Arrival in the Terminus

The Memphis Terminus is the largest railway station after Santeria. Three or four grand coeurs and dozens of wagons crowd the large hall, as Benefactor Rod and Dan Hawking step off the train. The Terminus is full of people, most of them railers, but there are also many travelers and merchants – but one sees no judges, nor their soldiers. Some of the railers seem to guard the station’s peace, with shotguns and stutters at the ready. The hall echoes with voices, the clanking of machines and the low hum of electricity. Shacks and cabins have been built at walls and on the platforms, serving as workshops, bars, vendors’ stalls and bolt holes. Railer signs and vevers cover every surface. The air is filed with the smell of diesel, food, and many, many people. A large ancient station clock dominates the exit platform, its hands showing six in the evening, where a lit neon sign advertises the Terminus Diner. At a time where most settlements prepare for the long dark night, Memphis just seems to get going. As soon as the strangers put their feet on the ground, they are assaulted by street urchins, fixers and hustlers of all kind, hawking trinkets, badly forged passage papers, refreshments of dubious provenance and other services.
Mal Porter and Zed are standing close to the clock, and watch the arrival of the train – always a source of good entertainment. It is Mal who spots the benefactor, and he remembers another member of that fraternity: Simon, now long gone, possibly to Santeria, possibly even further south. A great healer and a deadly shot. And the benefactors are always on a mission; maybe it is time to form a new posse. He ploughs toward the beleaguered pair, Zed in tow. The urchins recognize the heavy step of the law and, with one hardy exception, dart away. Mal introduces himself to the new benefactor; Rod is quite happy to see someone who knows about the benefactors and is not trying to sell him something. The two others eye each other warily. Finally, to get rid of the remaining street vendor, Mal suggests to use his vehicle for a small get-together. It is parked at the border of the Memphis Terminus – a small nod towards Mal from the railers.

The Nissan Conquistador
Mal is the proud owner of a Nissan Conquistador off-road capable pick-up. This car is a behemoth which was mainly sold to victims of severe mid-life crisis during the years just before the Fall – there are still some barely discernible billboards around, showing the Conquistador in all its massive glory over the slogan “Conquer”. It has seen use for many years after Fall, and most of its components have been replaced several times. The chassis is a patchwork of welds, pointing to dozens of repairs. What remains is the powerful silhouette of the original pick-up, still visible under the newly installed armor plating. The windows are protected with metal strips, and one of the car’s owners deigned to cut hatches into the roof of the car to serve as gunner’s positions. It looks heavy and rugged, but possibly uses ridiculous amounts of diesel with all that steel plated to the sides.
Even though the interior is full of gear, it seats five persons easily. Useful tools hang in reach of the driver. Canisters and additional fuel tanks hint at the special disease of the current owner: the scout’s irrational fear of being stranded in the middle of nowhere without petrol. Some spent brass casings litter the floor.

After the group enters the car, Mal pulls out four bent metal cups and fills them with water. Offering the drink, he asks Rod what brings him to Memphis.