91

"The Ebby Ethy Field" Jack was explaining as they walked, Kris letting his hands slide through the tall stalks of barley "We can get two, maybe three harvests off this if we are careful. Next spring we will use that next block of land over there. It's called Rote Farming. Each season we use another patch in a grid of four different sections, so when we swing around to the first one it will have had time to replenish the nutrients in the soil. An old tried and tested way of farming that does not harm the soil and cuts down a lot of fertilizer needs."

"Eddy Ethy." Kris repeated.

"Ethanol" Allison said softly as she glanced at Martha and Bonny who were crouched nearby with Vic testing the grain, further in she could see some teenagers doing the same thing. Students?

"That's right" Ianto smiled "Now the vats are operational again … good work that you and Bon did there Alli … we can harvest this crop. By the time we have dried and crushed it, the vats will have cured enough to begin production of the fuel."

"So … this is why you need extra filters. The vehicles run on it but being so pure it will burn through them" Kris understood straight away "I can do that. We will need….. shit. Is that a cotton field?"

"Yes. We need cotton for the filter filing" Ianto laughed "Don't' worry Kris, we are well organised. Bon has to make another template … you could help with that. What would be preferable is a mould. She did not know how to do it and despite me explaining the method it never worked. I know there is a certain amount of imperfections needed or something in metallurgy … I was hoping you and Alli might help."

"We can certainly try" Kris nodded, then lit up as the twins appeared from the nearby cotton field with shrieks of laughter, running hell for leather towards him. He knelt and accepted them slamming into him and Ianto watched with mild amusement as they clambered all over him like monkeys as they talked nonstop about something.

"Easy there beautifuls" he laughed as he rose with them under his arms, "Take a breath."

"They want to show you the sparing place" Ianto snorted "It's away for the main houses. We have a lovely underground one covered in mats an old mattresses but with the good weather some of the young prefer to train up in the open air."

They walked over to find two young men fighting, snarling and grunting as they struggled. Then one did a bit of dirty pool, kneeing the other one on the groin and he barked with pain as he went down, the girl that had been watching moved so quick Kris jumped with the fright as she swung her hand and connected with the victor, sending him flying out of the ring. She had moved so fast he didn't even know how the hell she got across the ring to do it as she stood snarling in a low tone. Jack moved away from them to calm the situation, running into the ring to stand between her and the young man now blinking up at her with shock.

"Hope" Ianto sighed "They will never learn if you chastise so much."

She turned to look at them and Kris could see her eyes glowing with an unnatural golden light. She looked … timeless. Speaking of time, it was like it had stopped, sound and movement gone as he stared at her then swallowed. It all started again as she blinked and he looked around with confusion. Alli was already half way to the ring, but… how?

"Do not look one of us in the eye" Ianto said softly, his hand on Kris' shoulder clearly what broke the spell "We are incredibly strong willed."

"Solomon, apologise to Forrest" Hope demanded and the two teens looked at her then nodded, shaking hands.

"Is he Kev's?" Alli asked as the one climbing to his feet with the aid of his victor turned to face them. Jack was checking them both as he chastised softly.

"Forrest? No, uncanny isn't it? No, I found him and his sister in a shopping mall. Their parents gone and him trying to protect her. Like little feral animals, took him a long time to get over it. No, we used to call him Little Kev as it is quite cute with the matching dreads and same cheekbones. That hard steel in his backbone makes him a little … vicious. Hope always watches when he spars but we do not discourage it. They need to learn that dirty pool still exists and if you meet an unfriendly this might happen. First time Sol has bettered him" Ianto sighed as Forrest grinned, then headbutted Solomon so hard that he flew back on his arse.

"WOODSY!" Hope barked, then laughed softly as she shook her head.

"These two have been sparing for about six months on and off. Forrest will let Solomon have some cruel licks but at the end … he must have the last word." Ianto laughed softly as he motioned for them to continue "You know … there is something else we have been chewing on for some time. Jack will be excited if you ask. The Warehouse. You know … our British Area 51. He would like a raid there, thinks there are some ships there still flight worthy."

Kris stopped walking as he stared at Ianto.

"Fuck. I had forgotten about that place. It would hermetically seal in the event of a world event right?" he said, then started to catch up.

Shit.

They could get there… if only they had a big chopper.