Before I was fully asleep, I realized I had several notifications. I pulled them up.

Congratulations Citizen! You have earned a rank in walking! A great way to see the beautiful vistas of this great nation!

Excellent work postman! You’ve successfully performed the primary goal of your job 'Delivery’! You’ve earned 279 Patriot Points!

Congratulations Citizen!

You’ve earned a level in Postman, carrying on the legacy of the Pony Express. You have received +1 Speed, +1 Endurance, and +1 Perception.

6th Level also Unlocks:

Handle with Care: When dealing with a fragile load, activate this ability to steady your hands and arms, to ensure safe delivery.

It looked like carrying and delivering that letter from Pott’s had been what I’d needed to finally rank up my Postman level. I had been basically performing my job as a Marshall non-stop since I’d first gained gotten it, but I’d always appreciated the benefits I’d received from being a Postman as well, though I wasn’t entirely sure yet of how I might be able to use my new ability. Gaining a level in Postman also made me remember how much simpler things had been for me before I’d taken up the role of a Marshall. All I needed to do was find a route and take packages and letters from point A to point B. I didn’t need to speak with anyone more important than the occasional mayor, and while things were dangerous, my main threats were from raiders or the occasional irradiated pest rather than power-armored fanatics or invisible monsters. I missed the simplicity, but I didn’t miss the powerlessness, the inability to do anything other than move from job to job, and do my best to ignore the hate I saw in people’s eyes. The threats and problems I dealt with were more complicated and dangerous, but my ability to change things, and to have an impact had increased in equal measure.

The night passed without incident, though the frequent comings and goings of people near my door woke me and had me ready with my 9mm several times. That was as much a blessing as a curse, since it did bring me out of the old nightmares that made my back ache. I was fully awake a bit before dawn, and spent some time reading in the dark as I waited for whatever escort was meant to take me close to my destination. I was tempted to sneak out of the building, but I was fairly certain I was being watched, and antagonizing the First and his Edenotes seemed like an unnecessary risk when I’d seemingly been given permission to leave in safety.

I heard heavy footfalls outside my room, and tensed as they stopped just outside the door, and I heard a knock. It was familiar, as were the footfalls. I opened the door to see Sampson standing just outside. His massive frame filled up most of the doorway.

“You my escort?” I asked.

He shook his head, “No.” He looked both ways in the hall, wearing a nervous expression that looked strange on someone as fierce as him. “Can I come in?”

I stepped to the side and gestured him in.

He obliged, but stayed by the door. “I don’t have much time. We’re between guard rotations now, but there isn’t much of a gap.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“You’re traveling North-West, correct? I heard talk among some of the others who’ve received the eucharist.”

I nodded.

“Were you warned of the dangers that lie that way?”

“The First…implied there was danger, but he wasn’t specific.”

Sampson nodded. “Only madness lies in that direction.”

In my eyes, I was leaving madness behind in Eden, but I bit back that reply. “What do you mean?”

“There’s a fog all throughout that area. It causes visions, visions of the past, the present, or the future. Many of us are given permission by the First to seek those visions out for ourselves. Others are… ordered too. Some come back with a renewed purpose and faith, Moze was one of those. He never spoke of journeying East until after his journey into the fog. Still, others go missing, and there have been…rumors that deep in the fog they’re still alive, but they aren’t what they once were.”

I moved to my pack and pulled out a map. “Can you show me exactly where this is?”

He frowned. “I do not know how to use maps. I have only ever lived in Eden.”

I pointed to a point on it. “We’re here.” I held my thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “This would be about five miles distance.” I pointed to the location of the bunker. “This is my destination.”

He looked closely at the map, drawing a line on it with his finger and mouthing his thoughts without vocalizing them. “It is either just past the fog, or in the center of it. I have only ever traveled to its edge.” He leaned back, returning to his full height, his worried expression at odds with the rest of him. “I must leave, the next patrol will begin shortly.”

I nodded. “Thank you for the warning.”

He shrugged. “Moze was a good friend, and you granted me the peace of knowing his fate. One good turn deserves another.” With that, he turned around and left the room.

No wonder the First had been amused at my destination. Even if he had considered having me killed, why bother with the mess when I was putting myself in such a dangerous situation all on my own?

I spent the rest of my morning gearing up. I was brought a simple breakfast of bread and some kind of poultry. That meat, unlike what I’d eaten in the towns in the center of Eden, was pleasantly irradiated and reminded me of something I’d eat in Pott’s. I wondered how things were back on the other side of the Cut. The Remnants were likely still consolidating power after the conquering of the Republic, The Khan doing the same after the internal troubles with the Widows. Pott’s was probably still maintaining its neutrality, all while collecting all the deadmen children it could and Julian continuing to experiment with all the tech he could extract from the Remnants. I wondered how Deux was doing with his radio station, and how Nico was handling things since I’d deputized her. I felt a concerned expression come across my face, unbidden, but pushed the thoughts away. It didn’t matter, I was further away than I ever had been, and had my own job to do.

I heard more heavy footfalls outside my door, and another set of knocks. This time, they were unfamiliar. I moved over to the door and opened it. There were two of the hulking deadmen waiting for me.

“We have been sent to escort you.”

I turned around and holstered my weapons before slinging my pack over my shoulder and gesturing for them to lead the way.

They moved, guiding me out of the building, where I received a strange mix of stares. Some were full of contempt, some pitying, and others seemingly just interested in seeing what the stranger in their midst looked like. I was used to stares of all kinds, so I ignored them.

We came to a well-trod path and started walking. My escorts were quiet, wearing grim expressions and walking in lockstep as we moved. That suited me fine. I wasn’t interested in any more conversation. I’d done what Pott’s had asked of me in delivering the letter, which left only my job for the Remnants, and I was eager to see it completed. I was also eager to explore another piece of the Cut. I’d probably been to more places and seen more sights than anyone else on either side of it, but I was still ready to see more.

My escorts took no breaks as we moved, which I found relieving after having to follow Joseph. He’d been less capable of moving quickly than even Mama, and she had more than a century of life under her belt, whereas he had simply seemed much more suited to having his ass in a chair.

The radiation of the deadzone faded a little as we moved, but it didn’t completely go away, which was a relief to the internal heat I was still battling. I wondered if the amount that faded was entirely from what was radiating off the First himself, or if he had chosen that region of the deadzone because it was higher in radiation and that aided his own comfort.

By late evening we’d reached the edge of the forest. I could smell a slight tinge of moisture in the air, and the forest was starting to give way to a more rocky, open area.

My escorts stopped abruptly and one of them turned to me.

“This is the edge of Eden. We shall camp here for three days. If you wish to travel back through Eden, meet us here. If you attempt to go through Eden without us, you shall be killed.”

I nodded, unsurprised by their statement. The First was willing to let me live, but certainly not to let me live and walk Eden without having eyes on me.

I turned away from my escorts, and kept walking, heading toward the bunker.