36

Chester undoes his helmet. Sweat tames his hair and sticks to his forehead, almost hiding his eyes. He places his hands on his knees and hunches over, seeming to reflect on his actions. Ash and Erika, until then mesmerized by the massacre on the monitors, turn and stare at him.

The reactions are opposite, Ash stands in place, stiff, his face turned into a grimace of horror. Erika walks over, rests her hand on his shoulder, and congratulates him.

"You showed those criminals who's boss! The führer would be proud!

"Yes..." Chester sounds much less excited than she is. Erika notices.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing"

"If it's nothing, then what are you doing not lifting your buttocks? We have to escape before these people remember that they are fierce. Or what? Are you planning to take this big thing as a souvenir?"

Chester sweeps his eyes around, and caresses the leather seat rest.

"It's a nice piece. The burned man has reason to be proud, but..."

He takes a deep breath, with his back sweeps his damp mane of hair from his face.

"It's bad for me. I'm trying to be a better person"

"And who wouldn't? But you know how it is. The world complicates it for us"

"That's a coward's excuse, Erika. We don't give up because it costs... We're better than this. I feel it, I know it"

Erika gasps exaggeratedly and crosses her arms.

"It's the first time someone has told me I'm better than I am. Nadjela must be upsetting us, or something"

"Finally, another good influence in my life, you might say..."

Light-hearted comments like that help the swordsman to regain his good mood. Chester thanks Ash for his assistance, and confesses the wish that he will continue to help them. Ash remains silent. They turn off the Crocodile and leave.

There are no other souls in the workshop besides them. Erika goes to look for Nadjela. Chester gets from various stiffs the clothes he needs: a black shirt made of breathable material; a military vest; powdered jeans; boots with iron spikes adorned with spikes; and two wide modified holsters where he keeps a pair of firearms (a Taurus Raging Bull revolver and a MAC-10 with silencer), a pair of electric batons, a flashlight, and a long survival knife with its respective sheath. All of the equipment is pulled from the smoldering remains of the armory.

With Ash's help, Chester finds an intact jeep in the background. The mechanics jumper the wires to wake up the engine. Chester drives and waits near the gap left by the devil's hand. Erika approaches, followed by Nadjela with the piglet in her arms.

The princess observes the destruction and the dead without a word. As she stands next to the jeep, her attention is sequestered by the sight of the burning settlement through the hole, thick swaths of smoke rising from the streets and walls. She turns her face to Crocodile, distressed, but not taking her eyes off him.

"He did this...?"

"That's right... I got him to be useful to us" Chester replies while avoiding looking at her.

"This giant is... Different. I sense his evil. It is a destructive divinity, unlike yours, which is a protective divinity"

The Lancasterian does not respond, he looks embarrassed. Erika rides on the rear platform of the jeep, section equipped with a flamethrower. Ash moves to make room for the piggy in the rear seats. Nadjela takes a place in the passenger seat. Chester puts the vehicle into gear, which rattles as it travels along the wall debris, and steadies itself as it steps onto the street.

Amidst the dust, smoke, and crackling fire, there are shadows wandering and flailing. Some scream in pain... Or whimper... Or laugh... Or curse... The liveliest ones cry out a name: Lancasterian. Chester acts as if it's nothing to him, lets the slaves satiate their passions, and moves on through the least ramshackle streets he can find.

The princess has mixed feelings after seeing that the scene of people being free does not match the idyllic landscape she imagined upon arrival. Was destruction indispensable before the change? She plans to discuss it with the elderly Zakary as soon as she gets the chance.

On several streets the jeep has to turn around because of overturned wallets or collapsed buildings. Erika takes the opportunity to get out and go loot some of the local produce, imitating the slaves. That way she gets water, food, and several gallons of fuel. Ash assists her by arranging the loot in the back.

They cross the walls, whose watchtowers are now abandoned. They drive long and hard until the dome disappears behind them. The SUV's headlights penetrate the thick, silent night. Chester advises Nadjela to take advantage of the situation and go to sleep.

"We don't know when a new situation will demand 100% of our energies. You relax too, old lady"

"What do you mean with old lady?" Ash asks with indignation masking the fear in her eyes. "I may have Swiss roots, but I bet I'm as old as you are"

Chester analyzes her in the rearview mirror.

"You're right, you look as vibrant as a rose. I'm sorry, it's just the hair and the skin that confused me"

"Watch out!" Erika points ahead.

The Lancaster turns its eyes, glimpses a bipedal shadow and presses the brake, but it's too late. The bumper rammed the creature and knocked it over. Erika falls on top of the piggy. Ash suffers a strong tug on the seat belt. Nadjela ends up under the glove compartment. Chester cracks his forehead open against the steering wheel. And Tashala is crushed by the carcass of he ostrich.