We drove for about an hour before we came to Keystone Trader, which, in addition to providing us a place to bed down, would trade with us some goods.
Ollie Wilcox, who ran the Keystone from his father, let us in through the barricade while his wife kept a shot gun trained out the outside.
He nodded to me by way of greeting.
I looked over at his wife Anne and then asked Ollie, "What's the deal?"
"Dire." He said.
I passed him a handful of credits, which he looked at, shrugged adn turned away. Rent money for the night.
I turned back to the crew. "We stay inside the barricade tonight. Get some sleep. Tomorrow we go back to Maggotville."
"Look at this front end, shit." Said Jake. He was walking in front of the rig, looking at damage from the ramming.
"Looks like we'll be needed some new pipe while we're here." Said Eric. He was under the vehicle with Rama and they were looking over the damage.
I crouched down and took a look. One of the hoses had taken a gash and was leaking coolant. The coolant could be replaced easy, but the hose would need work.
"Jake, I need you to look over the damage and see what we need fixed. Work with Eric and Rama on this." I said. "Don't want the rig dieing on us in the middle of Maggotville if we need to make a hasty withdrawal."
Jake nodded and got back to work.
I looked around.
Keystone Trader was a fairly decent size outfit. A building refitted from an old truckstop, and tires and barrels had been used to form walls around the exterior, strung with barbed wire for added defense. The walls were the main defense. Inside was the trading post itself, a sort of keep for those who lived at the post, Ollie, Anne and their four kids. The oldest of the daughters was coming along looking to pass a few tricks, trying to make a few credits.
Back in the truck the others were getting sorted out. "Rent's extra for the trading post so we'll sleep here." I said.
Reynolds didn't seem to like that idea, but Deeds and Jasmin took it in stride. Stowe seemed pissed off with me more than the circumstances.
I tried not to let it bother me.
We weren't the only ones renting space. There were three brahma filled carts, tinkers by the look of em. An older fellow and a younger who I took to be his son. There were three women, an older one and two younger ones, one of which easy on the eyes but didn't seem too happy. There were also some kids, who I didn't pay much attention to, who aged between 4 and 15.
They had been debating or arguing over some matter but hushed up as I came over.
'What can we do for ya?" Asked the old man.
"Looking to trade. Got any hoses?" I replied.
The 15 year old was looking at me with longing eyes, probably looking to entice a trade of her own. Kids grow up fast in these parts.
"Yup," said the younger. "Got all sorts." He turned to show me his inventory.
I picked up one or two. We'd have to cut it, but that was to be expected. We hangled over the price before reaching a compromise.
"I reckon that would do." I said finally. "What brings you folks here?" trying to make conversation.
"Damn Dire." Said the old man. "I figured better to bring my family in least them hounds a hell picked off one of the little ones."
"Ollie mentioned that. I didn't think they strayed this far north. Sure they weren't just a pack of hungry dogs?" I said.
"Damn sure I am. I can hear em different from dogs, wolves too. Done a bit of trade down in Glu-town recent, heard him howling up in the night." Said the old man.
The younger one nodded. "Yep, I figure that out there is a younger pack, maybe a splinter."
"Dire kill the rebel ones." Said the old one, short and curt, cutting off the younger one with a rebuke.
I figured it was father and son.
"Either way, better to be inside tonight."
"Yell yes, can't get any closer for us in any regards. Besides, Ollie likes to trade." Said the older fellow.
"Leaving tomorrow then?" I asked.
"Uh hunh." Said the younger. The younger girl was running a finger up and down her legs. The younger son saw my eyes linger and smiled. All was good as long as he got a piece of the action. "We're heading over West. Been working Maggotville. Ain't many folks do that town so it's fertile for the taking."
I nodded, "Indeed. Well be careful. Don't be caught there after dark."
"Ain't no worries about that. Only the fool and unlucky would stay in maggotville after dark." Said the old man.
I turned back to my rig, with the new hose traded for a few coins.