"They Eat Metal" Part I

A Horse Walks Into A Bar

A trail of ruinous dust, looking like a galaxy, billowed at his back when he walked into the territory. The spurs on his boots clinked together. His coat was ordinary army issue but with a few tribal patterns. His moustache was of the finest material.

He had reined in his mount at Drake’s Fall. A mouth to feed and water was his only concern. Covering Scott with a blanket, he adjusted his gas mask, put on his hat and walked into the path leading to the tiny settlement called Elk. He pulled his coat tighter around him and walked on into the green, pernicious fumes.

A tavern found him.

The Goat’s Left Eye was so named because of an enormous left eye that hung off the tavern’s left wall. There was no one in the tavern except for Tam and this big gun he was pointing at the newcomer.

“Well, well. A customer and a stranger at that. Tell me why I shouldn’t blow your head off your shoulders.”

“Strikes me I could ask the same question of you, par’ner.” 

Tam observed that the newcomer was also pointing one of his blasters at him.

“Ok, at least you are human. They wouldn’t react this way. They eat metal, you know? Still some identification would go a long way.”

The newcomer laid down his badge on the bar and sat down on one of the dusty stools. He grabbed a flagon and helped himself to some of the tap beer.

“So, yer name is Horse, eh? Never heard that one before. And yer a Dragoon. Never liked one of those ever.”

“Your beer tastes like Rakkaruk piss.”

“Why, thank you! And for this compliment, I’ll give you some free advice. Turn back and leave immediately. I have never liked you Dragoons, tools of the System.”

“The same System that left you to die here. Don’t forget that part. My mount needs some hay and as soon as I get it, I’ll be off. Any one in the village?”

“There ain't no hay here. There might be folk on the Tiles. It is just us --” Tam froze mid sentence. His eyes rolled back in his head and his whole body seemed to go into a fit. He jerked around enthusiastically before falling down to the floor. Horse observed this with his usual lack of interest.

Tam was stone dead. Horse checked Tam’s pockets and found two shekels. He left them on the bar.

“That’s mighty kind of you”, muttered Horse as he began trudging his way towards the Tiles.

[continued here Part II]