Their looks are ferocious, and I wonder if finally we have met our match.
'I'm huuuuungry!' One of them shouts, his piercing red eyes lighting up at the sound of it.
Before I can react, even think to do anything, bullets fly past in a hail, skipping and skittering across the road ahead and around us. I instinctively drop to the ground, covering my head with my hands, for all the good it will do.
I try to see what is going on, but the loud clattering of the firing makes it hard not to wince. Through flinching eyes I see bullets spatter and rip into the two two brutes, one after the other, shredding into them aggressively, tearing away any chance they may have of returning the attack.
It seems like an age, where all I can hear is hellfire and death. I feel so useless, unable to bring myself to join in the battle, but before I can even think of doing anything, it is over. The two great giant things stumble and fall, collapsing to the ground. It all goes quiet, and finally I dare to look around. Judy is stood behind me, automatic rifle in hand, as white smoke pours out of it.
The look on her face is a stark contrast to anything I have seen from her before. She looks very different to how I had imagined her.
'Judy.' I say, as she seems lost, staring ahead, into space, her face snarling, but she remains stuck, as if in a time warp.
'Judy!' I shout, and finally she breaks, slowly looking my way. I wonder if she might train the focus of her gun on me, but thankfully she doesn't. I would hate to have to.. defend myself.
'I guess they weren't that tough.' She says, sneering. It shows a side to her I hadn't known, and I'm not sure I like it. I just sit there a moment, looking at her, wondering about her.
She looks at me, eyes focused now, allowing the gun to lower much more. She can see the look I am giving.
'I'm sorry, just I promised myself I wouldn't ever be a victim again.' She says.
I stand up, dusting myself down, and smile. 'I'm just glad you're on my side!' I say, and she loses the pain, expresses herself more, and laughs, along with me.
'Come on, before any more of them turn up and you have to get all badass on them!' I say, and again we both laugh. I truly am thankful she is on my side.
*
'OK, so we got plenty of stuff for our own uses, what are we going to trade?' I ask, as we stand outside the camp. the journey back was much happier, but still hard work. Night falls as we finally return, but in the camp life and trade never stops.
'We can trade all the minor guns, keep a pistol each and the rifles. Other stuff and bullets we don't need can go.' Judy says. I nod, she is right, we wouldn't be alive if we hadn't found the rifles.
'The other stuff, might as well keep. We can use it all, and I reckon we go back every day and keep getting stuff, til we have enough to support ourselves through whatever happens.'
I like this side of Judy, she seems positive, and determined. She is a survivor, and someone I think I will grow to care deeply for.
'I like your thinking.' I say.
'I like you.' She replies.
I laugh, feeling the warmth of my blushes, even if in the dark she can't see it.
We enter through the gates, and see a hive of activity, trade, selling, buying, offers of protection, a warm body for the night, male and female.
'Arket is the best trader to sell guns to. Over there.' Judy says, pointing over to a man, half dressed, large greasy belly sticking out. He chews on what seems to be a cigar, but is in fact an ear of corn.
'We can leave the basket of tools and things just here, and take this stuff, see what he offers.' She says, and I just nod.
Arket has a large stall, with a decent shack behind himself. Neon lights buzz around, lighting and flickering. The letters are jumbled meaningless, but it offers some kind of attraction and light.
'What can I do for you sir?' The man asks, looking squarely at me. Before I can reply, inquiring politely if he might be interested in purchasing something, Judy drops the bags of guns onto the table, creating a loud thud.
'Guns, we got guns, and ammo, and we're selling.' She says, sounding anything but polite.
She opens the bag, lifts out an automatic rifle, and Arket's eyes light up.
'Not for sale, the rifles are ours, and the hand guns, and the ammo for them.' She says abruptly.
She lifts out some worn shotguns, four other small shooters, and ammo for them, slamming them hard on the counter. 'These, that's all fair price.'
'Fifty caps for the three shotguns, twenty caps for each of the other guns, and another fifty caps for the ammo.' Arket says, chewing some more on his corn.
'Ha!' Judy shouts loudly, making us all jump. She appears definitely to be in charge. 'Double that and we have a deal.' She says, sneering again.
Arket looks angry. 'Next customer please.' He shouts at no one, because we are all that there are to trade with.
'You won't get anyone else selling weapons around here, and certainly none with ammo.' She says, staring him down.
Arket looks as if he has been backed into a corner. 'Fine.' He says reluctantly, reaching under his counter.
'Sally, get the stash, and make sure security is watching, I don't trust these two.' He says, sneering back.
'The feeling is mutual.' Judy says, shoving the guns across to him.
Arket takes the guns and drops down small bags, each filled with metal bottle caps.
'That's five hundred and sixty caps, trade deal done.' Arket says, spitting on his hand. I grimace, but Judy does the same and they slap hands for a sealed deal. She grabs the caps, and holds onto the tightly, like cradling a newborn baby.
'Is that good?' I ask, never having used caps before.
'If we were buying guns, this would maybe buy two of these rifles, but all these caps, will easily buy us enough food and water and anything else for a good two months.' Judy explain. Now it is my turn for my eyes to light up.
'Now what?' I ask.
Judy smiles again. 'Let's go buy some decent food!' She says, and together we head for the food stalls. The smell of it all begins to intoxicate me...
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