“First, this place is packed with tons of expensive shit.  When the county seized this property five years ago, they didn’t quite know what to do with it.  Now they think they’re going to turn it into some kind of county-run resort or possibly sell it to the feds for some kind of government facility.  Don’t know, don’t care.  But while they hash that out, they want to claim and sell all the fancy stuff sitting in this place.  It can be a big money maker for them, and for us.”

“Because number two, I’ve negotiated a small cut of the proceeds from the sale of any of the items we catalogue.  I made a lower bid banking on making the money back on that cut, and going through the place today, it was the right call.  For all of us.  Because each of you will get a share from these sales as they happen over the next few months and years.  It may amount to a little or a lot, and its not fast money up front, but it’s extra above what you were promised any way, so I don’t expect to hear many complaints.”

People started whooping and hollering and he raised his hands with a grin to settle them down.  “Yeah, yeah.  We’ll see how that goes.  But what that means is that you people assigned to inventory…do a good job.  No slackassing.  You don’t have to know what things are worth, but you do have to list every little thing not nailed or bolted down.  If you don’t, you’re taking money out of all our pockets.”

He gestured over the whole crowd again.  “Okay, that’s about it.  Any questions?”  Everyone was still murmuring about the extra money, but no one raised a hand.  “Good enough.  Find a room if you haven’t already.  There’s food in the kitchen—nothing fancy, but you won’t go hungry.  Get rest tonight, because we start tomorrow at 8.  Dismissed.”

I followed a few of the others and found my way to a massive kitchen filled with steel tables and appliances.  At one end, piled underneath a large hanging tree of pots and pans, were boxes filled with small chip bags, stuff for sandwiches, and bottles of water and soda.  After grabbing some food and heading back to my room, I tried turning on the television.  No luck.  It powered on fine, but all I got was the low hiss of static and pixelated snow.  Flipping it back off, I ate my sandwich on the surprisingly comfortable bed, and before I realized it, I had drifted off to sleep.

****

“Uncle Mike, I’m not on anything.  And I’m not lying.”