My last post and character positions was done on Aug.22nd....
(Still a minute or so before arriving at the camp site but it is in view)
Fernando and Hondo notice a couple of more vehicles have parked themselves into the large parking lot. with a couple more driving in and looking for a spot to hunker down in. As they enter on the park lot an older looking couple (male and female) with heavy pack packs approaches them. Perhaps they were not older but definitely much more rough around the edges.
"Da Festivities still going on?" the older male asks as he steps into view with his lantern raised at head level.
"Yeah, just head down straight to that open gate and walk into town. It looks like it's going to go on for days." Fernando points to where the fence opens up about 20 yards away.
"Why are you carryin' your backpacks? They would be safe in your ride." Hondo asks.
"This be here our tradin' money." the man answers.
"We be prospectors." The woman says, sounding younger then she appears to be.
"We mine for scraps from the wrecks and the mountains do have gold though its hard get too. But we be harder." The man says.
"Interesting. What do you do with with what you find? I mean, I do not think you stuffed a car fender in your back pack..." Fernando points out.
"We got several mini ark furnaces to melt down what we find. We can melt a wreck in into small blocks that take up a whole lot less room. Each furnace takes care of a particular metal: Steel, coppah, aluminmum, silver, gold and so on as to not mess up what we find. We find it, test it and melt it down, then we can sell it." The man explains.
(Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTzKIs19eZE )
"I'm sure there are many who are willing to make a deal for your wares. Enjoy your stay." Fernando says.
"Yeah. We hope to run into the liberators. We got a few relatives who were taken by the slavers." The man says as he reaches out to shake their hands.
"They're out there somewhere. Maybe you will find them tomorrow." Hondo points out, knowing that it would be nice to know who the people around them are but now is a time to rest and come down from the tension both he and Fernando have been riding on all day. "Y'all enjoy your stay, we're headin' in for some shut eye."
"Much Oblige! We'll definitely meet up again..." The man says as they shake hands.
In a few seconds, the couple is heading into town for perhaps a prosperous and good time.
"Mountain people... I did not think there was gold over on this side of the Rockies." Fernando says as they start to head back to their campers.
"It takes all kinds to make a world. I prefer to have hard working people like that around me than those who sit around getting fat in the city..." Hondo adds.
"I would too. What about what they said - finding lost relatives the slavers took away?" Fernando asks.
"You told me once long ago that as much as rescuing life is such an important job to do, we need to take care of our selves first before we can help them." Hondo points out
"Yeah." Fernando replies as they step up to their camp. They turn around and look at the other vehicles that came in during their absence. "The place is getting crowded..."
"I know what you mean. Hope it does not become a problem..." Hondo replies before they retire to their vehicles. Fernando can hear some voices not too far away and recognizes them as member's of Jeanette's party. He signals to Hondo to not say a word and listen to what is being said and by whom. After a few minutes of listening in, Fernando opens the side door to his camper and signals Hondo to go in. Following Hondo, they take a seat inside the electric camper and slowly close the door.
"Did I 'ear them say somethin' about kidnappin' a kid?" Hondo asks.
"I heard the same thing. But you are a witness, you are not to act against them. I will but not now, now is not the time. Better to catch them in the act or after the fact with evidence red handed than to confront them about it and they deny everything." Fernando explains.
"Let me know what has to be done. I'll do it." Hondo replies.
"I can trust you on that. Let prepare to go to bed, hopefully Val and the girls will be here soon, and we can wake up early and prepare for the next town." Fernando says as he opens the door to the camper. Fernando steps out of the camper, with Hondo behind him. "I hope they come soon." He says loud enough to be heard.