Sam said, “How can we tell your guys from the others?”
“Because we look and act like we should not be screwed with. If Brian could tell that he would still be alive and not a pile of sludge, I think you are a lot smarter and can tell the difference, Sam.” Sam did not flinch at my use of his name.
“I get that you have plenty of technology and weaponry and can hear what we are saying and even see us through the trees, but that is not everything. We are still alive and able to cause plenty of trouble. Especially since we know you are coming back and with valuable cargo.” Sam stated, clearly and confidently.
“I was right; you are a smart one Sam. And you know that I could bring in a troop of bad asses and kill all of you. You can’t hide from the technology for long. This is not a game and I have the resources to win. Ask Brian if you doubt me. But I am not a killer for no good reason and I am not trying to piss off good people looking to survive. I can arrange for my competitors to drop right in your hands with all the things you need. If you are willing to work, I can even arrange for farming supplies to end up in your hands so you can build a society and become independent and get out of this highway robbing business altogether. In a planting season or two you will have a stockpile of food and shelter to make a real go out here away from the worse of the undead problems. I can even tell you ways to deal with them and use them as labor instead of running scared and wasting ammunition.”
Sam nodded and walked back into the woods. I could hear his conversation with the others and he was clearly in charge now. I had empowered him and scared them at the same time. After forcing a general buy in from everyone Sam turned to my direction and whispered, “Dave you have a deal.”
I drove back to the city; the next step will be the hard one.
