“But for now,” Charley continued, “I wonder if I couldn’t get you two to help me with something. I have an old friend up in the hills who has this tremendous communications setup. He’s got satellite dishes, radio and TV transmitters, and all kinds of high-tech stuff that he uses in his ministry. He told me yesterday that he’s been looking for a qualified technician who can help him run the show up there. Would that have any appeal for you, Manuel?”

“Are you kidding?” Manolo smiled. “That sounds like just what I need right now, to help me adjust to what’s been happening. I don’t know about tomorrow or the next day,” he added with a laugh, “but it sure sounds good today!”

“That’s great,” said Charley. “My friend’s name is John Edwards. We call him Pastor Jack, and I know he’s going to be thrilled to meet you. Along the way, maybe he can help you two sort things out.”

“Charley, you’re terrific,” Manuel replied. “Cathy and I both need some time to sort out our lives. But, aside from that, I’ll need some basic tools if I’m going to be helping anybody. All my gear—well, you know. If I can help this guy for a few weeks, it would be my pleasure. I’ll write out a list of what I need.”

“We would be honored, Charley,” said Cathy.

Charley finished his coffee and headed for the door with the list Manuel had given him in his hand. “For now, why don’t you two take it easy while Dave and I go and pick up some supplies and the gear you need?”

CHARLEY AND DAVE WERE SHOCKED at the prices on goods in the stores and shops in Albuquerque. Gasoline was now nearly $4.00 a gallon, lettuce was $6.00 a head, tomatoes were $2.50 a pound, and medium-sized apples were $1.50 each. But when they commented about the high cost of things as they made their rounds, the explanation was always the same. One grocer said, “Stuff is harder to get now, you know. All produce from California has stopped. The fruit we’ve been getting from Washington and Oregon is gone. Supplies are tight and getting tighter. In a week there may be nothing left. You’d better get used to it!”

At the gas pump, the story was a shortage of tankers to carry oil and gas. But everywhere they went, there was one clear message: human greed had triumphed. There was actually remarkably little grief about the tragedy. In most cases it just seemed that this was an opportunity for the merchants to make a quick profit.

Charley had already taken delivery on the soybeans he had purchased, and he kept them under lock and key in a rented warehouse nearby. After completing their shopping, he and Dave loaded a hundred sacks of beans onto the truck and headed for the airport.