later... “My job was a fairly lonely one.”

“Every courier traveled alone to maximize profits, so we were pre�y much on our own.”

“That was very clear on the contract.”

“But the bo� was spreading the busine�.”

“I had to go to the dangerous north...” “…but I didn’t want to go in there alone.”

Hi there trave�er. how may I be of service?

Hi. Do you have some ca�ed f�d or rations of any

kind? I n�d something that can last several days in the desert.

I do. But that’s some expensive stu�.

I know. How about this for

payment?

Yeah, g�d stu�. This wi�

get you thr� cans of b�f jerky.

You mean six.

no, I mean four.

five sounds nice.

Deal. Is there anything else

you want?

I n�d to travel to the

northern te�itories, but I su�ose you can’t help

me with that.

You gue�ed right. There ain’t nothing I can do about transportation, BUt What about some maps?

Which maps are you

se�ing?

I don’t te� this to everybody, but you l�k

like the kind of guy that can a�ord this. I’m se�ing maps

to The Island.

The Island? Rea�y?

Sure… A dying man gave me the info. It’s legit, you

know?So, you have a map that leads to the most desired place in the world, and you’re se�ing copies of it instead of going

there yourself? Come on, l�k at me, I’m t� old for

that and--

Do I l�k like an idiot, fat man? Hey man, no n�d to

be like that, I’m just--

Do I l�k like one

of those f�lish island searchers

you se� your maps to?

It was a pleasure doing busine�

with you.

“someone wanting to go north? Honestly, I don’t believe in fate. I believe every man ch�ses his destiny. But sometimes, life makes you think.”

“if this wasn’t destiny knocking at my d�r...” “...it was a he� of a coincidence.”

Hey, trave�er!

Wait!

Who are you?

I’m so�y to come

up to you like this, but I was wondering if we could talk. I’m

Elena. You?

I’m…just a nomad. What do

you want?

We�…Nomad, I couldn’t help

myself and I heard your conversation with the merchant

there.

You were talking

about trave�ing north back there. Is that co�ect?

Elena, enlighten me. Why should I answer your questions?

Listen, I understand this is a

bit out of the blue, But I’m asking for practical reasons

only. I’m also trave�ing there.

Lots of people travel

north…

Listen, I’� be honest here. I’m a courier working

for the PK Courier Company. We distribute g�ds mostly in the

area betw�n Pedroc and Kovac, serving both towns and a� the sma� se�lements in betw�n, like

Cacto Town.

But know we’ve start distributing to the northern

regions. T� much cash for my bo� to pa�, but it has become a dangerous job. He doesn’t want

to spare more than one per mi�ion, so I’m on my

own on this one.

You s�m like someone who can take care of himself. Are you

interested in some body-guard work? I can pay you with a lift north and some g�ds.

Bo�led water, ca�ed f�d…

Why did you take the job if that’s dangerous?

I’m heading to one of the Government Outposts up there, 400 Km north of here. It’s the one near Le�ard and

Eger.

It’s a tough world. I ca�ot a�ord to say no

to a job.

And north can be a pre�y generic notion. We might be heading di�erent directions.

The Government Outpost? Why is the Government using

couriers for delivers? The war in particular

s�ms to be drying them up badly; they are being

pre�y a�re�ive recruiting.

I can say a ride there s�ms ok.

Can you get me to Le�ard?

I can. I want company at the outpost, so I’� drop you there once the delivery is completed. But know this, not everyone is

wi�ing to set f�t in a Government Outpost.

That’s not a problem for me.

At a�…Fine. Pack your gear

and we can leave whenever you’re ready.

Let me te� you that you’re pre�y confident

about hiring me. Do you always trust strangers

like that?

I’ve trave�ed a

lot in this job. I’ve s�n a lot of

wanderers and raiders. You don’t l�k like neither of them. And

I’ve searched a lot for a gun-for-hire, but no one wanted to

tag along.

“T� dangerous” they a� said. I

gue� I can’t be picky. Besides, I don’t trust anybody anyway, so you’re no di�erent

from a� the others.

It s�ms that with their recent expansions and the war

with the Martyrs of the Wasteland going on they are having some

perso�el shortage.

So I’ve heard, but I didn’t expect it to be so bad.

About this delivery you mentioned, what’s

the job like?

It’s just a drop, nothing more.

I’m not sure that’s a g�d logic, but it

certainly fits this world.

Don’t wo�y about me. Are you

ready?

we can leave.

Where’s the car?

I hid it 300 meters from here. Any vehicle around

here draws t� much--

--A�ention?! What the he�?!

Listen up, you usele� shi�y

cowards!

Someone ki�ed five members of my gang down by the ruins! How he did it, I don’t

understand nor care.

A� I know is that, apart from this shithole, there aren’t any populations around here, so one of you did it! Now,

who the fuck was it?!

W-we wouldn’t dare to touch your people, sir. A-and even if we wanted, there’s no one here capable of doing such a thing.

Do you remember our li�le deal Muar? You guys give us stu� and we don’t ki� you a�. But now

someone has ki�ed five of my men.

I’� have to burn Cacto town to the ground, and maybe I

should start with its coward motherfuckin’ leader: you!

Should I do it bo�?

P-please no, we don’t have anything to do

with this.

Just do it. We’� teach everybody a

le�on.

�i��h!Who

the fuck?!--

Hey! Shit-face!

I’m the one you’re l�king for.

Who the he� are

you?

it’s not important. What ma�ers is that

I’m going to ki� you.

Gu�ers! Ki� him!

Elena, get away from

here!

No!

I’m serious damn it! The crates won’t hold

long!

I can help with these raiders.

Your choice. Either way I n�d to do something

or we’re a� dead!

What do you want me

to do?Hold

my backpack!What?!

Listen! They’re ru�ing out of

bu�ets!

We’re out of a�o

bo�!

I can s� that a�hole! Go get him!

“As he began fighting, one thing was clear.” “he was no regular wanderer.”

“I was mesmerized.”

“I’ve never s�n anything like it.”

“And I was not the only one.”

What the he� are

you?!

I told you…

…I’m your death.

Die, mother-fucker!

C’mon then,

demon!

�ARGH!

Glurk.

My God…

Here’s… your backpack.

Later...That

Muar guy was pre�y ha�y about you leaving them the

flying motorcycles.

They’re no g�d for long trips anyway.

What you did back there was pre�y amazing. Where did you learn to fight

like that?

in this world, either you learn how to fight, or you

wi� die.

Bu�shit. What I saw is not something you

learn from walking out there. I’ve b�n traveling for a while now and I‘ve never

s�n anyone like you.

Where the he� did you come

from? I don’t mean to be nosy, but that was very

impre�ive.

We should k�p this in a “n�d-to-know” basis only.

it’s for your own protection.

You’re a fast learner.

Protection from what? Oh wait, “n�d-

to-know” basis?

You’re not a searcher are you?

You know, those guys that travel

around searching for the Island.

A searcher?

I’m not one of those f�ls, that much I can te� you.

You’re certainly nothing like them. But something is making you travel a� these

kilometers through the wastelands.

Probably the same thing that makes you

hide your face…

I’m Just a Nomad... Not

rea�y… We’re almost there.

Not bad… Not bad

ind�d.

Are we far?

Down here...

“I didn’t know if I could trust the Nomad. I know

he felt the same way about me.

But we could both benefit from this

situation.

He n�ded a ride, I n�ded someone to

watch my back while on the road.

It was scary out there, on your own.

Somehow, I convinced myself I would be fine

with him.

I’ve s�n many desperate people wandering

around going nowhere.

Something about him was di�erent. He was

actua�y going somewhere. and Believe me, it was rare to find a man with a purpose.

Yes, he ki�ed an entire gang of deranged

raiders. Psychopathic men with nothing to lose. This

man could be very dangerous.

But he could’ve also just walked away from the fight and pretend he

had nothing to do with it.

Did he do it to defend cacto town? To defend its people? Or did he do

it for himself?

I didn’t know nor cared. A� that ma�er was that

he did it.

In these days, that’s g�d enough.

It had b�n a he� of a day.

Li�le I knew that it was only the begi�ing.”

end of chapter one

next:

“at the outpost”