Scenario 43

[MaryN]

O.K., Guys, pay attention. I have a little scenario for you. Do you remember playing that game which was set in a hot air balloon (or boat, or whatever) which was starting to drop and you had to choose which person to chuck over the edge....?

Here we go. The worst has happened. The major cities in the country have taken a hit. Massive losses of life and property. The Grid is down so no power is available. People, it’s every man for himself.

Due to your planning skills you are o.k. You managed to get your family and the group of people you have joined up with out of the danger zone and are now ensconced in your little enclave. It’s in the country, by the way, this would not work in a town. The power is down, but you have heating – wood burning stoves – lighting – candles and spirit lamps – and you know that your food supplies are sufficient to carry you and your group through for the next few months without any difficulty. After that time though you will need to get into position some form of farming/horticulture to provide fresh food. You managed to get to your little fortress with a couple of vehicles, but the chance of getting any more fuel for the vehicles is slim. This is a serious situation and you realise that you are in for the long haul. With me so far?

You now have to carry out an assessment of your situation, and you realise, accurately, that you are in need of more manpower to carry out just the basic tasks that will enable you and the group to have any hope of survival. The overwhelming task ahead of you requires more people.

People are starting to trickle out of the stricken towns and cities in hope of finding somewhere to live, food to eat and just a place to survive in. Could any of these people be of assistance to you. You could manage to support an additional couple of people; your supplies would stretch until you could get things growing and breeding, and their help and skills would be vital. Which ones will you choose.?

The young family stagger into your yard. A couple and their two children. They have been on the road for days. They are tired and weak. The children haven’t eaten for days. The husband has been unemployed and his wife did not work – the children are very young. He has no skills to speak of. The children are very hungry.

Next to crawl into your yard is a Doctor and his wife. Their religion will mean that they will require a particular diet. It could cause problems, but his skill would be useful. Members of your group, however, are muttering. He is a Doctor though.

The young man limps in. He was a stockman. Familiar with animal husbandry, his skills would be invaluable. He is a singleton though and your space would house a couple or a small family. One man on his own would use that space. But he has skills.

In comes a financial consultant and his wife. He has no survival skills to speak off, but his wife is a skilled herbalist. They will not be separated.

You need to make a decision. You are the big Kahuna of the group and the decision rests on you. Do you settle for skills at the risk of disruption in the group? Does the sight of starving children overcome your heart instead of your head?

Winter is coming. Make up your mind.