Wasteland Rules: Kill or Be Killed (The World After Book 1) by J.G. Martin Page B

slavers. In fact, Wichita had the largest slave
auction in North America. The U.S.T.G. maintained an informal presence there
and was rumored to buy slaves for their mining and farming operations, although
the official line was that they liberated those slaves. If they really wanted
to liberate them, they would have taken control of Wichita, but they left it
alone for some reason. Travelling there with a pretty young girl like Rora
would just be asking for trouble.
      A few miles short of town, Derek pulled the SUV to
a stop. He got out and started going through his gear to take a quick
inventory. He unloaded all the shells from the pump action and put them in his
bandolier. He would sell or trade the pump action, his sawed off was much
better in close quarters. He rifled through the truck just to make sure there
wasn’t anything of use and was surprised to find some gear in the very back. A
box of 9 mm ammo, a crowbar, and several small improvised explosive devices.
All of that went into his backpack, which was practically bursting at this
point.
      “What are you doing?” Rora asked curiously.
      “Checking what we have for sale or trade. We
cannot stop for too long to get supplies. I think someone else is tracking us.”
      “The slavers?”
      “No. I think the slavers, the burners, and the
raiders were working for someone else who wants the device. It is too much of a
coincidence that they all ran into us in such a short time.” Derek replied
grimly.
      “Who do you think it is?”
      “I don’t know, but I’m not waiting around to find
out. We have to get to the device first.”
      “The tank is full, why are we stopping?”
      “Because the location you gave me is inside the
New Republic of Texas no man’s land, we need permission to go in there. This
town has a Regulator Station House. I have some old contacts in the Regulators
and they may be able to help us.”
      “What is the no man’s land?” Rora asked.
      “After the U.S.T.G. attack on Atlanta, Texas
established a fifty mile deep zone around their territory to prevent any sneak
attacks. They have sensors set up all along the border. Anyone entering it is
met with lethal force. But, the Regulators have transponders that allow them to
come and go from the zone since they might be chasing criminals who enter the
zone. We either need a transponder or a ride with someone has one.”
      Derek climbed back into the truck and handed Rora
one of the 9 mm pistols and an extra clip. She looked at him with a confused
expression on her face. “What are these for?” She asked.
      “These are yours. We’ll get you a holster in town.
You need to be able to defend yourself out here. I’m going to teach you to
shoot and fight. Otherwise it’s just a matter of time before you get raped and
killed.” He replied matter of factly.
      Rora grimaced, but didn’t argue. She gingerly put
the gun and clip in her backpack. Derek chuckled at her discomfort. She had a
lot to learn about her new environment. Keeping her isolated in their little
village, separate and safe from the real world, hadn’t done her any favors. She
would either adapt or become another victim of the harsh world of the
wasteland. He threw the SUV into drive and resumed their trip into town.
      As they got closer he could see signs for parking
and some billboards proclaiming all sorts of pleasures and entertainments. Some
were fairly obscene and the look on Rora’s face, as she processed what they
were, was priceless. She became visibly more horrified with each billboard.
Derek turned off the highway and down the road that led to the town.
      They finally arrived at the outskirts of town and
the parking lot. There was a large fenced in lot with armed guards and barbed
wire just outside the entrance to town. The town itself was ringed by a large
reinforced concrete wall with guard towers all along it. Searchlights and
snipers were located at every tower. All brush had been