Wasteland

The morning plunder of the girl that warms his bed, ends quickly after it begins. After moving the bed to leave the room, he loads her and himself up with the packs of supplies. He doesn't expect Lucy to still be on the floor, or even in the house. When he finds her asleep on the sofa he considers leaving her. Then she wakes. Fear and hate and pain are on her bruised face. He throws a few of the heavier packs at her, but not a gun. Taking Scout's boots and clothes, he stuffs them in one of the emptier packs. He doesn't need to tell her to follow him. She does so in silence and with malice.

Jack marches up the small hill near the house and sees the settlement Scout had mentioned. Metal walls glow orange with the dawn around a small hamlet. It could be just a stop on the way to greener pastures, or it could be his future home waiting for him. Now, it is only a shining glint of hope near the horizon. Hope that rests on the inhabitants of that town, and their hospitality. By the days end he and the two women with him are welcomed into the town by a balding, stout man who is the owner of the only saloon. He learns quickly that he who owns the bar owns the town. Pete, the owner of the bar, is kind to Jack and his 'sisters'. He gives them a room in his saloon and jobs. Anne works the kitchen while Lucy helps a ghoul called Egor at the bar. Jack is bus boy and janitor.

Soon he builds up a report with the regular customers and becomes popular with the natives. Day by day he finds ways to get close to the older man, who eventually tells him how like a son he is to him. Pete teaches him how to run things, how to keep the water pumps working, about the trade routes and the secrets of the orchard that grows under the little hill on which the tavern is built. The 'father' teaches his 'son' how to make ultra jet and even make his own buffout. He teaches him how to play the market. For Jack, it's just like slaving. Once fateful day Pete confides in him that his mind is going lucid with old age, but has no heir to take over for him. Being the man he is, Jack offers Lucy to provide such an heir. Pete laughs, thinking it's a joke. Before Jack can correct him, Pete offers him the bar. He politely declines, knowing Pete will insist. The announcement is made the next night. Pete could have been telling his customers he was adding pie to the menu. They were nonchalantly joyful, and mostly disinterested. It was just a change of hands, if it wasn't the old man's mind slipping again. However, night after night Jack took a bit more control as Pete lost a bit more of his ability to be anything but blissfully happy the way children are. The only one to ever speak against it, the only other who had more right to inherit the property, was Egor. Making his complaint well know one night when the saloon was as full as the moon, he confronted Jack and a very confused Pete.

'Master Pete, why are you giving this deceiver your property as heir? Have I not served you faithfully all these long years? I should be he who is akin to family to you. What have I done to be passed over and superceded by a lier and a thief?'

Pete is too far gone to know what is going on. To him, the bar is Jack's and always has been. The people know this isn't true, and some agree with Egor. Thanks should be given to any god that my be looking on them that night that Pete's mind is quick to forget a moment gone by. Those that would take Egor's side are quickly silenced as Egor looses his ability to form words. Jack is nimble! Jack is quick! Jack jumps over the counter with a knife for which to stick! Egor's tongue is cut from his mouth and while he holds a rag to stop the bleeding, Jack eats the tongue that would speak 'lies' against him and take what is rightfully his. The fear and associated respect he sees in the eyes of the patrons and the ghoul makes him feel powerful, but he does not abuse the power he is given. As long as no one speaks ill of him, he is kind and generous. The few that do are either disabled from doing so again, or killed and eaten. 'Waste not, want not' is what Jack tells the people, and the people do not want to be eaten.

Years pass and the girls each have their own room, as does he. Their minds are not what they were, especially Anne's. Not since the night in the house. So he barters a deal with them. They were free, and he would never touch them again. They could stay and work as they pleased. He would pay them with food and shelter, but any caps they earned were to be taxed for 'living expenses' they incurred on him. Fearful of what may wait for them outside the protective walls of the town they agree. Egor stays for much the same reason, and privileges to the girls. He notices that Anne seems to enjoy it, so for her it is a reward. Lucy is terrified of the ghoul, so for her it is a punishment. Egor does not want to loose more parts, so he does as he's told, whether he likes it or not. Jack enjoys his power, but as more time goes by he becomes lonely. He dose not want the twins, not after so many have had their way with them. They are filth to him now and is loathed to even look at them. Until one day a young wastelander comes to his town. The way she searches the room with her jaded blue eyes he knows what she is looking for and how she pays for it. He knows he is the one for which she is searching and he wonders if he would like her. He knows she's been with others, but that was before she came to him. If she would be only his there after, perhaps he would not have to be alone any longer. But she looks smart. She will want to know him if she stays. He cannot tell her, not everything. Yet he feels he must be as honest with her as he can if he wishes her to be his, as though she will know if he is not. He must be careful, he must be nimble, but not too quick. Jack jumps over the 'candle stick'.