Chapter 9

Desmond told me everything that I needed to do once we reached Rivet City. Despite his insistence, I had refused the make-up he had, as it always brought me out in a rash (and I had learnt my lesson at the gig in Moriarty's place). As we sat inside the train, the wasteland passed gently by us. We did not move at a fast pace, because it was the first time it would be doing such a long journey, so it was a bit creepy. We had to keep the lights off, so we could not be seen from far away, but the noise of the engine did not help. Or perhaps it did, since no deformed, demented animals had attacked us yet. As it was dark I could not see my surroundings very well, just a bit with the help of the radioactive glow given off by Desmond. Thankfully I was off my head on radiation prevention drugs, so all was good.

Gob stood in the corner next to an open window. The breeze must have felt nice, so I stood up from the stifling heat Desmond gave off and approached Gob. He looked pensive and reflective, not surprising considering our home was just blown up! Then again, I am sure Gob would be pleased to know that some of his enemies were now deceased.

"I hope to God that Colin is alive." he muttered, as I stood next to him. The breeze was nice, if slightly tainted by the radioactive dust thrown up by the motion of the train.

"Really? I had the impression you did not get on. What with the beatings and all."

"We didn't. I just wish he was alive so I could kill him rather than the quick death of an atom bomb."

"Maybe he did survive, and is now dying slowly?" I suggested, smiling, in an attempt to make him feel better.

"Thanks, Moira." he returned the smile, albeit with less teeth than me, and placed his hand on my shoulder. Upon reflexion, it felt great to be with somebody I knew. In fact, perhaps it was the only thing that kept me going. At the time of the explosion I had not really thought through the implications of everyone dead and the place destroyed. Now it was starting to overcome my sense, the grief of death and loss. Jericho's almost certain death would not go from my mind, and futile attempts to dismiss the idea made the grief even harder to bear. He was a selfish, arrogant, violent asshole, who took pleasure in sleeping with whores and draining liquor cabinets, yet there was something simplistically down-to-earth about him, and I didn't think he was deceptive or manipulative. If anything, the manipulation and deception came from my side of the "friendship", as I abused our business relationship and attempted to seduce him just for a chapter in my new guide. Though I wasn't silly enough to believe in heaven, having done experiments with near-death subjects, I hoped he rested in peaceful pieces.

"How long until we get to Rivet City?" I asked. The train was practically at running speed, so I did not suppose that we would get there anytime soon!

"About two hours at this speed, just before morning light. Are you ready for this, Moira?" his face held a questionable expression. True, I was probably not the best choice for the role of a negotiator, but it was miles better than some crossdressing ghoul! I glanced about the carriage, delaying my response. The interior of the walls were lined with wooden panels, polished to perfection. From the ceiling hung a chandelier of dubious value, but still pretty nonetheless. They really had made an effort in the restoration of the train, and I couldn't fathom the officials of Rivet City declining such an olive branch. Mentally I pictured how I would depict the train in my guide. Perhaps I would simply put a sketch rather than a photo, to leave something to the imagination!

"Oi, idiot!" he cried out, after I failed to reply.

"Oh, sorry! I was just admiring the decor."

"So you're probably not ready."

"We've got two hours, no?" I winked, a faint smile on my lips. I forced happy thoughts; "happy, happy, happy." Gob heard me muttering under my breath.

"DId you kill all those people in Megaton with one of your experiments or something?" he asked suddenly. I thought about any experiment I may have done that involved the atomic bomb, but remembered that I was not allowed within five metres of the explosive device upon penalty of being shot to death, and those bullets hurt! The restraining order had been put in place when I took an interest in the bomb, due to the rapidly increasing members of the Order of the Atom. Though their doctrine did not interest me, the attraction of the explosive had, and I wondered if it gave off something which attracted people. The now (presumably) late Luke Simms had been so scary when he came to my shop with the restraining order signed by almost everybody in the town! "If you're trying to think of an excuse, don't bother. It was not as if I was in love with that place." he grunted, turning his gaze back at the window.

"It wasn't me!" My laughter at saying this probably did not convince him.

"Anyway, what will you do now that your shop is gone?"

"Well I have enough caps made from the Wasteland Survival Guide, plus the 5000 you gave me, and these rare black smoking things that Jericho told me were..." I stopped suddenly, as if I had been punched in the stomach. Tears tried to surface, so I grimaced and swallowed down the sudden anguish that came from nowhere.

"What's wrong with you?" Gob asked, in a not-very-comforting manner.

I did not reply, but chose to sat down near him, in a pink sofa decorated with a stripe pattern. Gob did not pursue his line of questioning, but rather turned back to the window. As he did so, I went over the plan once more in my head.

The train would stop some distance from Rivet City, before dawn. White flags would be hung from the roof of the train to prevent being shot at (maybe), if I were to take too long and day broke before I could negotiate a deal. The deal was simple: offer the train and lifelong services of the ghouls to maintain and develop the railway network further. The high levels of radiation did not bother them at all, and allowed only them to work the engine. They would have to be crazy to decline such an offer. Though I had not anticipated the role that I would take (and surely I underestimated the importance of this deal), it would make a great chapter for the guide. How to negotiate your way out of anything! It was part of my job as a saleswoman, and I had done it before with Nova and Jericho...

Without realising it, I had lit up a cigarette using his lighter that was now mine. Before I could react, Desmond had quickly gotten up from his chair (dropping his make-up as he did so) and grabbed it from my hand! With one quick motion he chucked it from the train onto the ground below.

"It stinks." he reasoned, gruffly.