Chapter 4

Before long, the trio was walking across a footbridge to Agatha's house. She retrieved a key from a hiding place in the rocks and unlocked the door.

Ice stepped in front of William and followed Agatha inside.

"Make yourselves comfortable," said Agatha. "while I find something for you to eat." She noticed, Ice was examining everything.

William noticed the uncomfortable silence, as Agatha opened the fridge and rummaged around.

Instead of food, Agatha withdrew a large scoped pistol, cocked it, and pointed it at Ice.

"Now take it easy," said Ice. "I thought we had a deal."

William looked at the two, and stepped to Agatha's side.

"Don't let the Wastelander clothes fool you, she's a Raider;" Said Agatha. "spotted it right off. She would just as soon kill you as look at you."

"Oh I don't know," said Ice. "he could prove useful. I was telling you the truth about the gas masks; and you were right when you said I needed you as a guide. It would be stupid not to team up. You need us, as much as we need you."

"You can't trust them." Warned Agatha

"I don't have a choice;" Said William. "I have to go back."

"What about her?" William asked Ice, as he nodded towards Agatha.

"There's nothing here I'm interested in," said Ice. "but that vault, could set me and my boys up for life. It's a fortress full of supplies."

"So," said Ice. "are you still good for that food and rest deal before we go?"

Agatha looked at William, and he shook his head in agreement.

"Don't take your eyes off her," said Agatha. "and don't hesitate to shoot if she does anything. I'll make something to eat, but you'll have to go after that. I won't sleep with her in here."

"Fair enough;" Said Ice. "wouldn't want you getting too attached to me or anything."

Ice spotted a bucket of water and poured it into the sink to wash. She unabashedly stripped looking over her shoulder at William, and began to bathe. She turned forward, with her back to William, and said, "Interesting."

"What's interesting?" William asked.

"You didn't shy away when I undressed."

"So? What are you implying?" William asked.

"Nothing yet, seems odd for a civilized vault dweller to look on, without so much as a blink." Said Ice. "Same lack of reaction as when she called me a Raider."

William said, "Yeah, I knew something was up with you."

"That's not the point," said Ice. "Point is, if you spent your life locked up in a vault, how did you know what a Raider was?"

William paused and turned his head as he thought; Ice looked at him for his reaction, and Agatha stepped away from the fridge and listened for the answer.

"Well;" said William. "I probably saw a file about the Wastes in the vault."

"Maybe," said Ice. "I've heard when people wander out of a vault, they are practically babies; they don't know anything. Most of them die in days, some by walking right into a raider camp."

"You see a lot for a Raider;" said Agatha. "never heard of one who speaks like you, most are drug-crazed brutes. How did you come to be dressed like a Wastelander anyway?"

Ice looked at Agatha and answered, "Sometimes it's easier to blend in when scouting, or trading for supplies with a village; besides, sometimes you run into Outcasts and they always carry heavy."

"Okay, the clothes make sense," said Agatha. "What about the other part? You seem a little too smart."

"First rule of survival," Said Ice, "Blend in. To you, I was supposed to be a Wastelander, hardly the time to behave like a brute."

Ice started getting dressed and said to William, "You better remember that when we get to my camp; they think of me as one of them, don't ruin that or we could both get gutted."

"Your turn," said Ice, throwing the wash cloth to William. "you'll want to get that Mutant smell off of yourself. I'll sit over here on the bed and be a good girl."

After dinner, Ice looked out the door and looked at the sky.

"It's almost dark." She said. "Most creatures are less active when the sun goes down, the wind calms, so less chance of scent giving you away. We can make for the camp and get supplies.

"Well," said Ice to Agatha. "I wish I could say it's been fun."

She opened her arms to Agatha, tipped her head to the side, and coyly asked, "Hug?"

"Haven't decided on you yet." Said Agatha.

"What about the pistol?" Ice asked. "You don't want little Bill here to be wandering around out there without a weapon do you?"

"Way ahead of you," said Agatha. "it's Wednesday."

Agatha picked up a satchel and followed them outside. There waiting across the bridge was a traveling vendor. Agatha purchased a baseball bat for Ice and a loaded pistol for William.

"A little light for my tastes," said Ice. "I don't suppose I could get something with a little more kick?"

"You'll be just fine." Said Agatha. "It'll help keep you on your toes."

"You come back and see me when you're done." Agatha said to William. "You and your family are welcome here."

"Just stick to your deal," said Agatha. "and don't kill him."

"Oh I will definitely keep him close." Said Ice. Then she dropped the smile and said to William, "If we get attacked, don't use up all the ammo; I don't want to pry an empty gun out of your dead hands."