Page 25 of Oret
Chapter 9
Tying Up Loose Ends
She felt immense relief, both for her moon and for the young Nemses—so vulnerable and alone—that was what the young creature said his kind was called.Victoria, still anxious for his safety, had gone to check on him.Finding only a note that said they had come and he was gone brought a mix of worry and hope, but her relief deepened knowing that calling them had turned out to be a good decision.The memory of her and Oret’s earlier fear that it could backfire still lingered, making her grateful it hadn’t.
They resumed work, hunting, and fishing as the moon's water level rose.Rain had helped, but more was needed, since new colonists, many of whom claimed farming experience, continued to arrive.Victoria doubted every claim, knowing people would say anything to leave Earth.
Victoria found that about half the new arrivals truly had farming experience.The most skilled were settled into the ready house, while others worked alongside the building crew or got help until they could manage on their own.
Not enough trainers meant inexperienced farmers required overwhelming assistance.By the end of the day, Victoria was exhausted and worried about her health, yet her free time remained packed with family and subsistence tasks.
Trades for food went well, especially with Monster Moon's abundant tubers and wild plants Anna liked for cooking.The coming winter highlighted the need for furs, which Monster Moon lacked, emphasizing the importance of trading.
Victoria tried not to dwell on whether there'd be enough furs.Grateful for fewer concerns than before, she also watched Tasha and Tol’s relationship, undecided if she should encourage it, recalling her own hesitation with Oret.
She returned to her mining duties, overseeing the integration of new equipment.Their progress earned them an upgrade: they now matched the equipment level of Mars 2.The difference was astonishing.Still, she worried about the farms—not an unusual concern, given the influx of families.While Tasha worked tirelessly to organize housing and tasks for the newcomers, Victoria maintained faith in her abilities.
Epilogue
They were happy withthe place they had gotten to.Both the water system and the sewer system were fully functional.The animals brought here were all breeding, and they’d brought enough here that herds had developed.Six farms were successfully operational, and since they didn't have distinct seasons, they planted and harvested crops throughout the year.All but the last farm was at an acceptable level, Tasha’s, and farm number one was at a higher level than required.
The kitchen kept pace, despite a constant influx of untrained personnel.The mine surpassed expectations, too.Builders finished ahead of schedule, allowing most newcomers to move into homes soon after arrival.With more time off, they hunted, fished, and gathered—mainly on the supply planet, though a few trips to another planet yielded deposits Radvar desired.He was pleased, permitting them to mine as much as possible until he began a colony there.
