After Our Mutual Destruction

Chapter 9: Treading on Thin Ice

Chapter 9: Treading on Thin Ice

About three months later, Jack has developed much of his village's

portion of Walkertown. They have attempted to cultivate the land as

they said they would, but now Jack planned to build beyond the border

into the portion owned by Frank's village. Although Jack hasn't crossed

the border yet, he's built closer and closer to the border; this was done

intentionally in a slow drawn out process to keep Frank from catching

on to it, though Jack still suspects that he is catching on. Jack has

also become close allies with both Mark and Luke's villages. He's called

another meeting with Frank in order to either confirm or deny his

suspicions, this meeting will decide what course of action that he takes

next. This meeting took place on a Friday and on this Friday, it was

a particularly dark and gloomy day. As Jack pulled up to Frank's hut,

a wave of dread seemed to follow him as both he and Frank knew

what was coming. When Jack's car finally stopped, Frank who had been

waiting for him to arrive, left his hut to greet him and on his way

tripped and fell. This didn't hinder the meeting however as before long

they were already back inside the hut with the meeting underway.

"So, Jack it seems you've been busy recently, what with all the

development you've done in Walkertown."

"Yes, it's been a lot of work, but it's been worth it. At least

now we have some food growing with our new cabbage."

"Well that's good to hear but it seems you are building right on

the border. Now you aren't planning on crossing that border, are you?

Because that would break our deal, and we wouldn't want that to

happen." As Frank said this, he could tell by the expression on Jack's

face that Jack was indeed planning on this.

"Of course, I wasn't planning on that. I am a man of my word.

I always honor the deals I make with others, especially those

concerning the safety of my people. Now please tell me, have my

buildings crossed that border yet? That's right, they haven't, and they

aren't going to now or anytime soon."

"Ok, then how do you explain your immediate reaction to my

question? Although it was brief, you displayed a look of surprise as if

I figured out something you didn't want me to know."

"I was caught off guard, I hadn't expected you to ask such an

absurd and unfounded question."

"That makes sense, so what was it you wanted to discuss?" This

meeting continued for a while, and afterwards Jack was confident he'd

been victorious at tricking Frank for the time being. After Jack left,

Martin, who had been listening from just outside the hut, walked in to