The old man that had taken the fruit from Allistor earlier put a hand on Luther’s shoulder.  “He’s right, boy.  Another week in here, and we’d starve.  Even with the meat these folks sold us.  We ain’t got the funds to keep buying food.”   He moved his gaze over to Allistor and grinned.  “Nice shot.”

Just then Sam joined them up on the wall.  “You’re here fifteen minutes, and you’re already picking fights?” He winked at Allistor.  He peered through a slot in the wall, and said, “One second.”   Sliding his rifle barrel into the slot, he took aim at something.  Letting out a breath, he paused, then squeezed the trigger.

Turning back to them, he said, “The guy with the blue shirt hiding behind the ford.  Stuck his head out too far.” The grin on his face made Luther shudder.   The old man just cackled.

A voice rang out from outside the wall.  “You’re gonna pay for that!  You’re all dead!”

Sam shouted, “Stick your head out and tell me that again!  One college puke and one old marine sniper just took out almost half your group!  I’d take Allistor’s advice and leave while you can!”

Nothing but silence answered him.   After a few minutes, they straightened up and peered over the top of the wall.  There was no sign of movement.

The old man said, “I’m George.  Luther’s my boy.  I want to thank you again for coming here and helping us.  Glad to know there’re some good folks left in this god-awful new world.”  He shook hands with both Allistor and Sam.  “How ‘bout we go get some of that food I smell and talk some more?”

Remembering how hungry these people must be, Allistor felt bad.  He’d been wrong; they weren’t incompetent.  They’d just been bullied into a bad situation.  He wanted to kill every single one of the men outside.

As they climbed down, an explosion rocked the gate.  Allistor clambered back up and looked out.  A man behind a nearby truck had his arm cocked, about to lob a grenade at the gate.  Allistor cast Restraint on the man.  He froze in place, a look of horror on his face.  Three seconds later the grenade went off in his hand.  What was left of him fell behind the truck.

Three more men broke cover, dashing behind vehicles as they retreated.  Sam’s rifle put one of them down just as he was about to duck into an alley.  George fired at another and struck him in the leg.  Allistor missed a shot, and Luther’s shot blasted out a storefront window as his target rounded the corner.  But the glass deflected the bullet, and the man disappeared.

George said, “Five dead, one wounded.  Unless they got a good medic, he’s gonna die too.”

Sam said, “If I were them, I wouldn’t come back.”