 As Jericho s fuel supplies are barely enough for two weeks now winter approaches, a party must search for the parts to repair the windmills which are their only alternative. Jake and his dad ex-mayor Johnston Green take charge, and luckily have a supply of salt from the mine, as their apparently more valuable barter goods are less in demand at the Black Jack Fairground market, which also centralizes news, so they learn that no less then six federal government members have taken over  control  of part of the country after the president s death. Dale finds the trader is criminal and when Johnston refuses to deal with him steals the part, but is seen and captured; freeing him makes the part go lost.