Jè and Kevin chuckle together and return to the jumbled pile of gear. Kevin dumps the entire contents of a bag onto the floor, disgorging a cloud of dust, salt, chemicals, and rat droppings into the work space. Jè does the same with the remaining bag, and a plume of dust fills the engineering bay. Coughing and sneezing, they pull on the rusty chains to open the ancient garage doors and step into the station’s courtyard to get some fresh air.
When the dust clears, they return to the engineering bay and continue assembling the gear they’ll need for the excursion. Jè says to Kevin, “Let’s not waste a lot of time digging through this mess. We’ll take a backup multi-meter, some hand tools, and as many deep cycle batteries as we can carry. It’s almost always the batteries or contaminated fuel in the backup generator. If we need more fuel or batteries, we’ll get someone to send them.” Kevin is nodding his agreement and adds, “Good call. I suspect those guys at the base community have a LOT more supplies than they’re telling anyone. We’ll travel light and get what we need when we need it, instead of dragging all this stuff up the mountain and back down again?”
Jè considers and replies, “Dako. One change though. It is freezing up there. Let’s take as many sleeping bags and cold weather gear as we can carry ourselves. Then all we need is a couple guys to help us carry the batteries and tools and you won’t need any support from the pastors in Cayes.” Kevin grins in agreement, “From what that younger priest told me, I suspect we’ll have more than enough security.” Jè laughs ruefully, “And we won’t need any of those ex-military guys that make me so nervous. Half the bagay that goes up and down the mountain each time is theirs.”
The Head Engineer (an American from Indiana) opens the door from the office area and looks at the pile of debris in the middle of the engineering bay. “Tim just radioed down from Delmas. He wants to know if you guys are on your way yet.” He looks at the pile and the empty station SUV outside the engineering bay. “So, what do I tell him?” Kevin and Jè look at each other and Kevin’s face breaks into a mischievous grin. He winks at Jè and responds to Head Engineer, “Tell him that I’m trying to find all the manuals that we gave his Alabama friends.” The Head Engineer’s face changes from “stern manager” to pure mirth, “Oh, I’ll gladly pass that along!” They all laugh for a bit and then the Head Engineer continues, “But for my own sanity, what exactly do you want me to tell him?” He chuckles, “I can’t believe I’m the negotiator between God-almighty Tim and YOU!”
Kevin settles himself and says with his best innocent face (I’m pretending to be a babe in the woods, but might be the wolf!) and says, “If he doesn’t come down here until next week, he’ll never need to see me again. He won’t need to be on short-wave with me all month either, because Jè has a radio that he keeps in our kitchen.” Jè starts to chuckle, expecting what will come next from the Head Engineer, “Wait, what do you mean, last time Tim will see you? You’re supposed to be covering for me this summer when I go on vacation.” Kevin just tries his own Gaelic shrug (left shoulder, left eyebrow), “Well, you better work that out with Tim. He told me he doesn’t want to see me at the station all summer. Sounds like I’ll be fired by the time you get back anyway.” Kevin dusts his hands off and pulls on some leather gloves, “Tell him we’re loading up and will be on the mountain any day now.” Jè looks at Kevin and raises his eyebrows as in, “Who’s this we?” Kevin looks at him and quickly adds, “Oh, but Jè will driving and in charge. As soon as he gets me to the top of Mt. Beef, he’ll decide if I can be left alone up there.” Je nods as Kevin continues, “Getting that transmitter up and running again is my top priority.”