Those raiders really took this poor girl far. We had been walking for almost three hours before coming up to a house buried inside the dense dead trees.

“This is it, up here!” Marley said with excitement. She had cheered up significantly over the last few hours.

As we got closer to the house, the door flew open. Standing inside was a man with one leg, a lab coat, and long blonde hair. There were food stains on his stubble.

“Oh my god, it’s you! It’s really you!” Cried the one legged man. Marley ran up and jumped into his arms, knocking him over. They both fell over on the wooden porch in embrace. Her father groaned upon hitting wood below.

“Oh no, Papa, are you okay?” said Marley. The one legged man laughed.

“Of course I am, now that you’re back! My god, I thought I would never see you again!”

The two hugged each other for a few minutes. I decided then to take my mask off. This drew the attention of Marley and her father.

“Papa, this is The Mechanic. Well, that’s not his real name. He doesn’t have a name. But he saved my life! These men, oh these horrible men, they kept me for days, Papa! They would have killed me if The Mechanic hadn’t come along! He got shot trying to save me, though, and he needs you to help him!” blurted out Marley before her father had a chance to talk. I approached him, holding out my hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” I said to him, chuckling as to seem appropriate. He took my hand, and Marley helped me bring him to his feet.

“Likewise, young man! Thank you so much for bringing my daughter back to me! Lord knows that not many others would do the same.” Said the one legged man, his eyes filled with glee.

“My name is Hanson, by the way, Hanson Burrows.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Hanson, but if you could just fix me up and send me on my way, that would be great.”

Hanson Burrows laughed at me.

“Son, you’re not going anywhere! You’re staying for some supper!” Cheered Hanson, holding his daughter in his arms; I couldn’t help but smile.

“Sure, I’ll stay, what are you cooking?”

“Oh, nothing but the best! The Hanson Special! It’s a surprise, really, but you’re going to love it! Marley, sweetheart, help me to the kitchen…”

Inside the house was beautiful, old couches and desks and tables, totally wacky and unusual, but that’s what gave it such charm. I took a seat on their old green tinted leather couch next while Hanson fixed my arm cooked us dinner.

In about a half an hour I was called to the table only to see what appeared to be brown, green, and red mush sprawled out onto a plate. I couldn’t help hide my look of utter disgust. Hanson laughed as he seemed to do.

“It’s not as bad as it looks, trust me.” He said. I was starving so I had no choice but to take his word for it. It was delicious, it tasted like gravy filled stuffing with a hint of sour hard candy. Sounds disgusting, but I swear it was the best thing I’d had in decades. I couldn’t help hide my look of utter surprise. Hanson, once again, laughed.

“So where did you come from, Mechanic?” asked Hanson.

“Yeah, I want to know.” Marley added.

“It’s not much of an interesting story and not much of one I can remember.” I said solemnly.

“Oh, come on! You don’t look all that old! You’re a handsome young man! Why can’t you remember?” asked Hanson.

“Well… here’s the thing. And listen, you have been great company, but I’m no mortal. I’ve been around since before Xenopram had even been invented.”

Today has been just full of surprises, because Hanson couldn’t be happier to hear this. He placed his palm to his heart.

“As have I, brother. As have I. Marley here is my adopted daughter, I found her a few years back and took her in as one of my own.” Hanson said. I knew better than to ask where Marley’s real parents were.

“That’s great to hear. I don’t see much of us around anymore.” I said.

“Well, that’s because most of us were above their Prime Production Period and were killed right off. You and I were young, but more fortunate now. We could probably hide in Beauland undetected.” Hanson said, sucking back his food.

“I’m not sure, I’ve heard over the last couple decades they’ve managed to lock the place down. They’re more progressive though, I’ve heard.”

“How is that so?” Hanson asked.

“Well, the Rotten Evil, they’re allowed to get Xenopram shots as long as they fall under that damn Prime Production Period. Some refugee told me about that some 30 years ago.” I said, taking another bite of the delicious slop.

“I’m not going to take Xenopram, I’d like to get old!” cried out Marley. Hanson darted his glare at her. I kept looking between the two.

“Oh yes you are! You’re going to take your pill and go to Beauland someday!” shouted Hanson.

“I don’t want to go! It sounds terrible!” growled Marley.

I put my hand up politely and waited for the two to calm down.

“Listen, Marley. I’ve lived in Beauland most of my life. It’s not that bad of a place. Not much worse than it is here, believe me. It’s safer for you. Funny enough, the only way you’ll be able to get old is by being safe.” I said calmly.

“I want to get old. Being alive forever doesn’t sound fun.” Marley said.

“It isn’t. But it’s for your own good.” said Hanson. “Anyways, Mechanic, how long have you been living here? America, I mean.”

“200 years, how about you?”

“Shit.” said Hanson. “I’ve only been here about 50. And you’ve just been surviving this long all by yourself?”

“I had some help every now and again, I must admit.” I said.

“Well, that’s still quite the accomplishment! I couldn’t imagine being here today without my little Marley.” Hanson said as he leaned forward and ran his fingers through Marley’s hair, giving her a chance to talk.

“Mechanic?” asked the young Marley.

“Yes?”

“If Xenopram is so good, why are you and Papa here? Why around you in Bow-land?”

I stopped at the question. Never before had I wanted to lie to a kids face, but in this context it seemed necessary. But I didn’t want to not tell the truth either.

“Err… I’m not so sure about your father.” I said upon noticing the look Hanson was giving me.

“But in my case, I didn’t feel like I was much help in Beauland. There are a lot of people here in need, people in the same situation you were in for the last few days, they need my help.”

“Oh… Ok.” Marley said, clearly unsatisfied.

The rest of the dinner was rather uneventful. Hanson and I talked about women and the past few centuries; as much as we could remember, anyways. Hanson even pulled out an old, few hundred year old bottle of Rye that he said he was saving for a “special occasion”. I only had half a glass, it tasted poisonous. Or maybe that was just how liquor tasted. I don’t remember. Hanson offered me a bed to spend the night in, and I would have been a fool to decline.

I hadn’t had a dinner as fun as that in a long time. Not just as fun, but as relaxing and homely. It was even longer since I had a warm meal, and despite its unusual appearance it was not all that bad.

I’m sure I would have loved to know Hanson and Marley Burrows more if the raiders hadn’t shown up.