You are lost in thought... Perhaps this makes you seem a little strange to the locals...

"Damn... It's like I've found myself in some kind of ridiculous trash movie... It's some kind of satanic mockery of fate - humanity has degraded to the level where cruel savages, armed with weapons, run around radioactive wastelands... Flora and fauna have monstrously mutated... And the pathetic remains of advanced technology look like an alien element against the background of the surrounding reality... Like a shining jewel against the background of a huge pile of stinking shit..." - you think, climbing the rope ladder to the side of the steamboat.

The appearance of the steamboat is dirty and rusty - but this visual manifestation of technology still has a positive impression.

At this time, Brittany chats incessantly with the sailors.

Some of the sailors blush from the sight of a young female body, barely covered by a pathetic semblance of clothing. The giant chameleon-like anole also climbs on board. Although it took a lot of effort - the sailors had to use several ropes...

Then this... "pet" had to be (with the help of Brittany and some tasty meat baits) taken to one of the large rooms in the ship's hold. This room was something like a half-filled warehouse.

Watching this, you barely restrain the desire to scold the young naive girl.

Probably, Brittany grew up in an environment of excess parental love, enjoyed her father's wealth and was a spoiled child. However, is the past tense appropriate in this phrase?

Your thoughts are anxious: "This "pet" of hers can at any moment become a threat to the people around her. And even to Brittany herself. After all, it is unclear why this animal does not show aggression yet. It is clearly a predator. It ate the mutant scorpion. Perhaps the giant anole is still full? Or is it that humans are not part of its normal diet, so it does not yet perceive them as food? In any case, I would prefer to get away from this mutant animal as quickly as possible…"

The captain leads you into a large cabin.

A long table, many chairs and armchairs…

You see several other passengers here.

One of them has a very… terrifying appearance.

You can hardly believe your eyes…

A bald head.

A face that looks like a monster from an old zombie movie…

Rotting skin and bones visible through some areas where this skin has completely peeled off…

In place of a nose - a black hole…

And a mocking look from one black eye.

The other eye is completely white.

This creature… is dressed in something resembling a worn-out military uniform, which is dirty to such an extent that it is impossible to see the symbols (like chevrons).

"Hey, guy! It is not polite to stare at strangers! Ha! Ha!" - It seems your shocked look attracted the attention of this person and caused this sarcastic comment.

In the next seconds, you see how this "zombie" drinks whiskey straight from the neck of a large bottle.

"Have you never seen ghouls?" - a surprised Brittany whispers to you.

"It's okay... I'm just tired..." - you brush off her question with an insignificant phrase.

Soon the captain brings clothes for Brittany. She goes into one of the small secluded cabins and returns ten minutes later, dressed in a modest gray dress.

Perhaps (judging by the excited looks of some sailors passing by), this dress is a little short...

However, these clothes are much better than what they were before.

Out of politeness, the captain chats a little with Brittany.

Before the captain goes on deck, you manage to ask him a few questions: "Please tell me, your steamboat... It is probably a very good ship for sailing on the river? Are there any other ships like this in the nearby settlements? Do you work for the father of Brittany?"

The captain is clearly flattered by your interest: "Well, I won't be modest... This ship bears the proud name of "Diamond"! And this name fully corresponds to the status of the ship - it is the only ship of its kind for many dozens of miles around! "Diamond" is unique and the best among all that can transport goods along the river. Most of the local inhabitants use rowing or sailing ships of smaller carrying capacity... As for the question of ownership..."

You listen with interest.

Brittany grumbles, "Yes, that's true... Dad and the brothers can only make smaller boats that move with oars and a sail..."

The captain continues, "With all due respect to Mr. Edward Williams III, he is just another trading partner for us. He is an important trading partner. And the owners of this beautiful ship are the Sullivan family, who are members of the Circle of Five..."

Your blank look was probably caused by the girl's comment, "He hit his head and doesn't remember much... And he probably lived somewhere in the wilderness..."

The captain explains, "Axeman City is the largest city in the area. It is the center of trade. And this city is governed by a collegial body of power - the Circle of Five, a gathering of the most influential representatives of the five richest families. They own... everything in the city. And each of the local inhabitants works for one of the families..."

He pulls up the sleeve of his jacket.

You see a small tattoo just above the elbow: a symbol of a black snake that looks like the letter "S".

The captain says: "I, like the entire crew of the ship, work for the Sullivan family. Edward Williams III and his settlement are allies of the Sullivan family. And "Diamond" is a well-known "calling card" of one of the most influential people in the region - the highly respected Mr. Patrick Sullivan ..."

Now the situation becomes a little more logical for you. This steamboat and the Gatling gun standing on the deck are pathetic "remains" of previous times. Technological relics in a world of degradation and ruin. Probably many years ago this steamboat was pulled out from the ruins of some tourist base near the river. And the Gatling gun could be a marauding find of savages, made in the ruins of some museum. Clarifying questions allow you to see that manifestations of high technology in this post-apocalyptic world are the exception rather than the rule.

The use of cold arms is widespread.

Even the captain has a large machete on his belt.

Also, each of the sailors has a cold weapon.

Firearms are rare. One of the common problems is the lack of ammunition for such weapons. By the way, you managed to find out that in Axeman-City there are several primitive enterprises producing ammunition. However, none of them belong to the Sullivan family. It seems that this family dominates only in river transportation, logistics and some types of trade.

"Look, guy! I'll show you what else the Sullivans have, besides this "Diamond"! Look at these bottles! Ha! Ha!" - the ghoul tells you with a laugh, continuing to drink one bottle of whiskey after another. In a normal human, all this would cause acute **** poisoning and loss of consciousness (or something worse).

But it seems that this owner of a 'rotten zombie' face was only slightly drunk.

"These mutants have a non-human metabolism at all..." - you think.

However, you got the hint. You also clarified this information with one of the human passengers: the Sullivan family is, indeed, famous for monopolizing the trade in strong ****.

Soon the sailors offered you and Brittany some food.

Considering the fact that your own supplies had long since run out (during the grueling journey, you were already **** to eat the meat of small representatives of the local fauna), this was appropriate.

Then, the sailors took you and Brittany to a small cabin.

Alas, most of the ship's premises were occupied by cargo (these were various goods for trade).

Falling asleep, you thought that soon you and your female companion would reach the settlement of Port-Williams (the ship is currently sailing there).

After that, the ship (having sold some goods and bought new goods) will set off towards Axeman-City.

Before falling asleep, you think about the prospect of receiving a reward for saving Brittany.

This naive girl will remain in her father's settlement.

You will probably never see her again...

Do you regret it?

It's hard to say for sure...

But your main goal is getting closer - soon you can reach the local "center of civilization".

Axeman-City.

You mentally console yourself, thinking that the steamboat is clearly not the only manifestation of technological progress in this world.

Hoping to find at least somewhat civilized life, you finally fall asleep.