Book 2 Chapter 6: The Breakfast Table

Book 2 Chapter 6: The Breakfast Table

The rest of the trip was quiet. I heard a few random gunshots whistle by, saw a group of about six heavily mutated dogs with second jaws hanging below their first trying to run after me, but there was nothing I needed to stop for. When Fette came into sight, the sun was coming up, and the city was coming alive as well. I could hear the roar of engines, smell the exhaust starting to cloud the air, and saw a cloud of dust indicating the first group of riders driving out of the city. I saw the riders approach, tattooed in intricate patterns to indicate their rank, and gave them a nod of acknowledgement as they passed, which they returned. Id found the Khans men to be much more agreeable than the average waster since Id earned his favor. Inside the city I rode down a few of the narrower side roads until I came to the garage that was provided to me.

As I approached a mechanic, whose name Id never learned, stepped out of the garage to meet me. He was covered, as all mechanics were, in piercings made of screws and bolts that reflected his rank in the same way that the tattoos did for the warriors. It was not uncommon to see people with a mixture of both, as the Khans personal guard tended to be since they were also the mechanics for his personal vehicles.

I thought I recognized the sounds of Bettys engine.

I hopped off the bike and moved it a few steps towards him, allowing him to take the handlebars and move it into the garage.

Ill have her fueled and tuned up. Will you be taking her or leaving her when you go?

Taking her, I responded, then silently scolded myself for referring to it as a her. I didnt like to give tools names, but something about the mechanic's attitude toward Betty was oddly infectious. Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

He nodded. Have her ready for you by the end of the day then. Just bang on the door if you cant find me.

I tipped my hat to him, and walked deeper into Fette, towards the Khans palatial tent. It was a structure of steel and leather, large enough to admit multiple cars or wagons at once. The walls and roof were decorated with runes painted using old motor oil. The tributes had not yet been let in, and several wagons were gathered with the tithes they paid to the Khan for their protection and relative independence. One of the Khans personal guards saw me and gestured for me to come to the front, then wordlessly gestured me inside.

I gave him a nod and entered, heading straight for the seat of the Horde, where the Khan held court with his wives and made decisions that impacted all those within his territory, and many far beyond it. He was seated on a raised stage, at a table with about six of his wives. They were eating a hearty breakfast with plates piled high with meats and vegetables. Hearing my approach, the Khan stood up from the table, wiped his face with the back of his hand and leapt off the dais, offering his hand for me to shake. I did so, and was surprised by the strength of his grip. He was a massive man, with broad shoulders, who nearly reached my height. No humans grip was capable of making a deadman wince, but the Khans was close.

Donovan. What brings you here? he asked.

One of your settlements, Jasper, was attacked by raiders in an armored bus. Im investigating the raiders who did it, and wanted to collect any information thats been gathered so far.

The Khan broke some kind of bone and sucked the marrow from it. Thoughts?

They were given those resources from the outside. Couldnt have salvaged them themselves.

The Khan nodded, stroking his beard. Agreed. Who?

My theory? It was the Iron Horde.

He stopped stroking his beard and leaned forward, giving me a slow discerning look. His wives all stopped eating, and were looking from me to him, and back.

Armored buses already within your territory? I know that STAR has a few, I saw them recently, and maybe some of the larger raider groups too, but getting them that deep into Horde territory would take people from the inside. Between that and the fuel cost Fette is the only place that makes sense to start looking.

The Khan picked up his drink and held it for a moment, thinking. A traitor?

I nodded. Likely more than one.

An inventory and a purge then. An accounting for all time, materials, and people. Then we quarter all involved. The Khans expression didnt shift even slightly as he spoke and he punctuated by taking a sip from his cup and beginning to tear at some of the meat on his plate again.

One of the wives, the only one at the table that hadnt spoken, but who I recognized as the one whod given me the letters to deliver to Potts, Sara looked at the Khan. That could be dozens of people. Perhaps a more targeted approach? One that may yield more information in the long run?

He paused, then looked at me. I will give you three days to determine who was involved, starting today. He chewed for a moment. You should start at the pipeline. Determine if any fuel is unaccounted for. He gestured at the table. My wives will be made available to you. He stopped to allow himself a small smile . Within reason.