"We have some fields to plow," Robert said, as he got his phone out. "After all, while it is necessary to buy produce on occasion, one wants to be as self-sustaining as possible, even more so when one has well over a thousand head of human livestock." He tapped on his phone. "GPS, cameras, maps, and everything. So much easier than when your ancestors started things - they actually needed to hire some hands or get help from the livestock to get things going."
"Don't we still do that?" James asked. "I mean, John seems to lead them when it comes to doing various chores around the place, and we do hire short-term help on occasion."
"Having livestock help out keeps them from getting bored, and bored livestock might plan an escape," said Robert.
"But, John has that escape plan of his, which we've yet to figure out the exact details of," said James.
"True, but as he's told me, he has yet to figure out how to get past Step Zero," said Robert. "He has to break their Conditioning, or Taming. As long as that's in place, he can't move forward. As he's told me, he has to find a big enough Fundamental Lie in what we've been telling the livestock, or cause us to become Aggressive to the herd as a whole for no real reason, in order for it to work. Given that we're Honest about our intentions, and never get aggressive without a good enough reason, we could get rid of the fences, and the herd would still stick around the barn."
"Then, why have a fence anyways?" James asked.
Robert's eyes widened, as he checked the camera on the phone. "This would be a good reason."
He showed it to James.
"I see," said James.
"Yes," said Robert. "I'll get John, and we'll double check the fence. Three layers - inner mostly smooth with some barbs at the top, middle layer is electric, and outer layer is fully barbed. Hard to get through all that without tools, or enough brute strength."
"What about the plowing?" James asked. "Any sections you want me to work on now?"
"The Memorial Garden is one to start prepping," said Robert, as he started walking towards the barn. "Got some additional types of vegetables and flowers and such to put in, as that's how most of our Meals over the past year wanted to be remembered, plus some additional fruit trees, berry bushes, and other such things. That's the first thing we should always work on. Get some of the livestock to help out. Don't want them getting too curious about the fence just yet."
"Understood, father," James said, as he too headed towards the barn.
A few minutes later, Robert entered a room in the barn. In the room, an older male human was sitting in a chair, eating some fruit.
"A knock would of been nice," the human said, as he bit into an apple. "I could have been in the middle of mating with someone."
"I checked the camera before I entered," said Robert, as he shut the door. "Got an issue with the fence, John." He took out his phone, and showed it to John.
John looked it over, before looking up at Robert. "I can see why that would be an issue." He stood up, and grabbed his walking stick. "Let's see what we can do."
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