Journal of Honcho Biggs - Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of the Journal of Honcho Biggs, titled "Fools Rush In".

Fools Rush In
I got back to Novac as fast as I could. There was quite a commotion when I got to the town - a crowd of people were gathered around some rocks in front of Dinky the Dinosaur. Traveling merchants, settlers, Ada, Cliff, even some reporter looking guy for the Black Horse Press. Whatever it was must've been something special or something dead.

It was something dead. Good old Jeannie May, her head blasted into a million gory pieces scattered along the rocks. Bits of her glasses could be found as well. Must of been freshly killed due to the stench. And the fact that she was alive yesterday as well.

I grabbed the reporter. "What happened here?"

"Jeannie May bit the dust, found dead this morning when Ranger Andy made his dawn patrol," the reporter said in fast-talking voice that would've been common in a pre-war news holotape. "Townsfolk say they last saw her going home last night. Now's she dead, and the night time sniper has hit the road. A courier that passed through yesterday also left before dawn this morning."

"Wait," I stopped him. "A courier?"

"Yes sir, a deliver of mail and packages. Came into town last afternoon. Left this morning."

I had missed him again! "Hold on-"

"Holding."

"I'm gonna ignore your attitude here," I said flatly. "Do you think the Courier and the sniper did this?"

"Most likely, yes." Could the Courier be capable of such a murder? "But, if it was them, it was justified. Night time sniper's wife went missing recently. We found a Bill of Sale left on Jeannie May's corpse. Turned out she sold his wife and unborn kid to the Legion."

Christ. Bitch deserved it then. I heard stories about the Legion and women. And it ain't pretty. I let out a long rueful whistle. "Guess she it got it coming then," I said finally.

"Guess she did," was all the reporter said, for once talking with a deeper meaning behind it.

I thanked him and went to find James and Niner. Fortunately, they were together at the medical tent. Niner was looking good as new.

"Hey Biggs! Guess who's ready to take on Vegas?" Niner said, flexing his healed right arm. "Guess that doc knows something all along, huh?"

I laughed. "Glad you're feeling better, Niner." I looked at James. "Sorry...about the loss, I guess." Usually, I wasn't one for politeness. But I guess this called for it.

"Don't worry about it, pal," James said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Besides, plenty of strange around here."

"Aha James, you see, you're supposed to explode in bed, but instead, ah, Jeannie May did!" Niner yelled, then laughed real hard at his own joke. "You see, it's cuz...you know...you said don't worry about it, so I assumed these kind of jokes would be cool..."

We ignored his awkward coughs afterwards. "If Niner's good, we'll be heading to Vegas soon."

"About that," James said, rubbing his back. "With Boone gone, they offered me the job of night guard here, since I can shoot well. I took them up on it."

"Really?" I asked. Wasn't expecting this.

"Yeah, with the money from the scrap I can settle down. Marry Ada, nail any broad that comes up Highway 95. The life."

"More power to you, buddy," I said. "Well, we got one more day in here until Niner's good to go, wanna go live it up tonight?"

"Of course, Biggs! I'm sure Jeannie's got some booze she's not gonna be needing no more."

"I can come too, right guys?" Niner asked.

"Sorry, pal, but you gotta rest. No boozing," I said jokingly.

"Doctor's orders," James said with a shrug.

"Ah c'mon guys, really?" Niner asked as we left the tent.

Niner, of course, joined me, James, Ada, and a few other broads from Novac in the motel room. Whiskey and beer flowed freely as Niner tossed around some steady he still had. Good times all around. Made me realize that we're a bunch of fools, but lovable fools. We're coming for Vegas, whether it's ready or not. Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread.