Everyone else follows along cleaning the fish they caught. The smallest three are kept to make sample snacks, and the fishermen take the others back to camp. It’s simple, but it works.”
Randy paused at the top of the knoll. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Seth looked down to the array of fishermen slinging their lines, trying to entice the trout with their flies and lures. “You see that… People say God likes to golf, but I picture Him playing catch and release with nature.” Seth checked the time. “Hey, it’s almost the top of the hour… let’s catch a class.”
They crossed the first creek and followed the shoreline to a little makeshift shack by the point on the peninsula. Andrew and a few others built it with planks from a rundown barn.
Andrew stood behind a table holding up two large trout. He weighed them back and forth before holding his right hand higher. “I’d say this one is the biggest. What we’re going to do now is clean and prep all these fish for cooking.”
Andrew handed the lighter fish back to the owner. “Sorry, you get to clean this one. Okay everyone. Get comfortable by your workstation. You will find stations like these set up around the lake. The logs are on a bed of river rock so it doesn’t get muddy when you work, and the logs have a flat spot chiseled out so you have workspace. Each station also has a gut bowl, a covered gut container, a waterproof plastic container of supplies, and two five gallon buckets for water. Yours should have a little water in them now.”
Andrew held up the fish. “Make sure you kill the fish first.” He placed it on the log. “You can do this by holding the fish on the flat part of the log with it’s head hanging over, then grab the metal tent stake from the hole drilled into the log, and hit the fish on the back of the head sharply. You can also use the back of your knife blade if the knife is heavy and does not close. Those who use the stake… please clean it before you put it back.”
Several of the fish were already dead, but a few were still gasping on the leader. A couple fish fell victim to the stake. One person took their fish and struck it against the log.
Andrew raised his eyebrows. “That’s one way to do it. Okay. If the fish aren’t flopping, set them on the workstation and dump your buckets on the rocks over there. Fill them up about two thirds from the lake and we’ll keep going.”
Andrew noticed Seth and Randy when he pointed to the rocks, so he waved.
Seth waved back while nudging Randy. “He’s got quite the set up going on.”
When the last guy set his bucket down Andrew tapped on the table with his knife. “Here we go. The next thing we do is gut the fish. You can use a wet towel to hold the fish in place on the log, or you can hold it belly up in your left hand like this. The towel will help stop it from slipping out of your hand. Now, I just poke the tip of the knife into this hole right here where the fish goes to the bathroom, and I’ll cut about a half inch deep all the way up to the head. Don’t go too deep or you will make a mess out of the insides.”
Seth and Randy watched them try to follow Andrew. One guy lost his grip and the fish fell to the ground. Another almost puked when he saw the inside of the fish. They chuckled quietly to themselves.
“Some people like to cut off the head and pull everything out, others like to slit the lower jowls and pull everything out.” Andrew held up a bowl. “Either way when you’re ready, dump the insides into the bowl at your station, and when you’re done with all your fish you dump the bowl into the covered container.”
Andrew picked up the first bucket and set it on the table. “Hold the fish in the first bucket belly up, and scrape the bloodline with your thumbnail. Rinse the fish around a little bit.” He set the first bucket down and picked up the other one. “Then rinse one more time in the second bucket.” Andrew handed the guy his fish, and pointed to an empty station. “You can use that station there to follow along and prepare your fish.”
Seth leaned to Randy. “Let’s get closer.”
Andrew held up his hand towel. “Use a damp towel to wipe off the log and keep germs to a minimum… Okay. Everyone hold up your fish so I can pick the three smallest.”
Seth and Randy watched as Andrew sat the people with bigger fish down until only three remained. He took the biggest of the three. “If you have a big fish you might want to fillet, but as you’ll see there’s a little waste when we do that, and even more when you’re just learning. However with a big fish from the deep it works well. I’ll give a quick demo with this one, but since most of our catch is from the shore, you will use the second method.”
Andrew sliced his way through the fish like a master sushi chef, giving comments, but his technique was way too fast for anyone to emulate. He tossed a few fillets into a powdery bowl. “This is basic flour, but you can use any type of breading you can come up with. Megumi’s been using crushed pine nuts with garlic.” He pulled out the white fillets and laid them on a tray. “Deep fried or pan fried, these are easy to eat.”
One of the people asked. “What if we don’t have a pan, or oil?”
Andrew pulled a few skewers from a bowl filled with water. “Easy. You can soak wooden skewers like I have here, or you can make a skewer from a hangar, or something similar if you don’t have the basic camping supplies. What you want to do is take a thick fillet and cut it into cubes.” He slid each piece on the skewer. “You want cubes because they are less likely to fall apart, and you want to go against the grain. You can add veggies if you have them too.” He set the skewers next to the floured fillets on the tray.
Andrew rubbed his hands together. “Now it’s your turn. One of the easiest ways to prepare smaller fish like these is foil cooking. That’s how you’re going to take your fish home tonight.” He tore off a piece of aluminum foil and held it up in one hand with one of the remaining two fish in his other. “Start with a piece of foil a few inches longer than the cleaned fish. Set your fish on the foil, and if you have butter or oil you can lightly apply some to the inside, but if not that’s fine. Hold the foil with the fish in your hand belly up, and shake a pinch or two of the seasoning you like inside. You’ll find different flavors in the plastic containers by your station. This one I’m putting in now is a lemon herb. Just pull the cap and sprinkle a little in your fish. Don’t touch it though, because we don’t want to transfer any fish particles into the spice containers. You can also add stuffing, rice, or veggies if you have them.”
A hand rose from the middle of the group. “Where do the spices come from?”
“We have a crew working on seasonings all the time, and several people from around camp are also attending classes to make their own. When you have your fish prepared, fold the foil over the fish, and fold the foil ends to seal all sides. Be sure to get a good seal so the edges don’t spill when cooking.”
Andrew set the foil wrapped fish on the tray next to the skewered fillets. “When you’re done with all your rinsing and cleaning, pour the water from the first bucket over on the rock pile located off to the side of the station, then poor the second bucket in the same spot. Fill the buckets at least a quarter so they don’t blow away, and use that fresh water to do a final wipe when you’re done. You guys can use that rock pile there to pour your water.”
Andrew held up the last fish in one hand and tilted the tray of prepped fish with the other for everyone to see. “I’m going to season this last one and give the tray to the girls to cook. When you’re done cleaning you can try the samples on the other side, and don’t forget your fish or we’ll cook it and serve it.”
Seth and Randy joined in the mini applause. Andrew bowed to them, but quickly, a few people who had questions surrounded him.
Seth pointed towards the sample table and started walking. “I keep forgetting I don’t need snacks on even days. Why didn’t you say something?”
Randy quickly followed. “You’re the one who stood there packing your snacks telling me about how you should remember odd and even…”
They both laughed.
Randy led the way from the peninsula to the north shore community board. Seth noticed a new listing. “Flower arrangements?”
Randy picked up the security log and checked for patrol signatures. “Yeah, isn’t that cool. Steward used to arrange flowers in the city. He’s teaching the camps how to pull from the natural beauty surrounding us.”
“Sound’s… interesting.”
“It is. His presentations last all day, mostly because a long nature hike is part of it. The best thing is his technique ensures the plants have no problem sustaining our use. And get this. Once dried some go into seasoning, while the rest helps kindle the fires.”
Seth nodded in approval. “Wow. I like it.”
Randy pointed at a volunteer sign up sheet. “Remember the ‘help your neighbor’ rotation for teens Danny’s been working on?”
“Yeah, each day they go to another area around the lake and help other teens with their chores. Teens like it because it counts as time and a half toward their obligations. The camps like it because now they are more familiar with the other teens.”
“Not only that… As the teens learn about the things they all share in common, they learn they aren’t so different after all.”
*****
Cruz stood on the bumper of his truck, bent over under the hood trying to tighten a bolt. “Hey Jovel… Hand me the socket. I can’t quite get to this one.” He reached behind and felt the socket in his hand, but Jovel wouldn’t let go. “Come on man, I’m getting a cramp.”
A soft female voice said. “Cruz, aren’t you going to say hi?”
He recognized Maria’s voice immediately and jumped, banging his head on the hood before falling off the bumper and on to the ground. He looked up to see if it truly was Maria, but the sun right behind her silhouette made him shield his eyes.
She reached to help him up. “Hey! Don’t make me come all the way up here just to see you kill yourself?”
Cruz pulled her to the ground and hugged her tight. “I’m so glad to see you! How did you get here?”
She rolled to the side and sat up. “My sister’s cousin got us to Sacramento. Her brother’s best friend knew a guy who got us near Heavenly.”
Cruz sat up, leaning on one hand. “That’s south shore?”
She took a deep breath. “Yeah, but it was a lot closer than getting here from home. We hiked the rest of the way. It took a couple of days, but there are a lot of people working there way here. That helped.”
Cruz looked around. “Maria. I never felt so alone without you. I don’t want that kind of feeling ever again. You are my sunshine. I mean it.”
She smiled. “I know that. I didn’t come up here for nothing.”
Cruz got up on one knee and took her hand. She wiped the bottom of her wet eyes with her fingertips. “Not now Cruz. I’m a mess. I’m supposed to be beautiful.”
He looked into her eyes. “You are the most beautiful girl on earth. Be my wife Maria. Marry me here and let’s start our eternity now.”
She started crying. “Of course I will.”
Cruz looked up to Jovel, standing there watching in amazement. Jovel started to murmur. “There’s going to be a wedding… There’s going to be a wedding…” He turned and ran toward the group. “Hey everybody! There’s going to be a wedding!”
Maria sniffed and started to laugh. “He’s such a kid.”
Cruz stood and held out his hand to help Maria up. “He sure is. I love Jovel like a brother.”
Maria grabbed his hand and pulled herself up. “Yeah… and wait until Nico hears. He swore you’d never get married.”
Cruz swallowed hard, the joy fleeing from his face. Maria let go of his hand and withdrew. “What’s wrong Cruz?”
“Nico’s dead Maria.”
Maria shook her head in denial. “What did you say?” Her eyes welled up fast and she started to sob.
Cruz pulled her close, hugging her and rubbing her back. “There was an accident.”
“When?”
“He died in my hands on July 26, exactly five minutes past eight in the evening.”
Maria’s knees gave and she slid down Cruz to the ground crying. “Nico!”
Jovel came running around the truck, skidding to a stop. “Hey guys… what’s wrong? Did she change her mind?”
Cruz shook his head. “No. She just found out about Nico. Can you help me sit her on the bench, and maybe grab a water for her?”
*****
Two days later a ceremony for Maria and Cruz took place under the canopy of a tree, at the base of a hillside. More than a hundred people gathered, and the forest was alive with happiness.
Everything seemed picture perfect, but Seth sensed something bothered Cruz. He leaned to his ear and whispered. “Are you okay man? You’re not going to turn and run are you?”
Cruz shook his head. He swallowed and started to speak with his voice cracking. “I… I don’t have a best man. Nico was supposed to be my best man.”
Seth paused for a moment. “Hold on, I have an idea.” He waved to Cruz’ cousin. “Come here.”
Cruz looked at his cousin, then back at Seth. “What’s up?”
Seth pulled out his phone and found a picture of Nico. He zoomed in on Nico’s smiling face. “Here’s your best man.”
Cruz took a deep breath. “Thanks Seth.”
Seth handed the phone to Cruz’ cousin. “All you have to do is stand here and hold this picture so Nico can be the best man.”