"Whole pepper would be best- or a jug of vinegar. If we can brine or pickle the next one the meat will last us twice as long. What I would not give for time and space to properly cure jerky." It won't taste quite so good, but they could carry it without worrying as much about where they would find their next meal. After this? it is the canned vegetables and that will not hold them much longer. Heading into any kind of town is a fool's errand.

"We should check the basement again, see if we cannot cut the lock. There is bound to be something down there." The kitchen had been bare- as were most they find lately. The spices had been a blessing.