Chapter 9 Chapter Nine "A Good Omen"

Good things happened early in Mayor Cowbell's tenure.He agreed to the marriage of Carmen and Bob, and said that they should have their own residence.He suspended work on the fence and asked all the villagers to build honeymoon shacks for the couple.He even forgot about everyone eating, until his deputy Roy Killow reminded him that he sent a hunting team. The mayor himself worked very hard, and he wanted the wedding to take place in the evening, so he ordered that the bridal chamber must be finished by sunset.The materials used to build the bridal chamber were the materials used to repair the walls. In order to complete the project, even when the materials were not enough, some walls that had already been built were demolished.Because there are no tools, no cement, and no way to cut down big trees, they can only make some earthen bricks, so the bridal chamber is very simple.It is a stone box one person high, two or three meters square, with a hole as the door, and the roof is built with some plants that grow downstream like bamboo—they can only call it "bamboo" , put some grass on it, and then put some mud on it, compacted the grass, it didn't look very good.

But it was indeed a house, and there was even a door, which could be closed and opened.This is a partition made of bamboo and wormwood.There are neither hinges nor locks, and they are all holes, but it can block the door opening of a stone house, and it is supported by bamboo poles and stones.The ground was covered with a layer of clean sand and covered with fresh broad leaves. As a kennel for St. Bernards, this is fine.But as a place for people to live, it is a little bit shabby.But it's still better than the place where primitive people or prehistoric people lived.Bob and Carmen didn't take it very seriously.

At lunchtime, work was suspended.Rhode deliberately approached those around Cobell.He had had a violent thought battle last night, and the only thing he had decided on was to pretend to like them like sour grapes, and that would have to start with not avoiding Cowbell! Margaret Zhuang cooked for everyone today. She cut a piece of well-roasted meat for Rhodes, and he gnawed on it after thanking him.Cowbell started to speak, and Rhodes didn't listen deliberately, but he pretended to be listening. "...This is our only way. We must establish some discipline for everyone. I think you agree." Cobell glanced around and met Rhode's gaze unexpectedly. He looked a little unhappy, but Then smile. "Hi, Rod."

"Hi, Grant." "Look, sir, we're having an executive committee meeting. Would you mind finding another place for lunch?" Rhode's face flushed, "Oh! Of course." Cowbell seemed to think of something again, "Of course, it's not a personal matter—it's just to decide some things. You might be willing to sit in and give us suggestions or something." "Huh? Oh, no, no. I don't know much about these things." Rhodes got up and walked away. Cowbell didn't hold out. "Keep working hard, there's a lot to do! See you later, then." He smiled and turned his head away.

Rhodes wandered aimlessly, feeling very uncomfortable. He seemed to hear someone greet him, so he turned gloomily. It was Jimmy Soxton. "Kicked out of the house?" Jimmy said calmly, "The secret six are preparing to start a picnic. See that happy couple?" "You mean Carmen and Bob?" "Do you know any other happy couples? Oh, there they are--looking eagerly at their future love nest! Go over there!" Rod walked past the fence and saw Jacqueline and Caroline sitting by the water eating.He habitually glanced at the surrounding environment, paying attention to whether there were any hidden snakes and crocodiles, and he still found a way to retreat to a safe place in his mind.But his vigilance didn't seem to be necessary. There shouldn't be any danger in an open field near so many people.He walked to the side of the two girls and sat on a rock. "Hi girls."

"Hi, Rod." "Hello, Rhodes." Caroline continued, "Any news?" "No news, I suppose. Well, did Grant appoint an executive committee last night?" "He appointed a thousand committees, but no executive committee, unless they were appointed after we left. Why ask the executive committee? These people are doing things like I am riding a bicycle, so determined to go my own way." "Who is there, Rhodes?" Jacqueline asked. Rhodes recalled a moment, and said the names of a few people he saw around Cobell just now.Jacqueline thought for a moment, "They all seem to be from Taylor University."

"Yes, I guess so." "I don't like it," she replied. "What does it matter?" "Maybe not... Maybe there is. This is actually something we can think of. But I think it should be good for every class, not just the old guys, what do you think?" "Don't worry about it, Jack, you have to give them some leeway." "Why? I don't understand." Caroline broke in. "Those names you mentioned were the same people who were on Cowbell's other committees. It was a small group. You see, none of us original people One got on any important committee - I was put on garbage disposal and sanitation. Jack was on the food reserve committee and you weren't on either. You were supposed to be on the constitutional committee, or the organizing committee, but he put you Excluded, but I have become the chairman of these committees, I want to protest!"

Rhodes didn't make a sound, and Caroline continued: "If you don't say it, I will mention it. You know, we should set up an appointment and removal committee first. Then select some people of all ages, for example, 21 years old, An office is set up. Then the executive council turns into a parliament, or whatever it is called, and then it votes, and we don't do things without a majority. My uncle Phil and they do it that way." "Your Uncle Phil?" "Well, he's a politician. I never liked him--his lips touched many sick children. I hid when he came to our house, but I liked him better than Cowbell. It's a huge political fight, Rod, and they've got us out of it, and I think we should have left after the wedding." She turned to Jacqueline, "What do you say, buddy?"

"Of course...as long as Rhodes agrees." "I didn't say that. You see, Caroline, to be honest, I don't like the way things are either... I don't like being kicked out of the circle, but I can't let you take risks. Our strength is not enough It's not safe to establish a new territory." "Why not safe, Rhodes, there are three times as many people hiding behind those woods. This time we are slowly expanding, and we will pick as many people as we think fit. Six people is a good start, let us go!" "Not six, Caroline, but four." "Huh? Six! We decided last night before Jimmy woke you up."

Rhodes shook his head. "Caroline, how are we going to let Bob and Carmen go with us, right after someone else has married them and given them a house?" "Then...throw it away, and we'll build another one for them!" "They won't come with us, Caroline . . . and there's no way to say it." "I think..." Jacqueline smoothed things over, "Rod already has his own ideas, Caroline." The discussion is terminated by the presence of Bob, Carmen, and Jimmy.They're late, Jimmy explains, and they're inspecting the house, "There don't seem to be any rocks that haven't been touched by me, oh, my back."

"Thank you, Jimmy." Carmen said softly, "I'll beat your back for you." "Deal!" Jimmy got down immediately. "Hi!" Caroline protested loudly. "I carried more stones than him, and he spent most of the time standing around watching and giving directions." "Overseeing is a tiring job," said Jimmy rascally. "Let Bob beat your back." No one was pounding their backs because Roy Killow called them over from the wall. "Hey! Lying there... It's past lunch time, come back to work." "I'm sorry, Jimmy, I'll beat you later." Carmen turned and walked away. Jimmy crouched up. "Bob, Carmen, don't go, I have something to tell you." They stopped.Rhodes shook his hand at Kylo. "Go right there!" Then he turned to Jimmy and the others. Jimmy seemed to have a hard time finding the right words, "Well... Carmen... Bob, the future Mr. and Mrs. Baxter. You know, we care about you very much. We are very happy that you are married-every family should have a A wedding, but... Well, it seems that it is not easy to buy things here, and we don’t know what to give you. After discussing it, we decided to give this to you. This is what we all want, as a wedding gift.” Jimmy A hand reached into his pocket, took out his dirty, curled-up poker cards, and handed them to Carmen. Bob Baxter looked surprised: "Oh, Jimmy, we can't take your deck of cards—it's your last deck." "I...we hope you will accept it." "But……" "Stop it, Bob!" Carmen said, taking the cards. "Thank you, Jimmy. Thank you very much, thank you all." She looked around. "You know, when we got married, we didn't want to be different from everyone else. We are still a family. We want you all...to play cards...to our house, just like..." She broke down and began to sob, resting her head lightly on Bob's shoulder.Bob patted her lightly.Jimmy looked like he was about to cry too, and Rod felt uncomfortable too. They got up and walked back, Carmen with one arm around Jimmy and the other around her fiancé.Rhodes and two other girls followed behind, and he asked in a low voice, "Has Jimmy told you two about this?" "No." Jacqueline replied. "Nor told me." Caroline also said: "I was planning to give them my frying pan, but now I want to wait a day or two." Caroline's "hiking bag" obviously contained A lot of unexpected survival gear - thin-covered journals, small harmonica, half-liter cooking pot, etc., she can always come up with some surprising but useful gadgets from time to time.Why she chose these things, and how she kept them until now, has been a little secret.However, as Mr. Mason often said: "Everyone has his own way. Survival is an art, not a science." No wonder she appeared very healthy when she first appeared near the cave, as if eating well. Well, and the clothes were neat and clean, even though she had been here for almost a month by then. "They didn't want your frying pan, Caroline." "I can't use it now, there are too many people, but they can use it to live at home, anyway, I think so." "I'd like to get her two needles and some thread. Bob got Carmen backed up with a sewing kit for his medical kit, but I'll have to wait, too." "I don't have anything to give them." Rhodes said gloomily. Jacqueline turned her eyes gently to Rhodes, "You can send a water bladder for their home, Rhodes." She said softly, "They'll love it. We can use some of my quick adhesive, so it will More durable." Rhodes exclaimed happily: "Yes! This is a good idea!" "We are assembled here today for the holy marriage of these two couples," said Grant Corbell cheerfully. Combined. It's actually the best thing that could happen to our little community. It's a good omen. It's an auspicious omen for the future. It's our guarantee to keep the torch of civilization alive in the future. Now , the torch of civilization has illuminated this planet, and it will burn forever in the future. It means..." Rhodes couldn't stand it anymore.He stood on the right side of the groom as the best man, the task was not heavy, but now he felt very sleepy.He looked around at the people around him, and wanted to scratch his upper lip desperately, but he held back.He sighed softly, delighted for the first time that Grant Corbell had assumed such a role.Grant always seemed to know how to talk, and he didn't. The bride was accompanied by Caroline Mishieni.Both girls held garlands of bright wildflowers.Caroline wore shorts and a T-shirt as usual, while the bride wore plain blue trousers and a blouse.Her hair was braided into a bun, and her face glistened under the light of the fire. She was indeed beautiful. "Who will lead this bride?" Jimmy Soxton stepped forward and said reverently, "Let me do it!" "ring!" Rhodes put the ring on his little finger, afraid of losing it.It was the ring of a senior at Burns de Lyons, on loan from Bill Kennedy.He handed the ring to Cowbell. "Carmen Elenola, are you willing to marry this man and let him be your legal husband, whether he is poor or rich, healthy or sick, and will accompany him until death?" "I do!" "Robert Edward, are you willing to accept this woman as your legal wife, will you love her, take care of her, and be faithful to her until death?" "I would! I mean, I would, I would." "Then take her hand, put the ring on her hand, and read to me—" Rhode's drowsiness came again, and he missed the beginning of the oath. "—Now, in the name and power of the elected rulers of this wild community, I declare that you are married! Kiss her, lucky guy! Don't wait until I force you to do so." Both Carlo and Jack were crying, and Rhode wondered, is there something wrong?He forgot to go to kiss the bride as the best man, but the bride had already turned around and put her arms around his neck and kissed him.He shook Bob's hand solemnly. "Okay, this step is done, don't forget that you have to carry her into the door." "I will never forget." "Oh, you asked me to remind you. Also, may God bless you."