Chapter 6: Lay of the Land
Ralph, John and Handy exited the luxiourios mansion and started to walk the streets of Harvard. "So on your left you can see the town clinic. It's not the best care in minecraft but Dr. lee does us just fine." He said.
The town looked fairly big, much bigger than it did from afar. The towns residents waved as they walked by. Everyone seemed very friendly here. "Up here you can see the guards building. This is like their HQ. It's completely necessary to have guards in this kind of world." Ralph said.
"What do you mean 'this kind of world'?" John asked, starting to get concerned that things were more dangerous than he thought. "Oh, you don't know? You haven't encountered any of the monsters that come out at night?" Ralph asked. "Well now that you mention it, there was a strange creature that devoured a man I had tied up for my safety." John stated.
"Yup. That's a zombie, alright. You see, the radiation did crazy things to the world. At night crazy mutations of people and animals come out. The radiation caused spiders to grow huge, people to reanimate, and even created green monsters that explode when you get near. We have guards that help keep the town safe from these creatures."
The trio walked around for a few more minutes before coming to the last sight on the tour. The bar. "Sandys saloon and motel.." Ralph proceeded to tell John. "The best bar in all of Harvard. Well, it's the only one. Sandys owned it ever since we first built the town. Let's go in and see if we can get you a room for a few nights." Ralph said.
The door to the bar opened as a drunken man was shoved out by some beefy looking men. "Fellas, I... I..." the drunk man said as he vomited all over the street. "I swear... I swear to drunk I'm not God..." The intoxicated man said before passing out in his own vomit. "Oh don't worry, John. That's just the town drunk Steve. He's been like that ever since he lost his house and fortunes to a explosion. One of those green monsters I told you about. We call them creepers." Ralph reassured John.
They stepped pass an unconscious Steve, trying not to step in his vomit, and opened the door. The bar was fairly nice. A radio softly played some pre-war music as the bartender wiped off the bar. There were only about two other people in the room at the time. An older looking man with scruffy black hair and a goatee, both riddled with silver hairs.
The other patron had a black trench coat on, and hasn't shown his face to me. "Hey Ralph. Good to see ya! Haven't seen you around the bar in a while. What's up? And who's the newcomer?" Sandy said as she stopped wiping the bar to give the president her full attention. "Hey Sandy! This is the towns newest addition, John. He is a pre war vault dweller." He said. "He is here looking for his son." Ralph said.
"Wow, a real vault dweller. I haven't met any of them in a long time. Not since that loner came in. I think his name was something Luke. Luke was his last name." Sandy said. "Did you say Luke?" John asked, shocked. "That's my last name! Do you remember his first name by any chance?" John asked, starting to get nervous.
"It was about 20 years back, pal. I have trouble remembering things. I think it started with an S. Stan? Shane?" Sandy replied. "Shaun?!? Was it Shaun?" John asked. "Yes! That's it! His name was Shaun. Shaun Luke. But like I said, this was 20 years back, and he was about 20 back then. I don't see how he could be your son." Sandy said.
"Do you recall where he went? I have to find him!" The room went silent. "He said he was going to Sea Town... I'm sorry John but shortly after he left the town was raided by bandits. If he survived though, there may be some clue as to where he went after that in sea town." Sandy said, feeling much sympathy for John.
"That's it then. I have to travel to sea town." John replied. They all agreed that it would be the best way to try and find his son. John got a room at the motel for him and Handy that night. "Swing by my house before you leave tommorow, John. I have some things that might help you." President Ralph said before leaving the bar. Handy and John found their way upstairs, and went into their room.
There was a single bed with a raggedy old blanket on it, and a old broken nightstand in the room. "Not quite 5 stars but it will do, huh Handy?" "Bark!" Handy said, as they both laid down for the night.