DISCLAIMER: This is coming out way later than expected, this is the only thing i have for the stage 5 drive. Stage 6 will not be spectacularly late.
A secluded gravel road, Crugandr
Local time: 2:14 Sun
Weather: back to being hot as hell
A Strange Looking Lizard
The Magistrate hurtled along the dirt road, shrugging off quite a bit of punishment but thanks to Malcolm deciding to send it over a hill caused the headliner to disassociate with the metal roof.
“Dammit Malcolm! Slow down before you kill us all.” Aedan snapped from the backseat.
A sheepish reply followed mere seconds later. “Sorry, I misjudged how steep it would be on the other side.”
The silver giant then joined the conversation. “Just remember that you are fixing the headliner when we get to the next camp.”
Malcolm only replied with a sigh.
After a half hour of more thuds, rattling and interior trim pieces being knocked loose, the dust cloud from the Mara ahead had made it quite difficult to see the road ahead.
“Doesn’t look like that rain storm got any further than the camp site.”
“Aedan, We’ve been driving since morning and we’ve probably covered over a hundred miles in the past hour.”
“Probably, we are doing 75 right now. But I think… Oh look.”
Orlan looked up from his journal. “What? Ah, someone’s been stranded. It’s the cart by the side of the road right?”
“Yeah, looks like it. Let’s stop and see if we can help out.”
K’mino looked around into the forest as the Magistrate slowed down. “Aedan, I’m sensing danger, are you sure it’s wise to stop?”
“I think you’ll agree that the possible owner of that wagon isn’t in a much better position than we are.”
“Oh,” K’mino sighed and sat back in the seat. “Guess the only thing to do is help him. I assume we’ll be hooking his cart to the car, correct?”
“Spot on, K. Ooh, and Ori, grab your M16 incase shit hits the fan.” Aedan said to his brother.
“You sure? After what happened?”
“Listen to me, just be on alert in case there is anyone who might want to take our stuff.”
The crunch of something on the gravel prompted Patrick to turn around. Oh no, someone had taken the bait. It was only a matter of time before that spotter came back with his associates. But, why hadn’t he heard a lizard thrilling or breathing and what was that staccato burble coming from behind his cart? Well whatever it… was, it was certainly weird. What is this? A self propelled wagon? The lack of steam hissing and an awful smell made this vehicle seem… different.
What was even more surprising however was the strange fox-like things that had climbed out from the vehicle closing the doors behind them.
“Uh… Hello there.”
“Hi, we saw you stopped and wondered if you needed help.” The darker brown one responded.
“Um… yeah.” said Patrick looking around, seemingly nervous.
“Anything the matter?” asked the lighter coloured one.
“No, not really. I just need to get going as quickly as I can.”
“We will make sure of that. Aedan, could you bring the car around?” The lighter brown fox thing asked the darker one, who promptly disappeared behind the cart followed by a loud earth shattering rumble. It was here that Patrick got the full view of their transportation. A big, low and boxy carriage that produced a rumbling sound that had somewhat induced curiosity as to what made that resonance.
The darker brown fox-like thing got out of the vehicle, and walked around the back. “Doesn’t look like our hitch is compatible with something like a lizard.”
The lighter fox thing had another idea. “What about that section of square steel tubing? You should have that right.”
“I think that might actually make sense,” said Aedan, the darker brown being as he retrieved the aforementioned tube and put it in what was called a ‘tow hitch’.
While this was being completed, Patrick had begun putting up and locking the wooden flaps of his merchant cart. Hopefully these flaps would hold if this weird new machine would dare to be any faster than a lizard.
Aedan had put the strongest metal rein loops around the metal tubing. This was the best that could be done without one side having a proper tow hitch and besides, a wooden cart would be much lighter than a caravan. The Magistrate’s Narrowblock V8 burbled gently as Aedan waited by the open driver’s side door for Orlan and the stranded traveler to get in the car, if there was any danger that would soon–. A voice with the smoothness of a certain secret agent came from the bushes as several more men emerged from the bushes.
“Well, well, well. Look at what we have here. Looks like someone tried to help our friend here.” The man who appeared to be the leader of the group of men said while sneering amusedly. All of the men were armed with pistols or rifles and were aiming them at the team standing around the car.
The traveller and Orlan, realizing that these men were bandits. K’mino immediately sensed that these men were dangerous and as such, got closer to the open door Orlan was standing near.
“Looks like we hit the jackpot boys, we’ll be getting another new set of wheels. We’ll be taking everything you’ve got and all that you’ll have left for company is those dyres.”
“I suggest you try and catch us then.” Orlan shot back.
“Oh? Looks like the kitty thinks his friends will out run our lizards. Lemme tell ya son, these are some of the fastest lizards you’ll have seen.”
Orlan then sighed. “You are severely underestimating the capability of the Magistrate.” And then the volley of automatic gunfire erupted sending 30 rounds of 5.56 ammunition at a rate of 800 rounds a minute into the forest, scaring the shit out of the bandits and sending them running for their lives. K’mino grabbed the Traveller by the belt, and yanked with all his might pulling the man into the car followed by Orlan throwing himself into the backseat, as Aedan stomped the accelerator to the floor as the Polaris Narrowblock snarled in defiance as the four wheel drive spun all four wheels fighting for traction. All of this transpired in a manner of seconds, and soon the Magistrate was doing 30 miles an hour and rapidly picking up speed.
John Mitzal, was one of the most notorious bandits this side of Crugandr had seen, but these cats had scared the living daylights out of him and his men. He’d seen lots of battles and guns but, a handheld auto rifle shooting faster than anything else of its size was terrifying to be sure, but these miscreants weren’t going to get away that easy.
The road became visible through the trees again and the vehicle that they were after was hurtling along at speeds their lizards could easily match, but the smell that was coming from the vehicle was nauseating. No one shot at Mitzal and got away with it. No one.
“We are gaining on them!” he shouts to his men. “Keep running after ‘em!”
However, the gap slowly opened the massive iguanas barely being able to keep up as the cart and strange vehicle pulled away, roaring in defiance as it hurtled down the road.
“NO! Do not let them get away!”
The lizards chasing the Magistrate slowly faded into the distance in the rear view mirrors and distant gunshots that were doomed to miss their target had hit rocks that were already far behind the Oil Crisis family truckster.
Aedan spared no seconds in getting on the CB radio. “Everyone! Keep an eye out for bandits, we’ve just had a very close call, keep your foot planted, their lizards are no match for our V8s, four bangers, straight sixes and whatever else we’ve got in this convoy. Don’t stop for any reason, if they try to block you off and you’re in a tank, ram them!”
After the occupants of the Oil Crisis oil tanker had calmed down.
“How’s our guest?”
“Fine, you guys are life savers.” the guest said.
“You have a name?”
“Yeah, Roland, Patrick Roland. Best fruit merchant this side of Crugandr. You can drop me off in Raiegarda.”
The arrival in the campsite is peaceful and the bandits are a no show.
To Be Continued (Like Always)
