Z 2134

what sort of crazy bastard would be laughing while surrounded by three armed players.
    Goliath moved in, pushing Blondie gently to the side as he stepped up to Liam, grunting and twisting the pipe in his hand as if readying another go at Liam.
    Liam should have retreated, at least a step, but he didn’t. Instead, he moved forward.
    “Did you forget the gun already?” Liam screamed, thrusting his empty gun into the giant’s face and freezing Goliath in his steps.
    “Ha,” Liam said, testing fate and holding Goliath’s eyes.
    Tattoo looked back at Blondie for direction, but she was looking straight at Liam, her crossbow trained right at his head.
    Liam laughed out loud, further confusing his attackers. “Which of you is calling the shots?” he said, daring Goliath to claim the title. When he didn’t, Liam turned to Tattoo: “Call off your dog, or I’ll blow his head off!”
    The giant snarled, took a step back without being ordered, then said, “It’s cool, Keb.”
    Keb, the man with the tattoo sleeves, nodded at the giant while keeping most of his gaze pinned to Liam.
    Liam nodded at Keb and said, “Thanks. Now if y’all don’t mind, I’m gonna get outta here before shit gets ugly.”
    Liam took two long steps back, keeping his gun steady so everyone understood he was being smart rather than retreating — hoping the trio would see the wisdom in parting on friendly terms. He kept holding Blondie’s eye like it was her hand, wanting to wink but feeling safer with his crooked smile. He took another couple of steps back.
    “Wait,” Blondie called, exactly as expected. She turned to her teammates. “He has a gun. Maybe he can help.”
    Keb looked at Blondie as if she’d suggested surrendering their weapons and crowning Liam King of The Barrens. “We don’t need no one else, least of all a pretty boy with a pea shooter.”
    The giant was still looking at Liam like an angry dog waiting to be unleashed.
    “Maybe the ink from your tattoos messed up your hearing, so you didn’t hear when I said it the first time,” Liam laughed, “but I’ve been shootin’ my entire life. Dad and I used to hit the yards before I had hair on my balls, hunting game when rations thinned. I’ve killed more zombies than all three of you combined.”
    Goliath grunted again.
    Liam figured he’d push his luck and play hard to get. Eyes still on Blondie, he shook his head and said, “But hell, I wasn’t even looking to partner with anyone, today, tomorrow, or ever. I plan to win this thing, and I figure I’m better on my own.”
    Goliath seemed indifferent, Blondie curious, and Keb downright pissed.
    Keb said, “You’re not going anywhere. If you’re not with us, you’re against us. That means you die. We’re giving you one chance to keep breathing. I suggest you take it.”
    Liam stayed quiet as if contemplating the offer.
    “Well, my daddy always said I ought to play better with others, and maybe walking The Barrens together isn’t a bad idea.” He shifted his glance from Keb to the girl. “And if Blondie’s any good with that crossbow, I figure the four of us could lay a helluva lotta hurt on the rest of the herd.” He shrugged his shoulders but kept his weapon steady. “I guess I’m game if you are.”
    Liam smiled wider, his false grin now stretching far enough to break his face.
    “The name’s Chloe, not Blondie .” Her expression was maybe a wink but likely a scowl. “Call me Blondie again and I’ll put a bolt in your balls.”
    Something in Liam was begging for a bit of back and forth, but he wasn’t about to risk pissing off the alpha male of the pack or the walking mountain. No use getting into anything that could get him killed, especially if one, or both of the men, thought Blondie wanted to get with them, which was how Blondie, or Chloe, was probably playing it.
    “Way I see it, a team of four could go far,” Keb said. “That gives us great odds if we stick together through the Final Four. I say we walk as one, then battle shit out at the Mesa.”
    Goliath didn’t seem convinced yet, though, probably still wanting a chance to swing his pipe at Liam’s smart mouth.
    Liam relaxed his gun and looked down as if thinking the offer over one last time. After a half-minute of nearly painful silence, he said, “OK, I’m game if Goliath here agrees to shake and make up. I don’t wanna be walking around wondering when big man is gonna snap.”
    Liam took a chance, in its own way the