Chapter 180

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Using Norma's directions, the group made it to this territory. It was a wasteland, made Wilkins' kingdom seem like paradise by comparison. There was noone around. Perhaps they heard that Wanda Maximoff was coming and fled, hopefully. The law here, such as it was, was enforced by a "sheriff" named Jackson. In life Jackson had been a cop, he was also a child molestor. He forced child prostitutes to have sex with him, and belonged to an underground of other child molestors. But Jackson's behavior was too erratic, even b their standars. They set him up to be killed, ironically one of his assasins was an undercover FBI agent. Now Jackson was sheriff in tis kingdom, and like other dirty cops he took what he wanted more than actually helping anyone. The heroes feared that Jackson and his minions would try to capture or kill them for a reward from Evil, they were right. It wasn't long before a few dozen drug addicts attacked them. Wanda could fight them off with her powers, but there were a lot of them. Then they recieved help from a mysterious woman, Eden. Eden shot these drug addicts, and yelled for the heroes to follow her. When they seemed safe, Eden gave them an explanation for who she was, what she wanted from them.

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Eden: My name is Eden. Rumor is you're all here for your children.

Data: That is correct. I am here for my offspring Lal, although I have heard she is not in this kingdom. I have given my word to these two that I will help them find their respective offspring.

Eden: Cool. I've heard that Tommy, Billy, and three fairy girls are protecting the children of this place. I'd like to help reunite you all, make up for some of my sins.

Andy: I'm very grateful. I don't mean to pry, but why are you in Hell?

Eden: Not everyone had as good a parent as your kids.

Andy: The mother of my daughters abandoned them as soon as they were born.

Eden: Still better than my mother. She raped me, when I was a teenager. One day, I just couldn't take it anymore. I murdered her, ended up getting the electric chair for it.

Andy: Really? Sorry, just hard to believe that you'd get the death penalty for killing a rapist, especially since you're white.

Eden: Our district attorney prided himself on being tough on crime, and claimed he was fair about it. I didn't fight it too hard, seemed better than prison. Anyway we should get going, there are yahoos everywhere.

Data: Yahoos? You are referencing "Gulliver's travels" by Jonathan Swift?

Eden: Yes, I'm a Huyhnhnm at heart.

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This group made their way to where Eden said Andy's and Wanda's children ran their sanctuary. Evetually, they had to stop and make camp for the night. Data was the only one who needed no sleep, he was therefore chosen to keep watch. When Data was certain that Eden was asleep, he covertyl awoke Wanda, Andy, and Adilyn to share his fears about their mysterious new friend.

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Data: Eden identified herself as a Huyhnhnm.

Andy: She said it was from that book.

Data: "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift.

Andy: I think I had to read that in highschool, probably should have paid more attention.

Data; In the story Huynhnms were horse like creatures who were quite civilized. In contrast, Yahoos were human savages.

Wanda: These ones sell their own kids for alcohol and drugs, I'd say the term applies.

Data: A number of scholars believe that Jonathan Swift was a misanthrope, he hated humanity. Some use the term Huynhnm to signify their overall hatred of humanity.

Andy: Maybe she just hates the child molestors and drug addicts. I grew up in Louisianna, I've known people my whole life who waved the confederate flag. They claimed it was all about "state's rights" and other things, but it was all B.S. These people either didn't know that the war was about slavery, or didn't want to admit it. I'd be lying if I said I never fell for that line.

Wanda: I did the same thing when I was in Hydra, I pretended that Hydra wasn't allied with the nazies. Eden saved us, maybe she doesn't really know all of this. Plus she was raped by her own mother, now she's among these yahoos. I can see why she hates humanity, or at least part of humanity.

Data: You make valid points. But we should be on guard around her.