He slapped his forehead as an idea struck him.  He did a search for Earth vehicles.  There wasn’t a single one listed.  When he searched for ground vehicles, the least expensive result was a solar-powered two-wheeled motorcycle thing that listed for ten thousand klax.  The lowest priced enclosed passenger vehicle was currently bidding at sixteen thousand. He pictured an auction of the classic Mustang he’d seen at the lot.  With a write-up like the Winchester seller had created, he might pay for some serious upgrades to the Stronghold.

Closing the market information, he made finding the proper vehicle keys at the car lot a priority alongside mattresses and pillows, wine bottles, and cows.   The new gates were large enough that he could drive the vehicles right down into the cavern and park them.  The trailer too.  He began to feel the tingles of greed take hold.   After all, what was more fun than epic loot?  If he could be the first to sell an Earth car and make a killing before others noticed and followed along, it would give them a good solid start.

The idea excited him so much he had to restrain himself from going out in the dark to find the keys and retrieve the Mustang.  He had to remind himself that on the first day of stabilization, the creatures that roamed the streets at night were much scarier than during the day. He remembered lying in bed listening to the screams of those who’d been foolish enough to venture out, or even just leave their windows open.

His interface told him it was now nearly 5 am.  It would be getting light soon enough.  He’d recruit somebody to go with him.  For the third time since they’d come down here, he wished for paper and pencil.  Planning would be so much easier if he could make a list or three.  Maybe one of the group could be convinced to loot City Hall for some office supplies.

As he let his thoughts drift, the burbling sound of the fountain caught his attention.  He hadn’t really paid much attention to it when it first appeared.  He got up and walked over to it.  The thing was maybe twenty feet in diameter, with a thick stone outer wall that made a good bench to sit on.  The stone appeared to be some form of marble that glowed faintly.  The centerpiece was a creature Allistor had never seen before.  It was bipedal with feathered wings extending out from its back.  The face was vaguely amphibian, a hint of gills at its neck.  The water poured out of its mouth, splashing down into a bowl formed by cupped hands before falling into the pool below.