Farnham’s Freehold By Robert A. Heinlein

“It can be done,” Hugh decided. “We dig under on the uphill side, to the center line, cutting out enough to let that side settle down level. Damn, I wish we had power tools.”

“How long will it take?”

“Two men could do it in a week if they didn’t run into boulders. With no dynamite a boulder can be a problem.”

“Too much of a problem?”

“Always some way to cope. Let’s pray we don’t run into solid rock. As we get it dug out, we brace it with logs. At the end we snag the logs out with block and tackle. Then we put the jack under the downhill side and tilt it into place, shore it up and fill with what we’ve removed. Lots of sweat.”

“I’ll start bright and early tomorrow.”

“You will like hell. Not until your ribs have healed. I will start tomorrow, with two husky girls. Plus Duke, if his shoulder isn’t sore, after he shoots us a deer; we’ve got to conserve canned goods. Reminds me-what was done with the dirty cans?”

“Buried ‘em.”

“Dig them up and wash them. A tin can is more valuable than gold; we’ll use them for all sorts of things. Let’s go in. I’ve still to admire the ladder.”

The ladder was two trimmed saplings, with treads cut from boards and notched and nailed. Hugh reflected again that lumber had been used too lavishly; treads should have been fashioned from limbs. Damn it, there were so many things that could no longer be ordered by picking up a telephone. Those rolls of Scottissue, one at each privy- They shouldn’t be left outdoors; what if it rained? All too soon it would be either a handful of leaves, or do without.

So many, many things they had always taken for granted! Kotex- How long would their supply last? And what did primitive women use? Something, no doubt, but what?

He must warn them that anything manufactured, a scrap of paper, a dirty rag, a pin, all must be hoarded. Caution them, hound them, nag them endlessly.

“That’s a beautiful ladder, Barbara!”

She looked very pleased. “Joe did the hard parts.”

“I did not,” Joe denied. “I just gave advice and touched up the chisel.”

“Well, whoever did it, it’s lovely. Now we’ll see if it will take my weight.”

“Oh, it will!” Barbara said proudly.

The shelter had all lights burning. Have to caution them about batteries, too. Must tell the girls to look up how to make candles. “Where’s Grace, Karen?”

“Mother isn’t well. She’s lying down.”

“So? You had better start dinner.” Hugh went into the women’s bay, saw what sort of not-well his wife suffered. She was sleeping heavily, mouth open, snoring, and was fully dressed. He reached down, peeled back an eyelid; she did not stir. “Duke.”

“Yes?”

“Come here. Everybody else outside.”

Duke joined him. Hugh said, “After lunch, did you give Grace a drink?”

“Huh? You didn’t say not to.”

“I wasn’t criticizing. How much?”

“Just a highball. An ounce and a half of Scotch, with water.”

“Does that look like one highball? Try to rouse her.”

Duke tried, then straightened up. “Dad, I know you think I’m a fool. But I gave her just one drink. Damn it, I’m more opposed to her drinking than you are!”

“Take it easy, Duke. I assume that she got at the bottle after you left.”

“Well, maybe.” Duke frowned. “As soon as I found an unbroken bottle I gave Mother that drink. Then I took inventory. I think I found it all, unless you have some hidden away-”

“No, the cases were together. Six cases.”

“Right. I found thirteen unbroken bottles, twelve fifths and a quart of bourbon. I remember thinking that was two fifths each and the quart I would keep in reserve. I had opened one bottle of King’s Ransom. I made a pencil mark on it. We’ll know if she found it.”

“You hid the liquor?”

“I stashed it in the upper bunk on the other side; I figured it would be hard for her to climb up there- I’m not a complete fool, Dad. She couldn’t see me, she was in her bunk. But maybe she guessed.”