Chương 36: Dark Clothes

Before Marlin could finish, Elias picked up his fork without even looking at him.

"Just eat and keep your mouth shut." Marlin opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only swallow his words and focus on his food. Cass nearly laughed. Marlin shot him a glare, and Cass immediately lowered his head, pretending nothing had happened. Once dinner was over, Jack gathered the dishes and was about to head inside for some soda. Susan and Ray exchanged a look, then glanced toward the outdoor shower. Ray gestured for Susan to go first, but Susan shook her head.

"You go ahead. I'll wait." After a brief hesitation, Ray took the clean clothes and stepped inside. A short while later, her awkward voice came through the fabric.

"Um… what are these two bottles? How am I supposed to use them?" The conversation outside stopped. Cass stared for a second before remembering his own first attempt. He burst out laughing, only to fall silent the moment Jack looked his way. Susan, however, looked just as confused as Ray. That was when Jack realized his mistake. Shampoo and body wash were ordinary to him, but these people had never used either of them before. He went back into the store, returned with two more bottles, and handed them to Susan.

"The red cap is shampoo. That's for your hair," he explained. Then he pointed to the other bottle.

"The blue cap is body wash. That's for the rest of you." Susan looked down at the labels.

"So shampoo is for hair, and body wash is for the body?"

"Exactly," Jack said. Susan took the bottles into the shower and explained their uses to Ray. She came back out a few moments later, leaving Ray to finish washing. When Ray finally emerged, she had changed into the dark shirt and pants Jack had found for her. Both were clearly too large, forcing her to roll up the sleeves and pant legs. Her hair was still wet and her face slightly flushed, but she looked much cleaner than before. She immediately turned on Cass.

"You enjoyed that, didn't you?" Cass grinned.

"What's wrong with laughing? You didn't know how to use them." Ray narrowed her eyes.

"And you did?" Cass hesitated for half a second before lifting his chin.

"Of course. Shampoo—everyone knows what that is."

"Sure," Ray said with a cold smile. That was enough to make everyone nearby laugh. Susan used the shower next, followed by Reed. Before going in, Reed looked straight at Cass and repeated in a perfectly serious voice, "Shampoo—everyone knows what that is." The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Cass's face stiffened. By the time Reed came out and Marlin's turn arrived, Cass had clearly had enough.

Marlin had barely looked his way when Cass snapped, "Don't you say a word!" Marlin burst out laughing, while Elias could only shake his head. By the time everyone had finished showering, darkness had settled over the wasteland. Jack moved the portable air conditioner into the six-person tent and aimed the vent toward the sleeping area. Within minutes, the trapped heat began to fade, leaving the inside noticeably cooler.

"Adjust it if you need to," Jack told the others.

"Turn it down if it gets too cold." Elias ducked inside and stopped as the cool air washed over him. After standing there in silence for a moment, he turned back to Jack.

"Thank you." Jack blinked.

"For what?" Elias was quiet for a moment. Then he smiled.

"Nothing. Just… thank you." Jack stared at him, unsure what to say. They helped Cass into the tent to rest, with Susan and Ray following so they could keep an eye on his injury. Reed settled near the entrance, keeping his weapon close as he prepared to stay there for the night. Marlin ducked into the six-person tent to feel the cool air for himself. When he came back out, he looked from his own two-person tent to Jack with an unmistakably hopeful expression. Jack knew exactly what he wanted.

Before Marlin could ask about the air conditioner, Jack said, "Didn't you want to discuss the trade?" Marlin immediately forgot what he had been about to say.

"Let's talk." They sat down at the table outside.

"So," Marlin said eagerly, "what kind of deal do you have in mind?"

"Besides the automatic seeder, pressure nozzle, drone, and energy storage unit, do you have anything else?" Marlin shook his head.

"Nothing worth mentioning. The rest are just basic necessities."

"You seem to value necessities," Jack said.

"I have plenty of those. How about I trade you some for the equipment?" Marlin stared at him.

"Are you serious?"

"Do you want to trade or not?"

"Of course I do. Only an idiot would turn that down." Marlin leaned forward and named his price.

"For the automatic seeder, I want one bag of refined salt, ten bottles of pepper spray, and ten bottles of cleaner. I'd want about the same for each of the other items. If you take everything, I can drop the cleaner—but I want the first-aid kit instead." The flap of the six-person tent opened, and Elias stepped outside.

"Marlin, are you trying to rob him?"

"That's a perfectly reasonable opening price," Marlin said. Elias gave him a flat look. Marlin cleared his throat.

"You saw what was in that first-aid kit. Those supplies can save lives. Of course it's valuable."

"Exactly," Elias said.

"It can save lives. Can that pile of junk you brought do the same?" Marlin immediately objected.

"Those things may be useless to most people, but Jack can use them. That gives them value."

"It gives them value," Elias replied, "but it doesn't give you the right to name any price you like." Marlin turned to Jack for support, but Jack nodded.

"He's right. I'm the buyer, so I decide what they're worth." Marlin let out a long breath.

"Fine. Then name your price." Jack smiled.

"I'll give you the quantities you asked for, including the first-aid kit." Elias immediately frowned.

"Jack—""Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." Jack turned back to Marlin.

"I'll also add ten bottles of water, ten cans of beef, and the cleaner." Marlin sat up straighter.

"All of that?"

"Yes—but not just for the equipment." Marlin's excitement faded slightly.

"The extra supplies aren't payment for the equipment," Jack explained.

"They're for spreading the word." Marlin and Elias both looked at him.

"Whenever you visit another settlement, tell them about this place. Let them know they can trade for water, food, salt, and certain Old World supplies here. As long as they bring something valuable, I'm willing to trade." Marlin frowned.

"That's all?"

"That's all." Marlin studied him for a moment. Elias remained silent nearby, waiting to hear his answer. Jack did not explain any further.

"So, do we have a deal?" After thinking it over, Marlin nodded.

"We have a deal." With the agreement settled, Marlin was visibly pleased, and Jack was satisfied as well. In exchange for water, salt, canned beef, pepper spray, cleaner, and an ordinary first-aid kit, Jack would receive the automatic seeder, pressure nozzle, drone, and energy storage unit. Better still, Marlin would spread word of the convenience store to other settlements. That part of the agreement mattered far more to Jack than the equipment itself.

Late that night, Marlin lay alone in his two-person tent, turning from side to side as the day replayed in his mind. The shower. The clean clothes. The air conditioning. Hot food, clean water, salt, canned beef—and finally, Jack's unusual request. After staring at the roof of the tent for a long time, Marlin began to understand what Jack was trying to do. Jack did not merely want him to carry news of the convenience store to other settlements. What if Marlin went one step further?

What if he brought the people who wanted to trade back with him? Marlin considered the idea, then set it aside. It was too soon. For now.