"Yeah, or enough time for them to all be dead," Ashley says.
Stojan laughs sarcastically, then says, "Somebody's definitely the optimist. Sounds like we're going to need to pick up some pads while we're out getting supplies tomorrow, Eli."
Ashley doesn't seem to have understood what he said well enough to understand that there was a vulgar insult involved. "I guess we should have dinner for now, then."
Facepalm...
"Yes...Let's have dinner."
Yummy canned food for dinner.
"Canned vegetables taste so salty, don't they?" Ashley chews and swallows before speaking.
"Nuffing beath freth food." Stojan does not swallow his food before speaking.
Ashley says exasperatedly, "It's hard enough to understand you when you're not speaking with your mouth full, Stan."
"Ashley, tomorrow, do you mind sparring with me?
You mentioned that you know how to fight, I wan to see how good you are at it.
If I remember correctly, Stojan, you were in the Special Forces.
How long ago was that and what did they teach you there?"
Ashley responds to you, "Sure, if you want."
Stojan answers, "I know how to use several firearms, and I know several martial arts styles, but my favorite is Brazilian Jujitsu."
Brazilian Jujitsu, my instructors taught a bit of that to me. But not enough to rely on.
What other martial arts styles do you know?
Can you teach me how to use and take care of firearms?"
Stojan answers you, "Brazilian Jujitsu is the strongest style in the world. I wouldn't even need any other.
"Sure, I can teach you. Where's your gun?"
I go to get my gun.
"It's back here somewhere..."
Found it.
§
Whichever gun you bring out, let me know which.
The double barreled pump-action Shotgun.
Stojan nods to you and then shows you how to disassemble and reassemble it, explaining the purpose of each part and touching on the pros and cons of industrialized pieces versus hand made ones. He also explains the purposes and necessity of cleaning and oiling various pieces. Essentially, it's a crash course in weapon care.
After he is done explaining the shotgun
"We Should go to sleep now. Who is up for first watch?"
Stojan says, "I have no problem with taking any watch, so I can take first."
Ashley is watching you, and just as it's basically understood that Stojan is taking the first watch, she says, "I'll take first, then Stojan can take second, and Eli third."
I wait and see how this plays out.
Stojan doesn't have a problem with taking second watch, but he asks you why she wants them in that order (after failing to get an answer from her due to the communication barrier).
"Ashley, just out of curiosity, Why do you want the watches in that order?"
She answers, "Well, if I take first watch and Stojan takes second, then when I go to sleep, it can be with you, and I won't have to wake up to leave you."
She's hardcore blushing, and Stojan finds it amusing but manages not to laugh. "It's ok with me if it's ok with you, man."
"I'm ok with it. I'll see you when I wake up."
You wake up after a solid eight hours rest, and find Ashley snugly resting against your side. Stojan sees you're awake, nods to you, and begins settling into his own bag to rest.
I get up, being careful not to wake her up.
I go into position for my watch.
The remainder of the night passes uneventfully.
Stojan wakes up before Ashley does, and tends to his gun.
Ashley does awaken about half an hour after him.
It is eight in the morning.
"Well, Let's have breakfast and go to searching"
You have breakfast; canned food isn't great, but it beats starving.
I presume that you're doing the driving. Stojan says to you, "We'd better syphon some gas from a few cars to fill the tank. There's a can in here, I've got a hose in my garage."
"Good idea. Lets do that before we go"
It takes you about an hour from when everyone woke up to set out and begin collecting your equipment. It's a fairly annoying process, as you know what direction your things are in, but can't tell how far they are.
After about seven hours, you've managed to collect all of your things. It is now roughly four in the afternoon.
"What supplies should we grab before nightfall?
What are we running low in?"
"Well, we already got gas," Stojan says.
"My dad had enough food and water to last for years, so we're good on that," Ashley tells you.
"Anything you can think of, Mr. Dimensional Traveller?" Stojan is being sarcastic.
"The only other thing I can think of is ammo and we haven't fired a shot since we raided that army base. I guess we go back to Ashley's house and I spend the evening seeing how good Ashley is with martial arts."
"Great, an amateur show," Stojan says.
He's wrong, though; Ashley is just as good as you are, you find after a few minutes of sparring; her style is slow and defensive, adverse to weapons. She doesn't hit you, but you don't hit her, either.
"Wow! You are very skilled at this.
Are you as good with firearms?"
"I guess so," she tells you, slightly out of breath from the exertion. "I don't see how you can really compare the two."
Bump Of Justice!
bump?
"Your right.
Well, I found out what I wanted to know.
Lets eat dinner."
Dinner is more delicious canned food.
Ashley wants the same watches again.
If Stojan is ok with the middle watch again, I'm ok with it.
"What should we do tomorrow?"
"You want to go back to the shelter? Or should we wait longer?" Stojan apparently wants to get back there.
"We could sleep in, relax, and forget that we're surrounded by dangerous, crazed, diseased people," Ashley suggests.
"We should check the shelter.
Do you have any flash drives or any other portable data storage?
It might help Dr. A if he has the documents on this van's computer."
"We're going back there?" Ashley seems concerned.
"We should stop at a Best Buy tomorrow, then," Stojan tells you.
"Why are you concerned Ashley?"