"I was caught… with weed… in one of their raids," he answered in tired pauses. He remembered how Chuck had told him about that. Thinking about Chuck made him realize how much he really missed him.
"Smoking weed? Pfft... Seriously? Well kid, you can smoke anything you want here," he said throwing a friendly arm around Michael's shoulder. Willy was a short man but he had one hell of an iron grip. "Even pigshit if you wanna though I would not recommend it."
Michael nodded. He was glad Wilson had bought it.
Michael did not talk much. His throat was parched which had made his voice croaky. There were points where he had almost stumbled when the tiredness took over him. Wilson eventually ended up putting his shoulder under Michael's arms to support him. The trader had still some energy within him.
Michael was beginning to feel a slight breeze now which revived his spirits. They were nearing an exit now. Sure enough, they arrived at a small opening that was among a rubble of rocks that had fallen over and blocked the mineshaft entrance. They squeezed through outside
and Michael breathed in the fresh, cold air of the night. The sky was clear and he could stars shining among thin streaks of cloud. It was a welcome sight which boosted his spirits.
He noticed an extinguished campfire nearby and a few cigarette butts scattered around it. For a moment, fear shot through him thinking that it belonged to his pursuers. Then he realized it probably would have belonged to the men who had tied up Wilson here.
He saw no other sign of anyone else in the quarry they were in. Looking around, Michael could see telltale signs that the mines had been abandoned long ago. He was glad that his pursuers hadn't started searching here though he was not going to wait. He looked behind and saw the cliff that he had respawned to looming behind in the distance. Michael had walked quite a long way.
As relief spread within him, he realized how hungry and thirsty he was. They looked around the campfire desperately for some food and water but there was none. How long had he been trapped inside that cursed mineshaft? It must've surely been more than a day.
"Well, we've got a long walk ahead, kid," said Willy with a weary smile. "Not quite out of the lion's den just yet. But we'll make it. Come on."
Willy led the way towards the town he spoke of. He explained to him how he was a businessman who had one of the biggest and most prosperous farms in the whole of the Wild West. He explained how all his competitors were always jealous of him which was why he suspected one of them sending the raiders to intercept his caravan.
"Or they could just be bandits but I doubt it," said Willy. "God, my family is going to be worried sick about me. I've got a daughter, Rose and a son, Patrick. My wife's probably gonna think I'm out whoring again."
They staggered ahead for what seemed like hours and even Willy had ran out of energy to talk. Michael felt he would collapse any moment now with every step in the loose sand a struggle. They looked around for any sign of life but found none.
Eventually, they heard an engine blazing in the distance. Michael was frightened by the sound at first. It reminded him of the buggies that had chased after him. The sound got closer and now they could see the headlights of a buggy making their way towards them. Willy ran forward and waved his arms in front of the buggy shouting for it to stop. Michael too joined him and let out a sigh of relief when it stopped in front of them. Michael fell to his knees.
There was not much energy left in him.
The buggy had two bull horns attached to the front. A skinny man stepped out who wore a white vest that was brown with grime and dirt along with fading blue jeans that were torn. A long bushy beard was caked with dirt was below his crooked teeth.
The man was wearing goggles and removed them when he approached them. He had dead eyes that seemed to not care about anything in the world.
"Well, you both seem to be in quite a mess," said the man in a surprisingly, clear voice. "Water," croaked Michael. "We… need water."
"I'm afraid I ain't gonna give water to strangers that I just met on the road." "Please," pleaded Michael. "We haven't drunk… water… in days."
"Well, that's your fault," said the man turning to his buggy. "Have a nice day."
"I'll... pay you," cut in Willy. He placed a hand on Michael's arm gesturing to him that he would do the talking.
The man stopped and turned his head. "You ain't got no water but you're willing to pay me? I doubt you've got enough. Water is precious in these parts."
Willy staggered to his feet. "You have any… idea who I am? I'm rich. I've got my line of… stores in all the towns. One's ahead even in Copper Queen. Wilson's… you've heard of it."
"Hmm…" The man thought then a smile appeared on his face. "You're the guy in the commercials. You look a lot different in them though but you've got the look. Well, I guess I can give you water provided I get my fee."
"I'll pay you double if you take me to Copper Queen. I've gotta meet the sheriff urgently." "No problem," replied the man with a shrug. "Was heading there anyways."
The man walked up to his buggy and grabbed a flask in the seat next to him. He gave it to Willy who gulped it down greedily. Michael had his hands held next to him, ready to grab it from him once he had drunk his fill. It was a half a minute before Willy was done and Michael was furious at his greed.
Michael gulped down what was left of the water in the flask and closed his eyes with relief. He had never felt this relieved in his life, not even when Elena had found him beyond the Perimeter.
The man gestured for them to enter the buggy and they squeezed inside. Michael had to keep his eyes clenched through the ride as dust and wind smacked against his face because the driver only had one extra set of goggles for Wilson. Dawn was slowly approaching as the red rays of the early sun slowly lit the landscape around. Michael welcomed it gladly as he still felt cold seeping inside him from being trapped in the mines. The buggy slowed down as it approached a town unlike Michael had ever seen before.