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“Barrio Hollywood,” I said.
“You mean where we just recently ran from, leaving our mark in - dustburger?” Frank asked.
“No, beyond that, in the valley. Enough begging, seeking small game. It’s time to find bigger prey. If we intend to take a risk, there needs to be a larger payoff, something to show for our incursion. If we have a reputation, let’s use it to our advantage.”
Teams had been visiting all around the region, losing team member, returning with next to nothing. Addison was right, now’s the time to step-up, take a chance. The risk factor will increase exponentially, still we need to find out what is available, and who is in charge.
“How do we pull this off?” Frank asked.
How do we do this? We have nothing to trade. No ready cash. I close my eyes and consider various scenarios. Getting in should be easy enough. It’s getting back out that is more complex, rogue gangs waiting for easy prey to appear. Wagons weighed down. Average gang size we will confront, ten to twelve armed members, ready to die, doubtful, feeling invincible, but poorly trained? Lots of talk. Makes one wonder how much individually they will invest, their lives? What’s it worth to face off? To engage. Maybe a few are actually crazy enough to step over the line and confront a psychopathic. Others panicky, false bravado. How well will they handle pandemonium, a confrontation? What about their mounts? Any motorize vehicles? Their skills. Just a flashy show of bluster when confronted that fails when faced?
Frank, you and I will head in mid-afternoon. You will drive the wagon, two horses. Be chatty. The story is simple; we are looking for a few supplies; we need some food, cheap, will spend the night, and headed out the next day. In the wagon, we will have a few scatter supplies. When approached, inquire who we might trade with, where, etc. Whatever info you can glean. Make a friend.
“And if they want to know who we are?” Frank asks.
“Never lie. We need to know what they know, and it’s too hard to keep track of lies.”
“The rest will head at dinner time, each a mount in tow. Your story. You need to find a blacksmith. You’re dirty, tired, looking for a meal, a place to crash for the evening, a space, cheap, maybe under a tree. You will spend the next day getting the horses cared for, scout about, and try to be invisible. Learn what you can, note places, events, people, but be discreet. Let’s try to avoid trouble. Hopefully, no one will get the urge to challenge our presence.”
“Meanwhile, Frank and I will beg, borrow, trade for or steal the best we can in the few hours we will be in town. When we leave, we leave together, quickly. With the following switch, Brett, you handle the wagon, while Frank will be back at shotgun.”
“May I make one suggestion, a modification,” Addison adds, “Franks a great talker but, seriously I’ll attract more attention, more of a distraction, and… helpful, can chat up other females without creating an issue with some possessive dude.”
“Sure.”
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