“I awoke to a hiss of air and a clang of metal on metal. I looked around and caught a glimpse of the heavy door close. The sun hadn’t yet risen, but was lurking just below the horizon. Brendon was by the ATV, sleeping soundly. The Forger must have come out. But why?
I searched through our bags to see if anything was missing, but thankfully everything was still there. Next, I stood up, yawned, rubbed my sore back, and walked around. Maybe we should have bought sleeping bags in Patriotsburg. I looked to see if anything had been rearranged in our camp, and saw a large pitcher of water sitting by the door to the forge. It was clean and clear. The forger must have used the purifier we had traded with him. I’m sure the Forger meant well, but I was slightly offended. By giving us water, the Forger seemed to suggest that we’d be needing it, that we weren’t capable of surviving on our own. Even then, I knew I was being irrational.
I wandered into the shallow woods surrounding the forge and gathered some kindling and some fallen branches to start a fire. I got the fire going with a couple matches and began preparing a can of soup. We’d split it, I decided. When it was about done, I woke Brendon up. He was clearly surprised that I was already awake, and delighted that I had made breakfast, even if it was a can of cheap soup. We drank as much water as we could, filling my canteen and improvising a second storage unit for it with the empty can. Then, we packed everything up and prepared to move out.
I approached the ATV and inspected it. It seemed to be a Moguse Reconnaissance Vehicle, heavily modified. This was a popular scouting vehicle in many contemporary militaries. I’d ridden one back in basic training. Very quiet, very fuel efficient, very fast. It had room for two people, but one had to hang on backwards. Two extra cans of fuel were attached to the side. I picked them up and discovered that they were full. We just might have enough to get to Texas.
‘I’ll drive first,’ I told Brendon. At first he seemed pleased. Then he climbed on the back Moguse and assumed a look of terror. I started the ATV and we sped off through the early morning light.”
I searched through our bags to see if anything was missing, but thankfully everything was still there. Next, I stood up, yawned, rubbed my sore back, and walked around. Maybe we should have bought sleeping bags in Patriotsburg. I looked to see if anything had been rearranged in our camp, and saw a large pitcher of water sitting by the door to the forge. It was clean and clear. The forger must have used the purifier we had traded with him. I’m sure the Forger meant well, but I was slightly offended. By giving us water, the Forger seemed to suggest that we’d be needing it, that we weren’t capable of surviving on our own. Even then, I knew I was being irrational.
I wandered into the shallow woods surrounding the forge and gathered some kindling and some fallen branches to start a fire. I got the fire going with a couple matches and began preparing a can of soup. We’d split it, I decided. When it was about done, I woke Brendon up. He was clearly surprised that I was already awake, and delighted that I had made breakfast, even if it was a can of cheap soup. We drank as much water as we could, filling my canteen and improvising a second storage unit for it with the empty can. Then, we packed everything up and prepared to move out.
I approached the ATV and inspected it. It seemed to be a Moguse Reconnaissance Vehicle, heavily modified. This was a popular scouting vehicle in many contemporary militaries. I’d ridden one back in basic training. Very quiet, very fuel efficient, very fast. It had room for two people, but one had to hang on backwards. Two extra cans of fuel were attached to the side. I picked them up and discovered that they were full. We just might have enough to get to Texas.
‘I’ll drive first,’ I told Brendon. At first he seemed pleased. Then he climbed on the back Moguse and assumed a look of terror. I started the ATV and we sped off through the early morning light.”