Scene 11

The boat slid silently over the dark waters of the Bayou, plunging itself further into the darkness cast by the looming trees. The thin, wiry branches of the willows hung over them like pale streamers and brushed against the company as they passed, making it feel like Lawman was rowing through curtain after curtain of leaves deeper into a mist that sent his pip-boy's Geiger meter crackling.

Lawman left his pip-boy light on. He was confident that the pale green light wouldn't be able to be seen from too far away within this dark forest. At the same time it was the only thing that lit their way just a few feet ahead of them. Shadows flickered and danced over the company's faces as Lawman rowed. His Colt 45 was still in the tight grasp of Carter, and it was still pointed directly at his chest. Its barrel gleamed.

Lawman never would have thought that he'd ever miss Mr Kees, but he sure as heck missed his company now. Mr Kees may have been a bastard in his own right, and their ain't nothing that can redeem the man for doing Oswald's dirty work, but when he'd been in control the group felt more secure from itself. He had been just about the only person who could keep Carter and his Cazador's in check. Now, however, there was nothing stopping Carter and his crew from doing what they wanted – to him and to anyone else in the group. Hell, he even missed Leicester. He had at least been the most reasonable member of the Cazador crew, and he was significantly less likely to want to shoot you in the head if he lost a game of cards. Lawman had never spoken much to the guy but when he had passed the time with him he'd always been – what's the word? – civil.

He'd almost forgotten that word.

"You sure this is the right way, Vance," Carter intoned, his gruff voice breaking the silence.

Vance just nodded without even locking eyes with Carter. He sat crouched, looking into the distance, biting down pensively on his thumb nail. His thoughts were far away from everyone at the moment. He looked anxious.

"Vance! Are we travellin' the right way?" Carter burst out impatiently.

"Yes," Vance snapped back. "We're goin' the way the honing system told us to go. It detected tunnels over this way." He resumed his far away gaze. "Never in all my years have I ever left my Mayweather unguarded in hostile territory. Never…" he mumbled.

"How do you know it didn't just pick up some mole rat tunnels or somethin'?" Carter retorted, not dropping the subject.

"Oswald fitted the honing system to my ship 'specially for this mission, Carter. And let me tell ya, if it is mole rats, they sure are big ones to make a tunnel of that size. And I mean big. Talking about the size of several bighorners. So, yes, Carter, I'm pretty sure that it's a Vault."

Carter grunted his approval. "Good," he said. "Because I'm getting sick of this place. Too many fuckin' trees. Can't get a sight on anythin' that might be crawlin' around here."

"Maybe there ain't nothin' to watch out for, baby," Katherine soothed. "If somethin' were to attack us it would have done so by now…"

Vance barked a nervous laugh and grinned to himself for a few moments. The Cazador's turned to look at him.

He returned their gaze. "There is always something to look out for in these woods. It'll most likely see you before you see it. I said before that this was a suicide mission. The best chance you have is to turn back now and hope you don' disturb nothin'."

Carter turned the revolver on Vance. "Shut up. Or my gun will disturb the inside of your head."

After Carter turned his gun back to pointing at Lawman and a period of silence passed, Vyatch leant forward and spoke in hushed tones; "There is somethin' here."

"You heard somethin'?" Carter replied with the calmness of a hunter with his prey caught in the sight off his gun. He didn't turn around to meet Vyatch's gaze. He simply kept watching Lawman.

"I've seen somethin'." With that Vyatch tapped Carter's shoulder and pointed towards something that looked like an overgrown spider's web spanned between two trees in the distance. Lawman gazed at it and it took some time before he recognized that it wasn't a spider's web at all. It was rope that had been woven and tangled together. Caught within it were dirty feathers and skulls that missed their lower jaw so that it gave the impression of some creepy dream catcher.

As the boat glided past it, Lawman could see recognition flash in the guide's eyes.

"Hey," Carter called, snapping his fingers at the guide. "Hey, you. What the fuck is that? What does that mean?" He pointed to the totem as it shrunk into the distance.

The guide made no reply. She just returned Carter's gaze with an expressionless one of her own.

Vyatch grasped her arm and twisted it. She yelped in pain. Lawman felt his anger rise from the pit of his stomach.

"We know you understand. Tell us what it means, now!" Vyatch twisted harder.

The guide struggled feebly against Vyatch's vice like grip. He twisted harder still.

"Fuckin' bitch," Carter exclaimed exasperatedly as Katherine simply grinned maliciously. She playfully stroked Carter's upper arm. Carter, once again tried asking her. He pointed vigorously to the totem and made to shrug his shoulders as though motioning the question. "What is that?" he asked again, impatiently.

The guide reeled off a string of insensible words in her mother tongue. There was one that sounded very much like 'danger'.

"Danger?" Carter repeated irritably.

The guide nodded and motioned to turn back.

Carter grinned. "Well lookie here, Vance." Carter whistled. "It looks like we got ourselves another scaredy cat who wants to run on home." Carter laughed. Then he looked directly into the guide's eyes and slowly shook his head. "No," he mouthed.

Vyatch released his grip on her and she returned Carter's grinning face with a vehement stare.

Lawman kept quiet, but underneath his cool visage he was seething inside. Call him old fashioned, but hurting young women regardless of where they came from was to him reprehensible. As sheriff he had seen and dealt with abusive husbands and partners too often. He hated it as much then as he did now. But he couldn't do nothing but bite down on his lip. He locked his eyes on the gleaming barrel of his gun. Carter's bite was worse than his bark…

All of a sudden the boat shook as it hit a protruding root. Carter was surprised for a moment, his balance almost thrown, and Lawman sensed that he had inadvertently created a narrow opportunity for him to seize back his gun. If only he had planned it ahead of time he might have seized the opportunity before Carter righted himself and swung the gun back to pointing at Lawman's chest.

"Easy there, Lawman," Carter hissed in dangerous tones. "I don't want to have to shoot you before we reach the Vault. I need you to open it for me. So do me a favour and refrain from any suicidal thoughts of trying to steal your gun back, because whatever plans you're cooking up in that head of yours, Lawman, they won't end well for you."

Lawman said nothing as he returned Carter's hard stare.

It was some time later that the trees ahead thinned out and the darkness retreated. Bloatflies could be seen circling some distance away. As the boat reached a marshy shore Carter trained Lawman's gun on the idling bloatflies, his hand steady as he focused on them like a hunter. Carter knew he could kill them all with one round, that he could shoot so quick, that his reflexes were so fast that each of the bloatflies would hit the ground within the same second. But even Carter knew that there were worse thing lurking in this forest and he didn't want to attract the attention of something nastier. He withdrew the revolver and pointed it back Lawman's way.

Carter turned those hunter eyes on Lawman and there was a moment of heightened unease as they locked eyes.

"Age before beauty," Carter intoned and motioned with his gun for Lawman to get out of the boat and lead the group. Lawman, not taking his eyes off Carter for a second, lowered himself into the knee high waters before wading to the shoreline and hauling himself up with the help of an exposed root. He clambered onto firm ground before looking back to see the others following suit. They all reached shore when Carter turned back to Vance.

"Now what?" Carter asked.

"We head over there," Vance replied warily, directing the group with a gnarled finger. "There should be some buildings up ahead. The honing system detected a large opening in the ground near one of them."

"Right. Lawman, get moving."

"Any particular reason why I'm first?" Lawman replied as he apprehensively scanned the path ahead with wary eyes. "I always thought the leader should, well… lead, Carter."

"Oh, but we all know you're the scavver, partner. You're the one who detects traps, finds and avoids hazards and ambushes, and knows how to find what we're looking for. What use would you be followin' behind?" Carter rebuked.

"It's hard to do all that while a gun's poking in your back."

"Too bad. Move."

Lawman didn't turn around again. He turned reluctantly to the path ahead, took a steadying breath as he absorbed every detail, and began moving ahead in unchartered territory. Sure he'd explored places he'd never been to before in the past, but…this felt different. This wasn't the charred ruins of St. Louis or some half flooded river settlement belonging to one of the Mississippi tribes. This was the South. And Lawman knew that none of the dangers that he had been through before could prepare him for what lay ahead.

He began pacing slowly forwards, stepping tentatively over exposed roots towards the pale light of evening that filtered through in the distance up ahead. He picked up a stick and used it to both cut through the grass ahead and to prod the ground, checking for quicksand and hidden tar pits. Honestly, he didn't know what he was doing half as well as the guide might. All Lawman could do was hope there weren't any creatures hiding in the long grass they all waded through.

Eventually, they entered a clearing, clambering out of the edge of the forest into the dying light of day and coming upon what remained of a small twilit town. The sky overhead was dominated by looming thunderheads and the houses were overtaken by foliage that grew over them in the fading light and almost hid them from sight. They were camouflaged by something like moss and some wall climbing plants that spanned over the brickwork and glinting windows. The roads were cracked, with roots crumbling the asphalt. Scrambled and knotted they spread over the road's entire surface.

One thing that wasn't covered in fungus and plant-life was the sign by the road that lead into town. A strange silence emanated from the place as Lawman slowly paced up to it. He could see that it wasn't a metal sign like so many other ones that had been reclaimed by nature, but was in fact more reminiscent of a man-size headstone that jutted out of the ground; a pile of stones cemented together into a steep pyramid.

A bronze plaque on it read 'Welcome to Sunshine: The Homeplace of Giles Wolstencroft, Assistant Chief Executive Officer of Vault-Tec. May you have a Sunshiney Day!' Lawman brushed away some moss growing over the bottom half of the plaque and saw the Vault-Tec logo with an engraved picture of Vault Tec residents underneath. They were depicted waving as they 'cheered' and 'smiled', holding up the Louisiana state flag. The moss, however, had eaten away at the plaque somewhat and what should have been cheery residents looked instead like captives frantically waving for help, their smiles were warped to look manic and their cheery grins were smeared to look like screaming faces caught for all eternity underneath the Vault Tec Logo that hung above them like the Sun, or like an all seeing eye. Lawman stepped away from the disturbing image.

"This is the place," Lawman spoke gravely. "No doubt about that."

"Who the fuck is Giles Wolstencroft?" Vyatch rumbled from behind Lawman's shoulder.

"Some kind of Vault Tec hotshot, apparently. Can't tell you more than that," Lawman replied.

"Well, whoever the fuck he was, he ain't nobody now but bone dust," Katherine said dismissively. "Come on, we've got a vault to find."

"Where do you want to start?" Lawman asked. "In a town like this it might be like searching for a needle in a haystack. And it's getting dark." Lawman looked to the sinking sun and felt a shiver of trepidation.

"Vance," Carter called without turning to face him. "Where to from here?"

"I don't know. All I know is its someplace in this town next to a building."

"Christ, I thought that honing system told you where it was?"

"To a point it does."

"Alright, Lawman. You're up."

"Wait. Me? I don't have any better idea than Vance. How do you expect me to find it?"

"Isn't that what you're supposed to be paid for?" Katherine riposted.

"Really? You're giving me too much credit…"

"What about you're pip-boy?" Carter snapped.

"What about it?"

"Doesn't it have some sort of…I dunno… Vault detector or somethin'?"

"You've gotta be kidding me."

"If Kees were here he'd know what to do," Vance said, looking warily around at the shrinking sun and the encroaching darkness.

"Well he's not fuckin' here, is he," Carter snapped back. "Fuckin' think of somethin'. Fast." He jabbed Lawman's back with the gun.

"What exactly do you expect me to do, Carter? Whip up a vault for you out of my ass?"

"Where would they build a vault in this town?"

"How the fuck should I know?"

"It has to be around here somewhere. Think!"

"For Jesus fuckin' Christ… I don't know where it is, Carter. It could be anywhere. We need to find someplace to hunker down for the night before it's too late."

"Well then, start lookin'. Or you're gonna have one nasty hole in your -."

Suddenly there was an almighty clatter, like that made by a raccoon investigating a bin. The crew looked around. Over on the other side of the road a trash can had just toppled over spilling its contents all over the road. A protectron in a cowboy hat stood over it, clearly the perpetrator who knocked it over. It looked for a prolongued moment at the litter and then turned to face the six people clustered around the sign. It whirred and clunked for a moment as all six of them just stared directly at it.

"Don't move," Lawman breathed. "Whatever you do, don't move a fuckin' muscle."

"I'm gonna shoot it," Carter hissed back.

"Don't be stupid, Carter. We don't want to make it hostile. Just take a step back."

"It's a broken down old world piece of scrap, what have we got to worry about?"

"It's a protectron, Carter. It's an unstable, bulletproof robot with lasers designed to kill anything more hostile than a squirrel. So, back away slowly or it's gonna attack."

"I'm gonna turn and shoot on the count of three, ready?" Vyatch interjected.

"Ready," Carter whispered.

"Are you out of your minds?" Lawman retorted.

"Well, howdy there strangers." The protectron lifted a heavily armoured arm and waved it jovially at the six bewildered figures. Its motion sensors blinked their lights at them. "Are you in need of assistance?"

"Shoot it, shoot it now!" Carter hissed. Before he could act, however, it suddenly bolted over to them at an alarming pace, making them all jump back in startled surprise.

"My name's Barry. Sure is a swell summer evening, isn't it? And guess what?" It waved about its laser arms animatedly, sending Lawman ducking out of the path of their barrels. "I'm as thrilled as you are that you've chosen to visit the birthplace of Giles Wolstencroft, my long time master and best genius in the world EVER! Tell me, what is your most favourite thing about Giles Wolstencroft?"

"Er…" Lawman hesitated. "Look, er, we're, um quite busy, and um…"

"Oh, you are busy too? That's great. So am I. I was just about to clean up that trash can that someone toppled over. We have so much in common. My favourite thing about Mr Wolstencroft is that he is the kindest, most gentlest man on Earth, as well as being a great genius. Now it's your turn."

"Er…My turn?"

"What is your most favourite thing about Master Wolstencroft?

Lawman considered for a moment the positive traits of a man who died over two centuries ago as he gazed at the protectron's demented motion sensors. "He can always keep a secret. You can just tell him anything, and he would never tell a living soul."

"Ooh, that's a good one."

"You bet."

"So, how may I help you today? If you require accommodation then Sunshine Hotel can meet your every need. Or if you want a tour of our quiet little town then just say the word and I can whisk you along our favourited tourist attractions. We have Burty Beats disco parlour, Susy Sue's sweet shop extravaganza, and Moonbuck's coffee is out of this world!" Barry swept its arm in an arc over the scene of decrepit buildings, as though showcasing its wonder.

Lawman looked over to the horizon and saw the Sun cresting over it, sinking farther and farther down and making all of their shadows longer. He didn't have time for games.

"Do you know where Sunshine's vault is, Barry?" Lawman asked, sensing opportunity in this encounter. The others looked at each other in anticipation.

"Sure do. Its entrance is located near the train station, right by the Mississippi."

"The Mississippi?" Carter balked.

"We just came from there," Katherine said.

"The river must loop back around, enveloping this town," Vance replied.

"No one's allowed in though," Barry continued. "It's heavily guarded by the US army. But I bet we can get a look at the entrance if we're real lucky."

"Where's the train station?" Lawman asked the protectron.

"It's over this way," Barry told him as he led the way further into town. Everyone trailed after him and their footsteps echoed off the walls of the empty streets. The clouds overhead grew darker. "I sure do hope you like train rides."

"I wouldn't know," Lawman replied in a preoccupied tone. He glanced shiftily at the sinking sun. It wasn't long until dark now. "I've never been in one – not a working one anyway."

"Shucks, you haven't? Well you're in for one hell of a ride…"

Lawman didn't listen as Barry the protectron whirred into his manic monologue about the town, about the places that once were, about the people who were now less than ghosts haunting Barry's tales. He let it all fade into the background. He had but one thought as the Sun disappeared under the horizon and night time fell upon them – That thought was of the vault and what they might uncover down in its depths.

It started to rain.