I
load myself into the transport pod, lying face down, I push the button, the
four rotors spin to life and the pod lifts off traveling to the first of the
three colonies I'm scheduled to visit for the next two weeks. The lush forest
is beautiful as the ground rises and falls beneath me. The flight is programed by AI. My heads-up
display allows me to see the area and eta of my drop, a two-hour flight my
transport will lower me with a cable two miles from the first colony, then find
a secluded safe spot to park, deploy its solar array and recharge. Arriving at
the sight, I grab the handle attached to the winch cable. It acts as a remote
control and can bear my weight, but the bulk of my weight is supported by my
back rack, where the cable end is attached.
Lowering to the ground, spinning naturally, seeing everything around I
enter the forest canopy, here I'm most vulnerable, quickly touching down,
releasing the cable I pause to take in the surrounding area.
Each
Bunker colony was started with a pair of adolescents, male and female,
furnished with a rudimentary language while they were raised, trained in some
basic survival skills, and placed in an area abundant with edible plants, wildlife,
and water. The areas for initial growth are protected and monitored by
electronic fences, poles placed fifty meters apart, with solar panels, speakers,
and lasers. They get to stay in these areas until their numbers reach 20,
occasionally new adolescents are brought in from other groups to keep the gene
pool diversified. Once they reach adequate numbers, the fence comes down, and
they are only monitored.
Moving
through the forest in the direction of the colonies I note some strange things,
branches broken, foot prints heading the same direction I'm headed, the hair
stands up on the back of my neck, it's very hard to keep your emotions in check
when people in your care for are in danger, the bare foot prints does not bode
well, all of our groups have adopted wearing foot protection, if nothing but a
hide moccasin, the footprints are large and deep. Seeing and occasionally round
deep marks near them, the type a staff or spear would make. One print has two
toes missing, poop just off the trail is very fragrant, they can't be too far
ahead. I started jogging toward the colony.