The deadman let his rifle dip a bit, his eyes widening. East? East as in across the Crevasse?
I nodded, not needing a big ntal leap to understand that the Crevasse was what they called the Cut.
The man paused for a few monts, before letting his gun drop to his side and opening his arms wide. Brother! He said as he wrapped in a hug.
I was so surprised I let it happen, for a second before pushing him away. The deadn all exchanged glances, so smiling, so concerned, and I heard a few of them that were still near cover starting to mutter to one another.
The third of the deadn in front of , the one who hadnt yet spoken, stepped forward. Hes lying. No one has ever co from across the Crevasse.
The woman shook her head. The First did. We wouldnt be here if he hadnt.
The man bared his teeth. The First is different. We can compare so stranger to him!
Nate rubbed his forehead. Enough! This is pointless. Whether or not hes lying, its one of our jobs to bring our fellow deadn, our brothers and sisters, ho. He looked up at , a wide welcoming smile on his face. Will you co with us? We have a place thats safe for all deadn. A place where food is plentiful, and where paradise is assured.
I noted that they called themselves deadn as well, and their mission was very similar. That combined with their statents about the First and I was quickly drawing conclusions. I nodded. Ill co. Need to search them for ammo first though. I said gesturing behind myself to the dead.
He nodded back, still smiling. We need to shore a few things up anyway. Once youre through well lead you to Eden, The arguntative deadman started to speak up when Nate shot him a look, as is the responsibility of all Shepherds. The other mans eyes turned downward.
I nodded at them, and started to go through the pockets, and guns of the n Id killed. I found a smattering of ammunition, almost enough 9mm to restock where Id been before the fight, and a handful of .308 on top of that. I pulled up my notifications while I worked.
Excellent work Marshall! Youve successfully perford a secondary goal of your job Combat! Youve earned 60 Patriot Points!
Excellent work Marshall! Youve successfully perford a secondary goal of your job Tracking Suspects! Youve earned 60 Patriot Points!
Congratulations Citizen! You have earned ranks in lee Weapons! From Bowie knives to Picketts charge, the US may have been too advanced for swords, but its spilled blood for freedom!
Congratulations Citizen! You have earned a rank in Pistol! Good job exercising your 2nd andnt rights
Congratulations Citizen! You have earned a rank in tracking! Like the brave indian on the fertile grasses of the west following herds of buffalo, you carry on a proud tradition!
Excellent work postman! Youve successfully perford a secondary goal of your job Protecting the Cargo! Youve earned 50 Patriot Points!
While I was in the system I entered two new investigations as well. One into what was going on with the deadn Id just encountered, and another into the bunker I was planning to investigate for the Remnants. The system accepted both. Out of curiosity I attempted to send a ssage to Leah, the sa way shed shown to before, but I received only an error ssage. So the rest of the system was working, but sothing was blocking certain abilities. That felt too specific to be coincidental.
The system is a distraction from the true way.
I blinked and looked to see the deadwoman Id saved looking at . I mustve been wearing the sa vacant expression I always noticed on others when they were deep into the systems nus. The true way? I asked.
The First teaches us that the system is not the path we should walk, but we need to instead focus on whats within in order to improve.
Isnt the system within too?
She frowned. He specifically says its not truly a part of us.
I think Ill stick with using whatever helps to stay alive.
She looked confused for a mont. But we are already dead?
I squinted at her, unsure of whether or not she was joking and not confident about reading her expression to figure out what the answer was.
Jez, can you take point? asked Nate, stepping between us as he asked.
Of course, she responded, moving ahead of us.
Nate smiled at and took up the rear guard.
Id heard sothing I wasnt supposed to, and Nate had moved to keep from hearing any more. I hadnt heard anything too damning. Plenty of people in the wastes had strange beliefs and clung to charismatic leaders. Sotis for better, sotis for the worse. Id very recently seen worse, so I kept my guard up, but considering the lack of imdiate violence, I was keeping what I considered an open mind. That was to say, I counted every person, took note of their guns, tracked where they were taking with a ntal map, chose who I would take out first if they turned on , and made sure my weapons were as handy as possible.
I noted that around five deadn had left the group and were moving north along with what slled like three humans. Id heard the Hawks and Panthers ntion that so of their leaders had been taken. I wasnt sure of why the deadn would take prisoners. It could be for an exchange, a threat, or maybe for intel. I didnt know enough to really make an accurate guess.
The deadn I traveled with kept quiet and moved easily through the heavy woods. Eventually, I felt us enter a deadzone, the warmth of the rads washing over and building as we moved. It put a bit more at ease, the heat that had built up in since leaving the caves beneath the Cut hadnt left, but when I was in high rad zones it felt closer to equilibrium and I felt a bit more comfortable. The other deadn seed more at ease as well, though I assud that had more to do with the safety of deadzones for deadn in general rather than them experiencing my own unique problem. They no longer had any strangely painted and amped up humans kicking explosives to worry about.
I started to hear whispering and muttering as the deadn no longer needed to worry about being overheard. They kept quiet enough that I couldnt hear them though, and I found myself impressed by their discipline. They reminded of the undertakers Id worked and traveled with.
We eventually reached an area where the forest had been cleared, revealing a wooden outbuilding. It was long, and well maintained, with a small structure on the top that surrounded what looked like a bell. As we approached, I saw a deadn up in the belltower see us, and ring the bell twice. A door opened, and three deadn ca out. One was just like any other deadman Id seen before, but unlike the green-clad Shepherds Id been traveling with He was wearing dark brown, with a piece of white cloth wrapped around his arm. On either side of him, were two massive deadn. Standing taller than even , and incredibly broad. The skin of their faces looked almost stretched taut and their teeth were visible as their lips could no longer contain them. They were like Pete, the Butcher Id killed back in Potts after discovering that hed been murdering and cannibalizing other deadn.
I held my expression in check, keeping on a neutral face as the three of them approached. It was possible theyd changed in so way differently from how Pete had. It was impossible to know how many strange variants and changes the rEvolutionary virus had caused. That possibility beca less likely as I slled them. Blood and at, of a kind I couldnt fully distinguish. My mouth involuntarily started watering as I rembered biting into Pete.
Nate, said the one clad in brown, Youre back early. Was there an issue?
He shook his head. No issue. We managed to herd three, theyre being taken back to the gates, he gestured to . We also found him. His na is Donovan. He claims to be from the other side of the Cut, and he agreed to co back here to Eden with us.
The man in brown stopped, and looked at with his eyes wide. The other side of the Cut?
I nodded.
He chuckled, amused,But thats
We also watched him kill about ten of the Leaguers by himself to buy Jez ti to get into cover.
That made the two massive deadn exchange a quick glance, then start to size up. Their purpose was imdiately apparent.
Nate, you and the patrol go back and continue your work. I will take him to et the First.
The First!? Really Joseph? asked the loudmouthed deadman.
All new arrivals of his age must go to see the First. Whether what he says is true or not, The First will be the one to make the decision on whether or not he is allowed to stay, and what is to be done with him.
The other deadman backed down and Nate rallied his n to leave. Jez gave a small wave as they made their way back to the treeline. I didnt return it.
So, brother? asked Joseph.
Donovan, I answered, tensing at the phrase, what is to be done with him.
Well Donovan, its our duty to escort you to et the First. Will you co with us? He gently placed his right hand on my shoulder as he spoke and I resisted slapping his hand away.
I nodded. It seed like the quickest way to get the answers they wanted back at Potts, and to get the information I needed. Besides, I had so mail I needed to deliver.
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