The Council, absent Deputy Thomas and Captain McBride, who are on the mission to the salt ponds, begin to review the applications for the November trade trip that is still three months away. "Everyone wants to go to this fall fair," Garland says, "including my wife."
"You're not staying here?" Dr. Ahmad asks. "But Carol has applied to go. What's the point of a Lieutenant Mayor if she can't serve in your absence?"
Carol thinks Dr. Ahmad is a little bitter he didn't get the appointment. He still plans to run for mayor next year. And the next, which is when he actually hopes to win.
"I'll be here," Garland replies. "With VanDaryl. He'll be weaned by then, but fully potty trained. Shannon has applied to bring Gary. Just the two of them would go, if their application is approved."
Commander Witherspoon shakes his head. "I don't know about children on the ship. That doesn't sound safe. It sounds like a distraction. Didn't you say as much last time around, mayor?"
"I did. And I said as much to Shannon. She still applied."
"Well, Daryl and I are planning on bringing Sweetheart," Carol says, "if my application is approved. She's fully potty trained now, and I want everyone to meet her."
"I thought everyone important had met her," Carolyn replies. "They've all been here at least once, haven't they? The leaders of the Alliance communities. Your son. Your daughter-in-law."
"There are others I'd like her to meet." The kids, for one – Judith, RJ, and Hershel. Jerry and Nabila's brood. Other old friends. And she'd like Sweetheart to have the fun of the games, not that she's quite old enough to play most of them, but she'll try. And she'll enjoy watching the horse races and other competitions. Besides, Carol doesn't want to leave her behind without either parent, not again.
"And the Council is fine with this?" Witherspoon asks. "Toddlers, on a ship?"
"Gary's not a toddler," Carol says. "He'll be nearly five." Well, four and seven months. "And Sweetheart will be nearly two. She's very steady on her feet. And you yourself said she seemed like a real seabird when she explored the ship. Daryl and I will watch her like hawks. I'm sure Shannon will keep a close eye on Gary."
"Sailing for two days each way?" Witherspoon asks. "After we were attacked by pirates last time?"
"We've done away with the pirates," Carol reasons.
Witherspoon looks with disbelief around the Council table. "You're all fine with this?"
"I'm not fine with it," Garland admits. "I tried to talk my wife out of applying to bring Gary, but, as I said…" He shrugs. "She applied."
"So we disapprove the application, then," Dr. Ahmad says matter-of-factly.
Garland leans forward slightly with one arm on the council table. "Shannon argued, and I think perhaps she's right, that there would be diplomatic value to bringing a couple of children, that it would knit our communities closer together by planting the seeds of comradery among the next generation. And Shannon will be an invaluable trade representative. You all know how convincing she can be."
"She'll probably get us a ten percent better return," Linda agrees.
"But she doesn't have to bring Gary," Carolyn suggests. "And Daryl and Carol don't have to bring Sweetheart." She smiles slightly. "You could watch them all, mayor."
"Shannon won't go without Garry," Garland insists. "He heard about the fair and has talked of nothing else sense."
Carol wonders if Shannon didn't insist on joining this trip with Gary to bolster Carol's own chances of being able to bring Sweetheart. Carol had expressed to her friend the worry that the Council would reject her application, and this might be Shannon's sneaky way of ensuring they don't. If they let one child on, why not another?
In the end, the Council of seven does reluctantly approve the application for Shannon and Gary as well as for Carol, Daryl, and Sweetheart. McBride will captain, while Witherspoon will remain behind in Jamestown, in command of the Navy in the captain's absence. Lt. Commander Lawson still refuses to join the trade trips in silent protest of the Alliance. This means Lieutenant Avalrado will have a chance to be second in command on the journey, and also have a chance to see Michonne, if she's still interested in continuing their tryst. Carol lays fifty-fifty odds on the possibility. Michonne is having a good time, but the lieutenant, on his end, seems more besotted.
Witherspoon thumbs through the applications and sets a few aside. "This is who Captain McBride told me he wanted for his crew."
The Council reviews and quickly approves the stack.
"Now let's decide the passengers and the trade team." Garland says.
Deputy Andrew's application is denied. Gunther, irritated, rips it right down the middle before throwing it in the reject pile. "Unbelievable," he mutters. "The man knows he'll have a one-month old baby, and he still applies to leave Trisha alone with an infant while he gallivants around Oceanside."
"I give that marriage one more year," Linda tells him.
"And how long do you give Eugene and Candy?" Gunther asks.
"For as long as Eugene has that house and that house has electricity and hot running water," Linda replies.
"A cold assessment," Gunther says. "But probably not an inaccurate one."
"She'll grow to genuinely like him," Linda replies. "I think she already does a bit. In a sort of amused, affectionate way."
"She seemed quite happy in the letter that came on the last mail boat," Gunther agrees. "Eugene's already looted her some copper stills from an abandoned farm for her moonshine. He killed seven walkers for her to get it, she said."
"It's hard for me to imagine that man slaying walkers," Dr. Ahmad admits.
"No harder than it is to imagine you," Witherspoon tells him.
"I have my duties within the gates," the doctor insists.
"Eugene used to be timid," Carol says, "but he's developed some decent fighting skills over the years. At least against walkers." She's not sure she'd rely on him to be in the front lines during a human battle. But maybe she'd rely on him to trip up the enemy through some strategic plan.
"Can we get back to work, please?" Garland impatiently lifts the next application from the pile. "Joe Marlin."
"That's the new guy?" Carolyn asks. "From the cult? Kaitlyn's father?"
"Yes."
"A little soon to be sending him," the veterinarian mutters. "Why does he even want to go?"
"For the wide-open seas part of it," Linda says. "He was telling me the other night at the tavern that after being cooped up as a slave, locked in his room every night, sailing the ocean, being on an expansive beach, just seems appealing to him. He's at the tavern all the time because he can't stand being cooped up in that little dorm room. He does a lot of walking at night."
"Does Ernesto know how much time you're spending with Joe?" Gunther asks with a raised eyebrow.
Linda rolls her eyes. "Joe's just friendly."
"I hadn't noticed," Gunther murmurs. "Maybe with you. Otherwise, he seems to keep to himself."
Linda smiles affectionately. "You're just jealous I played chess with him last night instead of you."
"I had things to do anyway," Gunther replies.
"At least he won't be chasing any women there," Witherspoon suggests. "He won't cause any problems that way."
"Just because a man's castrated doesn't mean he isn't capable," Linda says. "He still has his…you know. And it's fully functional."
"And you know this how?" Gunther asks.
"The topic arose."
"Did it now? Was it the only thing that arose?"
"Oh, shush it! I have a boyfriend."
"And you keep refusing to move in with Ernesto no matter how many times he asks," Gunther notes.
"I like my bed in the loft," Linda reasons. "I like the smells of the Tavern."
Mayor Garland taps the table. "Can we get back to the matter at hand?"
Joe's application is not accepted. It's decided people who have been at Jamestown longer should have priority. Carolyn is sent again, both to check on any animals for trade as a veterinarian and to represent the council.
"Wait, what animals?" Gunther interrupts.
"Well, the Hilltop wants a male sheep for starters," Garland answers, "in exchange for a female goat."
"We could use another female goat," Gunther concedes.
"And Alexandria wants our second youngest pig."
"Orwell?" Gunther slides his straw hat off the table and sets it on his knee. "Does Alexandria even have anywhere to put a pig? It's a suburban development, isn't it?"
"The have green spaces," Carol says. "Stables, horses, and a henhouse. A rabbit hutch."
"That little pig will yield 150 pounds of pork once it's full grown," Gunther says seriously. "We need more than three solar panels."
"They'll also give us a manual typewriter and twenty working ribbons," Garland tells him.
"A typewriter?" Gunther shakes his head. "You want to trade pork for a typewriter?"
"And twenty working ribbons. Eugene was able to juice them with silicone spray or something like that. I don't know how they work after all these years, but I'm assured they do. And it sure would make my job as mayor easier not to have to handwrite everything all the time."
"150 pounds," Gunther repeats.
"Well, you'll be there on the trade team," Garland tells him. "You can haggle for more. I'm sure Shannon will get them to throw in some Candy Shine or something, too."
"She better get more than three solar panels and a typewriter for my little Orwell, anyway," Gunther insists.
"Alexandria caught and domesticated a young wild sow," Garland tells him. "More or less domesticated it, Michonne wrote. They want Orwell so they can eventually breed her. Then they'll have more meat to trade in the future."
"Well you might have mentioned that to being with!" Gunther exclaims. "And it's a gilt, if it hasn't had piglets yet. Not a sow."
"You're like a grammar Nazi," Linda tells him. "Only with farm vocabulary."
"That's general knowledge," Gunther insists.
"Are you planning your proposal, Gunther?" Linda asks. "For the trade fair? Are you going to make a grand romantic gesture?"
"I told you. I'm not proposing again. Dianne can propose if she's changed her mind."
"That's not how that works," Linda assures him.
Garland points his pencil in the tavern keeper's direction. "You're going, too, Linda, to haggle over alcohol trades with Henry and Candy. If all approve?" Seven hands go up. "So that's five council members. The captain, Carol, Carolyn, Gunther, and Linda. That's enough to sign and approve any revisions to the trade deals or to the treaty. I think we're done here for the day." He begins to gather the applications back into the file folder.
"Not quite," Gunther says. "One more order of business." He digs into the front pocket of his denim overalls and pulls out a folded sheet of paper, which he unfolds and slides across the table toward Garland. "Ernesto asked me to submit his resignation letter for him. He wants to step down from the position of farm manager. His health just isn't up to it."
"He didn't tell me he was doing that!" Linda exclaims.
"I don't think he wants you to know the shape he's in. He's not well, Linda. So maybe…more time with him and less with Joe?"
Linda shifts nervously in her chair. "His mind's as sharp as a tack," she insists. "That's what you need for managing."
"He needs to make the rounds," Gunther says. "And he needs to get in the dirt sometimes with the farmers. He knows that, and that's why he's stepping down. He wants to help you manage the tavern and liquor distribution instead. Help you do the books. Lighten your load now that you're on council."
Garland takes the letter. "Tell him his resignation is approved. If the council agrees?"
All seven members raise their hands, and Garland signs his name across the resignation to designate the Council's acceptance of it. "Congratulations, Gunther," he says, "on your promotion to the position of Farm Manager. I mean, if the council approves?" The Council does. "I suppose you'll want to appoint another assistant?"
"It would be helpful."
"Submit your nominations by this Friday," Garland tells him, "and the Council will review them at the next meeting after that."
"I don't need to think about it," Gunther says. "Raul. I want Raul. He's been farming for me ten hours a week. He's got a gift for detail and for storing up for the winter. He's a bit of ant."
"An aunt?" Linda asks.
"An ant. Like in Aesop's fable."
"Raul?" Dr. Ahmad leans forward. "But he's our apothecary!"
"That's a part-time job, and the apprentice apothecary has it all under control by now. I'm sure Raul will volunteer to check in on him once a week to answer any questions."
"He's been on construction ten hours a week," Carolyn says.
"We can take him off the construction team," Gunther replies. "The work there is drying up anyway. The grist mill is built. The dorm is built. The new barn is built. They just do repairs now."
"Conveniently for you," Dr. Ahmad says, "Inola's no longer on the council to protest. But aren't you forgetting something? Raul's at the Hilltop two weeks out of every eight now. How can we have an assistant farm manger who's not even here twelve weeks of the year?"
Raul and Enid have agreed on a routine of sorts. She'll be at Jamestown two weeks out of every eight, and he'll be at the Hilltop two weeks out of every eight, traveling on the mail boat. Enid goes by horseback to Oceanside to fetch Raul when he arrives, and she stables her horse at Oceanside for the weeks she's gone. Four weeks of every eight, they spend apart in their separate communities. Carol's not sure how long either will be satisfied with that arrangement before one or the other immigrates, but for now, it seems to work for them. They have the benefit of the fact that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and they're both so busy in their separate communities that perhaps they don't have the time to miss one another.
"When he's at the Hilltop," Gunther says, "he's sharing some of our farming methods with them and learning theirs. He's studying that Key to Our Future book they have. It's an invaluable exchange, for both communities. And the twelve weeks he isn't here, I'll pick up the slack. I've practically been doing that for Ernesto already."
"I thought he was learning to be a doctor from Enid!" Dr. Ahmad exclaims. "Not a farmer!"
"He's learning a little of that, too," Gunther replies. "But we have two good doctors already. Dr. Emily's still relatively young, compared to you, and there's your apprentice. There's also Thomas, who's a fine medic. Raul's needed more on the farming side, and he's good at it. Especially at the technical aspect, and he's young and fit for the labor, too. He'd be wasted as a doctor."
"A doctor is never wasted," Dr. Ahmad insists.
"This is who I want. This is the only nomination I'm submitting."
"Let's just vote," Carol says. Like Garland, she's anxious to get out of this meeting. Her patrol shift is from two to six p.m. today, and she wants to have lunch with Sweetheart and spend some time with her before it starts. "I'm in favor of appointing Raul as assistant farm manager." She raises a hand. Gunther raises his. Hands go up all around, except for Dr. Ahmad's.
Garland sighs. "The charter requires seven votes to approve an appointment. I guess we'll have to wait for McBride and Thomas to return and see how they vote." He lowers his hand and begins stacking the manilla folders together. "You're all dismissed. Don't forget the open town hall tomorrow at noon."
Chairs shuffle and the council chambers clear out. Carol lingers to take the files from Garland and re-file them in the cabinet. As the metal cabinet door clangs shut, he's sliding his old white Stetson onto his head. "I think I owe your wife a drink," she tells him.
"Why's that?"
"She helped me get Sweetheart on that trade trip."
"Mhhm."
"You think maybe Sweetheart could play with the boys tonight, for an hour, after dinner, while I take her to the tavern?"
"You want to take my wife out?"
"I'd like to."
"I suppose she could use the break. And I suppose I could manage to coral three children for one hour." He holds up a finger. "One hour."
"No more than two," Carol promises with a smile, and then heads for the daycare.
[*]
Sailors scramble on the Hampton docks to secure the ship with tight knots. Deputy Thomas and Laura lead down a horse while Santiago and Sarah cajole down a second. Daryl helps some sailors cautiously roll down the cart.
When everything is on the docks, Daryl approaches the group who will be heading to Newport News. When he's a few steps away, Santiago slaps Sarah's ass. She squeals, turns, and glares. "Do that again and you'll lose a hand."
"You love it," Santiago insists with a smirk.
Sarah shakes her head and begins latching one of the horses to the cart. Daryl joins her to help with the other. The sailors and workmen clamor down the pier and then scatter over the earth toward the evaporation ponds to check on the progress.
Captain McBride lingers. "Be safe," he tells the looting team. "And remember, the council only approved bringing your brother back." He looks directly at Laura.
"I know," she says.
"Try to be back by noon tomorrow. We're only digging one more pond, and the boys will want to get home."
Santiago nods. "Aye, aye, Captain," he says, and casually salutes.
The big red-headed captain half shakes his head before following his men.
"Who's drivin'?" Daryl asks.
"I guess Sarah and I will, since we know where we're going." Santiago climbs up onto the driver's bench of the cart. Sarah climbs up on the same side, forces him over, and takes the reins. Deputy Thomas helps Laura up onto the cart, and just when Sarah has shouted her "Hi-ya!" and it begins to jerk off, Daryl leaps on the tail end and sits facing the sea, which fades away as the cart rolls and jerks and teeters across the sandy earth to meet up with the road that will eventually take them to the old cult compound. Daryl checks his crossbow, just to be safe.