Claws of the Wastes

by Claws of the Wastes

A talking, intelligent Deathclaw wanders the Wastes to bring closure. For himself, for the Wasteland. With a cross-country trip, spawned by the desire for vengeance, along the way. Believing that he is forever; the last of his species. This is a journey that is going to get reckless! Wandering with little of an ultimate purpose. He might just find one.

11. Weep of Waves

Chapter 11: Weep of Waves

I awoke after reliving that nightmare; it was ages ago and here I am still full of loss, regret, and rage. My entire family and friends butchered like Brahmin, set up for a slaughterhouse.

Enclave, the name just rings in my head. A forever reminder of what I've endured and a forever reminder of what I search for. They created us, gave us life and intelligence, and ended it all the same… maybe it is best and it meant us to be just monsters, not capable beasts. It was the last of my kind. It is my decision and I shall end my legacy with myself, but not before the Enclave burns.

"John, are you awake? Cat and I are making breakfast, if you want any."

I lay there in a daze, shaking my head enough to realize I needed to actually get myself up. "Yes, Mike, I'll be down in a moment. Just let me wake up."

I finally stood up with a wide stretch and my arms almost reached the other end of the room. I heard a crack in my legs and felt great, though I haven't had this much rest in what feels like years!

I made my way down the steps, opting out of putting back on my robe even if my insecurities tell me to wear it; you know, being a creature of the wastes after all.

Cat lit up when she saw me. "Good morning, John! I hope you slept well. I'm throwing us all together a breakfast to get the day going," I gave her a nod and the typical good morning before taking my spot on the edge of the table and sitting down on the floor.

"Where did Mike go? He did wake me up did, he not?"

She stopped stirring the pot, tapping the spoon against the edge. "He went to Craterside Supply to pick up some extra spices and meats. We are almost out, after all. I made a bit more for today, assuming you need to eat more than a human, right?" She said with a chuckle.

I gave her a nod. "Yes, I try not to make it that obvious though and I am starving, as I hate to say it. I haven't had a satisfactory portion of food for a while, aside from the meal you made the first time."

She sat down in a chair next to me on the table. I sharpened my claws together as she rested a hand on her chin, looking at me.

"Is there something you want, Cat?" I had asked her.

"Well, John," she paused. "I have a lot of things to ask you and all, but I would seriously feel like prying, and that is just rude!"

I agreed with her, "As true as that may be, I don't blame you for being curious. I think I would be too just. I ask you to respect my privacy and I'm not telling you anything specific for a reason." I stopped and sighed. "But ask whatever you want," leaning back to make myself comfortable.

She tapped her other hand against the table. "Well, for one, why did you even come back? Like you could have just left and never come back, avoided this whole situation with the raiders."

I raised a hand and scratched my head. "Well, it's funny. I never even knew Megaton was under attack till I came back originally. I came to warn you about some chem addicts I came across on the bridge past Springvale Elementary. I left a couple of them alive. I had some fun toying with them a little. They wouldn't know how to kill a damn mole rat."

She gave a slight laugh. "Chem addicts on a bridge? How could you tell?"

I told her I simply just knew and with that, Mike came in with various containers of goods and things. I could make the wording of "Sublime Spice" in the container.

"Oh hey, John, you are awake! Thought you would have slept a day at the rate you were going," He stopped, set down the various containers, and sorted them on the table. "I must have already grown used to you. I just never thought I would be comfortable next to a giant bipedal lizard of death, er...no offense." with a nervous chuckle.

"I take no offense, Mike. I completely understand. Hell, I would even be uneasy around myself, assuming I was in your position. This is still surreal, I'm certain of that."

Have to give that assurance rather than get mad at him for what is entirely the truth. "After we eat, I'm going to receive that famous tour, yes? Perhaps some history as well?"

"Oh yes, the tour it's about time we got around to it, huh? After we eat, we can get going."

I gave them a nod and sat patiently, not exactly how I would like to spend my time sitting around, but alas, I haven't eaten as much as I should in a decent amount of days

Cat mentioned how the food was smelling good and that was the case. Whatever spices and salts they have here in Megaton were alien to me, nothing I had ever had before, even in the vault. "I'm pretty excited to see what we got today. Honestly Cat, I am starving and no, don't worry, I don't fancy eating people," I said with a laugh, but they didn't seem very humorous about it.

I leaned up and prepared myself for the upcoming feast. Cat set the table out and Mike made the way to his spot across from me. And Cat set a giant pot in the middle of the table, a nice hot steaming portage. She gestured with her arms as she sat down, almost as if saying, "Ta-da!"

Mike clapped his hands together. "Well, I believe our guest of honor should go first, eh? The hungry reptile goes first!"

I reached over and got a decent portion. It seemed like another Punga fruit juice over a shred of meat, probably Brahmin. Something I can enjoy, though one doesn't get picky in the Wasteland.

"Well, thank you both for the meal. How many people can say they fed a deathclaw?"

"I would consider it an honor, or maybe we are crazy. Either way, glad you can enjoy it!"

Mike stopped his consumption and asked, "So, John, what is your full name? I'm assuming there is more to it, after all."

What an odd question "That isn't usually people's first concern but, yes, we have a first and last name. Just like you do and mine is Johnitan Lambert. I always went by John. Just to keep things simpler. And John-Claw was a nickname. Just something I had when I was younger." I gave a somber sigh that those were much better times…

Cat also asked, "So since you mentioned when you were younger, how old are you?"

I pondered this for a moment; this isn't something I kept track of. I was silent for simply too long.

"Do...you not know?" They asked and for the moment, no, I didn't.

"I... left the Vault 30 years ago, and I was only 14 or 15, so I'm 45 years old now, more or less. I have only gone back once since then."

"How long will you live? I mean, it's not like we know how long a deathclaw lifespan is."

"Funny enough, I don't know the average lifespan either, but my kind lives as long as a human, maybe even a little more."

Well, we all finished our bowls at around the same time. I had one of the larger portions myself and was pretty content with my dinner for the day. I finished drinking the contents of my bowl and inquired about that tour.

They had figured it was time, and we cleaned up the table and made our way out. I followed behind them both as we made our way back to the entrance gate, with various stares and glances at me from the settlers. I decided not to take my robe, no sense hiding when they already know.

"Well, here is the entrance, as you already know and on the left, there is the Sheriff's house, and going to the right you reach the upper portion, which is just residential homes and living quarters."

I gave a nod and saw someone hiding behind the side of the Sheriff's house. I leaned over to Mike."You see that person hiding behind the building there?" As I purposely turned in that direction without pointing to give away, I knew they were there.

"Oh, that is Lucy. I recognize that hair anywhere you two haven't met yet. I'll go talk to her."

Cat stayed with me and Mike went to talk with Lucy as we stood at the entrance. Various settlers started and stopped to look. So far, no one tried to shoot me good, good.

"Do you ever worry what people might do if they figured out or knew what you are?" She suddenly asked me.

I crouched down more to join her height. "Yes, I worry even now if someone will come by and just shoot me in the face with a.44. I almost feel that revealing myself is more of a danger to myself than it is for anyone around here."

Lucy came up finally, slowly and steadily, holding her hands together as she walked with Mike. She wore a green jacket and brown pants with some makeshift shoes, and blonde hair in a ponytail. She was pretty tiny as well. Something enough for me to take a specific note about it.

She stopped right in front of me. I looked her down as she stared down from my claws up to my horns; almost as if seeing if I was real.

"Wow, Cat, I never thought you of all people could ever tame a deathclaw, let alone approach one!"

Before Cat or Mike could say anything, I stepped in, but I still backed up to full height. "Tame? Not only would that be nearly impossible, but it's also suicidal! I saw you staring, Lucy, because, if you are so certain that I am tame. Why don't you approach me?"

Suddenly, her whole demeanor changed. "Holy shit, it talks? I never knew deathclaws could talk. Are you magic? Did the radiation change you? How long have you been like this? Can you-"

I held up a hand, not in a threatening manner, simply to pause her. "Hold on a moment there, Lucy. You are asking far too many things at once, and too relevant to each other. Oh, and it's,"He" I'm not an it," I said with a chuckle.

I suggested, "Why don't we continue that tour?" While I answered everything to her heart's content, we left the path down to the bomb past the clinic. Doctor Gone gave me a wave, and I gave him as well as we entered the center of town near the Bomb.

"Okay, John, over there is the Brass Lantern. We will stop there after we finish everything up." Cat pointed at a nifty little shack with a yellow lantern light; over a sort of bar table.

I gave her a nod as she mentioned the town's history regarding that bomb in the center, also how someone named the Lone Wanderer defused it and saved the town. That name had been floating around ever since I entered the Capital Wasteland. I've heard it almost nonstop.

I continued answering Lucy as we made our way up and over the Clinic to a place called Craterside Supply, huh? So, this is where Mike went. When he was away from their house. The metal creaked and shifted beneath my talons. I hope I'm not too heavy.

I watched a woman in an old Mechanic Jumpsuit come out of the store. Moira Brown, she introduced herself as and simultaneously hugged Cat and Mike. All on one massive, stretched arm, and then quickly grabbing Lucy. Not to leave her out. It was then I realized everyone here seems pretty close. Moira instantly went up to me.

"Wow, you must be that Deathclaw everyone is on about! I have never been so close to one, not without them trying to jump rope with my insides, at least!" She made a down gesture with her hand after saying that and motioned like a Jump rope.

I leaned down to join her level and made eye contact. "Well, Moira, it is nice to meet you. I'm assuming the Sheriff went and informed you already?"

She rubbed her hands down her cheeks, almost in awe. "Somebody pinch me, am I dreaming?" She turned to Lucy and said, "I must be dreaming!" Before pinching herself with an audible "Ouch!" She took just a moment to comprehend this. "Okay, I'm not dreaming, it seems?" she said, turning back to me.

"You are already gaining my interest. I am a curious sort, but I mainly tinker with junk and various scraps, but I am also for studying and research. A talking Deathclaw seems right up my alley of research, if you didn't mind, of course."

I thought for a second, scratched my chin, and asked, "You mean like measurements and general questions, no?"

She gave a very firm nod. "Yes, sir, see no one ever got close enough to a Deathclaw, at least a live one to observe them up close and I've already written a book, see? The Wasteland Survival Guide! Very popular and saved plenty of lives. The Lone Wanderer helped me herself! So it must be true and helpful!" She paused and opened her door and invited us in.

It was a room with a terminal in the corner and a bunch of shelves and desks lined with various Wasteland amenities, guns, ammo, and aid items such as Radaway and Stimpacks, a decent selection from what I could tell.

*Wow, I'm surprised you fit. Good thing the ceiling is so tall, huh?"

Cat and Mike inquired where the guard was as soon as he came down the steps up from their rooms and yelled "Holy shit a Deathclaw!" Drawing his rifle before Moira could say anything, he cocked the chamber and aimed in my direction. With a swift step to the side, I approached him faster than he couldn't react as swiped the rifle out of his grasp, held the barrel in my claws, and held it up so he couldn't possibly reach it.

"Excuse me, mister trigger happy. I much rather not be full of lead today, thank you very much." I looked over at Mike and gave him a gesture to throw the rifle at him, which he caught and unloaded and set on the table.

I went back to the other end of the room and sat back down. The guard was dumbfounded. "Moira, you can't let people just take my gun like that. What happens when someone takes advantage of that and robs or even just kills us both?"

Before Moira could respond, I gave my thoughts, "Well, maybe if you didn't have a damn murder boner, you wouldn't lose your precious rifle all the time."

Suddenly Cat and Lucy both broke out laughing, "Murder Boner oh my God!" And Mike tried to console the Guard.

Moira joked too now. "Yeah, and it isn't the first time he's acted out and pointed a gun at someone for no reason, but he does his job very well."

The guard leaned against the wall and mumbled under his breath. "Sorry, I decided the first action was to shoot the giant death machine."

I looked over at him and said, "Any other time that was fine, but really, did the sheriff not inform you I was okay to walk around?"

He crossed his arms and said, "He did, and I just didn't care. You are a monster and deserve to die."

Mike and Cat were in shock, it seemed, and Lucy was chatting with Moira.

I stood up, approached him, leaning myself down to his level, and firmly said, "Yes I am a monster but that is a simple appearance, I am more human if anything and inquires me this," He went to say something and I shushed him and he shut up real fast, "If I was the monster you accused me of would I be in a room with 5 people and have them all be alive and well? Would I have done nothing harsh or rash after you had pulled a gun on me? Would I have just killed you for downright threatening me? You, sir, have got to get your tough guy act together and stop being such a pretentious prick. If you don't like it, then get out till I leave, but don't you dare compare me to my mindless brethren, because you are wrong." I poked a claw into my other hand just to emphasize my point and finally made my way back to my spot next to all the shelves.

"Right, we're all situated now?" Mike asked as he and Cat got comfortable on a bench next to the door.

Lucy got up and went to the door. "Well, everyone, it's time I leave. I got purifier duty today. Find me later. Are you all okay?"

I gave her a nod, and everyone gave their agreement to meet later. Moira sat behind the desk with the register, and the guard said he was going for a drink and left.

"It's probably best he had left. Honestly, he blames you for the raiders attacking. You know, it brought back some bad memories. He doesn't take it personally," Moira told me.

That is something I understood all too well; bad memories and raiders seem to coincide that way for almost everyone.

Moira clapped her hands together and made her way to the terminal. "I would like to keep a record of everything you tell me here, but you see my terminal has been acting up lately and usually I would know how to do all this, but this error is completely unknown to me."

She turned it on and all it was, was a green screen with no files and no password searching. Mike and Cat both mentioned how they tried to fix it and their technical support guy doesn't like Moira, so he won't even bother.

I told her to let me look at it and it amazed her. I even knew how to read, let alone understand, a terminal." Wait, a Deathclaw who can read and understand and use a terminal? How is that possible? That is almost as amazing as you talking and comprehending everything!"

"Moira, there was more like me. We all grew up and lived in a vault. Now I will not tell you the number, but we are in Nevada. Anyway, terminals and technology were a specialty of mine, because most of us knew how to use their things just not fix them."

"A whole Vault of talking sentient Deathclaws, but how do I mean…" she thought for a second. "What made you? You didn't just hatch like that randomly, right?"

I continued working on the terminal, making some progress crouching down almost to my knees. "No, originally we were made by the Government or Enclave as war machines and they gave us doses of F.E.V to give us enough intelligence to follow orders but not enough to question those orders."

I continued, "See, something did not mutate me by F.E.V. well, not technically; see, I was hatched from an egg, not from an experiment. Eventually, they escaped and made their society and here we are. Of course, that was all before my time. I'm like a third-generation of the original Deathclaws. They spoke of our history without mentioning much in between. I know almost as much as you do."

"But you are a Vault Dweller? I never imagined that would be possible, but doesn't F.E.V ruin or downright make creatures infertile?"

My eyes widened at the terminal for a moment and had to ask Moira before I answered, "How do you even know about that?"

She thought for a moment. "I remember some trader mentioning the tale of someone called the Master who once ruled all the Super Mutants and wanted them to rule the world. That means F.E.V makes humans, Super Mutants, and super mutants can't reproduce and gained amazing strength but lost a lot of intelligence so the Master's plan to rule the world fell apart as soon as it started."

I always heard tales of this Master. They forced people to become Super Mutants and killed a bunch of other innocent people in their quest for world domination. This was before my time.

I continued her statement, "Yes, and it seems it has the opposite effect on us Deathclaws. I'm not sure if it's because of our previous radiation exposure or what, but it gives us the ability to speak and comprehend everything. We were all worried it would go away randomly, but it seems it is here to stay," I said with a laugh.

Moira paused and then asked, "So...it doesn't make you sterile. Sorry for the weird questions, just F.E.V. we have known it will ruin the entire species."

I didn't think it was weird personally. "My species will thrive and live through many generations to come. I can't confirm anything from my perspective because I've not sired any children myself. As far as I'm aware, I should be able to. If that's what you want to know!" I was lying through my teeth…

They all gave an approving nod and said, "That's a good thing I am not too sure myself."

It only got me to think. Maybe we shouldn't continue this existence. Maybe it means for us not to be intelligent creatures?

I finally got the computer working. "Ah-ha! I got it, Moira. You can now use the terminal." I stood up, placed a hand against my belly, did a circle around with my other hand in the terminal's direction, and gave a small bow formally.

She almost didn't believe it." I am a master technician," she said. "It is far too high of praise, I thought, but I'll take a compliment over being shot any day."

Moira was practically prancing with joy, standing up. "I can now continue any research I was doing and I can also make notes on you," she paused and continued. "So, sir, you are a sir, right?"

I laughed and said, "Yes, Moira, you can usually tell by our horns as one determining factor of our gender. Sexual dimorphism. It's one of the easiest ways to tell." As I ran my claws across my set of horns, "Males have forward-facing horns and females have curved horns that go sideways or go backward, just because we can talk doesn't mean biology has changed. Which is supposed to be a good thing, yes? As studying a wild Deathclaw for any reason, big or small, is quite a challenge, I imagine. I'm sure asking a wild deathclaw wouldn't go over well." I teased.

Cat mentioned, "I never knew that about the horns, but that makes much more sense now. I guess I noticed. Never consciously though."

"I have something you might find interesting. See, when the intelligence gene that made us talk and such. They made it to be "Male" specific, which means I'm the one who transfers that gene. If I decide to have a child. I could mate with an unintelligent and normal matriarch and the egg that hatches will be intelligent no matter what, just like me."

They took a moment to get that and almost seemed a little uncomfortable. I didn't understand why, but I decided not to keep quiet. I joked. "Don't ask me how that would even work, because I do not know. It's nothing I'm interested in even trying. Just the option is there." Great, now I sound like a damn freak.

"Well, John, we remember that if you ever need to repopulate. Your species, for whatever reason. I guess it was an emergency plan, but the military?"

That was the only conclusion I could imagine I had mentioned. "Well, Moira, as fun as it's been, the sun is setting and we need to finish our tour for John. We can catch up later, yeah?"

As she finished her notes, she said: "Oh, yeah, definitely! I appreciate the time and the science there, mister Deathclaw, John. I hope you enjoy our little town and I bid you all farewell."

We all said our goodbyes and made out the door. It was becoming sundown. I must have slept longer than I thought.

They pointed upward to a place called Moriarty's Saloon. Somewhere I should stay away from. It was bad business, and the owner is a prick from what I understood, from all the slurs, and not-so-nice words.

We left down the ramp we came upon. They mentioned that the water purifier is above us and that it's been here almost as long as the Bomb. It's an old contraption, but still working the best it can. Ignoring the onlookers, we were outside the entrance of the Brass Lantern, once more a place that seems pretty busy. Must be lunchtime here in Megaton right before sundown.

I entered first with a scratch on my talon as I went across the metal floor, which caused a couple of residents who were sitting at the table to turn around and look at me. "Uh, hello, I stopped by here for a drink. I'm not here to make anyone uncomfortable or be a danger. Despite my appearance, I would like to be treated like one of your own." I said with a wave... I felt incredibly out of place here; it wasn't even a tense sensation, like a standoff.

I noticed they seemed partially approved of me. I took a seat on a stool at the end of the ordering table. I had some difficulty getting to it at first, but I managed and crossed my arms on the table, awaiting my service. Mike and Cat sat on the left of me as well.

"Well, well, full house tonight! And that Deathclaw I've been hearing all about has stopped by too." she slyly said, approaching my spot, "What a surprising day indeed. The name is Jenny and you are?" She asked with all the kicks of a typical Wasteland bartender. Her bright yellow jumpsuit contrasted her messy face and the disaster of a bun. She had blond hair. I almost couldn't tell from all the grime and dirt…

Such a warm welcome surprised me. "I am John. Pleased to meet you. I don't believe we met yet! You know me already, it seems! I'm assuming the Sheriff made his rounds?"

The rest of the customers sat and murmured to each other. I couldn't make out what they were saying with all the commotion of glasses and people moving about. "Yes, he informed me you may come to me to eat or get something to drink, so what I can I get you I could read you out menus or-"

I cut her off. "Don't worry, I can read. It's fine, you assumed I couldn't. I take no offense." I tried to reassure her as she handed me the menu, which had a wide selection of pre-war package foods and various mixtures of Creature meats. I wasn't starving. I ultimately decided I wanted a drink.

Mike and Cat ordered a shot of whiskey mixed with rum together. I went with a Nuka Cola Quantum. I wanted to see if it tasted the same as out west.

"I'll have a Nuka Cola Quantum, and don't worry, I can pay for it. I'll just need to go back to Mike and Cat's house."

With that, she said, "Oh, don't worry, it's on the house. We would all be dead if not for you, and you saved Andy."

I did not know who she was talking about. I'm assuming someone else who worked there, at least. She didn't point anyone out.

There was a rather audibly loud slam of a glass. It surprised me it didn't shatter from the force of it hitting the table. A gruff and angry-looking man stood up from across the bar and walked the way to the ordering table. He was in all kinds of a mishmash of rags, bags, and dirty, god only knows what stains.

They ended up walking behind me. I made a casual comment. "Watch the tail," just as a reminder, nothing more. I hadn't noticed that I had struck a nerve!

"What the hell is a Wasteland monster doing in our town, anyway?" Turning around and pointing at me, trying to gain the favor of the rest of the patrons, no doubt.

I glanced back and gave him a simple, "Aren't we all monsters here in the end? Did something we aren't proud of surviving from?" I turned back to the counter. "You shouldn't be judging or assuming you know it all based on how they look."

"Yeah, and why aren't you drinking any alcohol? Too pussy to stomach a hard drink?"

The crowd looked anxious, but this guy was simply talking out his ass, being difficult just to be difficult.

I gave a simple sigh. "Is that your best excuse to start something? See, I cannot drink alcohol because it tears up my insides too much, besides I don't need it as a crutch to get through my sorry existence."

This seems to set him off. "See, he's a bitch for not drinking."

"THAT. Is enough!" Harden entered the building, shouting at the drunkard.

"I saw you come in here, John. I had expected people to start trouble, but not over something so small as you not drinking."

The irate settler started once again. "Well, it's his fault the raiders came and attacked us, anyway!"

Before he could even continue, Mike stood off of his stool and socked him right in the jaw with a firm punch. knocked him right to the floor! This move certainly surprised me, especially.

"You ruined the dude's face!" said Cat with a laugh.

This whole confrontation just was kind of pointless, especially if it was addressed to me. I couldn't care less about some raging settlers. Especially not one that looked as battered and broken as this guy.

"Listen here you ill-tempered shit, those Raiders would have killed me and Cat or made us slaves had it not been for John. If you think he led them here, you are very wrong! You all would have been slaves, or worse! If he had not come back, he didn't even have to do that." He gave him a slap across the face while holding him down, just for good measure. "I had spent enough time with him to know that he isn't a monster. He is someone with feelings and regrets, just like the rest of us! You better damn well show some respect because, without him, you would be dead!"

With that, he got kicked out of the Brass Lantern and my Nuka Cola had arrived. "We had this ready sooner but, I figured you would want to wait for everything to settle down first you know, enjoy it," Jenny said while putting it down in front of me.

The purple hue of the bottle differed from the blue I was used to. The ones in Nevada shimmered an entirely different color. Harden and Mike came back and chatted a bit with the other patrons and took their seats next to me. I didn't eavesdrop super hard.

I had to turn over to Mike. He was still fuming a little. I had to ask, from earlier, "Did you mean all that, Mike? See, I was always under the impression that you weren't very favorable of me, a sort of unhelped animosity against me, you know. Me being a beast of the Wasteland, and all. I appreciate you standing up for me."

He thought for a moment, "You know, John, I couldn't help those feelings, you know? But after you talked with Moira and gave a bit of history of your kind, I realized they forced you into this, and I believe your knowledge of the past will help reform this sorry excuse of a future we have."

Harden stepped in. "Yeah, John, I have grown quite fond of you, if I can be honest."

This was strange, such welcoming and even being defended by people. This is impossible, but it feels... nice. I haven't felt so welcomed anywhere since I left home. I gave a smile. "Well, thank you both sincerely. It's nice to be welcome somewhere after not being welcome for...so long." I took a drink from my Cola and it was incredible! The sensation that rolled through me! It reminded me of better days. Although, if only for a moment.

They gave me approving nods and continued their drinks and food. I set the bottle down as gently as I could muster, despite the excitement. "God damn, Jenny! This Quantum is almost better than the ones out West!"

She put down a rag she was cleaning the table with, "Why thank you, and you said out West? Where are you from?"

I finished my Cola with a tap on the table. I told everyone in the room, "I am from a vault in Nevada. I am in search of a doctor. That's the problem, I do not know. Seems stupid, I know, but I'll know him when I see him."

She mentioned how she had an aunt out West, not sure if she was alive, though.

"Well, Mike and John, I believe it's time we head to sleep. Did you enjoy the tour?" She stood up and faced me.

"Oh yes, I had an absolute blast, met plenty of new people, and got a decent grasp of the layout of the town. Shall we head out now?"

They both nodded and said their thanks and goodbyes, and I did as well and made my way out to the now dark outside of the Brass Lantern. Back to their shack in the dark of night.

Mike spoke up with a yawn. "Alright John, we are heading to sleep. It's much later than we thought. We will see you in the morning."

I told them their goodnights and made my way up to the extra room; which I called my temporary sleeping quarters. I laid down and soon dozed off to a sound sleep. Another day survived.

End Chapter: 11