In any zombie movie, no matter how tight on resources the group gets, there is always that one bad ass who managed to secure his one dry cigarette and light up at the most opportune moment - often in order to bracket a particularly dangerous one-liner.
(ie. inhale - "we gotta keep moving" - slow exhale out of corner of mouth)
LCF (Look Cool Factor) is still very relevant in the apocalypse. However, nicotine withdrawal is not.
In my dystopia, the cigar is my barter item of choice. Something about a big cowboy stogie that just screams "Follow me!". And unlike cigarettes, cigars are void of the usual chemical additives, and rely solely on the taste of the tobacco leaf - one of my favorite wild edibles.
Need to transport that fire? A good cigar will give you an hour to burn, making it the coolest way to transport fire from camp A to B.
In the army, it seemed that every grunt and jack smoked cigarettes - some starting the habit if they hadn't already. But the smoking of thecigar was always reserved for that high-ranking officer at the end of a hard-won battle. The cigar was a sign of distinguishment - of authority - of dominance.
But the general act of smoking has always been a communal participation in the army. It brought us together - gave us a small morsel of R&R while "in the field": Smoke'm if you got'm boys; Smokin' and jokin' in the ORV (Objective Rendevous) - A few of the many smoke-related sayings I've encountered in my time.
In my apocalyptic utopia, I would like to see the power of the cigar distributed to the masses. We can all smoke like heroes when the hierarchal ivory towers of society come crumbling down.
So next time you see me in the field, I just may be practicing my fire by friction with my fire team partner (giggity) and sharing in one of the greatest apocalypse's greatest indulgences.
Soldier, out.
