#NaNoWriMo 2017: Day Twenty-One
High Dependency
The previous chapters can be found here: https://medium.com/high-dependency
Chapter Twenty-One
The potholes and indentations of the track were filled with brown muddy water and the rain carved two streams either side as it ran to lower ground. Around the buildings, there were muddy puddles from the rainwater running off the roofs.
In the mess hall, the rain streamed off the roof like a sheet of water on three sides, surrounding the group who were gathered there. Thom had the plans laid out on the dining table.
“We need to mark out the ten new plots on the other side of the track” said Thom.
“It’s absolutely pissing down. We can’t work in this weather” said Stewart.
“I…” started Jan, before noticing that Arno was staring at him. He looked at her quizzically and she turned away with a scowl. “Arno?” he asked. She ignored him. “Err, I can help Thom. I don’t mind getting wet”
“Such a martyr” muttered Arno.
“Well I guess it only needs two of us” said Thom.
“What’s the plan then? I think we need to keep everybody updated” said Mrs. Firman.
“We started the commune with the idea that we could have temporary agricultural buildings without running water and we’d just get away without doing things properly. Now that we’ve been over here a year, we’ve been lucky that we haven’t been shut down” said Jan.
“Not lucky. We’ve been blessed” said EJ.
“Yes. I’ll talk about the donation we’ve received and our obligations regarding that in a moment. Firstly, we’re under threat of being shut down on public health grounds, given that we haven’t got proper toilet and shower facilities. Secondly, we haven’t got planning permission. Thirdly, we’re not doing at all well financially. Finally, we need to honour our commitment to build a chapel”
“Why finally?” asked EJ.
“Well, if we don’t get the other things sorted, there won’t be anybody living here to use the chapel” Jan replied.
“What about the shower facilities? That’s the first I’ve heard of that. I’m fine using the tin bath” said Mrs. Firman.
“That’s all well and good as an interim thing, but to get planning approval we’ll need proper arrangements for dealing with grey water. We need to have a proper toilet and shower block with a soakaway as well as a cesspit” said Jan.
“This is a major building project. We’ll need to dig a couple of big holes for the cesspit tank, soakaway and foundations for the new block. It’ll be on mains water and electric and done to building regulations. It’s going to be an ugly expensive eyesore over by the gate and we might not get retrospective planning permission anyway, and then we’d have to knock it down” said Mr. Firman.
“So the plan is that we’re going to rebuild our houses as Bronze Age roundhouses, like the Firman’s. That’s why we need to mark out ten new plots” said Thom.
“This is bullshit. How come you lot all know about this and you’re talking about it like it’s a done deal?” asked Stewart.
“It’s this or get shut down” said Jan.
“There must be options. Nobody can just come in here and make us homeless” said Stewart.
“Listen, the rich property developers are all sat on loads of land. The likes of us don’t get to build our own homes and live peacefully minding our own business. The fucking aristocracy would rather see us living on the streets begging, mate” said Slim.
“I honestly believe that the only way that we’re going to be able to avoid us being evicted is to turn ourselves into an eco village of sustainable green homes, and a bit of a tourist curiosity. It could bring in some income too, if we can charge visitors and train people in ancient building techniques” said Jan.
“So we’re transforming ourselves into some kind of museum exhibit for people to come and gawk at?” asked Stewart.
“Yes. We specifically need to add to the local amenity if we’re going to get planning permission. We very much need to have that kind of museum-like appeal” replied Thom.
“On the plus side, we might be able to get some government grants at some point, to help us finish the project. In the short term, we’ve got to take the money we have left in the pot to paint a picture — a vision — of what we’re trying to build here, so that we can raise further investment” said Mr. Firman.
“So we’re not going to build the chapel?” asked EJ.
“We’re absolutely stuffed, EJ. We haven’t got enough money to build the toilet and shower block or install the cesspit. We’ve got barely enough to complete a few roundhouses. We haven’t got time to hang around or work on any other project than the one that’s going to give us any chance of getting planning permission and investment” said Mr. Firman.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! I thought the investment thing was just an option” said Arno.
“I’ve done some calculations and I don’t think we’ll ever be able to afford to bring the buildings up to the standard required to get planning permission unless we take a grant at some point” said Mr. Firman.
“I thought we were going to plant a cash crop so that we had more income” said Arno.
“Again, I’ve done the calculations and there’s no profit in it for the first couple of years, because we’d need to invest in farm machinery that we just don’t have” said Mr. Firman.
“What about eggs? What about organic veg? What about goats and making cheese?” asked Arno.
“No money in it. Well, not enough to bankroll the big jobs we’ve got to do” replied Mr. Firman.
“We should do a festival. We’ll rake it in. One event could bring in thousands” said Slim.
“Be serious” said Jan.
“I’m being serious. Festivals make seriously big bucks. Me, Laken and Stewart have got events experience” said Slim.
“You’ll never get a license. Parking’s a nightmare here. The local community would would be outraged. Let’s keep things grounded” said Mr. Firman.
“Fuck grounded. Fuck the authorities. Fuck the police. We could make loads of cash from an illegal rave here. We could sell drugs and Jan’s homebrew” said Slim.
“Yeah, once. All the profits would be cancelled out by court fines and the chance of us ever getting planning permission would sail over the horizon” replied Mr. Firman.
“Alright, we’re getting a little off topic here. What’s the plan?” asked Mrs. Firman.
“So, we mark out ten plots the other side of the track and build as much as we can over the summer. If we can make it look like we’re going somewhere with the project, then we should be in a better position to invite the press” said Jan.
“What, journalists? It was bad enough that we’re having the general public coming and poking around our houses. Now you’re talking about reporters?” asked Laken.
“Unfortunately we need the help of the local newspapers to help publicise our cause. Without public support, we’ll get nowhere with our planning application and trying to get government grants” said Thom.
“This sounds like we’re totally selling out. I was excited about this project because it sounded like an opportunity to get away from the bureaucratic red tape and other bullshit of mainstream society. Now we’re going to have journalists poking their noses into our affairs?” asked Arno.
“Nothing to hide, nothing to fear” said Mr. Firman. Laken calmly ignored the glancing looks she received.
“Of course, the other alternative is that we all find some paid work so that we’re able to put more money into the kitty” said Mrs. Firman.
“I can only work 16 hours a week before I lose my benefits. I can’t work anyway” said Slim.
“Yeah there are a lot of us here who’re sick. We didn’t found this commune with the intention that people would end up working regular jobs. It’s the soul-destroying work and demands of regular society that’s made people sick” said Arno.
“If I’m going to be a wage slave flipping burgers, I’m going to live in a regular house. The only reason why I put up with my leaky roof is because I built my house and this place means freedom” said Stewart.
“I think we need to remember that we founded this commune to give us freedom from the tyranny of bullshit jobs” said Arno.
“OK, but how much are you prepared to suffer for freedom?” asked Mr. Firman.
“I can’t speak for everybody else, but I’m happy to see my house turned into a greenhouse and have to build a new house. I’m happy to spend at least another year trying to make this work, come hell or high water” replied Arno.
“You should all know that there’s going to be a lot of backbreaking work involved. These cob walls are going to require tons and tons of mud to be shifted” said Jan.
“Yeah, you lot got a warped sense of how easy it is to build a house. You were topped out and watertight in no time. Mrs. F and I were living in our caravan well into the autumn — our house took so much longer to build than yours. You’ll have to be prepared to put in months and months of hard graft. It’s a serious undertaking and you should think about it long and hard” said Mr. Firman.
“I hope you like mud, because we’ve got four or five months of mud wrangling ahead of us. If you don’t like mud, then you might want to reconsider living here” said Thom.
The rain continued to pound incessantly on the corrugated iron roof.
The next chapter can be found here: https://medium.com/high-dependency
