The air that filled the tunnel was stuffy and hard to breathe. Once again, the silence augmented the clank of July’s left leg and the patter of Biscuit’s feet, as well as his rhythmic panting. July’s leg was beginning to ache when he heard voices echo through the tunnel. The group increased their pace, until they glimpsed a light, cast from a lantern set upon a barricade.
“Easy now,” said Alister, lowering his shotgun. “Don’t give ‘em an excuse. Lower your weapons.”
The mechanical click of a rifle being locked, and a silhouette standing behind the barricade. “Who are you?” There was a hint of Russian in his accent.
“Customers,” July answered. “We’re looking to buy.” He presented the cardboard icon.
The sentry waved them forward and inspected the badge. “Raiders buy from Leah now, you know? Mitch Buster finds out you came to us… well, that’s your problem.”
“We’re no Raiders,” said Tom, stepping forward.
“Oh,” said the sentry, “in that case, go talk to Kas.”
The merchants had occupied an entire station, using a makeshift railcar to transport their goods from stop to stop. Dusty stained mattresses lied out in the open. There were six in the little band; one sentry on either side of the tunnel, three stooped around a cooking fire, roasting a metro rat and drinking vodka, and Kas by the railcar, arms folded but a stern, businessman smile, waiting to meet his guests.
They exchanged greetings, July reassuring Kas that his band were not Raiders, although a man such as Kas appeared keen enough to figure it out.
“Yes,” he said, “I had a feeling I knew who you were. You must be Alister Preevy, the famous general who helped put the Royalists back into their place. And you, peg-leg, must be July Mundane, the son. Did you really take Red-Rock out from under Mitch Buster’s nose?”
July didn’t respond.
“You must have a death wish,” Kas went on. “You don’t mess around with men like Mitch Buster unless you’re ready to die for it.”
July stepped forward, his leg clanking on the concrete floor. “And say we are ready to die if it means liberating the north-west regions? What’s it to you? We need weapons.”
Kas shook his head. “I don’t sell to dead men.”
“Can I ask you this then – is raiding more profitable than warring?” July knew from the start that these weapons dealers wouldn’t just sell to any group of rebels, especially ones who were trying to eliminate a major part of the business. If Haven wanted its weapons it would have to propose a far more profitable deal – war. All July had to do now was convince Kas that Haven was on its way to become a significant player in the next great war – Haven, the Reich, and the Royal-Communist Alliance.
Kas stroked his shaggy beared thoughtfully. “What are you suggesting?”
“I intend to destroy Mitch Buster and his Raider goons and then rally the entirety of the north-western regions against the Royalists.”
From here on Alister took over the discussion with Kas, eventually persuading him to become a business associate of Haven, and then discussing the type of weapons they’d need and how many of each. It was agreed that the first shipment would be small – a handful of military-grade assault rifles and a small supply of ammunition. Once they had captured enough territory to justify issuing a war-tax from the civilians, and to begin collectivised farming, then they’d begin ordering larger shipments.
While Alister spoke with Kas, the others joined the three men sitting around the fire, like the sentry, two of these men had accents. July asked if they were Reds and they laughed, a bellowing sound that rang through the dark metro. They began to describe the motherland; the toxic air and endless storms, the unholy creatures that stalked the surface while the men and women and children cowered underground. The three Russians were all part of the same battalion that deployed south to Fort Maxim, the only communist settlement in the Valley.
One of the Russians cut away some fried rat and washed it down with vodka. “A lot of people still love Mother Russia but not me, I think of home and all I see is snow and ash. And the Red Army, huh! Too many rules and regulations.” The others nodded in agreement.
“You deserted?” said July, leaning forward.
The man breathed slowly through his nose. “Yes, we deserted. We were searching for passages through the mountains, making sure our enemies could never sneak across to the east-side, there were twelve of us when we went in, and us three were the only ones to come out. Not long after we found Kas.”
As they finished the story July glimpsed up at Kas who was now standing over him. “We have ourselves a deal.” He extended his hand and July accepted.
“Excellent,” said July. “I assure you, you won’t be disappointed.”
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